Genomic rearrangements in monkeypox virus could be a sign of adaption to the human host biorxivpreprint rki_de
By Pooja Toshniwal PahariaOct 25 2022Reviewed by Danielle Ellis, B.Sc. In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers explored genomic rearrangements in monkeypox virus genomes and investigated whether such rearrangements represented viral adaption to humans .
A total of 339 samples confirmed as MPXV-positive by polymerase chain reaction were sequenced by whole-genome sequencing analysis. The team extracted deoxyribonucleic acid from the samples and prepared shotgun libraries. They constructed MPXV genomes by de novo assembly and mapped them to a reference protein sequence. The sequences were aligned, and all genomes were conveyed to the NCBI GenBank database.
Identical duplications were observed among 20 II clade MPXV genomes between 1958 and 2018. The MPXV/Germany/2022/RKI335 genome showed duplications from the area downstream of the L ITR, inclusive of the MPXVgp-005 and -007 genes, to the area located above the R ITR between the MPXVgp-182 and -188 genes, resulting in MPXVgp-184 and -187 truncation and complete MPXVgp185 and MPXVgp186 deletion.
The MPXV Sudan 2005 genome exhibited a 10550-base pair-long duplication at the same region post the L to R ITR and a 2108 bp deletion. The duplication in the E-ChVir28389 genome showed an 858 bp duplication from the L to R ITR and a 2048 bp deletion. In addition, R to L end duplications were observed for the MPXV/Germany/2022/RKI339 genome that had 18214 bp duplication [genes MPXVgp174 to 187 ] to the L terminal region, leading to MPXVgp-005 to -010 gene deletions of 6701 base pairs.
Further, all L to R duplications caused deletions of at least MPXVgp-184 to -187 , and MPXVgp-184,186 did not show orthopoxvirus homology. MPXVgp-185 showed homology to the vaccinia B22R gene that is homologous to inhibitors of serine protease. B22R deletion has been documented to reduce vaccinia virus virulence and replication.