Exploring monkeypox virus proteins and rapid detection techniques

Abstract

Monkeypox (mpox) is an infectious disease caused by the mpox virus and can potentially lead to fatal outcomes. It resembles infections caused by viruses from other families, challenging identification. The pathogenesis, transmission, and clinical manifestations of mpox and other Orthopoxvirus species are similar due to their closely related genetic material. This review provides a comprehensive discussion of the roles of various proteins, including extracellular enveloped virus (EEV), intracellular mature virus (IMV), and profilin-like proteins of mpox. It also highlights recent diagnostic techniques based on these proteins to detect this infection rapidly.

Keywords: biosensor; detection; extracellular enveloped virus proteins; intracellular mature virus proteins; monkeypox virus; mpox; profilin-like proteins.

Figure 1

Distribution of confirmed MPXV cases worldwide as of February 29, 2024 (adapted with permission from World Health Organization, 2024).

Figure 2

(A) Structure of MPXV; (B) Schematic representation of an MPXV replication cycle, including (1) viral attachment, (2) fusion, (3) replication, (4) viral assembly, and (5) release from the host cell (created via BioRender.com).

Figure 3

Predicted 3D structures of MPXV proteins: (A) F13 (adapted with permission from Patel et al., 2023); (B) A35R (adapted with permission from Zheng et al., 2022); and (C) A42R (adapted with permission from Minasov et al., 2022).

Figure 4

(A) Schematic illustration of an LSG nanobiosensor-based electrochemical assay for MPXV detection linked to a portable potentiostat controlled via a smartphone; (B) The analytical curve presenting normalized resistance to charge transfer (R _CT) values against the logarithm of the A29 protein concentration; (C) The analytical curve presenting the normalized R _CT values against the logarithm of the titered MPXV sample (adapted with permission from de Lima et al., 2023).