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New findings shows that mpox (monkeypox) Clade Ia, previously thought to only spread from animals to humans, has now shown signs of human-to-human transmission
Study also showed that mutations in Clade IIb indicated human-to-human transmission, dating back to 2016.
Mpox
It is a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus.
The first human case of mpox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
There are two known types (clades) of mpox virus — one that originated in Central Africa (Clade I) and one that originated in West Africa (Clade II) with subclades (Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb).
Symptoms: skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
Transmission: Human-to-human transmission of mpox occurs through
direct contact with body fluids, lesions, prolonged face-to-face contact, including sexual contact, and
indirect contact with contaminated clothing or bedding.
APOBEC Proteins
APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like) is a family of proteins in the immune system that can introduce changes (mutations) to viral DNA during infection.
APOBEC proteins target viral DNA and change one of its building blocks, specifically converting cytosine (C) to thymine (T).
These mutations can make the virus less effective or even lethal, weakening the virus.
APOBEC activity can increase mutations in viral DNA faster than the virus's own copying process, helping the immune system fight infections.
Studies show that APOBEC proteins have likely caused a rapid increase in mutations in mpox virus strains, suggesting that human-to-human transmission of the virus is now happening more effectively.
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