Speaker
Description
MPXV comparative biology after mucosal exposure remains unclear. We compared clades Ia (Zaire and Republic of Congo isolates), IIa, and IIb in a cynomolgus macaque respiratory infection model to assess disease, viral shedding, and immune responses. Mucosal infection caused milder, more localized disease than high-dose aerosol or intravenous models. Clade Ia (Zaire) and IIa produced stronger clinical symptoms and systemic immune activation, while clade IIb resulted in minimal illness and limited spread. Viral genomes persisted in skin lesions at later stages without evidence of active replication, suggesting tissue damage rather than long-term reservoirs. Presymptomatic shedding occurred across all clades, indicating potential transmission before lesion onset. However, clade IIb showed reduced shedding, with little to no oral or rectal virus detection. Clade IIb triggered the strongest dendritic cell activation, whereas clade Ia (Zaire) induced proliferating but functionally impaired antigen-presenting cells and weaker T-cell priming. Natural killer cell responses followed a similar pattern, with clade Ia (Zaire) showing weaker activation compared to other clades. A biomarker panel based on monocyte/eosinophil dynamics and cytokine ratios effectively distinguished clade IIb infections. These findings underscore the importance of clade-specific analysis for outbreak preparedness and One Health surveillance. Funding: intramural NIAID/NIH and INF of the Helmholtz Association.
Keywords
Mpox, MPXV, transmission, NK cells, APCs, immunopathogenesis
| Registration ID | OHS26-190 |
|---|---|
| Professional Status of the Speaker | Professor |
| Junior Scientist Status | No, I am not a Junior Scientist. |
