Mpox Insights: From Structure to Human Cell Interaction

Authors

Md. S. Zaman, South Texas College
Robert C. Sizemore
Draven Rodriguez, South Texas College
Emilio Lopez, South Texas College
S. M. Golam Alam, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
Suleyman Tufa
Juan C Lopez Alvarenga, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
Nuraly S. Akimbekov
Mohammad S. Razzaque, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-21-2025

Abstract

Mpox, a zoonotic viral disease, has emerged as a global concern due to outbreaks in both endemic and non-endemic regions in 2022. Rodents, including African squirrels and Gambian pouched rats, are suspected key reservoirs, with human infections occurring through direct contact with infected animals or bushmeat consumption. Previously confined to rural Africa, mpox has spread via international travel and the exotic pet trade. Human-to-human transmission occurs mainly via respiratory droplets and direct contact with bodily fluids or lesions. The virus has a double-stranded DNA genome within a lipid envelope. Despite lower mutation rates in DNA viruses, mpox has developed mutations, particularly in genes like F8L, G9R, and F13L, facilitating viral replication and immune evasion. The virus targets immune cells such as monocytes and macrophages, weakening host defenses and prolonging infection. Immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk of severe complications. Although generally self-limiting, severe cases may require antiviral treatment. This article briefly summarizes the therapeutic and preventive strategies, and public health measures to combat zoonotic threats.

Comments

© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Recommended Citation

Zaman, M. S., Sizemore, R. C., Rodriguez, D., Lopez, E., Alam, S. M. G., Tufa, S., Lopez-Alvarenga, J. C., Akimbekov, N. S., & Razzaque, M. S. (2025). Mpox Insights: From Structure to Human Cell Interaction. Journal of Molecular Pathology, 6(4), 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmp6040029

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

Journal of Molecular Pathology

DOI

10.3390/jmp6040029

Academic Level

faculty

Mentor/PI Department

Medical Education