Patterns of genomic deletions in monkeypox virus during the 2022 outbreak in the United States.

ABSTRACT: Poxviruses have a low overall rate of point mutations but are known to exhibit genomic duplications and deletions that can influence viral evolution. We examine the prevalence of large deletions in clade IIb monkeypox virus (MPXV) genomes during the global 2022 outbreak. We observe thirty-one distinct deletions, ranging from 573 to 21,576 bp among over 2000 MPXV genomes during 2022 - 2023 in the United States (U.S.). Almost all deletions are present in the first 25,000 bp or last 50,000 bp of the MPXV genome, excluding the terminal 500 bp. The large deletions result in extensive predicted gene loss as well as novel predicted gene products. Most unique deletions are observed in one case; however, one 3370 bp deletion mutant predominated in a U.S. state during late 2022 and a different 913 b

SUBMITTER: Gigante CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12508240 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature