According to a study published recently in the journal Viruses , the vaccines based on the vaccinia virus (VACV) could create a potent immune response against the monkeypox virus that is causing the current outbreak.

The vaccine virus is a large, intricate, enveloped member of the poxvirus family. More than 52,000 cases have been confirmed in more than 90 countries and regions since the new virus was originally discovered in early May.

The study compared and contrasted the genetic makeup of VACV and MPXV-2022, focusing on the regions of the proteins that T cells or antibodies produced as a result of vaccination target. The study more broadly demonstrates that VACV and MPXV-2022 are highly genetically similar in the regions targeted by the immune system through vaccination. Researchers claim to have identified a small number of distinct mutations in MPXV-2022.

Based on the analysis, it is predicted that the immune responses produced by VACV-based vaccinations would continue to perform an excellent job of recognising and responding to MPXV-2022.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly known as primary preventive immunisation against the novel monkeypox virus, has been advised by the World Health Organization for people who are at a high risk of exposure.

The researchers concluded that combining sequencing and immunological data provided evidence to expect a high immune response, but additional clinical studies were needed to precisely assess these vaccines efficacy against MPXV-2022. (The Print, 9 September, 2022)