Scientists Develop Precise Molecular Probe for Monkeypox Detection

Why in the news?

Researchers discovered unique G-quadruplex DNA structures in Monkeypox virus and developed a molecular probe for precise detection, advancing diagnostics and paving the way for antiviral therapeutics.

Scientists Develop Precise Molecular Probe for Monkeypox Detection

Breakthrough in Monkeypox Detection

  • Scientists discovered a novel approach to study the Monkeypox virus (MPV) virology and develop advanced diagnostic tools and therapeutics.
  • MPV, renamed Mpox, has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) twice in the past three years due to its rapid and unpredictable global spread.
  • Understanding MPV’s transmission and symptoms is crucial for effective intervention.

Advancements in Diagnostic Techniques

  • MPV, a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus, is commonly detected through PCR, which amplifies dsDNA using fluorescent probes.
  • Existing probes lack specificity, as they cannot distinguish between specific and non-specific amplification products.
  • Scientists identified unique G-quadruplex (GQ) DNA structures in MPV—noncanonical nucleic acid conformations in guanine-rich sequences.
  • A fluorogenic molecular probe (BBJL) was developed to selectively detect MPV-specific GQ sequences, ensuring precise identification.
  • BBJL enhances fluorescence output 250-fold upon binding with MPV GQs and is non-fluorescent in the absence of target sequences.

Therapeutic and Diagnostic Implications:

  • The GQ sequences in MPV are stable, conserved, and absent in other pox viruses or the human genome, making them ideal for diagnostics and therapeutics.
  • The BBJL probe is part of a GQ-targeted diagnostic platform initially developed for COVID-19 detection.
  • Scientists are mapping the MPV genome for additional GQ targets, potentially leading to new antiviral strategies.
  • This innovation addresses limitations in current techniques, reducing false positives and enabling reliable MPV detection.

About Mpox:

  • DNA virus from the Poxviridae family, first identified in monkeys in 1958.
  • Spreads via animal-to-human and human-to-human contact, including sexual contact.
  • Symptoms: Fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and rash after fever onset.
  • Testing is done using PCR.

PHEIC and Mpox

  • Declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO due to rapid global spread.
  • Helps mobilise resources, enhance collaboration, and coordinate global actions.

Mpox in India

  • First cases in 2022, with 27 confirmed cases and 1 death.
  • Initial cases in Kerala from international travellers; later cases in Delhi without travel history.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times