Abstract
Monkeypox virus (MPXV) causes a vesiculopustular rash illness resembling smallpox in humans and produces a similar disease in nonhuman primates. To enhance the ability of researchers to study experimental MPXV infections, we inserted a gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) into Monkeypox virus Zaire-79. Wild-type and MPXV-GFP replicated with similar kinetics in cell culture and caused a similar disease when injected intravenously into cynomolgus macaques. In MPXV-GFP-infected animals, examination under fluorescent light facilitated the identification of skin lesions during disease development and internal sites of replication at necropsy. MPXV-GFP could improve the quantitative assessment of antiviral therapy and vaccine efficacy.
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Acknowledgments
The research described in this paper was funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and The Department of Homeland Security’s National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC). Opinions, interpretations, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the U.S. Army.
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None of the authors have any commercial associations that may pose potential conflicts of interest.
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A. Goff and E. Mucker contributed equally.
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Goff, A., Mucker, E., Raymond, J. et al. Infection of cynomolgus macaques with a recombinant monkeypox virus encoding green fluorescent protein. Arch Virol 156, 1877–1881 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-011-1065-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-011-1065-1