The monkeypox virus (MPXV) has recently risen to be a significant global health threat and currently there are no approved antiviral agents, which makes it necessary to develop new antiviral strategies. In this study, we employed in silico techniques to investigate whether bacteriocins could be potent inhibitors of the MPXV DNA polymerase (MPDP). At first, the MPXV DNA polymerase enzyme chain was extracted from the Cryo-EM structure of MPXV DNA replication complex and was then assessed using SWISS-MODEL/QMEAN for structural quality. The structures of selected bacteriocins were either retrieved from the Protein Data Bank or predicted using AlphaFold. The quality of these predicted models was measured by LGscore. Moreover, the physicochemical properties of the selected bacteriocins, such as Sakacin P and Mundticin KS, were analyzed to assess their molecular stability and compatibility with the molecular docking process. The results of protein-peptide docking simulations on the HADDOCK platform showed that among all the bacteriocins tested, Sakacin P and Mundticin KS had the highest binding affinities toward MPXV DNA polymerase. The analysis of the docking experiments also revealed vital stabilizing interactions, such as the formation of hydrogen bonds, ionic linkages, and π-π stacking, which were crucial in the strength of the protein-ligand complexes. Subsequently, the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations further confirmed the stability of the protein-bacteriocin complexes. Our results indicate that bacteriocins, especially Sakacin P and Mundticin KS, can be considered potential antiviral agents against MPXV by interfering with its DNA replication mechanism. The present work shall serve as a reference for future laboratory testing and for the promising innovation of bacteriocin-based drugs targeting MPXV.

The local inflammatory response and ongoing viral replication caused by monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection pose severe challenges for clinical treatment. Traditional treatment strategies are unable to achieve the dual goals of virus clearance and tissue repair simultaneously. This study innovatively adopts a hierarchical assembly strategy of "mesoporous carrier anchoring-gel matrix embedding" to construct a functionalized hydrogel (Polymer@mPDA@Gel). Using mesoporous polydopamine (mPDA) as the exclusive anchoring site to load the polymer, forming an efficient photothermal component, and then embedding this component in a gel matrix with strong adhesion and good biocompatibility. Through hierarchical assembly, the photothermal performance, anti-inflammatory performance, and biointerfacial properties are precisely integrated to lay the core foundation for its anti-viral and anti-inflammatory functions. The functionalized hydrogel constructed realizes targeted clearance of MPXV, regulation of inflammation, and integration of tissue repair, providing a new material technology path and theoretical support for the clinical treatment of MPXV infection.

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases ranging from the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic to the recent SARS-CoV-2 and monkeypox virus outbreaks continue to pose profound threats to global public health. These crises underscore the critical need for high-fidelity and human-relevant infection models. Organoid technology has emerged as a cornerstone platform for pathogen research by faithfully recapitulating the 3-dimensional architecture and physiological microenvironment of native human tissues in vitro. This review systematically examines the development and structural refinement of organoid-based infection models with an emphasis on evidence-based strategies for stem cell source selection, extracellular matrix optimization, and dynamic culture system engineering. Such advancements enable the robust generation of multi-organ models including respiratory, intestinal, and neural organoids tailored for investigating viral tropism, spatiotemporal infection kinetics, and host immune responses. Furthermore, we evaluate the translational utility of organoids in high-throughput antiviral drug screening and preclinical vaccine assessment. To further enhance physiological relevance and functional fidelity, organoid platforms are being increasingly combined with advanced engineering strategies, including coculture approaches, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genetic perturbation, engineered microphysiological systems (such as organ-on-a-chip), and 3D bioprinting. These integrated technologies improve biomimicry while expanding experimental controllability and scalability. In addition, we critically examine the major bottlenecks limiting clinical translation and discuss emerging frontiers driven by artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. Through iterative technological refinement and cross-disciplinary convergence, organoids have evolved beyond reductionist in vitro surrogates into physiologically informed and mechanism-driven platforms that advance our understanding of host-pathogen interactions while enhancing global preparedness against emerging pathogens.

Disease outbreaks are non-random public health phenomena attributed to known or idiopathic human, animal, and animal-based factors; a realm referred to as the One Health concept; a new global public health order for control and prevention of epidemics, endemics, and pandemics. These are diseases of viral, prion, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic origin, transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans and vice versa. Emergence and re-emergence of zoonotic diseases such as rabies, Ebola, COVID-19, monkeypox, avian influenza, anthrax, brucellosis, leptospirosis, and Lyme disease continue to affect populations across the world, pointing to unexpected budget impacts of the affected countries.

The 2025 mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone represents an unprecedented public health crisis, escalating rapidly from minimal prior cases to over 4400 confirmed infections within 6 months. This surge challenges previous assumptions about mpox epidemiology in West Africa and highlights critical vulnerabilities in disease surveillance, diagnostics and health system preparedness-challenges shared across the Mano River Union (MRU) region, including Liberia, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire. Despite global commitments to equitable vaccine access, Sierra Leone and its neighbours have faced significant delays and fragmented mpox vaccine deployment, reflecting systemic failures in global health financing, vaccine ecosystems and governance. In this analysis, we examine the demographic and geographic features of the outbreak within Sierra Leone and the MRU, operational challenges and the urgent need for a coordinated equity-driven regional response. In doing so, we call for targeted vaccination, decentralised testing, the integration of mpox control into sexual health programmes and the strengthening of African vaccine manufacturing capacity. The outbreak underscores the necessity of rethinking global health governance to ensure timely sustained support for endemic and interconnected regions.

A non-replicating Tiantan strain-based vaccinia virus (NTV) holds significant application prospects for vaccination and gene therapy and has recently entered clinical trials as a novel and safer vaccine candidate against monkeypox. However, optimization is still required, particularly regarding its production capacity and immunogenicity. In this study, a recombinant virus was constructed by modifying the F1L and C7L genes in a non-replicating viral backbone using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing and homologous recombination. The resulting construct, designated NTV-ΔF1L-C7L, exhibited significantly enhanced replication in vaccine production cell lines, with viral yields increasing by more than 680-fold in MRC-5 cells compared to those of the parental NTV. Its pathogenicity in mice was significantly reduced, showing more than a 10-fold decrease compared to the pathogenicity of the vaccinia virus Tiantan strain (VTT). Following two intramuscular doses, NTV-ΔF1L-C7L elicited high titers of orthopoxvirus-specific IgG and neutralizing antibodies against vaccinia and monkeypox viruses, along with a robust cellular immune response exhibiting a Th1 bias, which was significantly stronger than that induced by either parental NTV or VTT vaccination. Complete protection (100%) against a lethal challenge with the vaccinia virus Western Reserve strain was achieved in mice immunized with either a low dose (10[3] PFU) or a single dose (10[5] PFU) of NTV-ΔF1L-C7L, comparable to that conferred by VTT. These findings demonstrate that NTV-ΔF1L-C7L combines high safety with enhanced replication and immunogenicity, supporting its value as a novel vaccine vector and its potential application in controlling the current global monkeypox outbreak.IMPORTANCEA highly attenuated NTV exhibits an improved safety profile; however, its production capacity and immunogenicity require optimization for clinical application. In this study, a novel recombinant virus, NTV-ΔF1L-C7L, was developed by targeting the deletion of F1L and the insertion of C7L into the NTV backbone. This attenuated live vaccine, NTV-ΔF1L-C7L, demonstrates several significant advantages. Its robust in vitro replication supports scalability for large-scale vaccine production. It has demonstrated strong immunoprotective efficacy in mice while maintaining a high safety margin, exhibiting reduced pathogenicity in vivo , and inducing robust humoral and cellular immune responses against vaccinia and monkeypox virus. These immune responses confer complete protection against lethal VACV challenge at low-dose or single-dose immunization. These findings establish a solid experimental foundation for the further development of NTV-ΔF1L-C7L as a next-generation VACV-based vector or a candidate vaccine against mpox.

We describe a rapidly expanding clade Ib mpox outbreak among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Northern Ireland. Following 12 months with no detected mpox cases, 22 confirmed cases were notified between 6 and 30 June 2026. Cases had a median age of 41 years; 19 had not travelled outside the United Kingdom or Ireland in the 21 days before symptom onset. The outbreak is characterised by severe anorectal disease and presentation to non-sexual health settings, including secondary care.

BACKGROUNDIn May 2022, first cases of mpox clade IIb were detected in Germany, and MVA-BN vaccine was available from June 2022 onwards. Vaccination has been recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) since June 2022 to contain monkeypox virus infection and prevent disease.AIMOur primary aim was to evaluate the safety of the mpox vaccine Jynneos (modified Vaccinia Ankara, Bavaria-Nordic, MVA-BN) after the rollout of the vaccination campaign in Germany from June 2022 to February 2024; a secondary aim was to describe mpox cases and vaccinations.METHODSTo identify cases and persons with adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs), we used existing surveillance systems. A voluntary system was implemented in June 2022 to monitor mpox vaccination. We performed a descriptive analysis of cases, vaccinations, individual case safety reports (ICSRs) and AEFIs.RESULTSUntil 29 February 2024, 3,807 mpox cases were notified (data retrieved July 2024). According to the voluntary mpox vaccination monitoring, a total of 78,739 mpox vaccine doses of Jynneos were administered. A search of the national AEFI database identified 32 ICSRs, of which seven were serious. A total of 87 AEFIs were reported, most of which were local or systemic reactions that are generally associated with vaccination. The overall adverse event reporting rate adjusted for missing information on vaccine utilisation in one of 16 federal states was 98.7 adverse events per 100,000 doses.CONCLUSIONThe safety profile of the MVA-BN vaccine was in line with the summary of product characteristics. No new safety signals were identified.

We designed and successfully implemented photography protocols for the PALM007 (Pamoja Tulinde Maisha - Together Save Lives in Swahili) randomised clinical trial evaluating tecovirimat for the treatment of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We addressed the unique challenges and limitations of conducting standardised photography procedures on patients with mpox in high-risk 'red zones' in remote study treatment centre sites. Key considerations included standardised photography protocols, training, quality assurance, participant privacy and comfort, and interpersonal communication. Our developed procedures enabled acquisition of 61 926 standardised, clinical-quality photographs of 597 patients with mpox. These considerations may guide future studies collecting standardised photographs in a low-resource setting.