2026/06/04 by Spencer L. Sterling, Kwankamon Rattanathumi, Thitipong Yingyong +10 · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #Autoimmune Neurological Disorders and Treatments #Poxvirus research and outbreaks #vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
paper · doi:10.1093/infdis/jiag288
openalex publication_date 2026/06/04 · openalex created_date 2026/06/06 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
BACKGROUND: The 2022 global health emergency highlighted the necessity for rapid diagnostic measures in response to Mpox clade IIb outbreaks. This study investigates the Mpox lineages identified in Thailand during this period and explores the transmission dynamics of dominant lineages. METHODS: Using targeted next-generation sequencing from 162 Mpox-infected individuals, we created a transmission network map by linking high-similarity sequences through molecular-temporal distance matrices. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that the study population aligns with global trends of transmission almost exclusively within the MSM community, and a majority of cases resulting from lineage C viruses as well as eight additional sub-lineages. Within the observed substitutions, a majority of mutations were either G→A (289, 49.74%) or C→T (221, 38.04%) indicating APOBEC-3-driven deaminase activity. We also present a global transmission network for lineage C Mpox genomes, illustrating both domestic and international spread. CONCLUSION: This research underscores the significance of whole-genome sequencing in diagnostics during outbreaks and the importance of sharing genomic data to enhance our understanding of disease transmission on a global scale.