New Delhi, November 22 (IANS). Researchers at JNCASR, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have discovered a new method to understand the virology of monkeypox virus.
This new research may help in developing tools to detect this deadly infection. In the last three years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox a global health emergency twice. In the global outbreak of 2024, the disease spread to about 15 countries in Africa and three countries outside Africa.
This outbreak has raised serious concerns about its spread around the world, as the symptoms of this infection are not yet well understood. A comprehensive understanding of virology is of paramount importance along with rapid development of treatment strategies.
“MPV (monkeypox virus) is a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus. Detection of extracellular viral protein genes through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a widespread technique to identify MPV,” the researchers said.
Currently the disease is detected through PCR, which relies on the amplification of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), which also uses fluorescent probes to measure it.
The team identified and characterized a highly conserved GQ with an unusual and unique four-strand DNA structure within the MPV genome. They specifically detected a specific GQ sequence using a special fluorescent small-molecule probe, making it easier to detect the monkeypox virus accurately.
Their fluorogenic molecular probe showed more than a 250-fold increase in fluorescence output with MPV GQS (MP2). Additional mapping of the monkeypox virus genome is underway to identify potential GQ targets for future treatments.
This research raises the possibility of developing potential detection platforms based on GQs, and the identified GQs can be further investigated for their anti-viral properties.
–IANS
MKS/AKJ
