Bengaluru: Scientists at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have developed a novel method to detect the monkeypox virus (MPV), potentially changing how one diagnoses this emerging public health concern. They have identified a route to understand the virology of MPV and develop diagnostic tools for the infection, as well as to find a novel path with therapeutic implications.JNCASR is an autonomous institute under the department of science and technology (DST).
"Outbreak of MPV, also renamed as Mpox virus, was recently declared a public health emergency of international concern twice in a span of three years. The outbreak raised serious concerns about its unanticipated spread across the globe, as the modes of transmission and symptoms aren't well understood. A comprehensive understanding of virology, alongside the rapid development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, is of paramount importance," DST said.
The research team has identified unique DNA structures called G-quadruplexes (GQs) within the MPV genome that could serve as precise targets for detection. Unlike traditional PCR-based testing methods, which sometimes struggle to differentiate between specific and non-specific results, this new approach offers remarkable precision. "The team developed a specialised molecular probe called BBJL that shows more than a 250-fold increase in fluorescence when it binds to specific MPV genetic sequences," DST said.
Importantly, these target sequences are unique to MPV and absent in other pox viruses, pathogens, or the human genome, potentially eliminating false positives. "This represents an expansion of our diagnostic platform that was originally developed for Covid-19 detection," explained the research team. The probe remains non-fluorescent until it encounters the target MPV sequences, making it a reliable diagnostic tool.
"Beyond detection, the discovery has therapeutic implications. The identified GQ sequences, stable under physiological conditions, could serve as targets for future antiviral treatments. The research team is currently conducting additional mapping of the MPV genome to identify more potential therapeutic targets," DST said. Researchers, who have filed a patent for their method, feel it could help address the challenges in understanding the virus' transmission and improving diagnostic accuracy.