3. Mpox Virus Classification
The Orthopoxvirus (OPXV) genus of the Poxviridae family contains the
Mpox virus, Poxviruses are enclosed big viruses. 200 kilobase pairs of
double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) that are heavily loaded with 200 genes make
up their genome19,20. Around half of the genes are
well-evolved in vertebrate poxviruses and required for viral
replication, while the other half are referred to as ”accessory” genes
that are mostly involved in virus and host interactions and may not be
necessary for viral replication independently 21.
Many poxviruses infect most invertebrates and vertebrates, affecting a
wide range of veterinary and human disorders. The two subfamilies that
make up the Poxviridae family are Entomopoxvirinae, which infects
insects, and Chordopoxvirinae, which infects vertebrates. One of the 11
genera that make up the subfamily Chordopoxvirinae is OPV(Table 1) . All OPV species are categorised as zoonotic viruses
since they all have animal reservoirs except the variola virus, which
only affects humans 22,23.