Formulas for death and life: Chemical composition and biothermodynamic properties of Monkeypox (MPV, MPXV, HMPXV) and Vaccinia (VACV) viruses

Abstract

Today, the World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency, caused by the Monkeypox outbreak. In the monthly analysis for June, 3500 cases have been reported in 50 countries around the world. In the analysis for July, more than 30 000 cases have been reported in 75 countries. Thus, in the circumstances of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the appearance and dynamics of spreading of Monkeypox is alarming. In this paper, for the first time, elemental composition of Poxvirus, Monkeypox virus and Vaccinia virus have been reported. Additionally, thermodynamic properties have been reported for nucleic acids, nucleocapsids and entire virus particles. The similarity in chemical composition and thermodynamic properties of the analyzed viruses has been used to explain the crossed immunity to Poxviruses. Finally, binding thermodynamic properties have been reported for the Vaccinia virus.

Never ending story? Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 monitored through Gibbs energies of biosynthesis and antigen-receptor binding of Omicron BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB and XBB.1 variants

“…Driving force for all chemical processes is Gibbs energy [ Demirel, 2014 ; Balmer, 2010 ; Atkins and de Paula, 2011 , 2014 ; von Stockar, 2013a , 2013b ]. To understand biological processes, which have their chemical and biothermodynamic side, it is necessary to know the driving forces for these processes [ Popovic, 2022i , 2022j ].…”

Omicron BA.2.75 Subvariant of SARS-CoV-2 Is Expected to Have the Greatest Infectivity Compared with the Competing BA.2 and BA.5, Due to Most Negative Gibbs Energy of Binding

“…As of 2022, data have been published on thermodynamic properties on Monkeypox and Vaccinia viruses [ 45 ]. The atom-counting method was developed to obtain the empirical formulae and thermodynamic properties of viruses [ 46 ].…”

The SARS-CoV-2 Hydra, a tiny monster from the 21st century: Thermodynamics of the BA.5.2 and BF.7 variants

“…To overcome this obstacle, the atom counting method was developed [Popivic, 2022 k], which proved itself useful in chemical and thermodynamic characterization of contagious viruses like SARS-CoV-2. During the last year, the atom counting method has proved itself useful in characterization of other viruses, including Ebola [Popovic, 2022j] , Monkeypox [Popovic, 2022L] , Herpes [Popovic, 2022m] , HIV-1 [Popovic, 2022n] and bacteriophages [Popovic, 2022q] , as well as viroids [Popovic, 2023] .…”