Phylogeny and Molecular evolution of the first local Monkeypox virus cluster in Guangdong Province, China

Abstract

The first local monkeypox (MPX) outbreak in Guangdong Province, China occurred in June 2023. However, epidemiological data failed to quickly identify the import source and transmission of the outbreak. In this study, phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary of 10 monkeypox virus (MPXV) genome sequences from Guangdong outbreak were rapidly characterized, revealing that local hidden transmissions may have occurred in Guangdong, and showing molecular epidemiological correlation of MPX outbreaks in several regions of China at the same period. The Guangdong MPXV cluster showed a further evolutionary distance than that of Japan, separated 39 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from B.1 lineage comprising 23 non-synonymous mutations in genes linked to host regulation, virus infection and virus life cycle, and displayed a unique mutation spectrum related to APOBEC3 editing, promoting the rapid viral evolution and diversification. All these findings contribute to understanding of the ongoing MPX outbreak in China, offer insights for Joint prevention and control strategies.