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The gene of the complement-binding protein, an important anti-inflammatory factor of orthopoxviruses, is deleted from the genome of Western African strains of monkeypox virus

“…The DNA sequences of the Zaire strains MPXY CDC#v79-I-005 and CDC#v97-I-004 completely coincided with the DNA sequences of the Central African strains BOO ZAI-96-I-16, 77-0666, and Congo-8, which were determined by us earlier in the examined region [15]. Because of the deletion of 1953 bp in the genome of the Western African strains CDC#v70-I-187 and CDC#v78-I-3945, the latter lacked not only the VCP gene (the open reading frame (ORF) D14L) but also the ORF D15L-D17L, which are fragments of the kelch -like protein contained in the CPV and VV genomes (Fig.…”

“…AY548958 (CDC#v79-I-005), AY548959 (CDC#v97-I-004), AY548961 (CDC#v70-I-187), and AY548962 (CDC#v78-I-3945). The results of sequencing were subjected to a computer analysis as described previously [15].…”

“…We have previously shown that, in the Central African MPV strains, the gene of the complement-binding protein is truncated because of an early reading frame termination in the MPV VCP [15]. This may account for the ability of the viral protein to inhibit the inflammatory reaction, as well as for lymphadenophathy in MPV-infected patients and a reduced MPV virulence.…”

Exploring Interaction of TNF and Orthopoxviral CrmB Protein by Surface Plasmon Resonance and Free Energy Calculation

“…We have performed a computer analysis of amino acid sequences of the viral TNF-binding CrmB proteins (TNF-BPs). These viruses included the variola virus (VARV), monkeypox virus (MPXV), and cowpox virus (CPXV), all pathogenic for humans, showing high homology and relatively small species-specific amino acid differences [ 30 - 32 ]. Individual recombinant proteins VARV-CrmB, MPXV-CrmB, and CPXV-CrmB have been synthesized in a baculovirus expression system in insect cells and isolated [ 33 ].…”