02743nas a2200313 4500008004100000022001400041245009700055210006900152260001300221300001000234490000600244520172000250100003301970700002602003700001702029700002802046700002302074700002602097700002302123700001702146700002002163700002002183700002802203700002002231700001802251700002002269700002202289856011802311 2024 eng d a2398-883500aMolecular and phylogenetic characterization of the monkeypox outbreak in the South of Spain.0 aMolecular and phylogenetic characterization of the monkeypox out c2024 Mar ae19650 v73 a

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Until the May 2022 Monkeypox (MPXV) outbreak, which spread rapidly to many non-endemic countries, the virus was considered a viral zoonosis limited to some African countries. The Andalusian circuit of genomic surveillance was rapidly applied to characterize the MPXV outbreak in the South of Spain.

METHODS: Whole genome sequencing was used to obtain the genomic profiles of samples collected across the south of Spain, representative of all the provinces of Andalusia. Phylogenetic analysis was used to study the relationship of the isolates and the available sequences of the 2022 outbreak.

RESULTS: Whole genome sequencing of a total of 160 MPXV viruses from the different provinces that reported cases were obtained. Interestingly, we report the sequences of MPXV viruses obtained from two patients who died. While one of the isolates bore no noteworthy mutations that explain a potential heightened virulence, in another patient the second consecutive genome sequence, performed after the administration of tecovirimat, uncovered a mutation within the A0A7H0DN30 gene, known to be a prime target for tecovirimat in its Vaccinia counterpart. In general, a low number of mutations were observed in the sequences reported, which were very similar to the reference of the 2022 outbreak (OX044336), as expected from a DNA virus. The samples likely correspond to several introductions of the circulating MPXV viruses from the last outbreak. The virus sequenced from one of the two patients that died presented a mutation in a gene that bears potential connections to drug resistance. This mutation was absent in the initial sequencing before treatment.

1 aCasimiro-Soriguer, Carlos, S1 aPerez-Florido, Javier1 aLara, María1 aCamacho-Martinez, Pedro1 aMerino-Diaz, Laura1 aPupo-Ledo, Inmaculada1 ade Salazar, Adolfo1 aFuentes, Ana1 aViñuela, Laura1 aChueca, Natalia1 aMartinez-Martinez, Luis1 aLorusso, Nicola1 aLepe, Jose, A1 aDopazo, Joaquin1 aGarcía, Federico uhttps://www.clinbioinfosspa.es/content/molecular-and-phylogenetic-characterization-monkeypox-outbreak-south-spain