Orthopox Viruses

The Orthopoxvirus topic includes research on the causative pathogens, transmission, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of infections caused by orthopoxvirus.

Orthopoxvirus is a large, complex double stranded DNA virus in the family Poxviridae. They are different from most DNA viruses because they replicate inside the cytoplasm of cells rather than the nucleus. They infect mammals and can be transmitted to humans through direct contact with the infected animal, person-to-person, and contact with contaminated materials. Examples include smallpox, cowpox, Mpox (formally called monkeypox), mousepox, and vaccinia.