Scientific Publications by FDA Staff

Arch Virol 2011 Oct;156(10):1877-81

Infection of cynomolgus macaques with a recombinant monkeypox virus encoding green fluorescent protein.

Goff A, Mucker E, Raymond J, Fisher R, Bray M, Hensley L, Paragas J

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) causes a vesiculopustular rash illness resembling smallpox in humans and produces a similar disease in nonhuman primates. To enhance the ability of researchers to study experimental MPXV infections, we inserted a gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) into Monkeypox virus Zaire-79. Wild-type and MPXV-GFP replicated with similar kinetics in cell culture and caused a similar disease when injected intravenously into cynomolgus macaques. In MPXV-GFP-infected animals, examination under fluorescent light facilitated the identification of skin lesions during disease development and internal sites of replication at necropsy. MPXV-GFP could improve the quantitative assessment of antiviral therapy and vaccine efficacy.