Scribd
Upload
137 views21 pages

Poxviruses: Smallpox and Cowpox: Suzan Matar PHD in Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Poxviruses include smallpox and cowpox. Smallpox has been eradicated through vaccination programs using vaccines derived from cowpox. Poxviruses are large, enveloped viruses containing double-stranded DNA that replicate in the cytoplasm. They have complex structures and replicate through the formation of virus factories. Early smallpox vaccination involved inoculation of cowpox or smallpox material, while later vaccines used vaccinia strains. Smallpox was successfully eradicated due to its exclusive human host, consistent symptoms, and the availability of an effective vaccine.

Uploaded by

Daniel Atieh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
137 views21 pages

Poxviruses: Smallpox and Cowpox: Suzan Matar PHD in Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Poxviruses include smallpox and cowpox. Smallpox has been eradicated through vaccination programs using vaccines derived from cowpox. Poxviruses are large, enveloped viruses containing double-stranded DNA that replicate in the cytoplasm. They have complex structures and replicate through the formation of virus factories. Early smallpox vaccination involved inoculation of cowpox or smallpox material, while later vaccines used vaccinia strains. Smallpox was successfully eradicated due to its exclusive human host, consistent symptoms, and the availability of an effective vaccine.

Uploaded by

Daniel Atieh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

4.

Poxviruses: Smallpox and Cowpox


Suzan Matar
PhD in Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Smallpox

Humans are the


only natural
hosts
The early vaccines
were derived from
cowpox
(vacca=cow)

Later, other
vaccines using
strains of poxvirus
(vaccinia) were
used.
Poxviruses

Smallpox is considered a category A agent by


the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), with anthrax, plague, botulism, tularemia
because of their great potential as bioterrorism-
biowarfare agents.
Properties of Poxviruses
Structure and composition
Enveloped
Largest viruses
Linear dsDNA
Brick shaped
core (contains nucleic acid)
Lateral bodies (unknown function)

More than 100 polypeptides


Many target the immune response
Replicate in cytoplasm (too big to get into nucleus)
Tend to be highly species-specific
Some are being explored as gene therapy vectors
Structure and Replication

They replicate only in the cytoplasm and


transport into the cell transcriptases,
capping and methylating enzymes and
poly(A) polymerase.

Viral DNA then replicates in electron-dense


cytoplasmic inclusions (Guarnieri's inclusion
bodies), referred to as factories.
Poxiviridiae
Variolation

An early approach to immunization, involved the


inoculation of susceptible people with the virulent
smallpox pus. It was first performed in the Far East
and later in England.

Variolation was associated with a fatality rate of


approximately 1%, a better risk than that
associated with smallpox itself.

In 1796, Jenner developed and then popularized


a vaccine using the less virulent cowpox virus,
which shares antigenic determinants with
smallpox.
VACCINIA
Vaccinia, a form of cowpox, was used for the
smallpox vaccine.

The vaccination procedure consisted of


scratching live virus into the patient's skin and
then observing for the development of vesicles
and pustules.

Encephalitis and progressive infection (vaccinia


necrosum), the latter occurring occasionally in
immunocompromised patients.
Despite the severity of the disease and its
tendency to spread, several factors contributed
to its elimination.
Properties of Natural Smallpox That Led
to Its Eradication
Viral Characteristics
Exclusive human host range (no animal reservoirs or vectors)
Single serotype (immunization protected against all
infections)

Disease Characteristics
Consistent disease presentation with visible pustules
(identification of sources of contagion allowed quarantine
and vaccination of contacts) no asympotomatic carriers
Short infectivity period (3-4 weeks)

Vaccine
Immunization with animal poxviruses protects against
smallpox . Stable, inexpensive, and easy-to-administer
vaccine . Presence of scar indicating successful
vaccination
Pathogenesis and Immunity
After being inhaled, smallpox virus replicates in the
upper respiratory tract.

Dissemination occurs via lymphatic and cell-


associated viremic spread.

Internal and dermal tissues are inoculated after a


second viremia, causing the simultaneous eruption
of the characteristic "pocks.
Most infectious
Might be contagious
contagious
Immune response
- An early IgM response was followed by the
appearance of IgG antibody, which persisted
for many years.

- An attack nearly always conferred lifelong


immunity, mediated by neutralizing antibody.

- Recovery from infection was, however, largely


effected by cell-mediated responses.
EM is the most important technique for
diagnosing all poxvirus infections and
units able to rapidly diagnose smallpox
have been set up again to counter
bioterrorism or natural emergence of
monkey pox.

You might also like