Research Summary
Monkeypox, or Mpox, is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever and headache. It spreads mainly through close contact with someone who has the virus. In recent years, cases have been reported in several African countries as well as in Asia and Europe, with especially rapid spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Dr. David Kelvin, Canada Research Chair in Translational Vaccinology and Inflammation, is studying the biological and molecular basis of the spread of Clade Ib of HMPXv, the virus that causes Mpox. (In Mpox, a clade is a genetic branch of the virus that can differ in how severe or contagious it is.)
To complement their study of Mpox epidemics in the DRC, Kelvin and his research team are also investigating historical outbreaks of smallpox on the island of Sardinia, Italy, where the mortality rate was very high from 1829 to 1832. Ultimately, their aim is to better understand these viruses and develop new vaccines and therapeutics to combat infections.