Mutations of the Monkeypox virus responsible for the 2022 outbreak

The Monkeypox virus (MPXV) in 2022 has several variations that distinguish it from that in 2018 and 2019. Around 46 new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) appeared in MPXV 2022. In this study, we summarize the variation in the MPXV compared with other old versions of this virus. Mutations in MPXV are found in several patterns, such as the replacement in nucleotides and the increase in A:T content in MPXV that the APOBEC3 enzyme may induce. Additionally, there were some deletions and insertions in the MPXV 2022 genome. Moreover, various mutations occurred in the different sites in the codon encoding for some proteins like OPG015, OPG023, OPG057, OPG178, OPG205, and OPG210. Therefore, more investigations into mutations that appear in MPXV 2022 can help find new vaccines and treatment modalities that could be more effective than the current options.