Page:Interim Staff Report on Investigation into Risky MPXV Experiment at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.pdf/55

As prepared mpox virus virulence, then I may make such a proposal and would abide by the decision of the Institutional Biosafety Committee.

Research on mpox virus has been neglected since its discovery in the late 1950’s1950s [sic]. However, the 2022 mpox outbreak provided a wakeup call that the disease is not exclusively an African problem. We need to be prepared for greater adaptation of mpox virus to humans and prevent the importation of the more virulent clade I virus. Although the mpox virus clades I, IIa and IIb have been geographically segregated, climate change may alter the distribution of animal hosts and greater human travel within Africa may cause a mixing of clades. By developing a small animal model that mimics the severity of mpox disease, we are now able to safely carry out experiments to determine the genetic basis for the virulence of current mpox virus clades, anticipate changes that could lead to greater virulence, and develop new therapeutics that target virulence genes.