Evaluation of monkeypox‐ and vaccinia‐virus neutralizing antibodies before and after smallpox vaccination: A sero‐epidemiological study

• Published in: Journal of medical virology Vol. 96; no. 6; pp. e29728 - n/a
• Main Authors: Marchi, Serena, Piccini, Giulia, Cantaloni, Paolo, Guerrini, Noemi, Zannella, Roberta, Coluccio, Rosa, Benincasa, Linda, Solfanelli, Niccolò, Remarque, Edmond J., Viviani, Simonetta, Kistner, Otfried, Temperton, Nigel, Montomoli, Emanuele, Manenti, Alessandro, Trombetta, Claudia Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antibodies; Antibodies, Neutralizing - blood; Antibodies, Neutralizing - immunology; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Child; Cohort Studies; Cross Protection - immunology; Epidemiology; Female; Humans; humoral immunity; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; monkeypox virus; Monkeypox virus - immunology; Mpox; Mpox, Monkeypox - epidemiology; Mpox, Monkeypox - immunology; neutralization; Neutralizing; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Smallpox; Smallpox - epidemiology; Smallpox - immunology; Smallpox - prevention & control; Smallpox Vaccine - administration & dosage; Smallpox Vaccine - immunology; Vaccination; vaccinia virus; Vaccinia virus - immunology; Viruses; Young Adult; Young adults; Italy; humoral immunity; vaccinia virus; monkeypox virus; neutralization
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29728

Since May 2022, several countries outside of Africa experienced multiple clusters of monkeypox virus (MPXV)‐associated disease. In the present study, anti‐MPXV and anti‐vaccinia virus (VACV) neutralizing antibody responses were evaluated in two cohorts of subjects from the general Italian population (one half born before the WHO‐recommended end of smallpox vaccination in 1980, the other half born after). Higher titers (either against MPXV or VACV) were observed in the cohort of individuals born before the interruption of VACV vaccination. An association between VACV and MPXV antibody levels was observed, suggesting that the smallpox vaccination may confer some degree of cross‐protection against MPXV infection. Results from this study highlight low levels of immunity toward the assessed Orthopoxviruses, especially in young adults, advocating the introduction of a VACV‐ or MPXV‐specific vaccine in case of resurgence of monkeypox disease outbreaks.