The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations (MCTI), through the Secretariat for Research and Scientific Training (SEPEF), invested R$ 2,964,541.90 (583,000) in contracting the project "Scientific aspects of the outbreak of Monkeypox virus (simian smallpox) in Brazil".
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The funds come from the SEPEF/MCTI budget and were released through the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).
The researchers responsible for the four thematic axes of the project and the members of SEPEF met September 13 to detail the subprojects that will be carried out over 24 months.
One of the lines of research involves vaccines and the evaluation of the immunological status of the population and the development of viral antigen tests for serology.
The work of this line of research began last week with the receipt of the Modified Vaccinia Ankara Virus (MVA) seed viru. CT Vacinas researchers will focus on developing a vaccine against simian smallpox.
The subprojects of this line also include the immunological characterization of human infection by the Monkeypox virus and the evaluation of the immunological status of Brazilian urban populations for Orthopoxyvirus, the virus family of which Monkeypox is a part.
Another line focuses on monitoring the insertion of the virus in wild and domestic animals (mainly animals with positive tutors).
This line of research aims to understand the eco-epidemiological characteristics of the Monkeypox virus in different animal species, and the interrelationships between the biology and ecology of the hosts and the prevalence and diversity of viruses;
The researchers will also carry out a structural and genomic evaluation of the virus, focusing on the analysis of the strains circulating in Brazil.
The project also provides for the establishment of animal models for virology studies. This means that mice with some immunosuppression will be used to evaluate existing or new antiviral drugs.
Actions carried out by CâmaraPOX MCTI - CâmaraPOX is a temporary working group of an advisory nature, formed on May 18, 2022, which aims to assist the MCTI in defining Research, Development and Innovation priorities for the fight against the monkeypox virus .
It is composed of eight members who are researchers from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Feevale University of Rio Grande do Sul, and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
Among the outstanding actions carried out are the genomic sequencing and deposit in an international bank of the first complete nucleotide sequence of a simian smallpox virus obtained from a patient in Brazil, carried out in mid-June.
The members of the POX Chamber and RedeVÃrus MCTI also carried out the isolation, cultivation in monkeypox virus cells, in the first half of June. The inactivated virus was sent to RedeVÃrus MCTI laboratories for use in positive diagnostic control of the disease
Another action was the availability of supplies and a protocol for research into the molecular diagnosis of monkeypox virus , made available in July.
In the same month, virologists associated with Rede VÃrus and CâmaraPOX/RedeVÃrus MCTI generated the first electron microscopy image of monkeypox virus in Brazil, and possibly the first in Latin America.
The images were obtained at the Microscopy Center of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). According to the researchers, the execution of this image demonstrates the installed capacity shows the installed capacity to observe the viral cycle in the cell. This is important for virus studies. ■