Publications by authors named "Michael B Townsend"

Little is known about the serologic response elicited by the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccination (JYNNEOS) against mpox in elderly individuals with or without HIV. In this study, we measured levels of antibody against orthopoxvirus in selected participants (n = 114) with HIV or at risk for HIV acquisition from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study/Women's Interagency HIV Study Combined Cohort Study, who had no prior reported history of mpox. Participants reported MVA-BN vaccination history via questionnaires.

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Little is known about serological responses to MVA-BN (JYNNEOS) against mpox in elderly individuals with or without HIV. In this study, MVA-BN induced sustained IgG levels regardless of HIV status even up to one year. Birth before 1973 correlated with higher IgG.

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Diagnostic approaches that combine the high sensitivity and specificity of laboratory-based digital detection with the ease of use and affordability of point-of-care (POC) technologies could revolutionize disease diagnostics. This is especially true in infectious disease diagnostics, where rapid and accurate pathogen detection is critical to curbing the spread of disease. We have pioneered an innovative label-free digital detection platform that utilizes Interferometric Reflectance Imaging Sensor (IRIS) technology.

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Background: Borealpox virus (BRPV, formerly known as Alaskapox virus) is a zoonotic member of the Orthopoxvirus genus first identified in a person in 2015. In the 6 patients with infection previously observed, BRPV involved mild and self-limiting illness. We report the first fatal BRPV infection in an immunosuppressed patient.

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Diagnostic approaches that combine the high sensitivity and specificity of laboratory-based digital detection with the ease of use and affordability of point-of-care (POC) technologies could revolutionize disease diagnostics. This is especially true in infectious disease diagnostics, where rapid and accurate pathogen detection is critical to curbing the spread of disease. We have pioneered an innovative label-free digital detection platform that utilizes Interferometric Reflectance Imaging Sensor (IRIS) technology.

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A healthcare provider unknowingly treated a patient with mpox and subsequently developed ocular mpox without rash. She breastfed during illness; her infant was not infected. This report addresses 3 challenges in mpox management and control: diagnosis in the absence of rash, exposures in healthcare settings, and management of lactating patients.

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Background: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) are underrepresented in public health and clinical research. Study methods that can improve participation by this group are needed.

Methods: In late 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an mpox serological survey using venipuncture among PEH in San Francisco, California.

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We assessed early antibody responses after two doses of JYNNEOS (IMVANEX) mpox vaccine in the District of Columbia (D.C.) in persons at high risk for mpox without characteristic lesions or rash.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study conducted a serosurvey in NYC during the peak of the 2022 mpox outbreak to understand the undetected prevalence of infections among asymptomatic individuals without prior vaccination.
  • Out of 419 participants, around 6.4% showed seropositivity for mpox, with higher rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) compared to ciswomen.
  • The findings suggest that there were significant asymptomatic infections present, which could continue to influence the spread of mpox.
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  • In May 2023, an increase in mpox cases was observed in Chicago, primarily among fully vaccinated individuals, prompting an investigation into the outbreak's characteristics and causes.
  • Researchers assessed demographic and health data from patients, analyzed viral genomes, and evaluated the humoral antibody responses to understand vaccine effectiveness and potential compromises.
  • Of the 49 identified cases, 57% were fully vaccinated, with findings suggesting that increased exposure through higher median numbers of sexual partners was a key factor in the outbreak, despite overall vaccine effectiveness.
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Article Synopsis
  • - Since May 2022, mpox (monkeypox) has spread to 108 countries, predominantly affecting gay and bisexual men.
  • - Two studies conducted in mid-2022 revealed that 8% of men who have sex with men in San Francisco had orthopoxvirus antibodies, while approximately 5.6% of samples from across the U.S. tested positive for monkeypox.
  • - The findings suggest that there are likely very few undiagnosed mpox cases in areas with good sexual healthcare access and heightened awareness among patients and healthcare providers.
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We describe the results of a prospective observational study of the clinical natural history of human monkeypox (mpox) virus (MPXV) infections at the remote L'Hopital General de Reference de Kole (Kole hospital), the rainforest of the Congo River basin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2007 until August 2011. The research was conducted jointly by the Institute National de Recherche Biomedical (INRB) and the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). The Kole hospital was one of the two previous WHO Mpox study sites (1981-1986).

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Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a member of the (OPXV) genus, is a zoonotic virus, endemic to central and western Africa that can cause smallpox-like symptoms in humans with fatal outcomes in up to 15% of patients. The incidence of MPXV infections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the majority of cases have occurred historically, has been estimated to have increased as much as 20-fold since the end of smallpox vaccination in 1980. Considering the risk global travel carries for future disease outbreaks, accurate epidemiological surveillance of MPXV is warranted as demonstrated by the recent Mpox outbreak, where the majority of cases were occurring in non-endemic areas.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examined the prevalence of mpox virus in blood, throat, and rectal samples from people without visible rashes who were seeking the JYNNEOS vaccine.
  • - Findings suggest that testing individuals without skin lesions for mpox using throat, rectal, or blood samples may not be very effective.
  • - This raises questions about the practicality of risk-based screening for mpox in those who do not show typical symptoms.
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Article Synopsis
  • Monkeypox (mpox) is a disease from the Orthopoxvirus family, which saw a significant outbreak starting in May 2022, primarily spread through close contact, especially sexual contact.
  • People experiencing homelessness have been disproportionately affected, but their specific mpox prevalence and transmission routes remain largely unknown, and they were not specifically targeted for mpox vaccinations during the outbreak.
  • A CDC survey conducted in San Francisco from October 25 to November 3, 2022, found potential undetected mpox infections among homeless individuals, indicating the crucial need for accessible community outreach and vaccination efforts for this vulnerable population.
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The current worldwide monkepox outbreak has reaffirmed the continued threat monkeypox virus (MPXV) poses to public health. JYNNEOS, a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based live, non-replicating vaccine, was recently approved for monkeypox prevention for adults at high risk of MPXV infection in the United States. Although the safety and immunogenicity of JYNNEOS have been examined previously, the clinical cohorts studied largely derive from regions where MPXV does not typically circulate.

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Knowledge about monkeypox transmission risk in congregate settings is limited. In July 2022, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed a case of monkeypox in a person detained in Cook County Jail (CCJ) in Chicago, Illinois. This case was the first identified in a correctional setting in the United States and reported to CDC during the 2022 multinational monkeypox outbreak.

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Since May 2022, approximately 20,000 cases of monkeypox have been identified in the United States, part of a global outbreak occurring in approximately 90 countries and currently affecting primarily gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) (1). Monkeypox virus (MPXV) spreads from person to person through close, prolonged contact; a small number of cases have occurred in populations who are not MSM (e.g.

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Bovine vaccinia (BV), caused by Vaccinia virus (VACV), is a zoonotic disease characterized by exanthematous lesions on the teats of dairy cows and the hands of milkers, and is an important public health issue in Brazil and South America. BV also results in economic losses to the dairy industry, being a burden to the regions involved in milk production. In the past 20 years, much effort has been made to increase the knowledge regarding BV epidemiology, etiologic agents, and interactions with the hosts and the environment.

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The protection provided by smallpox vaccines when used after exposure to Orthopoxviruses is poorly understood. Postexposu re administration of 1st generation smallpox vaccines was effective during eradication. However, historical epidemiological reports and animal studies on postexposure vaccination are difficult to extrapolate to today's populations, and 2nd and 3rd generation vaccines, developed after eradication, have not been widely tested in postexposure vaccination scenarios.

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Historic observations suggest that survivors of smallpox maintained lifelong immunity and protection to subsequent infection compared to vaccinated individuals. Although protective immunity by vaccination using a related virus (vaccinia virus (VACV) strains) was the key for smallpox eradication, it does not uniformly provide long term, or lifelong protective immunity (Heiner et al., 1971).

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is a zoonotic (OPXV) that causes smallpox-like illness in humans. In Cameroon, human monkeypox cases were confirmed in 2018, and outbreaks in captive chimpanzees occurred in 2014 and 2016. We investigated the OPXV serological status among staff at a primate sanctuary (where the 2016 chimpanzee outbreak occurred) and residents from nearby villages, and describe contact with possible monkeypox reservoirs.

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Vaccinia virus (VACV) is an orthopoxvirus used in smallpox vaccines, as a vector for novel cancer treatments, and for experimental vaccine research (1). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends smallpox vaccination for laboratory workers who handle replication-competent VACV (1). For bioterrorism preparedness, the U.

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Orthopoxviruses (OPXVs) have a broad host range in mammalian cells, but Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are nonpermissive for vaccinia virus (VACV). Here, we revealed a species-specific difference in host restriction factor SAMD9L as the cause for the restriction and identified orthopoxvirus CP77 as a unique inhibitor capable of antagonizing Chinese hamster SAMD9L (chSAMD9L). Two known VACV inhibitors of SAMD9 and SAMD9L (SAMD9&L), K1 and C7, can bind human and mouse SAMD9&L, but neither can bind chSAMD9L.

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Monkeypox, caused by a zoonotic orthopoxvirus, is endemic in Central and West Africa. Monkeypox has been sporadically reported in the Republic of the Congo. During March 22-April 5, 2017, we investigated 43 suspected human monkeypox cases.

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Synopsis of recent research by authors named "Michael B Townsend"

  • - Michael B Townsend's recent research is primarily focused on monkeypox virus (mpox), addressing various aspects of its detection, transmission, and public health implications, particularly in the context of the recent outbreaks affecting diverse populations. - Notable findings include the development of a label-free optical biosensor for rapid detection of the monkeypox virus, exploration of ocular mpox cases in healthcare providers, and the serological responses to the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine among high-risk populations. - Townsend's studies underscore the challenges in diagnosing mpox without characteristic lesions, the prevalence of undetected infections, and the impact of social factors, such as homelessness, on public health research and disease transmission dynamics.