Cowpox virus (CPXV)

Cowpox virus (CPXV) is a large, enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family (NCBI, 2023). It is a zoonotic pathogen primarily found in wild rodents in Europe and Northern Asia, which can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, such as domestic cats (CDC, 2021). Historically, CPXV is renowned for its role in the development of the first vaccine against smallpox by Edward Jenner (Wikipedia, 2024). In a therapeutic context, the virus itself is the causative agent of disease, while specific viral proteins serve as the actual molecular targets for drug intervention. For instance, the antiviral drug tecovirimat targets the p37 envelope wrap protein (encoded by the F13L gene) to prevent the formation of egress-competent virus particles (PubChem, 2024). Other treatments like cidofovir and its prodrug brincidofovir act by inhibiting the viral DNA polymerase, thereby halting viral replication (StatPearls, 2023). Human infections typically manifest as localized, painful pustular lesions on the hands or face, but the virus can cause severe systemic illness in immunocompromised individuals or those with atopic dermatitis (PubMed, 2022).

Other names

CPXVOrthopoxvirus bovisCowpox

Inhibition of the p37 envelope wrap protein (F13L) to prevent viral egress; inhibition of viral DNA polymerase to prevent genome replication.