Mpox Vaccine Strategies:From Cross-Protection to Next-Generation Platforms

doi:10.3870/j.issn.1672-0741.25.11.008

Abstract

Abstract: Monkeypox(Mpox)is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus(MPXV).The 2022 global outbreak highlighted the pivotal role of vaccination in pandemic control.Currently,no MPXV-specific vaccine is universally approved,therefore,prevention still relies primarily on cross-protective immunity from traditional smallpox vaccines based on the vaccinia virus(VACV),such as ACAM2000,MVA-BN,and LC16m8.This review first evaluates the immunological characteristics,clinical efficacy,and limitations of these conventional vaccines.It then focuses on advances in novel vaccine platforms,including recombinant protein vaccines(e.g.,multivalent antigen fusions and virus-like particles),nucleic acid vaccines(DNA/mRNA),and engineered extracellular vesicle-based vaccines.These platforms are designed to target MPXV-specific antigens rationally,aiming to induce stronger and more durable immune protection.Preclinical studies have shown that multivalent mRNA vaccines(e.g.,BNT166,mRNA-1769)and multivalent VLP vaccines can elicit protection superior to that of the traditional MVA vaccine in animal models.We conclude that future MPXV vaccine development requires continued advances in defining protective correlates,optimizing antigen combinations and delivery systems,and improving accessibility in resource-limited settings.By tracing the shift from cross-protection to multi-platform innovation,this review offers a valuable reference for establishing a scientific framework for Mpox prevention and control.

Key words: monkeypox virus, mRNA vaccine, virus-like particle, cross-protection, antigen design

CLC Number:

R373
R186

Wang Lijuan, Zhuo Kexing, Zeng Zihang et al. Mpox Vaccine Strategies:From Cross-Protection to Next-Generation Platforms[J]. Acta Medicinae Universitatis Scientiae et Technologiae Huazhong, 2026, 55(2): 263-270.

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