An infectiologist from Pirogov University noted that the virus is mutating five to six times faster than previously known strains.
MOSCOW, April 18. /TASS/. For a long time, monkeypox was regarded as a typical zoonosis—an infection that “jumps” to humans from animals and rapidly subsides. However, in recent years, it has been observed that the virus’s rate of evolution has significantly accelerated, indicating it is actively adapting to humans. Murad Shakhmaradanov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology of the Institute of Clinical Medicine at Pirogov University under the Russian Ministry of Health, informed TASS about this.
“For an extended period, monkeypox was considered a classic zoonotic disease—an infection originating in animals that transfers to humans and quickly fades away. Nevertheless, research from the past couple of years has upended this perception. Back in 2020, amidst the peak of the global outbreak, scientists identified a paradox: a virus believed to mutate slowly (as it is DNA-based) suddenly began accumulating changes at an unprecedented speed,” Shakhmaradanov stated.
According to him, molecular dating has demonstrated that the evolutionary rate of the Clade IIb subgroup has increased five to six times compared to earlier established strains. This serves as direct affirmation that the virus has entered a novel environment for itself—the human population—and commenced vigorous adaptation to it.
Shakhmaradanov emphasized that researchers have identified characteristic mutations within the viral genome which are induced by the action of the human enzyme APOBEC3. This enzyme is an innate component of human immune defense, functioning by “splicing” viral DNA in an attempt to neutralize it.
“However, not only is the virus surviving, but it is also leveraging these defects to generate new variants. The presence of such mutations is definitive proof that the virus has been circulating within human communities for an extended duration, rather than being imported anew from animals each time. Scientists estimate that this sustained spread among people commenced as far back as 2016,” remarked the expert.
He further mentioned that the most concerning findings were published in April 2026. Indian scientists conducted an analysis of 40 virus samples sourced from various countries and detected alterations in three critical genes: OPG002, OPG176, and OPG210. These genes encode proteins that the virus exploits to suppress the human immune response, block warning signals (interferons), and evade attack by T-cells. In essence, the virus is deliberately refining the mechanisms that enable it to conceal itself from human defenses more effectively and for longer periods.
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