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Open research questions in Poxvirus research and outbreaks

150 gap statements mined from Poxvirus research and outbreaks papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 956 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

Choosing where to publish on Poxvirus research and outbreaks? See the ranked Medicine journals.

What the literature leaves open

  • The need for a better understanding of the transmission dynamics of Monkeypox. The lack of effective control strategies for the disease. The importance of considering both human-to-human and rodent-to-human transmission pathways in the development of control strategies.

    Modeling Zoonotic and Human Transmission of Mpox: Stability, Bifurcation, and Control Insights · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies can be conducted to develop treatment strategies for Monkeypox using Ayurvedic principles. The concept of Anukta Vyadhi can be applied to study other emerging diseases.

    CONCEPT OF ANUKTA VYADHI WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MONKEYPOX (MPOX) · 2026 · DOI

  • The study had to overcome the limitation of a limited sample size. The study had to address the challenge of assessing knowledge and attitudes toward a emerging zoonotic threat.

    Mpox Knowledge and Attitude Among Health Sciences Students in a Peruvian University https://doi.org/10.32945/atr4819.2026 · 2026 · DOI

  • The study had a limited sample size of 185 students. The study did not assess temporal changes in knowledge or attitudes related to the evolution of the Mpox outbreak.

    Mpox Knowledge and Attitude Among Health Sciences Students in a Peruvian University https://doi.org/10.32945/atr4819.2026 · 2026 · DOI

  • The exact origins of Vaccinia virus remain uncertain. The driving forces behind the genomic evolution and host adaptation of Vaccinia virus are not well understood.

    Phylogenetic and genome-wide analysis of codon usage reveals geographic and host-specific adaptation in Vaccinia virus · 2026 · DOI

  • GTPV had three deeply divergent and genetically stable lineages with limited evidence of recent gene flow, whereas SPPV had weaker clade separation consistent with an ancestral bottleneck followed by recent population expansion.

    Insights into goatpox virus and sheeppox virus genomes from pangenome graphs · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research could explore integrating 3D, hyperspectral, or dermoscopic imaging modalities to provide deeper morphological insights into lesion characteristics, potentially improving classification accuracy and enabling more nuanced differentiation between monkeypox and other visually similar skin conditions.

    Deep Learning-Based Prediction Model for Monkeypox Detection · 2026 · DOI

  • Although BPoPV disease has been reported in different regions of Brazil6–9, the frequency of infection in wild BP populations has not been established.

    Investigating the emergence of the Brazilian porcupinepox poxvirus in wild Brazilian porcupines (Coendou longicaudatus) · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited disease-specific knowledge among university students. Gaps in transmission routes, clinical recognition, prevention, and vaccination awareness.

    Mpox-Related Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Vaccination Willingness Among University Students in Aktobe, Kazakhstan: A Cross-Sectional Study · 2026 · DOI

  • While silent transmission represents a major challenge for mpox prevention and control in low-incidence areas, it remains understudied despite its importance for public health practice (13).

    Mpox-HIV co-infection in a low-incidence setting: epidemiological insights from Qinghai, China · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of the transmission dynamics and genetic variability of the monkeypox virus is necessary. Global cooperation and monitoring are necessary to prevent the spread of mpox. The development of effective vaccines and treatments is crucial to contain the disease.

    An Emerging Global Threat After The COVID-19 Pandemic: Monkeypox Similarities and Differences · 2026 · DOI

  • However, orthopoxvirus surfaces are complex, displaying many antigens across two infectious forms, mature virions (MV) and extracellular virions (EV) and targets relevant to protection remain to be comprehensively defined.

    Comprehensive Profiling of Monkeypox Virus Antigens Identifies Potent Targets for Next-Generation mRNA Vaccine Development · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of a universally accepted serological gold standard for classification of prior MPXV exposure. The complexity and cost of multiplex assays.

    A simplified antigen-based serological algorithm accurately classifies MPXV exposure and vaccination status · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for reliable serological tools to measure MPXV exposure and evaluate vaccine-induced immunity. The relative diagnostic contribution of individual antigens has not been well defined.

    A simplified antigen-based serological algorithm accurately classifies MPXV exposure and vaccination status · 2026 · DOI

  • The difference in virulence of MPXV subclades in human infection warrants further investigation; however, one critical limitation is the lack of susceptible small animal models.

    Monkeypox virus clade IIb isolate exhibits reduced virulence relative to clade IIa isolates in multiple murine models · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to evaluate the safety of the Jynneos vaccine. The study fills the gap by providing a safety profile of the vaccine in the vaccinated high-risk population.

    Vaccine safety surveillance during an mpox outbreak, Germany, June 2022 to February 2024 · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies should focus on the development of effective public health policies for controlling Mpox. Research should prioritize the use of a One Health approach in controlling the disease.

    MPOX: ASPECTOS GERAIS E O USO DA ABORDAGEM ONE HEALTH NO CONTEXTO DESSA ZOONOSE VIRAL · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for further research on the transmission and diagnosis of Mpox. The importance of a One Health approach in controlling the disease requires further emphasis.

    MPOX: ASPECTOS GERAIS E O USO DA ABORDAGEM ONE HEALTH NO CONTEXTO DESSA ZOONOSE VIRAL · 2026 · DOI

  • Few vaccine platforms have demonstrated robust and durable immune responses against pathogens spanning distinct biological classes. Existing malaria vaccines have moderate efficacy and waning durability. SARS-CoV-2 vaccine coverage has lagged behind in sub-Saharan Africa due to supply shortages, cold-chain limitations, and distribution challenges.

    A viral-vectored multipathogen vaccine platform based on replication-competent vaccinia virus and adeno-associated virus · 2026 · DOI

  • Introduction Monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection induces robust humoral immune responses; however, the kinetics of IgG avidity maturation following natural infection remain poorly characterized.

    Longitudinal assessment of MPXV-specific IgG avidity in patients with Mpox infection · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of effective methods for disease surveillance in domestic/wild animals. The need for non-invasive and efficient methods for disease surveillance.

    Insect-derived environmental surveillance of lumpy skin disease virus using synanthropic flies · 2026 · DOI

  • In Vitro Enzyme Inhibition Assays will be conducted to assess the biochemical activity of the MPXV DNA polymerase, - IC50 values of each compound will be determined by measuring the inhibition of polymerase activity across a range of compound…

    Computational Discovery of Novel Monkeypox Virus DNA Polymerase Inhibitors from the Zinc20 Database · 2026 · DOI

  • Further study of the evolution and adaptation of Vaccinia virus. Analysis of the role of natural selection and mutational pressure in shaping codon usage patterns. Investigation of the implications of the study's findings for public health policy and disease control strategies.

    Phylogenetic and genome-wide analysis of codon usage reveals geographic and host-specific adaptation in Vaccinia virus · 2026 · DOI

  • The study was conducted among university students in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, - The sample size was limited to 482 respondents, - The study used a cross-sectional design, - The study relied on self-reported…

    Mpox-Related Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Vaccination Willingness Among University Students in Aktobe, Kazakhstan: A Cross-Sectional Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies on the molecular aspects of pathogenesis, evolution, transmission, and epidemiology of MPXV clades. Development of effective vaccines and public health strategies.

    Mpox Virus Variants Clade-I and Clade-II Pathogenesis: Mapping the Genetic Mutations, Impact on Viral Fitness, Efficiency of Human-To-Human Transmission, Epidemiological Surveillance · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Poxvirus research and outbreaks

Most recent work

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This page shows what the Poxvirus research and outbreaks literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 4.5M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The driving forces behind the genomic evolution and host adaptation of Vaccinia virus are not well understood (“Phylogenetic and genome-wide analysis of codon usage reveals geographic and…”, 2026); (2) Although BPoPV disease has been reported in different regions of Brazil6–9, the frequency of infection in wild BP populations has not been established (“Investigating the emergence of the Brazilian porcupinepox poxvirus in wild…”, 2026); (3) Orthopoxvirus surfaces are complex, displaying many antigens across two infectious forms, mature virions (MV) and extracellular virions (EV) and targets relevant to protection remain to be comprehensively defined (“Comprehensive Profiling of Monkeypox Virus Antigens Identifies Potent Targets…”, 2026); (4) The lack of a universally accepted serological gold standard for classification of prior MPXV exposure (“A simplified antigen-based serological algorithm accurately classifies MPXV…”, 2026); (5) The difference in virulence of MPXV subclades in human infection warrants further investigation; however, one critical limitation is the lack of susceptible small animal models (“Monkeypox virus clade IIb isolate exhibits reduced virulence relative to clade…”, 2026). 150 gap statements have been mined from Poxvirus research and outbreaks papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 956 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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