Poxiviridae

Poxviridae is a family of double-stranded DNA viruses that infect vertebrates and arthropods. They are among the largest and most complex viruses known. The virions are enveloped and have a characteristic brick-shaped or ovoid morphology. The genome of poxviruses is linear and replicates in the cytoplasm of infected cells, which is unusual for DNA viruses. This cytoplasmic replication strategy is facilitated by the virus encoding many of the enzymes required for DNA replication and gene expression.

Notable genera within the Poxviridae family include Orthopoxvirus, which contains well-known viruses such as the variola virus (responsible for smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and monkeypox virus. Other genera include Avipoxvirus (infecting birds) and Capripoxvirus (infecting sheep and goats).

Poxvirus infections can cause a range of diseases, often characterized by the formation of skin lesions, pustules, and scabs. Smallpox, a historical and now eradicated disease, was a particularly devastating example of a poxvirus infection. While smallpox has been eliminated, other poxviruses continue to circulate and can cause zoonotic infections in humans. Research into poxviruses is ongoing, focusing on understanding their replication, pathogenesis, and the development of antiviral therapies and vaccines. The eradication of smallpox stands as a major public health triumph attributed to vaccination campaigns against a poxvirus.