Flavonoids

The mpox virus (MPXV), which is an emergent orthopoxvirus with zoonotic transmission capability, represents a growing public health threat on a global scale due to the recently reported outbreaks in multiple countries after 2022. In view of the rising prevalence of genetically heterogeneous strains, such as Clade I and Clade II, there has been a growing research focus on the molecular aspects of pathogenesis, evolution, transmission, and epidemiology of MPXV clades. The current review focuses on the genome structure, mutations, viral fitness, immune evasiveness, and human-to-human transmission rate associated with MPXV clades. The comparative pathogenicity between the Clade I and Clade II variants is also discussed, with emphasis on the increased virulence and mortality related to Clade I and increased transmissibility of Clade II variants, including Clade IIb. Recent genomic studies have shown that hypermutations caused by the APOBEC3 enzymes, single-nucleotide polymorphism, and adaptive evolution contribute to viral persistence, immune escape, and epidemic spread. Furthermore, the review explains how epidemiologic surveillance efforts, molecular diagnostic tools, genomics techniques, and public health issues related to mpox epidemic response are managed. This information highlights the crucial role of genomics surveillance, timely diagnostics, vaccines, and the One Health approach in future prevention of mpox outbreaks.

The contamination of water sources with heavy metal ions, especially Cu²⁺, has been on the rise, and hence, there is a need to develop efficient and sustainable adsorbent materials. This study aims at synthesizing cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-enhanced hydrogels for Cu²⁺ ion adsorption to improve adsorption capacity, mechanical stability, and reusability. Hydrogels were synthesized through free radical polymerization, incorporating CNFs to enhance structural integrity and surface area. The characterization by FTIR, SEM, and swelling studies proved that hydrogels were successfully synthesized with improved porosity. The batch adsorption experiments revealed high Cu²⁺ removal efficiency for CNF-enhanced hydrogels and attained rapid equilibrium of adsorption under optimized pH and contact time conditions. Adsorption was based on the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics, with evidence of monolayer adsorption and a strong binding affinity. Regeneration studies confirmed multiple cycles of adsorption, indicating the sustainability potential of the hydrogel. These findings highlight the potential application of CNF-enhanced hydrogels in wastewater treatment, providing an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for heavy metal remediation.