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In early 2022, a cluster of Monkeypox (now termed MPOX) virus (MPXV) cases were identified within the UK with no prior travel history to MPXV-endemic regions, suggesting localised transmission of MPXV within the UK. Subsequently, cases were identified in several other non-endemic countries and currently exceed 80,000 worldwide, primarily affecting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Public health agencies worldwide have offered the IMVANEX Smallpox vaccination to these individuals to provide protection and limit the spread of MPXV.We have developed a comprehensive array of ELISA assays to study poxvirus-induced antibodies, utilising 24 MPXV and 3 Vaccinia virus (VACV) recombinant antigens. Panels of serum samples from individuals with one, two, or three doses of IMVANEX or ACAM2000 (Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)) vaccination, and those with prior MPOX infection were tested against these antigens, with Pearson correlation, principal component analysis and receiver operator curve statistics used to further elucidate antigenic responses to pox-virus infection. Furthermore, using our data, we demonstrated the development of a pooled antigen ELISA that can reliably detect antibody responses induced by Smallpox vaccination or MPXV infection.Using diverse poxvirus antigen ELISAs, we observe that one dose of Smallpox vaccination induces a low number of antibodies, primarily against MPXV B2, with a second dose inducing considerably higher antibody responses against B2R but also to other MPXV antigens such as B5, E8, M1, and A35. Prior MPXV infection, both Clades IIa and IIb, induce variable responses, but similarly induce antibody responses to poxvirus antigens observed in Smallpox-vaccinated individuals, and additionally responses to MPXV A27, A29 and H3. Principal component and Pearson correlation matrix identified MPXV A27 as a differential between IMVANEX and MPOX-infected individuals, whilst MPXV M1 (VACV L1) is likely a serological marker of IMVANEX-vaccination. When using recombinant MPXV/VACV protein homologues, we also observe a difference in antigen binding, with variability based on the individual’s originating infection/vaccination. Using a pooled-antigen ELISA, we also demonstrate a sensitivity of 97.14% (95% CI:91.93-99.22) and specificity of 98.23% (96.67-99.07) in detecting poxvirus antibodies with applicability to measuring longitudinal antibody responses post-vaccination/post-MPXV infection.Here, we show that both MPXV-infected or Smallpox-vaccinated individuals mount antibodies able to bind a diverse but core set of poxvirus antigens, with implications for future vaccine (e.g., mRNA-based) and therapeutic (e.g., monoclonal antibodies) targets. We identify low levels of antibodies observed in those post dose one IMVANEX, but considerably higher levels of antibodies post dose two. We also demonstrate that homologous VACV and MPXV antigens may offer a mechanism for discriminating between vaccinated and MPXV-infected individuals through differential binding, aiding in serosurveillance and future immunology studies.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme commenced in England on 8th December 2020 primarily based on age; by 7th March 2021 approximately 93% of the English population aged 70+ years had received at least 1 dose of either the Pfizer BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccines. Using a nucleoprotein assay that detects antibodies following natural infection only and a spike assay that detects infection and vaccine-induced responses, we aim to describe the impact of vaccination on SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence in English blood donors.

Objectives To monitor changes in seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in populations over time and between different demographic groups. Methods A subset of practices in the Oxford-Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC) sentinel network provided serum samples, collected when volunteer patients had routine blood tests. We tested these samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using Abbott (Chicago, USA), Roche (Basel, Switzerland) and/or Euroimmun (Luebeck, Germany) assays, and linked the results to the patients’ primary care computerised medical records. We report seropositivity by region and age group, and additionally examined the effects of gender, ethnicity, deprivation, rurality, shielding recommendation and smoking status. Results We estimated seropositivity from patients aged 18-100 years old, which ranged from 4.1% (95% CI 3.1–5.3%) to 8.9% (95% CI 7.8–10.2%) across the different assays and time periods. We found higher Euroimmun seropositivity in younger age groups, people of Black and Asian ethnicity (compared to white), major conurbations, and non-smokers. We did not observe any significant effect by region, gender, deprivation, or shielding recommendation. Conclusions Our results suggest that prior to the vaccination programme, most of the population remained unexposed to SARS-CoV-2.

The Little Swan Island hutia became extinct in the 1950s. Two, previously unrecorded, specimens have been discovered in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter, UK and are added to the hypodigm of the taxon. They apparently originate from a failed attempt at captive management in the 1930s.

Zoological parks are playing an increasingly important role in the management of threatened species through education, the maintenance of captive gene banks and the reintroduction of captive-bred animals into the wild. This paper discusses the suitability of amphibian species for reintroduction. The important features of amphibians for these programmes are highlighted, i.e., their high fecundity to allow rapid build-up of captive populations coupled with few behavioural problems with captive-bred animals, as well as the low cost of maintenance. The potential problems of inbreeding, poor retention of innate behavioural repertoires after multiple generation captive breeding, and the introduction of alien pathogens into wild populations are considered. Release programmes for two species, the Mallorcan midwife toad Alytes muletensis and the Puerto Rican crested toad Peltophryne lemur, are reviewed.

The Mallorcan midwife toad was described, from subfossil remains, as recently as 1977, and it was not until 1980 that some living tadpoles were recognized as belonging to this new species. Once widespread in Mallorca, now perhaps only 1000–1500 adult toads remain, in secret and remote gorges in the mountains. In order to provide a safety net, should catastrophe strike at the fragile wild populations, the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust offered to set up a captive-breeding programme for the toad. In 1985 the author set out to collect eight toads, to be the founders of the captive colony. The FFPS contributed £85 from its Oryx 100% Fund towards the expedition.