Progress on the poxvirus vaccine

Members of the family Poxviridae cause diseases such as smallpox and monkeypox, which are pathogenic to humans and negatively affect animal husbandry and development. The deadly smallpox virus was eradicated by large-scale intensive vaccination with live Vaccinia virus (VACV). However, in recent years, other VACVs have emerged as threats to human and animal health in developing countries. Vaccination is the most effective and widely used means of prevention and control of viral diseases. Different types of vaccines have been used to control poxvirus infection, including traditional attenuated, nucleic acids, recombinant subunits, virus vectors, polypeptides, gene deletions, and inactived vaccines. This review summarizes recent advances in the field of poxvirus vaccine research. It also discusses existing gaps and forecasts potential directions for future research.