Kinganda-Lusamaki, EddyEddyKinganda-LusamakiAmuri-Aziza, AdrienneAdrienneAmuri-AzizaFernandez-Nuñez, NicolasNicolasFernandez-NuñezMakangara-Cigolo, Jean-ClaudeJean-ClaudeMakangara-Cigolo0000-0002-1791-2247Pratt, CatherineCatherinePrattVakaniaki, Emmanuel HasivirweEmmanuel HasivirweVakaniakiHoff, Nicole ANicole AHoffLuakanda-Ndelemo, GradiGradiLuakanda-NdelemoAkil-Bandali, PrincePrinceAkil-BandaliNundu, Sabin SabitiSabin SabitiNunduMulopo-Mukanya, NoellaNoellaMulopo-MukanyaNgimba, MichelMichelNgimbaModadra-Madakpa, BrigitteBrigitteModadra-MadakpaDiavita, RuthRuthDiavitaPaku-Tshambu, PrincessePrincessePaku-TshambuPukuta-Simbu, ElisabethElisabethPukuta-SimbuMerritt, SydneySydneyMerrittO'Toole, ÁineÁineO'TooleLow, NicolaNicolaLow0000-0003-4817-8986Nkuba-Ndaye, AntoineAntoineNkuba-NdayeKavunga-Membo, HugoHugoKavunga-MemboShongo Lushima, RobertRobertShongo LushimaLiesenborghs, LaurensLaurensLiesenborghsWawina-Bokalanga, TonyTonyWawina-BokalangaVercauteren, KoenKoenVercauterenMukadi-Bamuleka, DanielDanielMukadi-BamulekaSubissi, LorenzoLorenzoSubissiMuyembe-Tamfum, Jean-JacquesJean-JacquesMuyembe-TamfumKindrachuk, JasonJasonKindrachukAyouba, AhidjoAhidjoAyoubaRambaut, AndrewAndrewRambautDelaporte, EricEricDelaporteTessema, SofoniasSofoniasTessemaD'Ortenzio, EricEricD'OrtenzioW Rimoin, AnneAnneW RimoinE Hensley, LisaLisaE HensleyMbala-Kingebeni, PlacidePlacideMbala-KingebeniPeeters, MartineMartinePeetersAhuka-Mundeke, SteveSteveAhuka-Mundeke2024-12-052024-12-052025-01-09https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/189441Recent reports raise concerns on the changing epidemiology of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). High-quality genomes were generated for 337 patients from 14/26 provinces to document whether the increase in number of cases is due to zoonotic spillover events or viral evolution, with enrichment of APOBEC3 mutations linked to human adaptation. Our study highlights two patterns of transmission contributing to the source of human cases. All new sequences from the eastern South Kivu province (n = 17; 4.8%) corresponded to the recently described clade Ib, associated with sexual contact and sustained human-to-human transmission. By contrast, all other genomes are clade Ia, which exhibits high genetic diversity with low numbers of APOBEC3 mutations compared with clade Ib, suggesting multiple zoonotic introductions. The presence of multiple clade I variants in urban areas highlights the need for coordinated international response efforts and more studies on the transmission and the reservoir of mpox.enAPOBEC3AfricaDemocratic Republic of the CongoOne Healthemergencegenetic diversitygenomicmpoxviruszoonotic spillover600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & health300 - Social sciences, sociology & anthropology::360 - Social problems & social servicesarticle10.48620/771743945457310.1016/j.cell.2024.10.017