# Navigating the human-monkeypox virus interactome: HuPoxNET atlas reveals functional insights

## TL;DR

HuPoxNET is a database that maps interactions between human and monkeypox virus proteins to help understand the disease and develop treatments.

## Contribution

HuPoxNET introduces a new database with strain-specific human-monkeypox virus protein interactions and annotations for drug discovery.

## Key findings

- HuPoxNET predicts strain-specific human-monkeypox virus protein interactions using computational models.
- The database includes annotations like gene ontology, KEGG pathways, and novel drug targets.
- HuPoxNET provides a user-friendly platform for studying monkeypox infection mechanisms and drug development.

## Abstract

Monkeypox virus, a close relative of variola virus, has significantly increased the incidence of monkeypox disease in humans, with several clinical symptoms. The sporadic spread of the disease outbreaks has resulted in the need for a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease infection and potential therapeutic targets. Protein–protein interactions play a crucial role in various cellular processes and regulate different immune signals during virus infection. Computational algorithms have gained high significance in the prediction of potential protein interaction pairs. Here, we developed a comprehensive database called HuPoxNET (https://kaabil.net/hupoxnet/) using the state-of-the-art MERN stack technology. The database leverages two sequence-based computational models to predict strain-specific protein–protein interactions between human and monkeypox virus proteins. Furthermore, various protein annotations of the human and viral proteins such as gene ontology, KEGG pathways, subcellular localization, protein domains, and novel drug targets identified from our study are also available on the database. HuPoxNET is a user-friendly platform for the scientific community to gain more insights into the monkeypox disease infection and aid in the development of therapeutic drugs against the disease.