Clinical Significance

Adenovirus is a 70-90 nm diameter particle without an envelope, consisting of 252 capsids arranged in a 20-sided pattern. Each capsid is 7-9 nm in diameter and contains a linear double-stranded DNA molecule containing approximately 4.7 kb with a 100 bp long inverted repeat sequence at each end. Since the 5' end of each DNA strand is covalently bound to a protein molecule with a relative molecular mass of 55X103Da, a loop-like structure of double-stranded DNA can appear.

It can cause respiratory tract infections, conjunctivitis and gastrointestinal infections in humans, with a high incidence in children in winter and spring. It is often spread through the respiratory route and can also be spread through the digestive tract by contaminating food with hands. Clinical symptoms caused by adenovirus infection are mainly upper respiratory symptoms, including nasal congestion, sore throat, fever and runny nose, and can lead to conjunctivitis. In severe cases, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, meningitis, and arthritis can occur.