An Old Acquaintance: Could Adenoviruses Be Our Next Pandemic Threat?

Abstract

Human adenoviruses (HAdV) are one of the most important pathogens detected in acute respiratory diseases in pediatrics and immunocompromised patients. In 1953, Wallace Rowe described it for the first time in oropharyngeal lymphatic tissue. To date, more than 110 types of HAdV have been described, with different cellular tropisms. They can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, even urinary tract inflammation, although most infections are asymptomatic. However, there is a population at risk that can develop serious and even lethal conditions. These viruses have a double-stranded DNA genome, 25-48 kbp, 90 nm in diameter, without a mantle, are stable in the environment, and resistant to fat-soluble detergents. Currently the diagnosis is made with lateral flow immunochromatography or molecular biology through a polymerase chain reaction. This review aimed to highlight the HAdV variability and the pandemic potential that a HAdV3 and 7 recombinant could have considering the aggressive outbreaks produced in health facilities. Herein, we described the characteristics of HAdV, from the infection to treatment, vaccine development, and the evaluation of the social determinants of health associated with HAdV, suggesting the necessary measures for future sanitary control to prevent disasters such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, with an emphasis on the use of recombinant AdV vaccines to control other potential pandemics.

Keywords: adenovirus vaccine; genotype; human adenovirus; infections; molecular diagnostic testing; social determinants of health.

Figure 1

(A) HAdV-5 virion external schematic. (B) Schematic image of the DNA and protein structure within the viral capsid. Based on [33].

Figure 2

Genome organization of the mastadenovirus human adenovirus 5 (HAdV-5). Colored arrows depict genes conserved in all genera (black), present in more than one genus (blue) or restricted to mastadenoviruses (red). Rectangles mark the inverted terminal repeats. (NCBI Reference Sequence: AC_000008.1) Adapted with permission from Benkő et al. [33].