ADENOVIRUS

any virus belonging to the family Adenoviridae. This group of viruses was discovered in the 1950s and includes more than 45 types that cause sore throat and fever in humans, hepatitis in dogs, and several diseases in fowl, mice, cattle, pigs, and monkeys. The virus particle lacks an outer envelope; is spheroidal, about 80 nanometres (1 nm = 10-9 metre) across; is covered with 252 regularly arranged protein subunits called capsomeres; and has a core of double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) wrapped in a protective coat of protein. Adenoviruses develop within the nuclei of infected cells, where they often can be observed packed in an apparently crystalline arrangement. In humans, adenoviruses cause acute mucous-membrane infections of the upper respiratory tract, the eyes, and frequently the regional lymph nodes, bearing considerable resemblance to the common cold. Like the cold viruses, adenoviruses are often found in latent infections in clinically healthy persons. There are more than 45 different members of the adenovirus group, but only a few commonly cause illness in humans; it is thus possible to prepare a vaccine against these viruses. In contrast, there are more than 100 cold viruses, all of which are fairly commonly found as disease agents; this great number makes the development of a vaccine for the common cold virtually impossible. any virus belonging to the family Adenoviridae. This group of viruses was discovered in the 1950s and includes more than 45 types that cause sore throat and fever in humans, hepatitis in dogs, and several diseases in fowl, mice, cattle, pigs, and monkeys. The virus particle lacks an outer envelope; is spheroidal, about 80 nanometres (1 nm = 10-9 metre) across; is covered with 252 regularly arranged protein subunits called capsomeres; and has a core of double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) wrapped in a protective coat of protein. Adenoviruses develop within the nuclei of infected cells, where they often can be observed packed in an apparently crystalline arrangement. In humans, adenoviruses cause acute mucous-membrane infections of the upper respiratory tract, the eyes, and frequently the regional lymph nodes, bearing considerable resemblance to the common cold. Like the cold viruses, adenoviruses are often found in latent infections in clinically healthy persons. There are more than 45 different members of the adenovirus group, but only a few commonly cause illness in humans; it is thus possible to prepare a vaccine against these viruses. In contrast, there are more than 100 cold viruses, all of which are fairly commonly found as disease agents; this great number makes the development of a vaccine for the common cold virtually impossible.