Adenovirus Respiratory Infection

Infectious Disease Pathograph 4 Show in embeddings browser Viral Respiratory Infection

Adenovirus respiratory infection is an acute respiratory infection caused by human adenoviruses (HAdV), non-enveloped double-stranded DNA viruses of the family Adenoviridae with more than 50 serotypes. Adenoviruses typically cause mild infections of the upper or lower respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, or the conjunctiva, and are more common in young children. Epidemics of respiratory adenovirus disease occur in closed or crowded settings, classically among military recruits, and can produce severe pneumonia; disease is more severe and dissemination more likely in immunocompromised hosts. Cidofovir is used for severe infection, and live oral vaccines are used in the U.S. military.

Ask OpenScientist

Ask a research question about Adenovirus Respiratory Infection. OpenScientist will conduct autonomous deep research using the Disorder Mechanisms Knowledge Base and PubMed literature (typically 10-30 minutes).

Submitting...

Do not include personal health information in your question. Questions and results are cached in your browser's local storage.

3
Pathophys.
6
Phenotypes
4
Pathograph
3
Medical Actions
⚙

Pathophysiology

3
Respiratory Epithelial Infection and Innate Immune Response
Human adenoviruses infect the respiratory epithelium (and conjunctiva and gut), where replication of the double-stranded DNA genome is sensed by the innate immune system and elicits an interferon and inflammatory response. Most infections are mild and involve the upper or lower respiratory tract.
respiratory epithelial cell CL:0002632 ciliated airway epithelial cell CL:0000064
viral genome replication GO:0019079 defense response to virus GO:0051607 inflammatory response GO:0006954 ↑ INCREASED
respiratory system UBERON:0001004
Downstream
Pneumonia and Severe Disease in Crowded or Immunocompromised Settings In epidemics and in immunocompromised hosts, respiratory adenovirus infection can progress to severe pneumonia and dissemination.
Viral DNA Polymerase (Cidofovir Target) Genome replication depends on the viral DNA polymerase, the target of the nucleotide analog cidofovir.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:27486739 SUPPORT Other
"Adenoviruses (AdVs) are DNA viruses that typically cause mild infections involving the upper or lower respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or conjunctiva."
Establishes adenoviruses as DNA viruses causing upper/lower respiratory (and conjunctival/GI) infection. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
Pneumonia and Severe Disease in Crowded or Immunocompromised Settings
Although most adenovirus infections are mild, epidemics in closed or crowded settings (classically military recruits) and infection of immunocompromised hosts can produce severe pneumonia and disseminated disease, with high fatality in untreated severe cases.
inflammatory response GO:0006954 ↑ INCREASED
lung UBERON:0002048
Show evidence (2 references)
PMID:27486739 SUPPORT Other
"Epidemics of AdV infection may occur in healthy children or adults in closed or crowded settings (particularly military recruits)."
Documents adenovirus epidemics in crowded settings such as among military recruits. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
PMID:28114362 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"High and prolonged fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and pharyngeal inflammation were significantly more common in the HAdV pneumonia group, compared to patients with other or unknown causes of pneumonia."
Prospective outbreak study among young adults documenting the clinical features of adenovirus pneumonia. Evidence source is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this is a clinical cohort study.
Viral DNA Polymerase (Cidofovir Target)
Adenovirus genome replication depends on the viral DNA polymerase. Cidofovir, an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (nucleotide analog), is incorporated by the polymerase and inhibits viral DNA synthesis; it is the drug of choice for severe adenovirus infection.
viral genome replication GO:0019079
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:27486739 SUPPORT Other
"Cidofovir is the drug of choice for severe AdV infections, but not all patients require treatment."
Identifies cidofovir, a viral-DNA-polymerase-targeting nucleotide analog, as the drug of choice for severe adenovirus infection. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
⬡

Pathograph

Use the checkboxes to hide or show graph categories. Hover nodes for evidence and cross-linked metadata.
Pathograph: causal mechanism network for Adenovirus Respiratory Infection Interactive directed graph showing how pathophysiology mechanisms, phenotypes, genetic factors and variants, experimental models, environmental triggers, and treatments relate through causal and linked edges.
●

Phenotypes

6
Cardiovascular 1
Conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis HP:0000509
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:27486739 SUPPORT Other
"Adenoviruses (AdVs) are DNA viruses that typically cause mild infections involving the upper or lower respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or conjunctiva."
Documents conjunctival involvement among typical adenovirus manifestations. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
Head and Neck 1
Nasal Congestion Nasal congestion HP:0001742
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:28114362 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"High and prolonged fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and pharyngeal inflammation were significantly more common in the HAdV pneumonia group, compared to patients with other or unknown causes of pneumonia."
Documents nasal congestion in adenovirus infection. Evidence source is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this is a clinical cohort study.
Immune 1
Pneumonia Pneumonia HP:0002090
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:27486739 SUPPORT Other
"Fatality rates for untreated severe AdV pneumonia or disseminated disease may exceed 50%."
Documents severe adenovirus pneumonia with high untreated fatality. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
Metabolism 1
Fever Fever HP:0001945
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:28114362 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"High and prolonged fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and pharyngeal inflammation were significantly more common in the HAdV pneumonia group, compared to patients with other or unknown causes of pneumonia."
Documents high and prolonged fever in adenovirus pneumonia. Evidence source is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this is a clinical cohort study.
Respiratory 2
Pharyngitis Pharyngitis HP:0025439
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:28114362 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"High and prolonged fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and pharyngeal inflammation were significantly more common in the HAdV pneumonia group, compared to patients with other or unknown causes of pneumonia."
Documents sore throat and pharyngeal inflammation in adenovirus infection. Evidence source is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this is a clinical cohort study.
Cough Cough HP:0012735
💊

Medical Actions

3
Cidofovir
Action: Pharmacotherapy NCIT:C15986
Agent: cidofovir NCIT:C1600
Acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (nucleotide analog) that inhibits the viral DNA polymerase; the drug of choice for severe adenovirus infection, though not all patients require treatment.
Mechanism Target:
INHIBITS Viral DNA Polymerase (Cidofovir Target) — Cidofovir is incorporated by the adenoviral DNA polymerase and inhibits viral DNA synthesis, arresting genome replication.
Live Oral Adenovirus Vaccine
Action: vaccination MAXO:0001017
Live oral vaccines against adenovirus types 4 and 7 are highly efficacious in reducing respiratory adenovirus infection and are in routine use in the U.S. military, but are not available to civilians.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:27486739 SUPPORT Other
"Live oral vaccines are highly efficacious in reducing the risk of respiratory AdV infection and are in routine use in the military in the United States, but currently are not available to civilians."
Documents the efficacy and military use of live oral adenovirus vaccines. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
Supportive Care
Action: Supportive Care NCIT:C15747
Most adenovirus respiratory infections are self-limited and managed with supportive care.
{ }

Source YAML

click to show 
name: Adenovirus Respiratory Infection
creation_date: "2026-06-28T00:00:00Z"
description: >
  Adenovirus respiratory infection is an acute respiratory infection caused by
  human adenoviruses (HAdV), non-enveloped double-stranded DNA viruses of the
  family Adenoviridae with more than 50 serotypes. Adenoviruses typically cause
  mild infections of the upper or lower respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal
  tract, or the conjunctiva, and are more common in young children. Epidemics of
  respiratory adenovirus disease occur in closed or crowded settings, classically
  among military recruits, and can produce severe pneumonia; disease is more severe
  and dissemination more likely in immunocompromised hosts. Cidofovir is used for
  severe infection, and live oral vaccines are used in the U.S. military.
category: Infectious Disease
parents:
- Viral Respiratory Infection
synonyms:
- Human adenovirus infection
- HAdV respiratory infection
- Adenoviral pneumonia
pathophysiology:
- name: Respiratory Epithelial Infection and Innate Immune Response
  conforms_to: "innate_antiviral_interferon_response#Interferon-Stimulated Gene Antiviral State"
  description: >
    Human adenoviruses infect the respiratory epithelium (and conjunctiva and gut),
    where replication of the double-stranded DNA genome is sensed by the innate
    immune system and elicits an interferon and inflammatory response. Most
    infections are mild and involve the upper or lower respiratory tract.
  cell_types:
  - preferred_term: respiratory epithelial cell
    term:
      id: CL:0002632
      label: epithelial cell of lower respiratory tract
  - preferred_term: ciliated airway epithelial cell
    term:
      id: CL:0000064
      label: ciliated cell
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: viral genome replication
    term:
      id: GO:0019079
      label: viral genome replication
  - preferred_term: defense response to virus
    term:
      id: GO:0051607
      label: defense response to virus
  - preferred_term: inflammatory response
    term:
      id: GO:0006954
      label: inflammatory response
    modifier: INCREASED
  locations:
  - preferred_term: respiratory system
    term:
      id: UBERON:0001004
      label: respiratory system
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:27486739
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      Adenoviruses (AdVs) are DNA viruses that typically cause mild infections
      involving the upper or lower respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or
      conjunctiva.
    explanation: >-
      Establishes adenoviruses as DNA viruses causing upper/lower respiratory (and
      conjunctival/GI) infection. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review
      article.
  downstream:
  - target: Pneumonia and Severe Disease in Crowded or Immunocompromised Settings
    description: >-
      In epidemics and in immunocompromised hosts, respiratory adenovirus infection
      can progress to severe pneumonia and dissemination.
  - target: Viral DNA Polymerase (Cidofovir Target)
    description: >-
      Genome replication depends on the viral DNA polymerase, the target of the
      nucleotide analog cidofovir.

- name: Pneumonia and Severe Disease in Crowded or Immunocompromised Settings
  description: >
    Although most adenovirus infections are mild, epidemics in closed or crowded
    settings (classically military recruits) and infection of immunocompromised
    hosts can produce severe pneumonia and disseminated disease, with high fatality
    in untreated severe cases.
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: inflammatory response
    term:
      id: GO:0006954
      label: inflammatory response
    modifier: INCREASED
  locations:
  - preferred_term: lung
    term:
      id: UBERON:0002048
      label: lung
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:27486739
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      Epidemics of AdV infection may occur in healthy children or adults in closed
      or crowded settings (particularly military recruits).
    explanation: >-
      Documents adenovirus epidemics in crowded settings such as among military
      recruits. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
  - reference: PMID:28114362
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      High and prolonged fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and pharyngeal
      inflammation were significantly more common in the HAdV pneumonia group,
      compared to patients with other or unknown causes of pneumonia.
    explanation: >-
      Prospective outbreak study among young adults documenting the clinical
      features of adenovirus pneumonia. Evidence source is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this
      is a clinical cohort study.
  downstream: []

- name: Viral DNA Polymerase (Cidofovir Target)
  role: therapeutic_vulnerability
  conforms_to: "viral_polymerase_inhibition#Nucleotide Selection and Catalytic Incorporation at the Polymerase Active Site"
  description: >
    Adenovirus genome replication depends on the viral DNA polymerase. Cidofovir,
    an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (nucleotide analog), is incorporated by the
    polymerase and inhibits viral DNA synthesis; it is the drug of choice for
    severe adenovirus infection.
  biological_processes:
  - preferred_term: viral genome replication
    term:
      id: GO:0019079
      label: viral genome replication
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:27486739
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      Cidofovir is the drug of choice for severe AdV infections, but not all
      patients require treatment.
    explanation: >-
      Identifies cidofovir, a viral-DNA-polymerase-targeting nucleotide analog, as
      the drug of choice for severe adenovirus infection. Evidence source is OTHER
      as this is a review article.
  downstream: []
phenotypes:
- category: Respiratory
  name: Pneumonia
  description: >
    Severe pneumonia can occur, particularly in epidemics and immunocompromised
    hosts, with high fatality in untreated severe disease.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Pneumonia
    term:
      id: HP:0002090
      label: Pneumonia
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:27486739
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      Fatality rates for untreated severe AdV pneumonia or disseminated disease may
      exceed 50%.
    explanation: >-
      Documents severe adenovirus pneumonia with high untreated fatality. Evidence
      source is OTHER as this is a review article.
- category: Constitutional
  name: Fever
  description: >
    High and prolonged fever is characteristic of adenovirus respiratory infection.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Fever
    term:
      id: HP:0001945
      label: Fever
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:28114362
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      High and prolonged fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and pharyngeal
      inflammation were significantly more common in the HAdV pneumonia group,
      compared to patients with other or unknown causes of pneumonia.
    explanation: >-
      Documents high and prolonged fever in adenovirus pneumonia. Evidence source
      is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this is a clinical cohort study.
- category: Respiratory
  name: Pharyngitis
  description: >
    Sore throat and pharyngeal inflammation are common, and adenovirus classically
    causes pharyngoconjunctival fever.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Pharyngitis
    term:
      id: HP:0025439
      label: Pharyngitis
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:28114362
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      High and prolonged fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and pharyngeal
      inflammation were significantly more common in the HAdV pneumonia group,
      compared to patients with other or unknown causes of pneumonia.
    explanation: >-
      Documents sore throat and pharyngeal inflammation in adenovirus infection.
      Evidence source is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this is a clinical cohort study.
- category: Respiratory
  name: Nasal Congestion
  description: >
    Nasal congestion accompanies adenovirus upper respiratory infection.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Nasal congestion
    term:
      id: HP:0001742
      label: Nasal congestion
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:28114362
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      High and prolonged fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and pharyngeal
      inflammation were significantly more common in the HAdV pneumonia group,
      compared to patients with other or unknown causes of pneumonia.
    explanation: >-
      Documents nasal congestion in adenovirus infection. Evidence source is
      HUMAN_CLINICAL as this is a clinical cohort study.
- category: Ophthalmologic
  name: Conjunctivitis
  description: >
    Conjunctivitis is a classic adenovirus manifestation (pharyngoconjunctival
    fever, epidemic keratoconjunctivitis).
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Conjunctivitis
    term:
      id: HP:0000509
      label: Conjunctivitis
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:27486739
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      Adenoviruses (AdVs) are DNA viruses that typically cause mild infections
      involving the upper or lower respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, or
      conjunctiva.
    explanation: >-
      Documents conjunctival involvement among typical adenovirus manifestations.
      Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
- category: Respiratory
  name: Cough
  description: >
    Cough is a common respiratory symptom of adenovirus infection.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Cough
    term:
      id: HP:0012735
      label: Cough
treatments:
- name: Cidofovir
  description: >
    Acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (nucleotide analog) that inhibits the viral DNA
    polymerase; the drug of choice for severe adenovirus infection, though not all
    patients require treatment.
  therapeutic_modality: SMALL_MOLECULE
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: Pharmacotherapy
    term:
      id: NCIT:C15986
      label: Pharmacotherapy
    therapeutic_agent:
    - preferred_term: cidofovir
      term:
        id: NCIT:C1600
        label: Cidofovir
  target_mechanisms:
  - target: Viral DNA Polymerase (Cidofovir Target)
    treatment_effect: INHIBITS
    description: >-
      Cidofovir is incorporated by the adenoviral DNA polymerase and inhibits viral
      DNA synthesis, arresting genome replication.
- name: Live Oral Adenovirus Vaccine
  description: >
    Live oral vaccines against adenovirus types 4 and 7 are highly efficacious in
    reducing respiratory adenovirus infection and are in routine use in the U.S.
    military, but are not available to civilians.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: vaccination
    term:
      id: MAXO:0001017
      label: vaccination
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:27486739
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      Live oral vaccines are highly efficacious in reducing the risk of respiratory
      AdV infection and are in routine use in the military in the United States, but
      currently are not available to civilians.
    explanation: >-
      Documents the efficacy and military use of live oral adenovirus vaccines.
      Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
- name: Supportive Care
  description: >
    Most adenovirus respiratory infections are self-limited and managed with
    supportive care.
  treatment_term:
    preferred_term: Supportive Care
    term:
      id: NCIT:C15747
      label: Supportive Care
notes: >
  Created as part of the Respiratory Infections project (Intercept-aligned endemic
  respiratory viruses). Created without a MONDO disease_term id because MONDO has
  only "adenovirus renal infection", no respiratory-adenovirus term — flagged for a
  MONDO term request rather than anchored to a too-general parent. Conforms to the
  innate_antiviral_interferon_response module (innate antiviral response) and, via
  the cidofovir target node, to the viral_polymerase_inhibition module. The
  infectious_agent (NCBITaxon) block was omitted at creation and the organism is
  described in text.