Human Metapneumovirus Infection

Infectious Disease Pathograph 2 Show in embeddings browser Viral Respiratory Infection

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection is an acute respiratory infection caused by human metapneumovirus, an enveloped negative-sense RNA virus of the family Pneumoviridae closely related to respiratory syncytial virus. Discovered in 2001, hMPV is a common respiratory pathogen, particularly in infants and young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised, and produces illness across the spectrum from upper respiratory tract disease to bronchiolitis and pneumonia — clinically similar to RSV. Nearly all children have been infected by age five. hMPV is also a recognized trigger of asthma exacerbations.

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2
Pathophys.
5
Phenotypes
2
Pathograph
1
Medical Actions
1
Datasets
⚙

Pathophysiology

2
Respiratory Epithelial Infection and Innate Immune Response
hMPV infects the ciliated respiratory epithelium of the upper and lower airways, where replication is sensed by the innate immune system and elicits a type I/III interferon and inflammatory response. Disease ranges from mild upper respiratory illness to lower respiratory involvement; the clinical picture closely resembles RSV, its close relative in the Pneumoviridae.
respiratory epithelial cell CL:0002632 Cell Ontology (CL) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this cell type This pathophysiological event involves respiratory epithelial cell, annotated with epithelial cell of lower respiratory tract (CL:0002632). CL:0002632 is a cell type from the Cell Ontology. ciliated airway epithelial cell CL:0000064 Cell Ontology (CL) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this cell type This pathophysiological event involves ciliated airway epithelial cell, annotated with ciliated cell (CL:0000064). CL:0000064 is a cell type from the Cell Ontology.
viral genome replication GO:0019079 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves viral genome replication (GO:0019079). GO:0019079 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. defense response to virus GO:0051607 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves defense response to virus (GO:0051607). GO:0051607 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. inflammatory response GO:0006954 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves increased inflammatory response (GO:0006954). GO:0006954 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. ↑ INCREASED
respiratory system UBERON:0001004 Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology (UBERON) Relation: this pathophysiological event occurs in this anatomical location This pathophysiological event occurs in respiratory system (UBERON:0001004). UBERON:0001004 is an anatomical location from the Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology. lung UBERON:0002048 Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology (UBERON) Relation: this pathophysiological event occurs in this anatomical location This pathophysiological event occurs in lung (UBERON:0002048). UBERON:0002048 is an anatomical location from the Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology.
Downstream
Lower Respiratory Tract Involvement In infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised hosts, hMPV infection extends to the lower airway, producing bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:16847085 SUPPORT Other
"hMPV is a common respiratory pathogen, particularly in infants and young children. The virus is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract infections and may be a trigger for asthma."
Establishes hMPV as a common cause of upper and lower respiratory infection and an asthma trigger. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
Lower Respiratory Tract Involvement
In young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients, hMPV produces lower respiratory tract disease — bronchiolitis and pneumonia — clinically similar to that caused by respiratory syncytial virus.
inflammatory response GO:0006954 Gene Ontology (GO) Relation: this pathophysiological event involves this biological process This pathophysiological event involves increased inflammatory response (GO:0006954). GO:0006954 is a biological process from the Gene Ontology. ↑ INCREASED
lung UBERON:0002048 Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology (UBERON) Relation: this pathophysiological event occurs in this anatomical location This pathophysiological event occurs in lung (UBERON:0002048). UBERON:0002048 is an anatomical location from the Uberon multi-species anatomy ontology.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:11385510 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The clinical symptoms of the children from whom the virus was isolated were similar to those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus infection, ranging from upper respiratory tract disease to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia."
The discovery report documents the clinical spectrum from upper respiratory disease to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia, RSV-like. Evidence source is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this describes the affected children.
⬡

Pathograph

Use the checkboxes to hide or show graph categories. Hover nodes for evidence and cross-linked metadata.
Pathograph: causal mechanism network for Human Metapneumovirus 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

5
Immune 1
Pneumonia HP:0002090 Human Phenotype Ontology (HP) Relation: this clinical feature is this phenotype This clinical feature is Pneumonia (HP:0002090). HP:0002090 is a phenotype from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:11385510 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The clinical symptoms of the children from whom the virus was isolated were similar to those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus infection, ranging from upper respiratory tract disease to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia."
Documents pneumonia among the affected children. Evidence source is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this describes the affected children.
Metabolism 1
Fever HP:0001945 Human Phenotype Ontology (HP) Relation: this clinical feature is this phenotype This clinical feature is Fever (HP:0001945). HP:0001945 is a phenotype from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Respiratory 2
Wheezing HP:0030828 Human Phenotype Ontology (HP) Relation: this clinical feature is this phenotype This clinical feature is Wheezing (HP:0030828). HP:0030828 is a phenotype from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:16847085 SUPPORT Other
"The virus is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract infections and may be a trigger for asthma."
Supports hMPV as a trigger for asthma (wheezing). Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
Cough HP:0012735 Human Phenotype Ontology (HP) Relation: this clinical feature is this phenotype This clinical feature is Cough (HP:0012735). HP:0012735 is a phenotype from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Other 1
Bronchiolitis HP:0011950 Human Phenotype Ontology (HP) Relation: this clinical feature is this phenotype This clinical feature is Bronchiolitis (HP:0011950). HP:0011950 is a phenotype from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Show evidence (1 reference)
PMID:11385510 SUPPORT Human Clinical
"The clinical symptoms of the children from whom the virus was isolated were similar to those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus infection, ranging from upper respiratory tract disease to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia."
Documents severe bronchiolitis among the affected children. Evidence source is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this describes the affected children.
💊

Medical Actions

1
Supportive Care
Action: Supportive CareNCI Thesaurus (NCIT) Relation: this treatment is this clinical intervention This treatment is Supportive Care (NCIT:C15747). NCIT:C15747 is a clinical intervention from the NCI Thesaurus. NCIT:C15747
Management of hMPV infection is supportive (hydration, antipyretics, and respiratory support as needed); no specific antiviral therapy is approved.
📊

Related Datasets

1
RNAseq analysis of blood from respiratory viruses-infected patients and healthy controls geo:GSE157240
The objective of this study was to understand the shared and unique elements of the host transcriptional response to different viral pathogens. We identified 162 subjects in the US and Sri Lanka with infections due to influenza, enterovirus/rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, dengue virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr Virus, or adenovirus. Our dataset allowed us to identify common pathways at the molecular level as well as virus-specific differences in the host immune response. Conserved elements of the host response to these viral infections high-lighted the importance of interferon pathway activation. However, the magnitude of the re-sponses varied between pathogens.
human BULK RNA SEQ n=187
PMID:34777354
Identified by GEO DataSets index search for Human Metapneumovirus Infection (scripts/discover_datasets.py); accession and metadata verified against NCBI E-utilities on 2026-08-01. Title, sample count, and organism are GEO's own values.
{ }

Source YAML

click to show 
name: Human Metapneumovirus Infection
creation_date: "2026-06-28T00:00:00Z"
description: >
  Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection is an acute respiratory infection caused
  by human metapneumovirus, an enveloped negative-sense RNA virus of the family
  Pneumoviridae closely related to respiratory syncytial virus. Discovered in
  2001, hMPV is a common respiratory pathogen, particularly in infants and young
  children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised, and produces illness across
  the spectrum from upper respiratory tract disease to bronchiolitis and pneumonia
  — clinically similar to RSV. Nearly all children have been infected by age five.
  hMPV is also a recognized trigger of asthma exacerbations.
category: Infectious Disease
parents:
- Viral Respiratory Infection
synonyms:
- hMPV infection
- HMPV infection
- Human metapneumovirus
pathophysiology:
- name: Respiratory Epithelial Infection and Innate Immune Response
  conforms_to: "innate_antiviral_interferon_response#Interferon-Stimulated Gene Antiviral State"
  description: >
    hMPV infects the ciliated respiratory epithelium of the upper and lower
    airways, where replication is sensed by the innate immune system and elicits a
    type I/III interferon and inflammatory response. Disease ranges from mild upper
    respiratory illness to lower respiratory involvement; the clinical picture
    closely resembles RSV, its close relative in the Pneumoviridae.
  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
  - preferred_term: lung
    term:
      id: UBERON:0002048
      label: lung
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:16847085
    reference_title: "Epidemiology of human metapneumovirus."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      hMPV is a common respiratory pathogen, particularly in infants and young
      children. The virus is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract
      infections and may be a trigger for asthma.
    explanation: >-
      Establishes hMPV as a common cause of upper and lower respiratory infection
      and an asthma trigger. Evidence source is OTHER as this is a review article.
  downstream:
  - target: Lower Respiratory Tract Involvement
    description: >-
      In infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised hosts, hMPV infection extends
      to the lower airway, producing bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

- name: Lower Respiratory Tract Involvement
  description: >
    In young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients, hMPV produces
    lower respiratory tract disease — bronchiolitis and pneumonia — clinically
    similar to that caused by respiratory syncytial virus.
  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:11385510
    reference_title: "A newly discovered human pneumovirus isolated from young children with respiratory tract disease."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      The clinical symptoms of the children from whom the virus was isolated were
      similar to those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus infection,
      ranging from upper respiratory tract disease to severe bronchiolitis and
      pneumonia.
    explanation: >-
      The discovery report documents the clinical spectrum from upper respiratory
      disease to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia, RSV-like. Evidence source is
      HUMAN_CLINICAL as this describes the affected children.
  downstream: []
phenotypes:
- category: Respiratory
  name: Bronchiolitis
  description: >
    Small-airway inflammation (bronchiolitis), especially in infants, mirroring RSV
    disease.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Bronchiolitis
    term:
      id: HP:0011950
      label: Bronchiolitis
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:11385510
    reference_title: "A newly discovered human pneumovirus isolated from young children with respiratory tract disease."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      The clinical symptoms of the children from whom the virus was isolated were
      similar to those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus infection,
      ranging from upper respiratory tract disease to severe bronchiolitis and
      pneumonia.
    explanation: >-
      Documents severe bronchiolitis among the affected children. Evidence source
      is HUMAN_CLINICAL as this describes the affected children.
- category: Respiratory
  name: Pneumonia
  description: >
    Lower respiratory tract pneumonia, particularly in young children, the elderly,
    and immunocompromised hosts.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Pneumonia
    term:
      id: HP:0002090
      label: Pneumonia
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:11385510
    reference_title: "A newly discovered human pneumovirus isolated from young children with respiratory tract disease."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: HUMAN_CLINICAL
    snippet: >-
      The clinical symptoms of the children from whom the virus was isolated were
      similar to those caused by human respiratory syncytial virus infection,
      ranging from upper respiratory tract disease to severe bronchiolitis and
      pneumonia.
    explanation: >-
      Documents pneumonia among the affected children. Evidence source is
      HUMAN_CLINICAL as this describes the affected children.
- category: Respiratory
  name: Wheezing
  description: >
    hMPV is a recognized trigger of wheezing and asthma exacerbations.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Wheezing
    term:
      id: HP:0030828
      label: Wheezing
  evidence:
  - reference: PMID:16847085
    reference_title: "Epidemiology of human metapneumovirus."
    supports: SUPPORT
    evidence_source: OTHER
    snippet: >-
      The virus is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract
      infections and may be a trigger for asthma.
    explanation: >-
      Supports hMPV as a trigger for asthma (wheezing). Evidence source is OTHER as
      this is a review article.
- category: Respiratory
  name: Cough
  description: >
    Cough is a common manifestation of hMPV respiratory infection.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Cough
    term:
      id: HP:0012735
      label: Cough
- category: Constitutional
  name: Fever
  description: >
    Fever commonly accompanies acute hMPV infection.
  phenotype_term:
    preferred_term: Fever
    term:
      id: HP:0001945
      label: Fever
treatments:
- name: Supportive Care
  description: >
    Management of hMPV infection is supportive (hydration, antipyretics, and
    respiratory support as needed); no specific antiviral therapy is approved.
  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 no MONDO
  term currently exists for human metapneumovirus infection — flagged for a MONDO
  term request rather than anchored to a too-general parent. Conforms to the
  innate_antiviral_interferon_response module. Closely related to (and clinically
  resembling) Respiratory_Syncytial_Virus_Infection. The infectious_agent
  (NCBITaxon) block was omitted at creation and the organism is described in text.
datasets:
- accession: geo:GSE157240
  title: RNAseq analysis of blood from respiratory viruses-infected patients and healthy controls
  description: The objective of this study was to understand the shared and unique elements of the host transcriptional response to different viral pathogens. We identified 162 subjects in the US and Sri Lanka with infections due to influenza, enterovirus/rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, dengue virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr Virus, or adenovirus. Our dataset allowed us to identify common pathways at the molecular level as well as virus-specific differences in the host immune response. Conserved elements of the host response to these viral infections high-lighted the importance of interferon pathway activation. However, the magnitude of the re-sponses varied between pathogens.
  organism:
    preferred_term: human
    term:
      id: NCBITaxon:9606
      label: Homo sapiens
  data_type: BULK_RNA_SEQ
  sample_count: 187
  publication: PMID:34777354
  notes: Identified by GEO DataSets index search for Human Metapneumovirus Infection (scripts/discover_datasets.py); accession and metadata verified against NCBI E-utilities on 2026-08-01. Title, sample count, and organism are GEO's own values.