infectious disease podcast - adenovirus

This podcast episode discusses the denovirus, its impact on respiratory illness, and the efforts to develop vaccines. Adenoviruses are common culprits of respiratory illness, ranging from mild to severe. Outbreaks have occurred in Wisconsin, particularly among college students and military recruits. A vaccine for military recruits has been available since 1965, but there is currently no vaccine for children or the general public. Recent outbreaks in Wisconsin have highlighted the potential severity of adenovirus infections. The life cycle of adenoviruses involves stages such as attachment, internalization, viral encoding, replication, and biosending. Symptoms of adenovirus infection can resemble a common cold. Diamonds and microscopic rolling clubs have unraveled the tale of the denovirus, explored historical outbreaks, life cycle, and the promise of vaccines, all in this engaging discussion and insights. Tune in to embark on an enlightening journey through the lens of science, community, and public health. Am I sick or just a hypochondriac? This podcast is brought to you by a group of rookie scientists sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, innovating across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow. And we would like to thank the private donors who have made this podcast possible. Picture this. It's a chilly morning in Wisconsin, the sky is overcast, and there's a hint of snow in the air. The cold isn't the only thing dripping from the atmosphere. Unseen to the naked eye, microscopic particles are riding the breeze, each one a potential herald of illness. These could be, and often are, denoviruses, tiny invaders that cause waves of concern in our community over the past decade. The denoviruses are common culprits of respiratory illness, but their impact can range from mild to severe, from a simple cold to pneumonia. They don't stimulate, affecting people of all ages and walks of life. Over the past 5 to 10 years, Wisconsin has witnessed outbreaks that have prompted our health authorities to take action, unveiling the fascinating and dead-bouncing battle between mutants and viruses. Welcome to your local disease podcast. Today we dive in deep into the microscopic invaders amongst us and our work efforts to understand them and combat them. Today, you have myself. My name is Ivan. I use he, him. And I'm a studying biology with a pre-professional health minor. Hello, my name is Sasha. I go by she, they. And I'm a geography major and biology minor. I'm Lydia. I use she, her pronouns. I'm a biology student minoring in environmental science and pre-professional health. I'm Maddie. I use she, her pronouns. I'm a biology major and public health minor. Hi, I'm Sophie. I use she, her. I'm a biology student with a chemistry minor. We're group number 2 in Biology 306, Infectious Diseases. So today, we are your guide to the unseen world of microbes. They shape our lives in ways more profound than we often realize. On this episode, we're unraveling the story of the venom viruses, zooming in on their biology, their journey to Wisconsin, and a larger narrative on how infectious diseases shape our world. We'll explore our seemingly invisible foes and set up a cascade of events reminding us of the delicate balance between humans and the microbial world. In addition, we'll traverse through the life cycle of adenoviruses, the detective work of epidemiologists, a heartbeat of affected families, and the societal ripples fell across our cheese table. So grab your microscopes, metaphorical and real, and join us on this microscopic journey into the heart of one of the smallest known viruses, adenoviruses, and the soul of Wisconsin. Can you give me some context to adenovirus and how exactly this virus became something to look out for? So what I found really weird is how it's only really prevalent among college students living in dorms and military recruits. In 1953, scientists discovered adenovirus and named it after the adenoid tissue. Adenoid tissue is really just a fancy name for tissue that's located in your throat that's vital to the immune system. This tissue traps and destroys pathogens that enter your body when you breathe. And it was named after this adenoid tissue because that's how scientists first isolated and discovered the virus. Adenovirus then became a big concern in the 1960s because it was responsible for many respiratory problems in military recruits, often leading to hospitalization. Scientists tackled this problem by working on a vaccine. It contained a weakened strain, which is a vaccine containing a version of the living virus that causes an immune response but isn't strong enough to cause serious disease. Thanks to the work of these scientists, we have a safe vaccine for military recruits. It's a tablet that protects against adenovirus 4 and 7 strains, and it's been used since 1965 and has proven to be highly effective. It looks like we're getting a call, so let's see what questions you guys have before going on. The caller's name is Wilma from Ontario, Canada. Hi, I just wanted to say I love this podcast, especially because people often call me a hypochondriac. Anyways, I'm Wilma. I know you mentioned that there are safe vaccines for military recruits now, but what about a vaccine for children? I really want to make sure my child is protected from adenovirus because she's so prone to getting sick. I know how fast sicknesses can spread between children and school. Feels like she has a cough or runny nose every time seasons change. I can totally understand your concern, Wilma. There are actually no adenovirus vaccines available to children or the general public yet, although adenovirus infections still cause a significant number of respiratory illnesses in children. There were plans to create vaccines for civilian kids, but they're not available yet due to concerns about safety and how they're taken. Once they're shown to be safe, I'm sure adenovirus vaccines will be released to the general public. Now, let's talk about some recent outbreaks we've seen in Wisconsin. In 2019, adenovirus infections were confirmed at the University of Wisconsin campuses. It raised concerns because cases were popping up in different parts of the state. Wow, how did we never hear about this? We go to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Don't you think they should warn students living in dorms of the possibility of getting adenovirus? I thought the same thing when I first heard it, but after learning that being infected with adenovirus is often confused with having a cold or the flu, you could understand not wanting to cause concern to students if they start having these symptoms. If it's a serious case of adenovirus, students would end up in urgent care anyway, especially since vaccines aren't available to the general public. Why worry the students? Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Are there outbreaks in Wisconsin that have happened more recently? Yeah, the most recent outbreak I found happened in April 2022. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services alerted clinicians about an increase in cases of adenovirus infections in children. Some of these kids had serious liver problems, and it was ultimately linked to adenovirus. This goes to show that even though adenoviruses aren't usually a big concern, they can cause outbreaks, especially in places like dormitories and among military recruits. Thank you for the info, Lydia. It looks like you have another caller. Hello, rookie scientists. Thanks for taking my call. My name is Dr. Amanda Jones, and I'm a professor at Harvard. I teach different classes relating to genetics and virology. I know that the adenovirus is a non-enveloped isosceletic double-stranded DNA in the family Adenoviridae. Also, there are seven species, A to G, and more than 60 genotypes that are known to cause human infection. I often struggle explaining the way adenovirus infects its host. How would you explain this process? So glad to hear from you, Dr. Jones. Let's delve into the life cycle of the adenovirus. So, I'll give you an analogy. It's like a spy infiltrating a high security building. It goes through several stages to achieve its mission of replication within a host cell. The stages are attachment, internalization, endocytosis, viral encoding, replication, biopsychosis, and finally, biosending and release. First up is the attachment stage. Imagine the adenovirus knocking on the door of a host cell, seeking entry. It uses a special key, its penton fiber. It uses this to initially interact with the specific receptors on the cell surface, like how guests might introduce themselves at the entrance. Then, it further secures its attachment with a secondary interaction, like shown in the mutation video. Once inside the lobby, it enters the internalization stage. The adenovirus isn't just any guest. It has a special VIP pass, known as the arginine-glycine-aspartame motif, which signals the cell to let it in birth. This allows it to move into the inner chambers of the cell. Now on the endocytosis stage, the host cell involves the adenovirus in a protective bubble called an endocell. This is like our virus getting a private room in a host cell hotel, where it's shielded as it travels deeper within the cell. As the adenovirus settles in this room, the viral encoding stage begins. It sheds its outer shell, revealing its core genetic material, ready for the next phase of its mission. It's akin to a spy unpacking gadgets for a covert operation. The mission kicks into high gear in the replication and biosynthesis stage. When the covert confines to the host cell's nucleus, the adenovirus starts copying its DNA. It's like it's sending a message back to base, creating plans for building more of its kind. These plans, or genes, are then used to make new viral proteins, which are the building blocks for new viruses. Finally, we reach the biosending and release stage. The new viral components come together to form complete new adenoviruses. These new viruses then make a grand exit, either by gently exiting or breaking down the host cell door, ready to invade other cells in the endocyte domain. Through this adventure, adenoviruses illustrate a complex, yet ordered sequence of events, showcasing microscopic drama unfolding within the biological realm. Wow, cool. Well, what should people at home be watching for? Could a cough be a symptom? What about painful joints? Yeah, thanks for asking. Painful joints is not a symptom, but let's talk about this in more detail about what contracting adenovirus is like for the host. So, adenovirus can manifest in various ways, often resembling your common cold or flu where you might get a fever or a sore throat. You can kind of expect with the adenovirus for there to be some sort of infection or inflammation. You may get acute bronchitis, an inflammation of the airways or the lungs, or you can get pneumonia, which is an infection of the lungs. You can even get conjunctivitis, typically known as your pink eye. And then there's acute gastroenteritis. Now, this is inflammation of the stomach or intestines, and this can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Hmm. When can you expect these symptoms to start showing up if you have adenovirus? You can expect these symptoms to usually start two days to two weeks after contact with adenovirus. These symptoms can last three to five days, but if it's a more serious infection, then it can last longer. Seems like we have an idea now about some of the symptoms to watch out for. But how is adenovirus diagnosed? So, thankfully, there are many labs in hospitals or clinics that can test for the virus, typically using molecular detection, also known as PCR. This is a method that makes copies of a virus's genetic material to be able to identify the virus. As I mentioned before, adenovirus can cause different types of infections. So, depending on what a patient is clinically presented with, that will determine how the doctor will go about collecting the specimen. If a patient has an upper respiratory infection, the specimen is collected using either a nasopharyngeal swab or a pharyngeal swab. However, if it's a lower respiratory infection, like with pneumonia, then there will be a collection of sputum, so collecting mucous ovum. If it's ETI, then you collect with a conjunctival swab, and with gastroenteritis, typically a stool sample. So, what that all means is a health professional should consider adenovirus for upper and lower respiratory infections, but also with conjunctivitis and gastroenteritis. And it's important that they report these adenovirus infections to the state or local health department if there's been a transform increase in cases. It's also important to understand that this virus's infection can be asymptomatic, meaning you can have the virus, not have any symptoms. Which also means a person can be infectious with the adenovirus and not even know it. It could be easier to bring the virus around. And those who have a weakened immune system can be convalescent carriers. This means that their immune system responded to the disease and no longer have any symptoms, but the person is still infectious. So, help me understand this. You caught the virus, get sick, and then started feeling better, but you're still spreading the virus? That's exactly right. This is why it is so important for health professionals to report any possible adenovirus infections, because outbreaks can happen very easily. Now, that might sound a little scary. However, there are prevention and control measures that can be taken. First and foremost, to help prevent any adenovirus infection, or any sickness for that matter, it's important to wash your hands and to do it often. It's also important to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. You really just want to avoid close contact with people who are sick. And if you are sick, then stay home and avoid sharing cups or utensils with other people. COVID has really shown the importance of washing your hands and staying home if you're sick. Exactly. And just like COVID, if you do test positive for adenovirus, or you think you have it, there is, unfortunately, no prescription medication or specific treatment available. However, most of the infections tend to be mild and can be managed with over-the-counter medicine. And, unfortunately, as Livia has mentioned before, there is no adenovirus vaccine available to the general public, but it is available to you at home. Speaking of vaccines, something I found shocking was that the first round of adenovirus vaccines that were administered had some major issues. Not only were they not effective, but the vaccines were also accidentally contaminated with another virus called SB40, which actually helped adenovirus replicate, making things worse. Oh, it looks like we have another caller. Calling in with a question, Lyle from Houston, Texas. Hi, Lyle. As far as I know, they should have received the updated adenovirus vaccine and not the vaccine that included the mixture of the other virus. I'm glad none of the men in your platoon got the wrong vaccine mixture. It looks like that was a huge concern to scientists. And, actually, as scientists tried to backtrack and make sure they could make a reliable vaccine, they also discovered that the mixture in the first round of vaccinations that was given to the military recruits caused cancer in lab animals. Although it didn't seem to do the same in humans, so that was a huge relief. But by linking the vaccine to cancer in animals, this also jump-started scientists' understanding of how viruses like hepatitis B and human papillomavirus can also cause cancer. Wow, Lydia. Who knew administering the wrong vaccination would actually help with our understanding of cancer? At least none of the people who received that vaccine got cancer. Did you want to talk more about the biology of the vaccines, actually? Yes, thank you, Lydia. The adenovirus vaccine contains live adenovirus type 4 and type 7, which are the two strains of the virus that most commonly cause disease. The vaccine is limited to the U.S. military personnel and is given orally in the form of two tablets taken at the same time. The vaccine is given as the virus in an enteric-coated capsule, which causes an asymptomatic intestinal infection. This infection neutralizes antibodies within the recipient of the vaccine. The vaccine contains viable, selected strains of human adenovirus type 4 and type 7 prepared in human diploid fibroblast cell cultures. The cells are grown up, and the virus is then harvested, filtered, and formulated, and then dried. The dried virus contains various different ions. The final vaccine is composed of two tablets, one of each strain of the virus, which should pass intact through the stomach and release live adenovirus into the intestine. The vaccine will replicate in the intestinal tract and induce immunity in a person with none or a small number of pre-existing antibodies. What elicited the development of the vaccine? It caused many outbreaks since its discovery in the 1950s. The illness drastically decreased after the vaccinations were dosed out in the early 1970s. Most of respiratory diseases associated with adenovirus has been a common cause of illness in the military, which caused the need for a vaccination. Vaccinations stopped in 1997, and in between then and 2000, there were multiple outbreaks among military personnel. For the general public, most epidemics in the United States occur in the beginning of spring or in the winter months around the country, but adenovirus can occur at any point in the year. It is not a nationally notifiable disease, which means doctors are not required to test for it, so many outbreaks end up not being reported to the CDC, and most people don't go to the doctors for it. Thanks for sharing, Manny. From how much we've all learned about adenoviruses, it just really surprised me that it still isn't a nationally notifiable. But now that we know oh so much about adenoviruses, let's venture into how these microscopic bastards travel from one host to another, spreading infections far and wide. So, adenoviruses are known for their ability to transmit easily, making them a common cause of outbreaks and fumes. And before I go any further, it looks like we have another caller. This is Cindy calling from Bayfield, Wisconsin. Hey, Science People. I'm just a small-town girl calling to ask if I can get this adenovirus from my cat. I know there are some sicknesses my sweet sugar baby can give me, so can I still pet her? Is it safe for my kids to be playing with my cat, sweet sugar baby? Hi, Cindy from Bayfield. It's so great to hear from you. So, on to your question. Basically, the adenovirus is primarily a human virus, and there's no evidence to suggest that it can be transmitted from cats to humans. So, your feline friend, sweet sugar baby, should not pose a risk to you or your kids in terms of adenovirus transmission. Cats are a great source of comfort and joy, and following general hygiene practices will ensure that you and your family can continue to enjoy the company of your adorable cat safely. Speaking of transmission, now makes a great time to talk about the transmission of adenovirus. The primary mode of transmission is via close personal contact, just as simple as shaking a hand or a friendly hug to pass the virus from an infected person to another. Like we learned earlier, that person might not even know they're infected. So, I'm going to use spy gouge again, yes, once again. It's like a clandestine transfer of secret codes among spies, but in this case, it's the virus hopping from one individual to another. Besides direct contact, adenoviruses are also airborne, traveling through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These viral particles ride on tiny droplets in the air, waiting to be inhaled by others. Once inhaled, they find a new home to replicate and carry on the mission. But, that's not all. The virus also has the ability to turn everyday objects into vessels for transmission. Touching a surface or object that has adenoviruses on it, and then touching your face, especially the mouth, nose, or eyes, can also transport the virus into your system. It's like the virus plays low, waiting on objects until an unsuspecting individual comes along, providing the passage into the universe. In some unsettling scenarios, adenoviruses have also shown a capability in waterborne transmission. Outbreaks of certain types of adenoviruses have been associated with inadequately chlorinated circles and smallpox. This is more found in younger children and infants, but it seems like these viruses are also quite opportunistic, seizing every chance to spread and multiply. Moreover, adenoviruses can also spread through direct contact, through the eyes, as well as through exposure to infected tissue or blood. It's a multi-pronged strategy that adenoviruses employ to ensure the survival of propagation, making them formidable opponents in the fight against infectious diseases. Our understanding of adenovirus transmission underlines the importance of maintaining good hygiene practices and being vigilant in communal settings, especially where close contact is unavoidable. It's a microscopic battle with high stakes for communities, especially those with vulnerable populations. As we delve deeper into the world of adenoviruses, we unravel the intricacies in its interactions with the host and its environment. We shed light on the microscopic role of HD within adenoviruses, and as we explore the transmission dynamics of adenoviruses, it's evident how interconnected our actions and awareness are in mitigating the spread of such infectious diseases. Looks like we just got an email sent in from Fiona from Minneapolis, Minnesota. It reads, wow, thank you so much for educating me and the public about the dangers associated with adenovirus. I'm a school teacher, and I'm going to start incorporating disease units into my curriculum. Continue the amazing work you all are doing, and I look forward to listening to your next episode. All right, that is our last comment from our audience today. Sasha, do you want to give our listeners some parting words? Thank you, yeah. So today we navigated the microscopic realm of adenovirus, touching upon their history globally and zooming into outbreaks right here in Wisconsin. We classified them, delved into their life cycle, and explored their impact on our bodies and communities. Through discussing diagnostic options, signs, symptoms, and available treatments, we unfolded a broader narrative on public health. We also touched upon the beacon of hope that vaccines present in controlling such infections. Our journey from understanding adenovirus to discussing preventative measures underlies the importance of awareness, scientific inquiry, and community engagement in fostering a healthier tomorrow. Thank you for joining us, the rookie scientists, in unraveling the tale of adenovirus. Stay curious, stay informed, and tune in to the Am I Sick or Just a Hypochondriac for more insights into the world of local diseases. Until next time, keep exploring the microscopic wonders and threats among us.