Adenovirus

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• The US health authorities recently paused the rollout of a one-shot Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. 

• The vaccine uses similar technology as that of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Both the vaccines are developed from adenoviral vectors.

About Adenovirus:

• Adenoviruses (ADVs) are DNA viruses ranging from 70-90 nanometre in size, which induces many illnesses in humans like cold, respiratory infection, etc.

• Adenoviruses are preferred for vaccines because their DNA is double-stranded which makes them genetically more stable and the chances of them changing after injection are lower.

• Adenoviruses are non-enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses. They were first discovered in the human adenoid tissue in 1953 by Rowe and his colleagues.

• Adenoviruses are usually spread from an infected person to others in the following ways.

  • Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands

  • Air transmission through coughing and sneezing

  • Touching an object or surface with adenoviruses on it, then touching mouth, nose or eyes before washing hands.