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The rhinovirus (from the Greek ῥίς rhis "nose", gen ῥινός rhinos "of the nose", and the Latin vīrus) is the most common viral infectious agent in humans and is the predominant cause of the common cold. Rhinovirus infection proliferates in temperatures of 33–35 °C (91–95 °F), the temperatures found in the nose. Rhinoviruses belong to the genus Enterovirus in the family Picornaviridae.

Isosurface of a human rhinovirus, showing protein spikes
Isosurface of a human rhinovirus, showing protein spikes
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
(unranked): Virus
Realm: Riboviria
Phylum: incertae sedis
Order: Picornavirales
Family: Picornaviridae
Genus: Enterovirus
Groups included
  • Rhinovirus A
  • Rhinovirus B
  • Rhinovirus C
Cladistically included but traditionally excluded taxa

The three species of rhinovirus (A, B, and C) include around 160 recognized types of human rhinoviruses that differ according to their surface proteins (serotypes).[1] They are lytic in nature and are among the smallest viruses, with diameters of about 30 nanometers. By comparison, other viruses, such as smallpox and vaccinia, are around 10 times larger at about 300 nanometers; while flu viruses are around 80–120 nm.

Transmission and epidemiologyEdit

There are two modes of transmission: via aerosols of respiratory droplets and from fomites (contaminated surfaces), including direct person-to-person contact.

Rhinoviruses are spread worldwide and are the primary cause of the common cold. Symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and cough; sometimes accompanied by muscle aches, fatigue, malaise, headache, muscle weakness, or loss of appetite. Fever and extreme exhaustion are more usual in influenza. Children may have six to twelve colds a year. In the United States, the incidence of colds is higher in the autumn and winter, with most infections occurring between September to April. The seasonality may be due to the start of the school year[citation needed] and to people spending more time indoors (thus in proximity with each other),[citation needed] thereby increasing the chance of transmission of the virus. Lower ambient, especially outdoor, temperatures may also be factor[2] given that rhinoviruses preferentially replicate at 32 °C (89 °F) as opposed to 37 °C (98 °F) – see following section. Variant pollens, grasses, hays and agricultural practices may be factors in the seasonality as well as the use of chemical controls of lawn, paddock and sportsfields in schools and communities. The changes in temperature, humidity and wind patterns seem to be factors. It is also postulated that poor housing, overcrowding and unsanitary conditions related to poverty are relevant factors in the transmission of 'common cold'.

Those most affected by rhinoviruses are infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised people.[3]


The primary route of entry for human rhinoviruses is the upper respiratory tract (mouth and nose). Rhinovirus A and B bind to ICAM-1 (Inter-Cellular Adhesion Molecule 1) also known as CD54 (Cluster of Differentiation 54) receptors on respiratory epithelial cells while rhinovirus C uses cadherin-related family member 3 (CDHR3) to mediate cellular entry.[4] As the virus replicates and spreads, infected cells release distress signals known as chemokines and cytokines (which in turn activate inflammatory mediators). Cell lysis occurs at the upper respiratory epithelium.

Infection occurs rapidly, with the virus adhering to surface receptors within 15 minutes of entering the respiratory tract. High-risk individuals include children and the elderly. Just over 50% of individuals will experience symptoms within 2 days of infection. Only about 5% of cases will have an incubation period of less than 20 hours, and, at the other extreme, it is expected that 5% of cases would have an incubation period of greater than four and a half days.[5]

Human rhinoviruses preferentially grow at 32 °C (89 °F), notably colder than the average human body temperature of 37 °C (98 °F); hence the virus's tendency to infect the upper respiratory tract, where respiratory airflow is in continual contact with the (colder) extrasomatic environment.

Rhinovirus C, unlike the A and B species, may be able to cause severe infections.[6] This association disappears after controlling for confounders.[7] Duly, amongst infants infected with symtomatic respiratory illness in low-resource areas, there appears to be no association between rhinovirus species and disease severity.[8]


Rhinovirus was formerly a genus from the family Picornaviridae. The 39th Executive Committee (EC39) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) met in Canada during June 2007 with new taxonomic proposals. In April 2008, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses voted and ratified the following changes:

  • 2005.264V.04 To remove the following species from the existing genus Rhinovirus in the family Picornaviridae:
    • Human rhinovirus A
    • Human rhinovirus B
  • 2005.265V.04 To assign the following species to the genus Enterovirus in the family Picornaviridae:
    • Human rhinovirus A
    • Human rhinovirus B
  • 2005.266V.04 To remove the existing genus Rhinovirus from the family Picornaviridae. Note: The genus Rhinovirus hereby disappears.

In July 2009, the ICTV voted and ratified a proposal to add a third species, Human rhinovirus C to the genus Enterovirus.

  • 2008.084V.A.HRV-C-Sp 2008.084V To create a new species named Human rhinovirus C in the genus Enterovirus, family Picornaviridae.

There have been a total of 215 taxonomic proposals, which have been approved and ratified since the 8th ICTV Report of 2005.


Rhinoviruses have single-stranded positive sense RNA genomes of between 7200 and 8500 nt in length. At the 5' end of the genome is a virus-encoded protein, and like mammalian mRNA, there is a 3' poly-A tail. Structural proteins are encoded in the 5' region of the genome and non structural at the 3' end. This is the same for all picornaviruses. The viral particles themselves are not enveloped and are icosahedral in structure.

The viral proteins are translated as a single, long polypeptide, which is cleaved into the structural and nonstructural viral proteins.[9]

Human rhinoviruses are composed of a capsid that contains four viral proteins, VP1, VP2, VP3 and VP4.[10][11] VP1, VP2, and VP3 form the major part of the protein capsid. The much smaller VP4 protein has a more extended structure, and lies at the interface between the capsid and the RNA genome. There are 60 copies of each of these proteins assembled as an icosahedron. Antibodies are a major defense against infection with the epitopes lying on the exterior regions of VP1-VP3.


  • Human rhinovirus:
    • serotypes HRV-A1, HRV-A2, HRV-A7 through HRV-13, HRV-A15, HRV-A16, HRV-A18 through HRV-25, HRV-A28 through HRV-34, HRV-A36, HRV-A38 through HRV-A41, HRV-A43 through HRV-A47, HRV-A49, HRV-A50, HRV-A51, HRV-A53 through HRV-A68, HRV-A71, HRV-A73 through HRV-A78, HRV-A80, HRV-A81, HRV-A82, HRV-A85, HRV-A88, HRV-A89, HRV-A90, HRV-A94, HRV-A95, HRV-A96, HRV-A98, and HRV-A100 through HRV-A103 found under the species Rhinovirus A.
    • types HRV-B3 through, HRV-B6, HRV-B14, HRV-B17, HRV-B26, HRV-B27, HRV-B35, HRV-B37, HRV-B42, HRV-B48, HRV-B52, HRV-B69, HRV-B70, HRV-B72, HRV-B79, HRV-B83, HRV-B84, HRV-B86, HRV-B91, HRV-B92, HRV-B93, HRV-B97, and HRV-B99 found under the species Rhinovirus B.
    • types HRV-C1 through HRV-C51 found under the species Rhinovirus C.[12]

Novel antiviral drugsEdit

Interferon-alpha used intranasally was shown to be effective against Human rhinovirus infections. However, volunteers treated with this drug experienced some side effects, such as nasal bleeding, and began developing resistance to the drug. Subsequently, research into the treatment was abandoned.[13]

Pleconaril is an orally bioavailable antiviral drug being developed for the treatment of infections caused by picornaviruses.[14] This drug acts by binding to a hydrophobic pocket in VP1, and stabilizes the protein capsid to such an extent that the virus cannot release its RNA genome into the target cell. When tested in volunteers, during the clinical trials, this drug caused a significant decrease in mucus secretions and illness-associated symptoms. Pleconaril is not currently available for treatment of human rhinoviral infections, as its efficacy in treating these infections is under further evaluation.[15]

Other substances such as Iota-Carrageenan may form a basis for the creation of drugs to combat the human rhinovirus.[16]

In asthma, human rhinoviruses have been recently associated with the majority of asthma exacerbations for which current therapy is inadequate. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) has a central role in airway inflammation in asthma, and it is the receptor for 90% of Human rhinoviruses. Human rhinovirus infection of airway epithelium induces ICAM-1.

Desloratadine and loratadine are compounds belonging to the new class of H1-receptor blockers. Anti-inflammatory properties of antihistamines have been recently documented, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely defined. These effects are unlikely to be mediated by H1-receptor antagonism and suggest a novel mechanism of action that may be important for the therapeutic control of virus-induced asthma exacerbations.[citation needed]

In 2018, a new series of anti-rhinoviral compounds were reported by researchers at Imperial College London and colleagues at the University of York and the Pirbright Institute. These molecules target human N-myristoyltransferase, an enzyme in the host cell which picornavirus requires in order to assemble its viral capsid, and thus generate an infectious virion. The lead compound in this series, IMP-1088, very potently inhibited host myristoylation of viral capsid protein and prevented infectious virus formation, rescuing the viability of cells in culture which had been exposed to a variety of rhinovirus serotypes, or to related picornaviruses including poliovirus and foot-and-mouth-disease virus.[17] Because these compounds target a host factor, they are broadly active against all serotypes, and it is thought to be unlikely that they can be overcome by resistance mutations in the virus.[17]


There are no vaccines against these viruses as there is little-to-no cross-protection between serotypes. At least 99 serotypes of human rhinoviruses affecting humans have been sequenced.[18][19] However, a study of the VP4 protein has shown it to be highly conserved among many serotypes of human rhinovirus,[20] opening up the potential for a future pan-serotype human rhinovirus vaccine.


Human rhinovirus is most contagious during the autumn and winter months. The virus can live up to 3 hours outside of a human host. Once a virus is contracted, a person is most contagious within the first 3 days. Preventive measures such as regular vigorous hand washing with soap and water may aid in avoiding infection. Avoiding touching the mouth, eyes and nose, the most common entry points for rhinovirus, may also aid in prevention. Droplet precautions, which take the form of a surgical mask and gloves, is the method used in major hospitals.


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