Genome sequences of human adenovirus 14 isolates from mild respiratory cases and a fatal pneumonia, isolated during 2006-2007 epidemics in North America.
BACKGROUND
Human adenovirus 14 (HAdV-14) is a recognized causative agent of epidemic febrile respiratory illness (FRI). Last reported in Eurasia in 1963, this virus has since been conspicuously absent in broad surveys, and was never isolated in North America despite inclusion of specific tests for this serotype in surveillance methods. In 2006 and 2007, this virus suddenly emerged in North America, causing high attack rate epidemics of FRI and, in some cases, severe pneumonias and occasional fatalities. Some outbreaks have been relatively mild, with low rates of progression beyond uncomplicated FRI, while other outbreaks have involved high rates of more serious outcomes.


RESULTS
In this paper we present the complete genomic sequence of this emerging pathogen, and compare genomic sequences of isolates from both mild and severe outbreaks. We also compare the genome sequences of the recent isolates with those of the prototype HAdV-14 that circulated in Eurasia 30 years ago and the closely related sequence of HAdV-11a, which has been circulating in southeast Asia.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that the currently circulating strain of HAdV-14 is closely related to the historically recognized prototype throughout its genome, though it does display a couple of potentially functional mutations in the fiber knob and E1A genes. There are no polymorphisms that suggest an obvious explanation for the divergence in severity between outbreak events, suggesting that differences in outcome are more likely environmental or host determined rather than viral genetics.
Houng
Huo-Shu H
HS
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, 20910, USA. huo-shu.houng@amedd.army.mil
Gong
Heping
H
Kajon
Adriana E
AE
Jones
Morris S
MS
Kuschner
Robert A
RA
Lyons
Arthur
A
Lott
Lisa
L
Lin
Kuei-Hsiang
KH
Metzgar
David
D
D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D058872:Epidemics; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index