Computational analysis and identification of an emergent human adenovirus pathogen implicated in a respiratory fatality.
Adenoviral infections are typically acute, self-limiting, and not associated with death. However, we present the genomic and bioinformatics analysis of a novel recombinant human adenovirus (HAdV-D56) isolated in France that caused a rare neonatal fatality, and keratoconjunctivitis in three health care workers who cared for the neonate. Whole genome alignments revealed the expected diversity in the penton base, hexon, E3, and fiber coding regions, and provided evidence for extensive recombination. Bootscan analysis confirmed recombination between HAdV-D9, HAdV-D26, HAdV-D15, and HAdV-D29 in the penton base and hexon proteins, centered around hypervariable loops within the putative proteins. Protein structure analysis of the fiber coding region revealed similarity with HAdV-D8, HAdV-D9, and HAdV-D53, possibly accounting for the ocular tropism of the virus. Based on these data, this virus appears to be a new HAdV-D type (HAdV-D56), underscoring the importance of recombination events in human adenovirus evolution and the emergence of new adenovirus pathogens.
Howe Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Christopher M
CM
Robinson
Gurdeep
G
Singh
Cécile
C
Henquell
Michael P
MP
Walsh
Hélène
H
Peigue-Lafeuille
Donald
D
Seto
Morris S
MS
Jones
David W
DW
Dyer
James
J
Chodosh
D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019295:Computational Biology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005602:France; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D004279:DNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins