Novel Adenoviruses in Wild Primates: a High Level of Genetic Diversity and Evidence of Zoonotic Transmissions
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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of virology
Abstract
Adenoviruses (AdVs) broadly infect vertebrate hosts, including a variety of nonhuman primates (NHPs).
In the present study, we identified AdVs in NHPs living in their natural habitats, and through the
combination of phylogenetic analyses and information on the habitats and epidemiological settings, we
detected possible horizontal transmission events between NHPs and humans. Wild NHPs were analyzed
with a pan-primate AdV-specific PCR using a degenerate nested primer set that targets the highly
conserved adenovirus DNA polymerase gene. A plethora of novel AdV sequences were identified, representing
at least 45 distinct AdVs. From the AdV-positive individuals, 29 nearly complete hexon genes were
amplified and, based on phylogenetic analysis, tentatively allocated to all known human AdV species
(Human adenovirus A to Human adenovirus G [HAdV-A to -G]) as well as to the only simian AdV species
(Simian adenovirus A [SAdV-A]). Interestingly, five of the AdVs detected in great apes grouped into the
HAdV-A, HAdV-D, HAdV-F, or SAdV-A clade. Furthermore, we report the first detection of AdVs in New
World monkeys, clustering at the base of the primate AdV evolutionary tree. Most notably, six chimpanzee
AdVs of species HAdV-A to HAdV-F revealed a remarkably close relationship to human AdVs, possibly
indicating recent interspecies transmission events.
Description
Keywords
Novel Adenoviruses, Wild Primates, Genetic Diversity, Evidence of Zoonotic Transmissions
Citation
Wevers, D., Metzger, S., Babweteera, F., Bieberbach, M., Boesch, C., Cameron, K., ... & Ehlers, B. (2011). Novel adenoviruses in wild primates: a high level of genetic diversity and evidence of zoonotic transmissions. Journal of virology, 85(20), 10774-10784. doi:10.1128/JVI.00810-11