DNA-Restriction Enzyme Analysis of Adenoviruses Isolated from Waters

Abstract

Adenoviruses can often be isolated from waters in Greece. Among them, serotype adenovirus 7 (Ad 7) was found most frequently, accounting for nearly 55% of all adenovirus isolates from water, with the protamine sulphate precipitation method used. The corresponding isolation rate of the Ad 7 serotype from humans was even higher, approaching 85% of all human isolates. This high frequency of occurrence of the Ad 7 serotype prompted us to perform a DNA restriction enzyme analysis of Ad 7 strains, so as to find their genome type. Twenty eight strains, 14 from waters and 14 from humans, were grown in Hep2 cells in the presence of radioactive phosphorus. Viruses were harvested after 24 hours incubation, the DNA was extracted and digested with the endonucleases of Bam HI and XhoI. DNA restriction digests were electrophoresed in agarose gels, vacuum dried and autoradiographed. The comparison of the restriction digests showed that all strains from waters and 12 out of 14 from humans belong to the genome type Adeno 7b, which is the most prevalent in other European countries as well.