Human Adenovirus Type 55 Distribution, Regional Persistence, and Genetic Variability

Jun Hang,Adriana E Kajon,Yu Yang,Mark A Sanborn,Irina Maljkovic Berry,Robert A Kuschner,Leonard N Binn,Natalie D Collins,Melinda S Balansay-Ames,Christopher A Myers,Anima Adhikari,Richard G Jarman,Paul C F Graf,Christian K Fung

doi:10.3201/eid2607.191707

Abstract

Human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-55) causes acute respiratory disease of variable severity and has become an emergent threat in both civilian and military populations. HAdV-55 infection is endemic to China and South Korea, but data from other regions and time periods are needed for comprehensive assessment of HAdV-55 prevalence from a global perspective. In this study, we subjected HAdV-55 isolates from various countries collected during 1969–2018 to whole-genome sequencing, genomic and proteomic comparison, and phylogenetic analyses. The results show worldwide distribution of HAdV-55; recent strains share a high degree of genomic homogeneity. Distinct strains circulated regionally for several years, suggesting persistent local transmission. Several cases of sporadic introduction of certain strains to other countries were documented. Among the identified amino acid mutations distinguishing HAdV-55 strains, some have potential impact on essential viral functions and may affect infectivity and transmission.

Highlights

Human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-55) causes acute respiratory disease of variable severity and has become an emergent threat in both civilian and military populations
The examined collection includes 2 strains isolated from civilians in the United States, 76-0669/USA/CA/1976 and 97026382/USA/ SD/1997, the strain isolated during a large Acute respiratory diseases (ARD) outbreak in a civilian job training facility in South Dakota [35]; 10 human adenovirus (HAdV)-55 strains from 2 major cities in Egypt; 2 strains from a Singapore military base; 2 HAdV-55 strains isolated in different locations and years in Japan; and 50 recent strains from South Korea
The results demonstrate the long-term regional persistence of HAdV-55 infection, which appears to span for years

Summary

Introduction

Human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-55) causes acute respiratory disease of variable severity and has become an emergent threat in both civilian and military populations. HAdV-associated respiratory disease has threatened military readiness, and an increasing number of outbreaks and isolated cases documented in civilian communities in the United States and other countries [1,2,3,4] indicate that it is an emerging threat to public health. HAdV-55 was initially identified in respiratory isolates originating in China during 1965–1981 as serotype 11a, a distinct genomic variant of serotype 11, by its distinct BamHI digestion profile compared with the HAdV-11 prototype strain Slobitski [14]. This unique subspecies HAdV-B2 genotype was designated HAdV-55 (P14H11F14) in 2013 after the bioinformatics analysis of complete genome sequences revealed that the genome consists of a HAdV-14 backbone with a portion of the hexon gene from HAdV-11 [15,16,17]. We acquired WGSs of 72 HAdV-55 clinical isolates from 1969–2018 in 6 countries, and conducted genomic, proteomic, and phylogenetic analyses to reveal unique characteristics of HAdV-55 and identify amino acid residue differences between strains

Methods

Results

Conclusion