First evidence of a new simian adenovirus clustering with Human mastadenovirus F viruses
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RESEARCH
Open Access
First evidence of a new simian adenovirus clustering with Human mastadenovirus F viruses Christian E. Lange1*, Fabien R. Niama2, Kenneth Cameron3,4, Sarah H. Olson2, Rock Aime Nina5, Alain Ondzie3, Gerard Bounga3, Brett R. Smith6, Jasmine Pante6, Patricia Reed3, Ubald Tamufe1, Anne Laudisoit7, Tracey Goldstein6, Romain Bagamboula MPassi8 and Damien O. Joly3,9
Abstract Background: Adenoviruses play an important role as human pathogens, though most infections are believed to be asymptomatic. The over 100 human adenovirus types are classified into seven species (A-G), some of which include simian adenoviruses. Recent findings have highlighted that simian adenoviruses have a zoonotic potential and that some human adenoviruses are likely the result of relatively recent spillover events. Methods: In order to evaluate the risks associated with primates hunted and sold as bushmeat, multiple samples from 24 freshly killed monkeys were collected in the Republic of the Congo and tested for adenovirus DNA by PCRs targeting the conserved DNA polymerase and hexon genes. Results: The DNA of a novel simian adenovirus was detected in a moustached monkey (Cercopithecus cephus) by the DNA polymerase PCR, but not by the hexon PCR. The 275 nucleotide amplicon was most closely related to members of the Human mastadenovirus F species (93% HAdV-40 and 89% HAdV-41 amino acid identity), rather than to other known simian adenoviruses. Conclusions: The phylogenetic clustering with Human mastadenovirus F sequences suggests a common ancestor, more recent than the last common ancestor of humans and moustached monkeys. The findings increase concerns about the zoonotic potential of simian adenoviruses and highlight the need for more research and surveillance on the issue. Keywords: Adenovirus, Primate, Zoonosis, Africa, Evolution, Bushmeat
Background Adenoviruses (AdVs) are double-stranded non-enveloped DNA viruses that infect a variety of vertebrate species including humans and primates. Adenoviruses were first discovered in the 1950s as human pathogens, and human adenoviruses (HAdVs) have been intensely studied since [1, 2]. Although the majority of adenovirus infections are largely asymptomatic, some HAdVs are responsible for a significant number of cases of respiratory diseases especially in children. HAdVs can also cause conjunctivitis, acute hemorrhagic cystitis, meningoencephalitis, diarrhea, intussusception, celiac disease and myocarditis [1, 2]. * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Metabiota Inc, Nanaimo, BC, Canada Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Despite their role as pathogens, some HAdVs and simian adenoviruses (SAdVs) have been used or proposed as tools in vaccine delivery and gene therapy [3]. The application of SAdVs has especially been explored in this context as a way to avoid potential pre-existing immune responses due to prior exposure to HAdVs. The Adenoviridae family as a whole is quite diverse, with its currently five genera, Mastadenovirus, Aviadenovirus,
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