Characterisation of hexon and fibre genes of a novel strain of adenovirus involved in epidemic keratoconjunctivitis
- A K Adhikary1,
- T Inada1,
- J Numaga2,
- E Suzuki3,
- H Ushijima3,
- U Banik1,
- A Mukouyama1,
- S Matsuno1,
- N Okabe1
- 1Infectious Disease Surveillance Centre, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
- 2Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
- 3Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
- Correspondence to: Dr A K Adhikary Mailing, Infectious Disease Surveillance Centre, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan; arunnih.go.jp
- Accepted 10 July 2003
Abstract
Aims: To characterise a novel strain (M86) of adenovirus (Ad) involved in epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC).
Methods/Results: The virus strain was neutralised by antisera to both Ad35 and Ad11. Restriction endonuclease analysis of genomic DNA showed 98% and 88% homology with Ad11 and Ad35, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the hypervariable regions of (HVRs) of the hexon gene showed a higher homology with Ad35 (94.4%) than with Ad11 (83.7%). However, it was 100% homologous to Ad35 in HVRs 1, 2, 3, and 6 and to Ad11 in HVRs 4 and 6. In the fibre knob, the isolate was more homologous to Ad11 (99.4%) than to Ad35 (29.1%).
Conclusion: This novel strain of adenovirus showed similarities with both Ad11 and Ad35. The isolation of a novel strain like Ad35+11 is important because of its association with EKC.
