Classification and Gene Features of Unverified HAdV in China, 2012-2019

Objective To analyze the type and gene features of 11 unverified HAdVs in China.

Methods We downloaded HAdV genome sequences of 67 strains with clear genotypes and the HAdV reference genome sequences of 7 strains from GenBank database, analyzed them together with eleven unverified HAdV gene sequences and classified the species of each sequence based on the genetic structure, sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis.

Results Phylogenetic analysis results predicted the classification of six sequences: two of them belonged to HAdV-B and two belonged to HAdV-D (the gene homology were 97.8% and 92.8% in comparison with reference gene respectively), the rest of two sequences were not conclusive. Multiple sequence alignment was used to predict the species of five HAdVs. All of them belonged to species HAdV-B, the sequence similarity compared with reference gene was 97.9%.

Conclusion Genotyping of the unverified HAdV genome from a genetic point of view predicts that seven strains might belong to species HAdV-B, two strains might belong to species HAdV-D and two strains could not be classified. The seven HAdV-B strains might be suitable for the treatment of osteosarcoma as oncolytic adenovirus.