Complete Genome Sequence, Molecular Characterization and Phylogenetic Relationships of a Novel Tern Atadenovirus

Abstract

Discovery and study of viruses carried by migratory birds are tasks of high importance due to the host’s ability to spread infectious diseases over significant distances. With this paper, we present and characterize the first complete genome sequence of atadenovirus from a tern bird (common tern, Sterna hirundo) preliminarily named tern atadenovirus 1 (TeAdV-1). TeAdV-1 genome is a linear double-stranded DNA molecule, 31,334 base pairs which contain 30 methionine-initiated open reading frames with gene structure typical for Atadenovirus genus, and the shortest known inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) within the Atadenovirus genus consisted of 25 bases. The nucleotide composition of the genome is characterized by a low G + C content (33.86%), which is the most AT-rich genome of known avian adenoviruses within Atadenovirus genus. The nucleotide sequence of the TeAdV-1 genome shows high divergence compared to known representatives of the Atadenovirus genus with the highest similarity to the duck atadenovirus 1 (53.7%). Phylogenetic analysis of the protein sequences of core genes confirms the taxonomic affiliation of the new representative to the genus Atadenovirus with the degree of divergence from the known representatives exceeding the interspecies distance within the genus. Thereby we proposed a novel TeAdV-1 to be considered as a separate species.