DNA sequence of frog adenovirus

The genome of frog adenovirus (FrAdV-1) was sequenced and found to be the s mallest of all known adenovirus genomes. The sequence obtained was 26 163 b p in size and contains a substantial direct repeat near the right terminus, implying that it was derived by recombination from a parental genome of on ly 25 517 bp. The closest relative of FrAdV-1 proved to be turkey adenoviru s 3, an avian adenovirus with no previously known near relative. Sequence c omparisons showed that the two viruses have equivalent gene complements, in cluding one gene the product of which is related to sialidases. Phylogeneti c analyses supported the establishment of a fourth adenovirus genus contain ing these two viruses, in addition to the established genera Mastadenovirus and Aviadenovirus and the proposed genus Atadenovirus. Sixteen genes were identified as being conserved between these four lineages and were presumab ly inherited from an ancestral adenovirus.