Genome variants of human adenovirus types 40 and 41 (subgroup F) in Japan.

Nineteen strains of fecal adenovirus were typed as adenovirus type 40 (Ad40) by restriction enzyme analysis of the DNA, using SmaI. The DNAs of the strains were further compared by digestion with four other enzymes, namely, HindIII, EcoRI, BglI, and BamHI. At least two different restriction profiles were found to exist for BamHI. Of the 19 strains studied, 17 had the same combination of profiles for all of the enzymes. Thirteen strains of fecal adenovirus were typed as Ad41 by restriction enzyme analysis of the DNA, using SmaI. The DNAs of the strains were further compared by digestion with four other enzymes, as for Ad40. At least two different restriction profiles were found to exist for each enzyme. Of 13 strains, 9 had the same cleavage sites for all of the enzymes, indicating a close relationship. Two strains were genome variants which deviated from the common genome on digestion of the DNA with HindIII. One strain was a genome variant which deviated from the common genome on digestion of the DNA with HindIII and EcoRI. The last one had a combination of restriction sites which was not identical to those of other strains on digestion of the DNA with SmaI. All 13 Ad41 strains studied were easily distinguished from Ad40 strains by using any of the five restriction enzymes.