OBSERVATIONS ON 2 NEW ADENOVIRUS SEROTYPES WITH UNUSUAL ANTIGENIC CHARACTERISTICS

Blacklow, N. R. (NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Md. 20014), M. D. Hoggan, J. B. Austin and W. P. Rowe. Observations on two new adenovirus serotypes with unusual antigenic characteristics. Amer. J. Epid., 1969, 90: 501-505.-Two adenovirus strains obtained from a nursery population in Washington, D.C. were noted to possess unusual antigenic characteristics. Both of these strains, referred to as H.H. and D.J. after the initials of the infected children, failed to show serologic reactivity in cross-neutralization (Nt) tests with any of the prototype human adenoviruses or with each other. By cross hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests, strains H.H. and D.J. appeared indistinguishable from each other and closely related to adenovirus type 24. A post-infection serum from child D.J. reacted in Kit only with D.J. but reacted in HI with H.H., D.J., and adenovirus type 24; a pre-infection serum from child D.J. showed no such reactivity in Nt or HI. Two children infected with the H.H. strain developed neutralizing antibody, 1 to 2 months later, to H.H. but not to D. J. or Ad 24. Because of the specific neutralizing antibody responses induced by H.H. and D.J. in rabbits and, as far as can be determined, in humans, it is proposed that the H.H. and D.J. strains be designated as adeno-viruses types 32 and 33, respectively. © 1969, by THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY.