Data from: Multiple cross-species transmission events of human adenoviruses (HAdV) during hominine evolution

Human adenoviruses (HAdV; species HAdV-A to -G) are highly prevalent in
the human population, and represent an important cause of morbidity and,
to a lesser extent, mortality. Recent studies have identified close
relatives of these viruses in African great apes, suggesting that some
HAdV may be of zoonotic origin. We analyzed more than 800 fecal samples
from wild African great apes and humans to further investigate the
evolutionary history and zoonotic potential of hominine HAdV. HAdV-B and
-E were frequently detected in wild gorillas (55%) and chimpanzees (25%),
respectively. Bayesian ancestral host reconstruction under discrete
diffusion models supported a gorilla and chimpanzee origin for these viral
species. Host switches were relatively rare along HAdV evolution, with
about ten events recorded in 4.5 My. Despite presumably rare direct
contact between sympatric populations of the two species, transmission
events from gorillas to chimpanzees were observed, suggesting that habitat
and dietary overlap may lead to fecal-oral cross-hominine transmission of
HAdV. Finally, we determined that two independent HAdV-B transmission
events to humans occurred more than 100,000 years ago. We conclude that
HAdV-B circulating in humans are of zoonotic origin and have probably
affected global human health for most of our species lifetime.