Key result
Molecular surveillance identifies novel recombinant adenovirus HAdV-B117 linked to severe pediatric community-acquired pneumonia.
Observational
The emergence of a novel recombinant human adenovirus genotype B117 causing severe pneumonia in children highlights the need for continuous genomic surveillance.
Warrants vigilance for recombinant adenoviruses in severe pediatric pneumonia; leaves open prevalence, transmissibility, and outcomes.
During molecular surveillance of human adenoviruses (HAdVs) in children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infections in Beijing, China, during 2014-2024, the most prevalent genotypes were HAdV-B114 (53.85%) and HAdV-B7 (27.18%). A novel recombinant genotype, HAdV-B117, was identified in 2 children <5 years of age with severe community-acquired pneumonia and serious complications. Genomic analysis revealed that HAdV-B117 arose from HAdV-B114 (P7H3F3) with the fiber gene from HAdV-B7. We observed amino acid substitutions and deletions in the pivotal regions of 3 major capsid proteins, and some were predicted to alter the protein structure. In vitro, the replication kinetics of HAdV-B117 were similar to those of HAdV-B3 and HAdV-B7. Clinical manifestations resembled severe pneumonia caused by HAdV-B3 or HAdV-B7. Both children recovered after treatment. The emergence of HAdV-B117 highlights the need for continuous genomic surveillance of HAdVs to detect novel recombinants with potential public health effects.
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Wang et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Acute lower respiratory tract infections. Molecular surveillance identified a novel recombinant human adenovirus genotype, HAdV-B117, in 2 children under 5 years of age with severe community-acquired pneumonia in Beijing, China.
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