Metagenomic next-generation sequencing of 445 clinical samples from Northeast China characterized the spectrum of respiratory viruses and identified a novel human picobirnavirus in adult sputum.
Observational (n=445)
No
The study delineates the spectrum of respiratory viruses in northeast China in 2023, including the first documented detection of a novel picobirnavirus in respiratory specimens from China.
Objective: Respiratory viral infections impose a significant global health burden, necessitating continuous regional surveillance to understand pathogen circulation. This study aimed to characterize the spectrum of respiratory pathogens and identify potential causative agents in Jilin Province, northeast China, during 2023. Methods: Using metagenomic next-generation sequencing, we analyzed 250 respiratory samples and 195 blood samples, sequencing of all samples yielded 399,256 viral reads. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to identify and characterize the detected viruses. Results: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (lineage BA.2), human respiratory syncytial virus B (lineage GB5.0.5a), and influenza B virus (lineage V1A.3a.2) were identified as common respiratory pathogens across both pediatric and adult populations. Influenza A virus (lineage 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.3a.1), rhinovirus (subtype C), human respiratory syncytial virus A (lineage GA2.3.5), human respiratory syncytial virus B (lineage GB5.0.5a), and human metapneumovirus (lineage A2c) were detected in pediatric or adult respiratory samples. Human Pegivirus (genotype 3) was detected exclusively in adult blood samples. Strikingly, a novel picobirnavirus was identified in adult sputum samples, sequence and structural analyses consistently indicate that this picobirnavirus is closely related to human-associated strains, exhibiting ≥70% amino acid identity and an RdRP structure nearly identical to that of picobirnaviruses previously identified in human upper respiratory swabs from Cambodia. This finding was validated by nested RT-PCR, representing the first documented detection of picobirnavirus in respiratory specimens from China. As most identified strains were first reported in northeast China, we also conducted comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of representative viruses, revealing high sequence similarity with epidemic strains from other regions of China. Conclusion: These findings delineate the respiratory viruses of northeast China, providing data for region-specific surveillance to mitigate future public health risks.
Song et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Respiratory viral infections (n=445). Metagenomic next-generation sequencing was evaluated on Viral pathogen detection and genetic characterization. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing of 445 clinical samples from Northeast China characterized the spectrum of respiratory viruses and identified a novel human picobirnavirus in adult sputum.