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.