Genome sequencing reveals molecular epidemiological characteristics and new recombinations of adenovirus in Beijing, China, 2014−2019

Abstract To investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics and genetic variations of human adenovirus (HAdV) in acute respiratory tract infections in Beijing. Whole‐genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed for 83 strains of HAdV with different types in Beijing from 2014 to 2019. The clinical characteristics of HAdV infection were analyzed statistically. HAdV‐B was divided into four genotypes, including B3 ( n = 11), B7 ( n = 13), B14 ( n = 4), and B55 ( n = 2). HAdV‐C was divided into three genotypes, including C1 ( n = 14), C2 ( n = 13), and C5 ( n = 10). In HAdV‐C, nine recombinant adenovirus strains were identified in type 1, and seven recombinant strains were found in type 2. In type 1, we found three newly emerged intraspecific recombinant strains (A47, A48, and A52) collected in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. In addition, the previously reported recombinant strains of HAdV‐C1 showed more severe disease than other strains of HAdV‐C, causing severe community‐acquired pneumonia in both the elderly and children. Continuous population‐wide molecular epidemiological surveillance of HAdV is essential for the prevention and control of respiratory infectious diseases.