Whole genome sequencing reveals a decade of human adenovirus B114 circulation in England
- 1University of Cambridge
Abstract
BackgroundHuman Mastadenovirus B (HAdV-B) causes ocular and respiratory infections and is capable of causing outbreaks in healthcare settings. HAdV-B114, a recombinant genotype only formally recognised in 2023, has been reported predominantly from Germany, the USA, China and Japan; genomic data from UK clinical settings remain limited. This study analysed 68 HAdV-B whole genomes from ocular and respiratory-associated samples collected at a Nottingham hospital across the pre- and post-COVID-19 restriction periods (2017-2023).
MethodsClinical samples typed positive for HAdV-B by partial hexon Sanger sequencing were selected for whole-genome sequencing using a novel overlapping PCR amplicon strategy, sequenced on the Oxford Nanopore Technologies PromethION platform. Phylogenetic and pairwise difference analyses were used to characterise genotype composition and genomic relatedness. SimPlot and amino-acid comparison characterised divergence between sub-lineages.
ResultsWhole-genome phylogenetics confirmed that two species B genotypes were detected in Nottingham University Hospitals between 2017-23: HAdV-B114 (n=56) and HAdV-B7 (n=12). HAdV-B114 was detected before and after COVID-19 restrictions, with an increase in 2022-2023, consistent with post-restriction expansion of a pre-existing lineage. Pairwise difference analysis identified 24 genomically identical B114 sequences; associated metadata argued against a single nosocomial transmission chain interpretation, with the pattern more consistent with repeated detection of a widely circulating community strain, with the possibility of localised onward transmission. Within the B114 clade, multiple monophyletic groups were identified by whole-genome phylogenetics.
ConclusionsThis study adds whole-genome resolution to the existing UK HAdV-B114 data, demonstrates the utility of WGS for clinical adenovirus surveillance and shows the benefits of combining epidemiological data with genomic analysis.
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BibTeX
@misc{mcclure2026whole,
title = {{Whole genome sequencing reveals a decade of human adenovirus B114 circulation in England}},
author = {P. J. McClure and M. Muntean and E. Cifelli and O. J. Abiodun and M. Lister and A. Lambisia and J. Quick and S. Astbury and C. J. Houldcroft},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.22.26363659},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.26363659v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Whole genome sequencing reveals a decade of human adenovirus B114 circulation in England
AU - P. J. McClure
AU - M. Muntean
AU - E. Cifelli
AU - O. J. Abiodun
AU - M. Lister
AU - A. Lambisia
AU - J. Quick
AU - S. Astbury
AU - C. J. Houldcroft
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/22
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.22.26363659
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.26363659v1
AB - BackgroundHuman Mastadenovirus B (HAdV-B) causes ocular and respiratory infections and is capable of causing outbreaks in healthcare settings. HAdV-B114, a recombinant genotype only formally recognised in 2023, has been reported predominantly from Germany, the USA, China and Japan; genomic data from UK clinical settings remain limited. This study analysed 68 HAdV-B whole genomes from ocular and respiratory-associated samples collected at a Nottingham hospital across the pre- and post-COVID-19 restriction periods (2017-2023). MethodsClinical samples typed positive for HAdV-B by partial hexon Sanger sequencing were selected for whole-genome sequencing using a novel overlapping PCR amplicon strategy, sequenced on the Oxford Nanopore Technologies PromethION platform. Phylogenetic and pairwise difference analyses were used to characterise genotype composition and genomic relatedness. SimPlot and amino-acid comparison characterised divergence between sub-lineages. ResultsWhole-genome phylogenetics confirmed that two species B genotypes were detected in Nottingham University Hospitals between 2017-23: HAdV-B114 (n=56) and HAdV-B7 (n=12). HAdV-B114 was detected before and after COVID-19 restrictions, with an increase in 2022-2023, consistent with post-restriction expansion of a pre-existing lineage. Pairwise difference analysis identified 24 genomically identical B114 sequences; associated metadata argued against a single nosocomial transmission chain interpretation, with the pattern more consistent with repeated detection of a widely circulating community strain, with the possibility of localised onward transmission. Within the B114 clade, multiple monophyletic groups were identified by whole-genome phylogenetics. ConclusionsThis study adds whole-genome resolution to the existing UK HAdV-B114 data, demonstrates the utility of WGS for clinical adenovirus surveillance and shows the benefits of combining epidemiological data with genomic analysis.
ER -