Genetic characteristics of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2023 in Beijing, China
Abstract Human bocavirus (HBoV) is an emerging pathogen associated with pediatric respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, yet its genetic diversity remains understudied. The aberrant global resurgence of other respiratory viruses after the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns regarding signifi...
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Virology Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02846-z |
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| author | Qiuchi Lv Yiliang Fu Hongwei Zhao Zhengde Xie Lili Xu |
| author_facet | Qiuchi Lv Yiliang Fu Hongwei Zhao Zhengde Xie Lili Xu |
| author_sort | Qiuchi Lv |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Human bocavirus (HBoV) is an emerging pathogen associated with pediatric respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, yet its genetic diversity remains understudied. The aberrant global resurgence of other respiratory viruses after the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns regarding significant evolutionary shifts in viral genetic profiles. Accordingly, this study characterized HBoV isolates that circulated in Beijing during 2023 by analyzing 1,442 pediatric respiratory samples associated with acute respiratory tract infections. Among 43 HBoV-positive cases with a 2.98% detection rate, 11 complete genomes were sequenced and classified as HBoV1 through phylogenetic analysis. Amino acid substitutions in VP1, including the prevalent N474S mutation (95.3% frequency in GenBank), were predicted via structural modeling to alter hydrogen-bonding networks, potentially enhancing viral stability. Entropy analysis confirmed the high variability of VP1, whereas selective pressure analysis revealed conserved sites under purifying selection in the NP1 and VP1 proteins. Notably, the S79N substitution in NP1 introduced a putatively N-glycosylation site while a putatively O-glycosylation site was lost in four isolates, may suggesting functional implications. No recombination events were detected. These findings provide critical insights into the molecular evolution of HBoV1 and inform future research on antiviral strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a7d251b92cc34dfeae99d26829d94907 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1743-422X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Virology Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-a7d251b92cc34dfeae99d26829d949072025-08-20T04:01:25ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2025-06-0122111210.1186/s12985-025-02846-zGenetic characteristics of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2023 in Beijing, ChinaQiuchi Lv0Yiliang Fu1Hongwei Zhao2Zhengde Xie3Lili Xu4Beijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Key Discipline of Pediatrics (Capital Medical University), Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s HealthBeijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Key Discipline of Pediatrics (Capital Medical University), Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s HealthBeijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Key Discipline of Pediatrics (Capital Medical University), Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s HealthBeijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Key Discipline of Pediatrics (Capital Medical University), Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s HealthBeijing Key Laboratory of Core Technologies for the Prevention and Treatment of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Children, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, National Key Discipline of Pediatrics (Capital Medical University), Beijing Research Center for Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s HealthAbstract Human bocavirus (HBoV) is an emerging pathogen associated with pediatric respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, yet its genetic diversity remains understudied. The aberrant global resurgence of other respiratory viruses after the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns regarding significant evolutionary shifts in viral genetic profiles. Accordingly, this study characterized HBoV isolates that circulated in Beijing during 2023 by analyzing 1,442 pediatric respiratory samples associated with acute respiratory tract infections. Among 43 HBoV-positive cases with a 2.98% detection rate, 11 complete genomes were sequenced and classified as HBoV1 through phylogenetic analysis. Amino acid substitutions in VP1, including the prevalent N474S mutation (95.3% frequency in GenBank), were predicted via structural modeling to alter hydrogen-bonding networks, potentially enhancing viral stability. Entropy analysis confirmed the high variability of VP1, whereas selective pressure analysis revealed conserved sites under purifying selection in the NP1 and VP1 proteins. Notably, the S79N substitution in NP1 introduced a putatively N-glycosylation site while a putatively O-glycosylation site was lost in four isolates, may suggesting functional implications. No recombination events were detected. These findings provide critical insights into the molecular evolution of HBoV1 and inform future research on antiviral strategies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02846-zHBoVGenetic characterizationPhylogenetic analysisChildren |
| spellingShingle | Qiuchi Lv Yiliang Fu Hongwei Zhao Zhengde Xie Lili Xu Genetic characteristics of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2023 in Beijing, China Virology Journal HBoV Genetic characterization Phylogenetic analysis Children |
| title | Genetic characteristics of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2023 in Beijing, China |
| title_full | Genetic characteristics of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2023 in Beijing, China |
| title_fullStr | Genetic characteristics of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2023 in Beijing, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic characteristics of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2023 in Beijing, China |
| title_short | Genetic characteristics of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2023 in Beijing, China |
| title_sort | genetic characteristics of human bocavirus in children with acute respiratory tract infections during 2023 in beijing china |
| topic | HBoV Genetic characterization Phylogenetic analysis Children |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-025-02846-z |
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