A new variant of respiratory syncytial virus glycoprotein gene and clinical features of infected children
10.3760/cma.j.cn112309-20240112-00021
- VernacularTitle:呼吸道合胞病毒黏附糖蛋白基因新变异形式的发现及其感染患儿临床特征分析
- Author:
Mingli JIANG
1
;
Fengjie WANG
;
Zhenzhi HAN
;
Yanpeng XU
;
Yu SUN
;
Runan ZHU
;
Dongmei CHEN
;
Qi GUO
;
Yutong ZHOU
;
Linqing ZHAO
Author Information
1. 首都儿科研究所病毒学研究室，儿童病毒病病原学北京市重点实验室，北京 100020
- Keywords:
Respiratory syncytial virus;
G protein;
New variant;
Clinical feature
- From:
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology
2024;44(2):120-127
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To analyze the epidemiological features of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in Beijing, and monitor the sequence variations in RSV glycoprotein (G) gene and clinical features of infected children.Methods:Respiratory tract specimens were collected from children with acute respiratory infection in the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. RSV-positive specimens screened by multiple nucleic acid testing were subjected to PCR to amplify the full-length RSV G gene. A phylogenetic tree was constructed after gene sequencing to analyze RSV subtypes and trace G gene variants. Clinical data were retrieved from the medical record system to analyze the clinical features of children with RSV infection in Beijing.Results:A total of 5 489 respiratory specimens were collected from 3 046 male patients and 2 443 female patients. The average age of the patients was 4.36 years. A total of 589 RSV-positive specimens (10.7%, 589/5 489) were detected with 349 from male patients and 240 from female patients. The average age of children with RSV infection was (2.51±2.78) years and the median age was 0.48 years. RSV had been circulating among children in Beijing since March 2023 with two epidemic peaks in May (24.6%, 122/496) and December (18.2%, 126/693). The predominant subtype of RSV in the first half of 2023 was subtype A, but it was replaced by subtype B from November 2023. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a novel G gene of RSV subtype B (RSV-B-BA9-954bp) with a length of 954 bp, which belonged to a new cluster in the phylogenetic tree. The percentage of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was higher in children with new variant of RSV subtype B infection than in those with common RSV subtype B infection [44.1% (15/34) vs 25.2% (31/123), χ 2=4.600, P=0.032], while the counts of white blood cells and the levels of C-reactive protein were lower in the children with new variant infection ( P<0.05). Conclusions:RSV has been prevalent among children in Beijing since March 2023 with two epidemic peaks. The predominant A subtype is gradually replaced by to B subtype. A new variant of RSV B G gene (RSV-B-BA9-954bp) is detected among the children.
