Three Novel CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC Recombinant Forms of HIV-1 Identified in Shijiazhuang City, China

Title:Three Novel CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC Recombinant Forms of HIV-1 Identified in Shijiazhuang City, China

Volume: 21 Issue: 4

Author(s): Xinli Lu*, Lin Ma, Li Yan, Meng Liu, Yingying Wang, Ning An and Qi Li*

Affiliation:

• Department of HIV and AIDS, Hebei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

• Department of HIV and AIDS, Hebei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China

Abstract:

Background: Hebei, a province with a low Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence, is also a region with the most abundant HIV-1 genetic diversity. HIV-1 recombinant forms have been the key factor influencing the effectiveness of HIV-1 control and therapy.

Objectives: We aimed to study inter-subtype recombinant structures of new HIV-1-second generation recombinant forms.

Methods: Monitoring the HIV-1 subtype by phylogenetic and recombinant breakpoint analyses are the two most frequent methods among men who have sex with men (MSM). Here, three near full-length genomes (NFLGs) were obtained from HIV-1 seropositive MSM in Shijiazhuang City, China, who have never received antiretroviral therapy in 2021.

Results: Phylogenetic analysis indicated that three NFLGs were novel inter-subtype recombinant forms between CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. For the NFLG 21S009, four CRF07_BC gene fragments were inserted into the pol, vif-vpr, vpu-env, and nef-3` LTR gene regions within a CRF01_ AE backbone, respectively. For the NFLG 21S095, four breakpoints were identified in HIV-1 pol and vpu regions. The NFLG 21S370 contained four gene recombinant breakpoints within HIV-1 pol and vpu-env gene regions. Of these three NFLGs, the NFLG 21S009 contained the most breakpoints, distributed in the pol, vif, vpr, vpu, env, and nef regions, respectively. In the gag-pol regions, three NFLGs had only one CRF07_BC gene fragment inserted into gene points between 4250 and 4792.

Conclusion: Our findings provide strong evidence that the surveillance of novel recombinant forms is necessary for the increase in better control of HIV.

Cite this article as:

Lu Xinli*, Ma Lin, Yan Li, Liu Meng, Wang Yingying, An Ning and Li Qi*, Three Novel CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC Recombinant Forms of HIV-1 Identified in Shijiazhuang City, China, Current HIV Research 2023; 21 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/011570162X266371231028192233