Molecular Genotyping of HIV-1 Strains from Newly Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men in Harbin, China

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2016 Jun;32(6):595-600. doi: 10.1089/AID.2016.0028. Epub 2016 Mar 30.

Abstract

In this study, blood samples from newly HIV-1 infected men who have sex with men (MSM) were collected, and HIV-1 genotypes were identified based on gag p17-p24 and nef gene regions. We found that participants aged from 20 to 40 years old were the major infection group in Harbin. CRF01_AE was the predominant genotype, contributing to 84.7% of HIV-1 infections, followed by subtype B (4.7%), CRF07_BC (3.5%), and subtype B' (Thai B, 1.2%). Moreover, five unique recombinant forms (5.9%) were also identified, including genotypes 01B, 01C, and 01/02. The recombinant CRF01_AE/CRF02_AG was first reported in China. These results suggested that current HIV-1 genotype epidemic among MSM in Harbin is more complicated and that intersubtype recombinants have emerged. Therefore, timely regional epidemiological surveillance of HIV-1 genotype and development of prevention measures for new HIV-1 infections among MSM are quite important.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • China / epidemiology
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype*
  • Genotyping Techniques
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / classification*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Homosexuality, Male
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Young Adult
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics

Substances

  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • nef protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1