Abstract
BackgroundIn Tianjin, China, there is a relatively high prevalence of HIV in men who have sex with men (MSM). The number of HIV cases in Tianjin is also increasing. We investigated the HIV molecular transmission network, genetic tropisms, and drug resistance mutations in Tianjin.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 510 newly diagnosed antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve HIV-1-infected subjects among MSM in Tianjin. Partial pol and env genes were sequenced and used for phylogenetic, genetic tropism, and genotypic drug resistance analyses. Molecular clusters were identified with 1.5% genetic distance and 90% bootstrap support.ResultsAmong the 436 HIV-1 pol sequences obtained from the study participants, various genotypes were identified, including CRF01_AE (56.9%), CRF07_BC (27.8%), B (7.3%), CRF55_01B (4.1%), unique recombinant forms (URFs) (3.7%), and CRF59_01B (0.2%). A higher prevalence of X4 viruses was observed in individuals infected with CRF55_01B (56.3%) and CRF01_AE (46.2%) than with other subtypes. Of all 110 sequences in the 36 clusters, 62 (56.4%) were observed in 23 CRF01_AE clusters and 18 (16.4%) in four CRF07_BC clusters. Eight sequences clustered with at least one other shared the same drug resistance mutation (DRM). In different cluster sizes, the distributions of individuals by age, presence of sexually transmitted disease, and presence of DRMs, were significantly different.ConclusionWe revealed the characteristics of HIV molecular transmission, tropism, and DRMs of ART-naïve HIV-infected individuals among the MSM population in Tianjin. Identifying infected persons at risk of transmission is necessary for proposing counseling and treating these patients to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Highlights
Since the first patient was diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Beijing in 1985 [1], HIV-1 has evolved rapidly in China over 30 years, Zheng et al Virol J (2020) 17:169Beijing, an important trading port, and neighbors Beijing and Hebei, with a total population of over 15 million people
By identifying common clustering among men who have sex with men (MSM), we examined the HIV molecular transmission network and transmitted drug resistance mutations to determine the characteristics of the HIV epidemic in Tianjin at the provincial level to guide HIV prevention measures
The results revealed an epidemic characterized by high heterogeneity in the subtypes and high prevalence of recombinant forms of infection (92.7%)
Summary
Since the first patient was diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Beijing in 1985 [1], HIV-1 has evolved rapidly in China over 30 years, Zheng et al Virol J (2020) 17:169Beijing, an important trading port, and neighbors Beijing and Hebei, with a total population of over 15 million people. MSM transmission, as opposed to heterosexual transmission, has resulted in a tenfold increase in the total number of infections, among young men in Tianjin [8]. The Tianjin Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission reported that MSM transmission cases accounted for 74.92% of all new diagnoses from January to October 2018, according to statistics from the AIDS prevention and control information management system. By identifying common clustering among MSM, we examined the HIV molecular transmission network and transmitted drug resistance mutations to determine the characteristics of the HIV epidemic in Tianjin at the provincial level to guide HIV prevention measures. The number of HIV cases in Tianjin is increasing. We investigated the HIV molecular transmission network, genetic tropisms, and drug resistance mutations in Tianjin
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