Molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Jilin province, northeastern China: emergence of a new CRF07_BC transmission cluster and intersubtype recombinants.

Xingguang Li,Hui Xing,Cunxin Xie,Marcia L Kalish,Yi Feng,Yutaka Takebe,Liuyan Sun,Xiang He,Xihui Zang,Qi Guo,Yiming Shao,Chuanyi Ning,Chiyu Zhang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0110738

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the HIV-1 molecular epidemiology among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected persons living in the Jilin province of northeastern China.MethodsPlasma samples from 189 newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected patients were collected between June 2010 and August 2011 from all nine cities of Jilin province. HIV-1 nucleotide sequences of gag P17–P24 and env C2–C4 gene regions were amplified using a multiplex RT-PCR method and sequenced. Phylogenetic and recombination analyses were used to determine the HIV-1 genotypes.ResultsBased on all sequences generated, the subtype/CFR distribution was as follows: CRF01_AE (58.1%), CRF07_BC (13.2%), subtype B’ (13.2%), recombinant viruses (8.1%), subtype B (3.7%), CRF02_AG (2.9%), subtype C (0.7%). In addition to finding CRF01_AE strains from previously reported transmission clusters 1, 4 and 5, a new transmission cluster was described within the CRF07_BC radiation. Among 11 different recombinants identified, 10 contained portions of gene regions from the CRF01_AE lineage. CRF02_AG was found to form a transmission cluster of 4 in local Jilin residents.ConclusionsOur study presents a molecular epidemiologic investigation describing the complex structure of HIV-1 strains co-circulating in Jilin province. The results highlight the critical importance of continuous monitoring of HIV-infections, along with detailed socio-demographic data, in order to design appropriate prevention measures to limit the spread of new HIV infections.

Highlights

In China, it is estimated that 780,000 people were living withHIV by the end of 2011, according to the ‘‘China AIDS ResponseProgress Report’’ [1]
A total of 189 newly diagnosed HIV-infected persons identified between January 2008 and December 2010 at local voluntary counseling and testing sites (VCT), sentinel surveillance sites, and medical institutions in Jilin province were agreed to be enrolled in this study
A total of 189 newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected samples were collected from local voluntary counseling and testing sites (VCT), sentinel surveillance sites and medical institutions in Jilin province and were used for the HIV-1 genetic analysis

Summary

Introduction

In China, it is estimated that 780,000 people were living withHIV by the end of 2011, according to the ‘‘China AIDS ResponseProgress Report’’ [1]. The reported predominant cocirculating HIV-1 genotypes are: subtype B’, circulating recombinant form (CRF) CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, and CRF08_BC [2,3]. These three CRFs and the B’ subtype constituted 92.8% of diagnosis, year of sampling, site of sampling, CD4+ T Cell Count and risk group. Jilin province is located in the center of northeast China, bordering with Russia to the east, the Democratic People’s. Jilin province encompasses an area of 187,400 square kilometers, and is divided into nine regions: Changchun (the capital of Jilin province), Jilin (located in the center of Jilin province), Siping, Tonghua, Baishan, Liaoyuan, Baicheng, Songyuan and Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture. According to the sixth nationwide population census of 2010 [8], Jilin province had a population of 27,462,297, with a total of 44 ethnicities, including Han, Manchu, Mongol and

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Conclusion