Transmission of new CRF07_BC Strains with 7 amino acid deletion in Gag p6

Meng Zhefeng,Zhang Xiaoyan,Qiu Chao,Lu Jianxin,Hu Huiliang,Sun Jun,Xu Jianqing

doi:10.1186/1743-422x-8-60

Abstract

A 7 amino acid deletion in Gag p6 (P6delta7) emerged in Chinese prevalent HIV-1 strain CRF07_BC from different epidemic regions. It is important to determine whether this mutation could be transmitted and spread. In this study, HIV-1 Gag sequences from 5 different epidemic regions in China were collected to trace the transmission linkage and to analyze genetic evolution of P6delta7 strains. The sequence analysis demonstrated that P6delta7 is a CRF07_BC specific deletion, different P6delta7 strains could be originated from different parental CRF07_BC recombinants in different epidemic regions, and the transmission of P6delta7 strain has occurred in IDU populations. This is for the first time to identify the transmission linkage for P6delta7 strains and serves as a wake-up call for further monitoring in the future; In addition, P6delta7 deletion may represent an evolutionary feature which might exert influence on the fitness of CRF07_BC strain.

Highlights

A 7 amino acid deletion in Gag p6 (P6delta7) emerged in Chinese prevalent HIV-1 strain CRF07_BC from different epidemic regions
Several studies reported that mutations in HIV-1 Gag p6 played no role or only marginal role in the infection and the replication of HIV-1 in vitro[1-3]
It remains unknown whether those mutations in p6 could exert influences on HIV-1 during natural infection and thereby cause the transmission of those mutated strains

Summary

Introduction

A 7 amino acid deletion in Gag p6 (P6delta7) emerged in Chinese prevalent HIV-1 strain CRF07_BC from different epidemic regions. P6Δ7 deletion was identified in CRF07_BC strains circulating in other epidemic sites in China mainland and even in Taiwan region [5-9].

Results

Conclusion