Evolving molecular epidemiological profile of human immunodeficiency virus 1 in the southwest border of China

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 10;9(9):e107578. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107578. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Background: We have previously reported in Xishuangbanna (Banna) Dai Autonomous Prefecture, a well-developed tourist destination in the southwest border of China, that HIV-1 transmitted dominantly through heterosexual contact with less divergent genotypes and few drug resistant mutations. Due to the rapid increase of newly diagnosed HIV-1 cases per year in Banna in recent years, it's important to evaluate the evolution of HIV-1 molecular epidemiology for the better understanding of ongoing HIV-1 outbreak in this region.

Methodology/principal findings: By sequencing of HIV-1 pol genes and phylogenetic analysis, we conducted a molecular epidemiologic study in 352 HIV-1-seropositive highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART)-naïve individuals newly diagnosed at the Banna Center for Disease Control and Prevention between 2009 and 2011. Of 283 samples (84.1% taken from heterosexually acquired adults, 10.6% from needle-sharing drug users, 2.8% from men who have sex with men, 0.4% from children born from HIV-1-infected mothers, and 2.1% remained unknown) with successful sequencing for pol gene, we identified 108 (38.2%) HIV-1 subtype CRF08_BC, 101 (35.7%) CRF01_AE, 49 (17.3%) CRF07_BC, 5 (1.8%) C/CRF57_BC, 3 (1.1%) B', 1 (0.4%) B/CRF51_01B, and 16 (5.7%) unique recombinants forms. Among these infected individuals, 104 (36.7%) cases showed drug resistant or resistance-relevant mutations, and 4 of them conferring high-level resistance to 3TC/FTC, EFV/NVP or NFV. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 21 clusters (2-7 sequences) with only 21.2% (60/283) sequences involved.

Conclusion/significance: In contrast to our previous findings, CRF08_BC, replaced CRF01_AE, became the dominant genotype of HIV-1 in Banna prefecture. The viral strains with drug resistance mutations were detected frequently in newly diagnosed HIV-1-infected individuals in this region.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • China / epidemiology
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Heterosexuality
  • Homosexuality, Male
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Molecular Typing
  • Needle Sharing
  • Phylogeny
  • pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and the Institut de Recherche sur les Vaccins et l’Immunothérapie des Cancers et du Sida (IRVICS). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.