Background
To research the molecular transmission and genetic evolutionary characteristics among CRF07_BC-infected patients in a developed area in eastern China.
Methods
Plasma samples from newly diagnosed HIV-1 positive patients from 2015-2018 and basic demographic and epidemiological information were obtained. Pol sequences from CRF07_BC-infected patients were selected for phylogenetic, molecular transmission network, and Bayesian evolutionary analyses.
Results
Pol sequences were successfully obtained from 258 samples of CRF07_BC. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct lineages: lineage 1 (66.3%, 171/258), primarily from MSM and some heterosexual individuals, and lineage 2 (33.7%, 87/258), primarily from heterosexual individuals. Under an optimal genetic distance of 0.01 substitutions/site, 163 individuals (63.2%, 163/258) formed 23 groups comprising 6 clusters and 17 dyads in the networks. A distinctly large and rapidly growing cluster (C1) containing 105 individuals was identified, in which MSM with ≥4 links had quite a high transmission risk (low educational background, active sexual behavior, low sexual protection awareness, etc.). According to Bayesian analyses, most C1 clades formed from 2005-2009, most of which were closely geographically related to CRF07_BC epidemic strains from Anhui Province.
Conclusion
Here, we elucidated the local transmission characteristics and epidemic pattern of HIV-1 CRF07_BC, revealing that MSM(especially with ≥4 links) may be significant driver to form active and rapid growth network in regional CRF07_BC epidemics. Thus, we suggest that unique-region- and risk-group-specific transmission network analysis based on a molecular approach can provide critical and insightful information for more effective intervention strategies to limit future HIV-1 transmission.
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