The major circulating HIV-1 strains in Japan have been subtype B (B) followed by CRF01_AE (AE) in newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases. These two subtypes have distinct epidemiological characteristics; B predominates in men who have sex with men, while AE is observed mostly in heterosexuals engaging in high-risk sex. However, transmission networks of these two high-risk populations appear to be crossing over and diffusing. Here we report the emergence of previously unidentified HIV-1 AE/B recombinants in Japan. We initially identified 13 cases with discordant subtyping results with AE (gag MA)/B ( pol PR-RT)/AE (env C2V3) by molecular phylogenetic analysis of 1,070 cases who visited Nagoya Medical Center from 1997 to 2012. Genetic characterization of full-length sequences demonstrated that they shared an identical recombinant structure, and was designated as CRF69_01B by the Los Alamos HIV National Laboratory. By reviewing gag, pol, and env sequences collected in the Japanese Drug Resistance HIV-1 Surveillance Network, we found five other CRF69_01B probable cases from different areas in Japan, suggesting that the strain is transmitted widely throughout the country. The time of the most recent common ancestor analyses estimated that CRF69_01B emerged between 1991 and 1995, soon after AE was introduced from neighboring countries in the mid-1990s. Understanding the current epidemic strains is important for the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS, as well as for the development of globally effective HIV vaccines.
HIV-1 CRF01_AE and subtype B (B) have dominated and their different circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) have emerged in East and Southeast Asian countries. Here, we report a novel drug-resistant HIV-1 CRF. Five independent recombinant specimens exhibiting discordant subtype results for the gag, pol, and env sequences were isolated. These recombinants had the CRF01_AE (gag p17)/B (pol PR-RT and IN)/CRF01_AE (env C2-V3) pattern similar to CRF69_01B. Sequence analysis of four near full-length HIV-1 genomes revealed a unique phylogenetic cluster distinct from previously reported CRFs. Of the four recombinants, three shared an identical mosaic structure including seven breakpoints in the gag, pol, vif, and env regions, designated CRF76_01B. The one remaining recombinant had additional recombination breakpoints in the vpu region and exhibited another unique recombinant form composed of CRF76_01B and B. These findings provide important insight into the transmission dynamics of HIV-1 in Asia that may be important for its effective prevention.
List of non-standard abreviations:1. IC 50 : minimal concentration of a drug that is required for 50% inhibition in vitro.2. C max : the highest concentration of a drug in the blood after a dose is given.
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