Characterization of a New HIV-1 CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC Recombinant Virus Form Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Beijing, China

Abstract

Recent studies have revealed that three major viral strains (CRF07_BC, CRF01_AE, and subtype B) have been cocirculating among men who have sex with men in Beijing. Cocirculation of multiple subtypes in the same population contributes significantly to the emergence of recombinant viruses. This study reports a near full-length genome of a novel, second-generation HIV-1 recombinant (BJ2015EU16) between CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. The analysis of BJ2015EU16 shows that the genome comprises three interlaced segments, including two CRF07_BC and one CRF01_AE segments, with CRF07_BC as the backbone. There were two recombinant breakpoints in the vpu and env genes of BJ2015EU16. This is different from a previously identified CRF01_AE/07_BC recombinant strain from Beijing. The new emergence of the unique recombinant form increases the complexity of the HIV epidemic in the Beijing homosexual group, and the ongoing generation of recombinant viruses may provide an important basis for future analysis of the recombination mechanism of HIV-1.

Genetic characterization of a novel HIV‑1 CRF01_AE/ CRF07_BC recombinant form found among men who have sex with men in Baoding City, Hebei Province, China

“…Jiao et al . [ 8 ] reported that the Beijing BJ2015EU16 strain includes two CRF07_BC and one CRF01_AE fragments, with CRF07_BC as the backbone and two recombination breakpoints in the vpu and env genes. Zhou et al .…”

“…In recent years, countless URFs derived from CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC have been reported in Hebei, Beijing, and Tianjin [6][7][8][9]. Among the four CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC recombinants reported in Hebei Province, two used CRF01_ AE as the backbone to insert four CRF07_BC fragments, and two used CRF07_BC as the backbone to insert three and four CRF01_AE fragments, respectively.…”

“…The CRF01_AE fragment is from the CRF01_AE cluster 4 strain in the Chinese MSM population [6,7]. Jiao et al [8] reported that the Beijing BJ2015EU16 strain includes two CRF07_BC and one CRF01_AE fragments, with CRF07_BC as the backbone and two recombination breakpoints in the vpu and env genes. Zhou et al [9] reported that two recombinants in Tianjin consisted of the CRF01_AE backbone and part of the CRF07_BC sequence, with four breakpoints in the gag, pol, vif, and tat genes.…”