Sequencing of One Unique Recombinant CRF85_BC/CRF01_AE Genome and Two Partial Genomes from Ningxia, China

The recent emergence of new HIV-1 recombinant strains presents a new challenge to the control of HIV-1/AIDS and the development of an effective vaccine. We employed a near full-length genomic sequence analysis of a newly identified CRF85_BC recombinant strain in Ningxia, China, to determine its reco...

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Main Authors: Yufeng Li, Jianxin Pei, Xiaohong Zhu, Yichang Liu, Xiaofa Ma, Dongzhi Yang, Zhonglan Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/655
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author Yufeng Li
Jianxin Pei
Xiaohong Zhu
Yichang Liu
Xiaofa Ma
Dongzhi Yang
Zhonglan Wu
author_facet Yufeng Li
Jianxin Pei
Xiaohong Zhu
Yichang Liu
Xiaofa Ma
Dongzhi Yang
Zhonglan Wu
author_sort Yufeng Li
collection DOAJ
description The recent emergence of new HIV-1 recombinant strains presents a new challenge to the control of HIV-1/AIDS and the development of an effective vaccine. We employed a near full-length genomic sequence analysis of a newly identified CRF85_BC recombinant strain in Ningxia, China, to determine its recombination pattern. Blood samples were collected from HIV-infected or AIDS patients in Ningxia in 2023. CRF85_BC subtype strains were detected from three samples using an in-house method, and one sample’s near full-length genome sequence was also obtained. MEGA11, jpHMM, and Simplot software were used to identify subtypes and analyze recombination patterns. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree analysis showed that HIV-1 pol region sequences of three samples were CRF85_BC subtypes. One near full-length genome sequence of the recombinant strain was obtained, and jpHMM preliminarily judged that the recombinant strain was inserted with two subtype B fragments and two CRF01_AE fragments based on subtype C as the backbone. Further analysis using Simplot software revealed that the recombinant strain was the second-generation recombinant strain of CRF85_BC and CRF01_AE, and the recombination mode was based on the full-length genome of CRF85_BC, and CRF01_AE gene fragments that were inserted at positions 7365–8279 and 8431–9492, respectively. The results of the fragment phylogenetic tree verified its accuracy. One CRF01_AE and CRF85_BC second-generation recombinant strain was found in HIV-1 infected people in Ningxia, indicating that new HIV-1 recombinant strains continuously emerge and circulate in this region. Genomic surveillance of these recombinants should inform targeted interventions, such as prioritized contact tracing, to mitigate the formation of transmission clusters.
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spelling doaj-art-af9a6186bde64902b174cff8410bcb592025-08-20T01:56:39ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-04-0117565510.3390/v17050655Sequencing of One Unique Recombinant CRF85_BC/CRF01_AE Genome and Two Partial Genomes from Ningxia, ChinaYufeng Li0Jianxin Pei1Xiaohong Zhu2Yichang Liu3Xiaofa Ma4Dongzhi Yang5Zhonglan Wu6School of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, ChinaNingxia Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yinchuan 750011, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, ChinaNingxia Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yinchuan 750011, ChinaNingxia Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yinchuan 750011, ChinaThe recent emergence of new HIV-1 recombinant strains presents a new challenge to the control of HIV-1/AIDS and the development of an effective vaccine. We employed a near full-length genomic sequence analysis of a newly identified CRF85_BC recombinant strain in Ningxia, China, to determine its recombination pattern. Blood samples were collected from HIV-infected or AIDS patients in Ningxia in 2023. CRF85_BC subtype strains were detected from three samples using an in-house method, and one sample’s near full-length genome sequence was also obtained. MEGA11, jpHMM, and Simplot software were used to identify subtypes and analyze recombination patterns. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree analysis showed that HIV-1 pol region sequences of three samples were CRF85_BC subtypes. One near full-length genome sequence of the recombinant strain was obtained, and jpHMM preliminarily judged that the recombinant strain was inserted with two subtype B fragments and two CRF01_AE fragments based on subtype C as the backbone. Further analysis using Simplot software revealed that the recombinant strain was the second-generation recombinant strain of CRF85_BC and CRF01_AE, and the recombination mode was based on the full-length genome of CRF85_BC, and CRF01_AE gene fragments that were inserted at positions 7365–8279 and 8431–9492, respectively. The results of the fragment phylogenetic tree verified its accuracy. One CRF01_AE and CRF85_BC second-generation recombinant strain was found in HIV-1 infected people in Ningxia, indicating that new HIV-1 recombinant strains continuously emerge and circulate in this region. Genomic surveillance of these recombinants should inform targeted interventions, such as prioritized contact tracing, to mitigate the formation of transmission clusters.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/655HIV-1second-generation recombinantsnear full-length genomephylogenetic treerecombination breakpoint analysis
spellingShingle Yufeng Li
Jianxin Pei
Xiaohong Zhu
Yichang Liu
Xiaofa Ma
Dongzhi Yang
Zhonglan Wu
Sequencing of One Unique Recombinant CRF85_BC/CRF01_AE Genome and Two Partial Genomes from Ningxia, China
Viruses
HIV-1
second-generation recombinants
near full-length genome
phylogenetic tree
recombination breakpoint analysis
title Sequencing of One Unique Recombinant CRF85_BC/CRF01_AE Genome and Two Partial Genomes from Ningxia, China
title_full Sequencing of One Unique Recombinant CRF85_BC/CRF01_AE Genome and Two Partial Genomes from Ningxia, China
title_fullStr Sequencing of One Unique Recombinant CRF85_BC/CRF01_AE Genome and Two Partial Genomes from Ningxia, China
title_full_unstemmed Sequencing of One Unique Recombinant CRF85_BC/CRF01_AE Genome and Two Partial Genomes from Ningxia, China
title_short Sequencing of One Unique Recombinant CRF85_BC/CRF01_AE Genome and Two Partial Genomes from Ningxia, China
title_sort sequencing of one unique recombinant crf85 bc crf01 ae genome and two partial genomes from ningxia china
topic HIV-1
second-generation recombinants
near full-length genome
phylogenetic tree
recombination breakpoint analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/655
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