Increased genetic diversity of HIV-1 circulating in Hong Kong.
HIV-1 group M strains are characterized into 9 pure subtypes and 48 circulating recombinant forms (CRFs). Recent studies have identified the presence of new HIV-1 recombinants in Hong Kong and their complexity continues to increase. This study aims to characterize the HIV-1 genetic diversity in Hong Kong. Phylogenetic analyses were performed by using HIV-1 pol sequences including protease and partial reverse transcriptase isolated from 1045 local patients in Hong Kong from 2003 to 2008. For the pol sequences with unassigned genotype, the evidence of recombination was determined by using sliding-window based bootscan plots and their env C2V3 region were also sequenced. Epidemiological background of these patients was further collected. The pol phylogenetic analyses highlighted the extent of HIV-1 genetic diversity in Hong Kong. Subtype B (450/1045; 43.1%) and CRF01_AE (469/1045; 44.9%) variants were clearly predominant. Other genotypes (126/1045; 12.1%) including 3 defined subtypes, 10 CRFs, 1 unassigned subtype and 33 recombinants with 11 different mosaic patterns were observed. Recombinants of subtype B and CRF01_AE were mainly found among local Chinese MSM throughout 2004 to 2008, while the CRF02_AG and subtype G recombinants were circulating among non-Chinese Asian population in Hong Kong through heterosexual transmission starting from 2008. Our study demonstrated the complex recombination of HIV-1 in Hong Kong and the need in developing surveillance system for tracking the distribution of new HIV-1 genetic variants.
Chen
Jonathan Hon-Kwan
JH
Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region, China.
Wong
Ka-Hing
KH
Chen
Zhiwei
Z
Chan
Kenny
K
Lam
Ho-Yin
HY
To
Sabrina Wai-Chi
SW
Cheng
Vincent Chi-Chung
VC
Yuen
Kwok-Yung
KY
Yam
Wing-Cheong
WC
D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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