Characterization of a Newly Emerging HIV-1 Second-Generation Recombinant Form (CRF125_0107) Among Heterosexuals in Yunnan, China

Recent correspondence in this Journal has highlighted that HIV-1 s-generation recombinant events between CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC were substantial and ongoing in China. 1 Xing Y. Wang L. Li Y. Wang Y. Han L. Huang G. et al. Identification of a new HIV-1 intersubtype circulating recombinant form (CRF123_0107) in Hebei province, China. J Infect. 2022; 84: e36-e39 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (1) Google Scholar ,2 Li X. Wu J. Zhang Y. Shen Y. Li H. Xing H. Characterization of a novel HIV-1 s-generation circulating recombinant form (CRF102_0107) among men who have sex with men in Anhui, China. J Infect. 2019; 79: 612-625 Scopus (11) Google Scholar HIV-1 CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC have become the predominant two intersubtype recombinants with the increasing frequency of HIV-1 sexual transmission in China, especially in men who have sex with men (MSM). 3 Huang X.H. Yu G. Zheng C. Zhou P.P. Anderson C. Zhao J. et al. Genomic characterization of a new CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC case from a MSM patient in Guangdong, China. J Med Virol. 2021; 93: 6383-6387 Crossref Scopus (2) Google Scholar ,4 Chen Y. Shen Z. Feng Y. Ruan Y. Li J. Tang S. et al. HIV-1 subtype diversity and transmission strain source among men who have sex with men in Guangxi, China. Sci Rep. 2021; 11: 8319 Crossref Scopus (4) Google Scholar Dual prevalence and co-infection of CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC through sexual behaviors increased the opportunity for the appearance of secondary recombinant strains (CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC). 5 Han L. Li H. Wang L. Jia L. Han J. Li T. et al. Near full-length genomic characterization of two novel HIV-1 unique recombinant forms (CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC) among men who have sex with men in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei Province, China. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2021; 37: 978-984 Crossref Scopus (2) Google Scholar More and more HIV-1 unique second-generation recombinant form (USGRF) and novel circulating second-generation recombinant form (CSGRF) comprising CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC have been identified in China, such as CRF79_0107, CRF80_0107, CRF102_0107, CRF104_0107, CRF109_0107, CRF113_0107, CRF117_0107, CRF120_0107 and recently reported CRF123_0107. 6 xxx 2022 https://www.hiv.lanl.gov/components/sequence/HIV/search/search.html. Google Scholar , 7 Ye M. Chen X. Duo L. Ma J. Cao L. Zhang C. et al. Identification of two novel HIV-1 circulating recombinant forms of CRF111_01C and CRF116_0108 in southwestern Yunnan. Virulence. 2022; 13 (China.): 19-29 Crossref Scopus (2) Google Scholar , 8 Li Y. Feng Y. Li F. Xue Z. Hu J. Xing H. et al. Genome sequence of a novel HIV-1 circulating recombinant form (CRF79_0107) identified from Shanxi, China. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2017; 33: 1056-1060 Crossref PubMed Scopus (32) Google Scholar , 9 Wang X. Zhao J. Li X. Li H. Zhang Y. Liu Y. et al. Identification of a novel HIV-1 s-generation circulating recombinant form CRF109_0107 in China. J Infect. 2020; 81: 816-846 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (10) Google Scholar , 10 xxx 2022 https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-1147274/v1 Google Scholar In this study, we identified a newly emerging HIV-1 CRF, initially designated as CRF125_0107 comprising CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC among heterosexuals in Yunnan and analyzed its genetic characterization and recombinant history.