Genomic characterization of a newly emerging circulating recombinant form of HIV-1, CRF143_cpx, involving subtypes B, C and CRF01_AE, identified in Yunnan, China

Recent correspondence in this Journal has highlighted that Yunnan Province is located in southwest China, bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, and has been identified as a hotspot for HIV-1 recombination. 1 Chen M. Ma Y. Chen H. Lei S. Jia M. Identification of a new HIV-1 second-generation circulating recombinant form (CRF134_0185) in Yunnan, China. J Infect. 2023; 24 (00250-5): S0163-S4453 Google Scholar The first confirmed indigenous case of HIV-1 in China was found among intravenous drug users in Ruili, Yunnan. The evolutionary history of HIV-1 subtype transmission in Yunnan shows that HIV-1 subtype B from Thailand and subtype C from India were introduced into Yunnan through intravenous drug use in the early 1990s, followed by the introduction of subtype CRF01_AE from Thailand into Yunnan through sexually transmitted populations around 1994. 2 Li J. Gao Q. Zhang M. Liu J. Jia Y. Feng Y. et al. A newly emerging HIV-1 circulating recombinant form (CRF110_BC) comprising subtype B and C among intravenous drug users in Yunnan, China. J Infect. 2021; 82: e8-e10 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (5) Google Scholar , 3 Han X. An M. Zhao B. Duan S. Yang S. Xu J. et al. High prevalence of HIV-1 intersubtype B'/C recombinants among injecting drug users in Dehong, China. PLoS One. 2013; 8e65337 Crossref Scopus (27) Google Scholar Widespread co-circulation of subtypes B, C and CRF01_AE among high-risk individuals provides an opportunity for the generation of various novel circulating recombinant forms. 4 Zhou J. Li M. Min C. Ma Y. Shao Y. Xing H. Near Full-Length Genomic Characterization of a Novel HIV-1 Circulating Recombinant Form (CRF106_cpx) Identified Among Heterosexuals in China. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2020; 36: 875-880 Crossref Scopus (6) Google Scholar , 5 Miao J. Ran J. Song Y. Liu Y. Gao L. Miao Z. et al. Characterization of a Novel HIV-1 Circulating Recombinant Form, CRF01_AE/B'/C (CRF96_cpx), in Yunnan, China. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2018; 34: 393-397 Crossref PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar To date, 141 CRFs have been reported in the HIV database, 42 of which are found in China, 20 of which were first identified and named in Yunnan, China, including CRF07_BC, CRF08_BC, CRF57_BC, CRF125_0107, CRF134_0185, and so on. 6 〈https://www.hiv.lanl.gov/components/sequence/HIV/search/search.html〉. Google Scholar , 7 Wei H. Liu Y. Feng Y. Hsi J. Xing H. He X. et al. Genome sequence of a novel HIV-1 circulating recombinant form (CRF57_BC) identified from Yunnan, China. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2014; 30: 384-388 Crossref Scopus (23) Google Scholar , 8 Xiao M. Feng Y. Gao L. Yang C. Liu J. He M. et al. Characterization of a Newly Emerging HIV-1 Second-Generation Recombinant Form (CRF125_0107) Among Heterosexuals in Yunnan, China. J Infect. 2022; 84: e112-e115 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar In this study, we identified a newly emerging HIV-1 CRF143_cpx, comprising subtypes B, C and CRF01_AE, in Yunnan and analyzed its evolutionary history.