HIV-1 CRF01_AE and Subtype B Transmission Networks Crossover: A New AE/B Recombinant Identified in Japan.

ABSTRACT: The major circulating HIV-1 strains in Japan have been subtype B (B) followed by CRF01_AE (AE) in newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases. These two subtypes have distinct epidemiological characteristics; B predominates in men who have sex with men, while AE is observed mostly in heterosexuals engaging in high-risk sex. However, transmission networks of these two high-risk populations appear to be crossing over and diffusing. Here we report the emergence of previously unidentified HIV-1 AE/B recombinants in Japan. We initially identified 13 cases with discordant subtyping results with AE (gag MA)/B (pol PR-RT)/AE (env C2V3) by molecular phylogenetic analysis of 1,070 cases who visited Nagoya Medical Center from 1997 to 2012. Genetic characterization of full-length sequences demonstrated that they s

SUBMITTER: Hosaka M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4845645 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature