Abstract
The global human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) pandemic is driven by the extraordinary genetic diversity of the virus, largely resulting from frequent recombination events. These events generate circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) and unique recombinant forms, which significantly contribute to the complexity of HIV-1 epidemiology, especially within key populations, such as men who have sex with men (MSM). Here, we identified three novel HIV-1 recombinant strains consisting of the CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC subtypes from HIV-positive MSM in Baoding City, Hebei Province, China. Using near-full-length genome analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction, the strains—designated BDL017, BDL036, and BDSB006—were shown to exhibit distinct mosaic structures. Each strain contained multiple inserted fragments from CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE within various genomic regions, highlighting their complex recombination patterns. Our study emphasizes the need for continuous molecular surveillance among MSM in Hebei Province to monitor these recombinant forms and prevent their spread to the broader population.
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