Abstract
The China–Myanmar border region is recognized as a hotspot for the emergence of HIV-1 recombinant forms. This study identified a novel HIV-1 circulating recombinant form (CRF) in this area, designated CRF184_BC. Near-full-length genome sequences were obtained from four individuals infected through heterosexual contact: one Chinese individual and three Burmese individuals. These sequences formed a distinct monophyletic clade with strong bootstrap support, separate from all known subtypes/CRFs. Recombination analysis revealed a conserved mosaic structure comprising four subtype C segments and three subtype B segments: IC (790–2897), IIB (2898–3208), IIIC (3209–5983), IVB (5984–6435), VC (6436–8821), VIB (8822–8969), and VIIC (8970–9468). Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis indicated that CRF184_BC emerged between the mid-2000s and the early 2010s. Identifying emerging CRFs highlights the ongoing dynamic evolution of HIV-1 in this region and emphasizes the need for enhanced molecular surveillance to inform effective public health strategies and vaccine development efforts.
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