Sustained Spread of HIV-1 CRF55_01B in Its Place of Initial Origin: Dynamics and Hotspots.

Background: Shenzhen, a city with a substantial mobile population, was identified as the first discovered region of HIV-1 CRF55_01B and epicenter of its severe epidemic. During the implementation of venue-based behavioral interventions and the "treat-all" policy, discerning the spread patterns and transmission hotspots of CRF55_01B is imperative.

Methods: In this study, 1,450 partial pol sequences, with demographic information, were collected from all newly diagnosed CRF55_01B infections in Shenzhen from 2008 to 2020.

Increased prevalence and stable clustering rate of HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance strains after 'treat-all' in a megacity of China.

Objectives: The 'treat-all' strategy was implemented in Shenzhen, China in 2016. The effect of this extensive treatment on transmitted drug resistance (TDR) of HIV is unclear.

Methods: TDR analysis was performed, based on the partial HIV-1 pol gene obtained from the newly reported HIV-1 positive cases from 2011 to 2019 in Shenzhen, China.

Antibody response to the third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in people living with HIV (PLWH): A longitudinal cohort.

The immunogenicity induced by the third dose of inactivated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in people living with HIV (PLWH) is unclear, and relevant literature is extremely scarce. It is important to add evidence on the humoral immune response induced by the third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in PLWH. We collected peripheral venous blood for spike receptor binding domain-protein specific immunoglobulin G (S-RBD-IgG) antibody tests at 28 days after the second dose (T ), 180 days after the second dose (T ) and 35 days after the third dose (T ) of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in PLWH.

Low rate of pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis uptake and high prevalence of transmitted drug resistance among newly diagnosed primary HIV infections in Shenzhen, China: a real-world retrospective study.

Background: Understanding the characteristics of newly diagnosed primary human deficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection in the context of the post-antiretroviral therapy era and HIV drug prophylaxis is essential for achieving the new target of 95-95-95-95 by 2025. This study reported the characteristics of newly diagnosed primary HIV-1 infection in Shenzhen.

Methods: This is a real-world retrospective study.

Primary resistance to integrase inhibitors in Shenzhen.

Objectives: In recent years, integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-containing regimens have been increasingly adopted in treatment for HIV/AIDS and promoted as non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis in China. This study aims to describe the prevalence of resistance to integrase and drug resistance mutations (DRMs) among ART-naive patients in Shenzhen, China.

Methods: Serum samples and demographic information were collected from newly reported ART-naive patients in Shenzhen in 2020.

IgG Antibody Responses and Immune Persistence of Two Doses of BBIBP-CorV Vaccine or CoronaVac Vaccine in People Living with HIV (PLWH) in Shenzhen, China.

The purpose of this study was to preliminarily evaluate the immunogenicity and immune persistence of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in PLWH in the real world. We collected blood samples from 132 PLWH aged 18−59 years who were vaccinated with two doses of BBIBP-CorV vaccine (Sinopharm) or CoronaVac vaccine (SinoVac) at 28 ± 7 days and 180 ± 20 days the after second dose, to detect the level of Spike receptor binding domain-protein specific IgG (S-RBD-IgG) by using chemiluminescence. We found that the BBIBP-CorV vaccine or the CoronaVac vaccine induced lower S-RBD-IgG antibody seropositivity rates and levels in PLWH than in healthy controls (HCs).

Use of HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Shenzhen, China: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study.

HIV postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) has been prescribed to non-occupational people in recent years, but the implementation of PEP in China is still unclear. This study sought to examine the PEP use rate and factors associated with PEP in Men who have sex with men (MSM). We recruited HIV-negative MSM through offline methods from 2018 to 2020 in Shenzhen, China.

Independent epidemic patterns of HIV-1 CRF01_AE lineages driven by mobile population in Shenzhen, an immigrant city of China.

Shenzhen, a city with >12 million migrant population, may play a key role in the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 in China. The transmission dynamics of CRF01_AE, a predominant subtype in Shenzhen, is a good model to characterize the impact of human mobility on HIV-1 epidemic locally and nationally. We used phylodynamic and phylogeographic methods to estimate the viral transmission dynamics and migration trajectory of variable lineages based on 1,423 CRF01_AE sequences in Shenzhen sampled between 2006 and 2015.

Characterization of Three Novel HIV-1 Second-Generation Recombinants (CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC) Identified in Shenzhen, China.

The prevalence of recombinant forms has greatly enhanced HIV-1 genetic diversity. Under co-circulation of major epidemic HIV-1 strains (CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC) in China, more CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC as the backbone of HIV-1 second-generation recombinants (SGRs) are also emerging. In this study, we identified three similar novel HIV-1 SGR strains composed of CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC from HIV-1 positive individuals in Shenzhen, China.

Impact of HIV-1 CRF55_01B infection on the evolution of CD4 count and plasma HIV RNA load in men who have sex with men prior to antiretroviral therapy.

Background: CRF55_01B is a newly identified HIV-1 circulating recombinant form originated from MSM in China. However, its impact on the disease progression and transmission risk has not been investigated. This study aimed to determine the impact of CRF55_01B infection on viral dynamics and immunological status so as to provide scientific evidence for further control and prevention effort on CRF55_01B.

HIV-1 Infection Alters the Viral Composition of Plasma in Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Altered gut virome and expanded abundance of certain viruses were found in HIV-1-infected individuals. It remains largely unknown how plasma virus composition changes during HIV-1 infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART). We performed viral metagenomic analysis on viral particles enriched from human plasma from 101 men who have sex with men (MSM) with or without HIV-1 infection and whether or not on ART and compared the differences in the plasma virome.

Molecular surveillance of HIV-1 newly diagnosed infections in Shenzhen, China from 2011 to 2018.

Objectives: Shenzhen is suffering severe HIV epidemic. No systematic surveillance on high risk populations, HIV genetic diversity, transmitted drug resistance (TDR) and molecular transmission clusters (MTCs) have been reported yet. In this study, we described them based on newly diagnosed HIV positive cases from 2011 to 2018 in Shenzhen city, China.

Genomic characterization of a new CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC case from a MSM patient in Guangdong, China.

The CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC clades dominate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics in China. Both clades have been identified in the men who have sex with men (MSM) population in Guangdong province, raising a serious concern of possible complex recombination events ahead. Here, we report the first case of CRF01_AE/CRF07_BC recombinant sampled from a MSM patient in southern China.

Viral RNA level, serum antibody responses, and transmission risk in recovered COVID-19 patients with recurrent positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA test results: a population-based observational cohort study.

Managing recovered COVID-19 patients with recurrent-positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA test results is challenging. We performed a population-based observational study to characterize the viral RNA level and serum antibody responses in recurrent-positive patients and evaluate their viral transmission risk. Of 479 recovered COVID-19 patients, 93 (19%) recurrent-positive patients were identified, characterized by younger age, with a median discharge-to-recurrent-positive length of 8 days.

Two-year cross-sectional studies reveal that single, young MSMs in Shenzhen, China are at high risk for HIV infection.

Background: Shenzhen City is a rapidly growing area with a large number of floating populations, thus making it difficult to control HIV. Serial cross-sectional studies are helpful for the prediction of epidemiological tendency. In this study, two parallel cross-sectional studies were compared to explore changes in HIV epidemiology in Shenzhen, China.

Near Full-Length Genomic Sequences of Two Novel HIV-1 Recombinant Forms Identified in Shenzhen, China.

Most HIV subtypes prevalent in China can be found in Shenzhen, including CRF07_BC, CRF01_AE, CRF08_BC, CRF55_01B, and subtype B. Multiple subtypes spreading in the same population always lead to the emergence of unique recombinant strains. Here, we report two unique recombinant forms (SZ44LS7251 and SZ95LS8027) of HIV-1 identified in a heterosexual population.

The dynamics of the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) from 2005 to 2012 in Shenzhen, China.

HIV-1 epidemics among MSM are a major public health concern in China, especially in large cities. This study sought to better understand the dynamics of HIV molecular epidemiology among MSM in Shenzhen, a rapidly developing city with over 13.8 million people.

Genetic Characterization of a Unique Recombinant Originating from CRF55_01B, CRF01_AE, and CRF07_BC in Shenzhen, China.

Multiple subtypes were found to be epidemic in the Shenzhen men who have sex with men (MSM) population, which always predicts the emergence of a unique recombinant. In 2012, CRF55_01B was first reported, which later was proven to have originated in MSM in Shenzhen city. In this study, we reported a unique recombinant form (URF) of HIV-1 identified in a man who has had sex with men in Shenzhen city.