The characteristics of HIV-1 subtype B on phylogenetic dynamic and molecular transmission network in Fuyang City, China, 2011 to 2019.

Introduction: HIV-1 subtype B, as once one of the earliest strains introduced into mainland China rapidly spread in commercial plasma donors and heterosexuals in 1990s. Here, we aim to investigate the origin and evolutionary history of HIV-1 subtype B in Fuyang city, China.

Methods: We collected sequences tested from Fuyang in the east of China where higher prevalence of HIV-1 among commercial plasma donors and heterosexuals to construct a phylogenetic tree using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm, infer molecular transmission network using TN93 model and visualize it with Cytoscape software.

Natural Killer Cells Induce CD8 T Cell Dysfunction Galectin-9/TIM-3 in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

The antiviral response of natural killer (NK) cells and CD8 T cells is weak in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. However, the specific characteristics of these cells and the association between NK cells and CD8 T cell dysfunction is not well known. In this study, higher galectin-9 (Gal-9) expression was observed in circulating NK cells from CHB patients than from healthy controls and was found to contribute to NK cell dysfunction.

Genetic characterization of HIV-1 epidemic in Anhui Province, China.

Background: Anhui Province in China is facing a severe HIV epidemic with an increasing number of newly diagnosed cases.

Methods: In this study, HIV genetic characteristics in the province were investigated. Newly reported HIV-positive individuals from 15 districts of Anhui Province were enrolled and interviewed.

The inference of HIV-1 transmission direction between HIV-1 positive couples based on the sequences of HIV-1 quasi-species.

Background: To infer transmission direction of a HIV transmission chain is helpful not only in legal jurisdiction but also in precise intervention to prevent HIV spread. Recently, the direction of transmission is inferred by whether paraphyletic-monophyletic (PM) or a combination of paraphyletic and polyphyletic (PP) topologies is observed or not between the sequences of source and recipient in the phylogenetic tree. However, paraphyly between them often declines over time and may disappear between spouses due to bidirectional transmission after primary infection.

The predominant cluster of CRF01_AE circulating among newly diagnosed HIV-1-positive people in Anhui Province, China.

CRF01_AE, which has led a new epidemic in many provinces in China and has displayed complex characteristics, has now evolved into multiple clusters in China. Some clusters often circulate in specific regions or among specific risk populations in China. To better determine the characteristics of CRF01_AE circulating in Anhui Province, we analyzed CRF01_AE based on gag and pol sequences.

The prevalence of transmitted HIV drug resistance among MSM in Anhui province, China.

Background: To optimize treatment regimens, we assessed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diversity and the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Anhui province, China.

Methods: A total of 139 MSM who were newly diagnosed and antiretroviral treatment-naive were enrolled in Anhui in 2011. A partial pol fragment was amplified and sequenced, and HIV subtypes were determined by phylogenetic analyses.