Near-full-length genomic sequences of two novel HIV-1 recombinant forms identified in Hebei Province, China

Background: In recent years, homosexual contact has been the most common transmission route of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Hebei, China. In this study, we identified two novel HIV-1 unique recombinant forms (URFs) that originated from CRF01_AE/C (sample ID: BDL120) and subtypes B/C (sample ID: BDX016) among men who have sex with men(MSM) in 2023 in Hebei, repectively. Case Presentation A phylogenetic tree and recombination analysis of the near-full-length genome sequences showed that BDL120 was a recombinant originating from CRF01_AE and CRF01_C, whereas BDX016 consisted of subtypes B and C, containing eight and nine fragments of each, respectively. In BDL120, four C fragments were inserted into the CRF01_AE backbone, whereas in BDX016, four B fragments were inserted into the C backbone. Conclusion This study demonstrates the increasing genetic complexity of the HIV-1 epidemic in Hebei Province and that molecular surveillance of the virus should continue to be strengthened.