Analysis of the Driving Factors of Active and Rapid Growth Clusters Among CRF07_BC-Infected Patients in a Developed Area in Eastern China

Background The purpose of this study was to research the molecular transmission and genetic evolutionary characteristics among CRF07_BC-infected patients in a developed area in Eastern China. Methods Plasma samples from newly diagnosed HIV-1-positive patients from 2015-2018 and basic demographic and epidemiological information were obtained. Pol sequences from CRF07_BC-infected patients were selected for phylogenetic, molecular transmission network, and Bayesian evolutionary analyses. Results Pol sequences were successfully obtained from 258 samples of CRF07_BC. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 2 distinct lineages: lineage 1 (66.3%, 171/258), primarily from men who have sex with men (MSM) and some heterosexual individuals, and lineage 2 (33.7%, 87/258), primarily from heterosexual individuals. Under an optimal genetic distance of 0.01 substitutions/site, 163 individuals (63.2%, 163/258) formed 23 groups comprising 6 clusters and 17 dyads in the networks. A distinctly large and rapidly growing cluster (C1) containing 105 individuals was identified, in which MSM with ≥4 links had quite a high transmission risk (low educational background, active sexual behavior, low sexual protection awareness, etc.). According to Bayesian analyses, most C1 clades formed from 2005 to 2009, most of which were closely geographically related to CRF07_BC epidemic strains from Anhui province. Conclusions Here, we elucidated the local transmission characteristics and epidemic pattern of HIV-1 CRF07_BC, revealing that MSM (especially with ≥4 links) may be a significant driver in the formation of active and rapid growth networks in regional CRF07_BC epidemics. Thus, unique region- and risk group-specific transmission network analysis based on a molecular approach can provide critical and insightful information for more effective intervention strategies to limit future HIV-1 transmission.