Objective To investigate the variation of drug resistance genes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 strains in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide a basis for guiding the adjustment of treatment plans for ADIS patients or patients infected with HIV.

Methods A total of 555 samples were collected from 396 newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients who did not receive antiviral treatment from 2021 to 2023, in addition to 159 HIV/AIDS patients who received antiviral treatment for at least twelve months but failed during the same period.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) were used to amplify the pol region gene of HIV-1. Lastly, the sequenced data were submitted to the HIV resistance database of Stanford University in the United States for resistance gene mutation analysis.

Results Drug resistance mutations were detected in samples from 97 newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS patients and 77 patients with failed treatment, with the main subtypes being CRF01AE and CRF07-BC. The mutation rates of drug resistance genes in the patients untreated and patients with failed treatment were 24.49% (97/396) and 48.43% (77/159), respectively. Drug resistance gene mutations against protease inhibitor (PI), nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) were detected both in the untreated and failed treatment group. The drug resistance rates of untreated and failed treatment patients were 10.61% (42/396) and 45.28% (72/159), respectively.

Conclusion The pre-treatment drug resistance rate of HIV-1 strains in Huzhou City is at a moderate level, and which is at a relatively low level nationwide after antiviral treatment. The resistance genes in the region exhibit diverse and complex characteristics, and the prevalence of drug resistance is in the process of upward and evolution compared to the monitoring results in the previous years. It is necessary to continue to monitor the occurrence and development of drug resistant strains, and to adjust treatment plans in time to prevent the occurrence of transmissible drug resistance.