Analysis of HIV-1 genetic features and drug resistance background for HIV-1-infected individuals living in Pudong New Area of Shanghai before antiretroviral treatment from 2014 to 2015

Objective To understand the genetic features and drug resistance of HIV-1 infected individuals living in Pudong New Area of Shanghai before antiretroviral therapy from 2014 to 2015. Methods A total of 91 plasma samples of HIV-1 infected individuals before antiretroviral therapy were collected; HIV-1 pol gene were amplified by nest RT-PCR, and were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. Drug resistance associated mutations in protease and reverse transcriptase regions were analyzed with Stanford University HIV/AIDS Drug Resistance Database. Results Among the 91 plasma samples, a total of 53 samples were sequenced, among which CRF01_AE stood at 67.9%(36/53), subtype B stood at 7.5%(4/53), subtype C stood at 3.8%(2/53), CRF07_BC stood at 20.8%(11/53) were detected. 66 mutations conferring primary and secondary resistance polymorphic to protease inhibitors (PIs) and to reverse transcriptase (RTIs) were detected in 41 of 53 patients, and 4 mutations conferring primary resistance to RTIs were detected in 4 of 53 patients(7.5%); 62 mutations conferring secondary resistance and polymorphic to PIs and to RTIs were detected in 37 of 53 patients. Conclusion There is genetic subtype diversity of HIV-1 infected individuals before antiretroviral therapy from 2014 to 2015, among which CRF01_AE takes the most. More attention should be paid to primary and secondary drug resistance mutations in gene sequence.