Characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected individuals in eastern China: 2012–2016

We aimed to elucidate the characteristics of HIV molecular epidemiology and identify transmission hubs in eastern China using genetic transmission network and lineage analyses. HIV-TRACE was used to infer putative relationships. Across the range of epidemiologically-plausible genetic distance (GD) t...

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Main Authors: Xiaobei Ding, Antoine Chaillon, Xiaohong Pan, Jiafeng Zhang, Ping Zhong, Lin He, Wanjun Chen, Qin Fan, Jun Jiang, Mingyu Luo, Yan Xia, Zhihong Guo, Davey M. Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9202869/?tool=EBI
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author Xiaobei Ding
Antoine Chaillon
Xiaohong Pan
Jiafeng Zhang
Ping Zhong
Lin He
Wanjun Chen
Qin Fan
Jun Jiang
Mingyu Luo
Yan Xia
Zhihong Guo
Davey M. Smith
author_facet Xiaobei Ding
Antoine Chaillon
Xiaohong Pan
Jiafeng Zhang
Ping Zhong
Lin He
Wanjun Chen
Qin Fan
Jun Jiang
Mingyu Luo
Yan Xia
Zhihong Guo
Davey M. Smith
author_sort Xiaobei Ding
collection DOAJ
description We aimed to elucidate the characteristics of HIV molecular epidemiology and identify transmission hubs in eastern China using genetic transmission network and lineage analyses. HIV-TRACE was used to infer putative relationships. Across the range of epidemiologically-plausible genetic distance (GD) thresholds (0.1–2.0%), a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the optimal threshold, generating the maximum number of transmission clusters and providing reliable resolution without merging different small clusters into a single large cluster. Characteristics of genetically linked individuals were analyzed using logistic regression. Assortativity (shared characteristics) analysis was performed to infer shared attributes between putative partners. 1,993 persons living with HIV-1 were enrolled. The determined GD thresholds within subtypes CRF07_BC, CRF01_AE, and B were 0.5%, 1.2%, and 1.7%, respectively, and 826 of 1,993 (41.4%) sequences were linked with at least one other sequence, forming 188 transmission clusters of 2–80 sequences. Clustering rates for the main subtypes CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, and B were 50.9% (523/1027), 34.2% (256/749), and 32.1% (25/78), respectively. Median cluster sizes of these subtypes were 2 (2–52, n = 523), 2 (2–80, n = 256), and 3 (2–6, n = 25), respectively. Subtypes in individuals diagnosed and residing in Hangzhou city (OR = 1.423, 95% CI: 1.168–1.734) and men who have sex with men (MSM) were more likely to cluster. Assortativity analysis revealed individuals were more likely to be genetically linked to individuals from the same age group (AIage = 0.090, P<0.001) and the same area of residency in Zhejiang (AIcity = 0.078, P<0.001). Additionally, students living with HIV were more likely to be linked with students than show a random distribution (AI student = 0.740, P<0.01). These results highlight the importance of Hangzhou City in the regional epidemic and show that MSM comprise the population rapidly transmitting HIV in Zhejiang Province. We also provide a molecular epidemiology framework for improving our understanding of HIV transmission dynamics in eastern China.
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spelling doaj.art-f01a3a85fef045a9b41c7d199038f1c62022-12-22T00:28:16ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01176Characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected individuals in eastern China: 2012–2016Xiaobei DingAntoine ChaillonXiaohong PanJiafeng ZhangPing ZhongLin HeWanjun ChenQin FanJun JiangMingyu LuoYan XiaZhihong GuoDavey M. SmithWe aimed to elucidate the characteristics of HIV molecular epidemiology and identify transmission hubs in eastern China using genetic transmission network and lineage analyses. HIV-TRACE was used to infer putative relationships. Across the range of epidemiologically-plausible genetic distance (GD) thresholds (0.1–2.0%), a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the optimal threshold, generating the maximum number of transmission clusters and providing reliable resolution without merging different small clusters into a single large cluster. Characteristics of genetically linked individuals were analyzed using logistic regression. Assortativity (shared characteristics) analysis was performed to infer shared attributes between putative partners. 1,993 persons living with HIV-1 were enrolled. The determined GD thresholds within subtypes CRF07_BC, CRF01_AE, and B were 0.5%, 1.2%, and 1.7%, respectively, and 826 of 1,993 (41.4%) sequences were linked with at least one other sequence, forming 188 transmission clusters of 2–80 sequences. Clustering rates for the main subtypes CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, and B were 50.9% (523/1027), 34.2% (256/749), and 32.1% (25/78), respectively. Median cluster sizes of these subtypes were 2 (2–52, n = 523), 2 (2–80, n = 256), and 3 (2–6, n = 25), respectively. Subtypes in individuals diagnosed and residing in Hangzhou city (OR = 1.423, 95% CI: 1.168–1.734) and men who have sex with men (MSM) were more likely to cluster. Assortativity analysis revealed individuals were more likely to be genetically linked to individuals from the same age group (AIage = 0.090, P<0.001) and the same area of residency in Zhejiang (AIcity = 0.078, P<0.001). Additionally, students living with HIV were more likely to be linked with students than show a random distribution (AI student = 0.740, P<0.01). These results highlight the importance of Hangzhou City in the regional epidemic and show that MSM comprise the population rapidly transmitting HIV in Zhejiang Province. We also provide a molecular epidemiology framework for improving our understanding of HIV transmission dynamics in eastern China.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9202869/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Xiaobei Ding
Antoine Chaillon
Xiaohong Pan
Jiafeng Zhang
Ping Zhong
Lin He
Wanjun Chen
Qin Fan
Jun Jiang
Mingyu Luo
Yan Xia
Zhihong Guo
Davey M. Smith
Characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected individuals in eastern China: 2012–2016
PLoS ONE
title Characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected individuals in eastern China: 2012–2016
title_full Characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected individuals in eastern China: 2012–2016
title_fullStr Characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected individuals in eastern China: 2012–2016
title_full_unstemmed Characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected individuals in eastern China: 2012–2016
title_short Characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected individuals in eastern China: 2012–2016
title_sort characterizing genetic transmission networks among newly diagnosed hiv 1 infected individuals in eastern china 2012 2016
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9202869/?tool=EBI
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