Near Full-Length Genomic Characterization of a Novel HIV-1 Unique Recombinant (A1/D/K) from an Immigrant Worker in China Using Nanopore Sequencing

Recombination contributes substantially to the genetic diversity of HIV-1. Here we reported a novel HIV-1 recombinant detected from a Chinese labor who had been to Uganda as an immigrant worker using nanopore sequencing. Near full-length genome (NFLG) phylogenetic analysis showed that the novel HIV-1 recombinant HIV-sd1801 stood in a distinct branch between the CRF130_A1B/CRF131_A1B and CRF50_A1D/CRF84_A1D reference sequences. Recombinant analysis showed that the NFLG of HIV-sd1801 was composed of subtypes A1, D, and K, with 19 recombinant breakpoints observed in the <i>gag, pol, tat, rev, vpu, env,</i> and <i>nef</i> regions. This is the first detection of a novel HIV-1 recombinant (A1/D/K) in immigrant workers in China, which indicated the continuous evolution of HIV-1 among this population and underscored the importance of continuous surveillance of the dynamic changes of HIV-1.