Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Dec 16;17(12):1626.
doi: 10.3390/v17121626.

Characteristics and Influencing Factors Among Newly Diagnosed HIV-1 Patients with Non-Marital, Non-Commercial Heterosexual Contact in Lishui, China (2020-2024)

Jianhua Mei  1 , Jinkai Li  2 , Xiaolei Chen  1 , Liyang Qiu  1 , Haifang Zhang  1 , Jie Yu  1 , Ling Ye  3 , Deyong Zhang  1 , Dongqing Cheng  2 , Xiuying Chen  1
Affiliations

Characteristics and Influencing Factors Among Newly Diagnosed HIV-1 Patients with Non-Marital, Non-Commercial Heterosexual Contact in Lishui, China (2020-2024)

Jianhua Mei et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

The increasing proportion of HIV-1 infections transmitted via non-marital non-commercial heterosexual contact (NMNCHC) in China necessitates a deeper understanding of its local characteristics. This study investigated the epidemiological, molecular network, and drug-resistant profiles among 400 newly diagnosed HIV-1 patients infected via non-marital heterosexual contact (NMHC), specifically its non-commercial subtype, in Lishui from 2020-2024. HIV-1 pol gene sequences were analyzed for subtypes, drug resistance mutations, and transmission clusters using phylogenetic and network methods (genetic distance threshold: 0.9%). The overall prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) was 13.3%, an intermediate level exceeding the national average, driven predominantly by NNRTI resistance (6.3%). High-level resistance to NVP (3.0%) and EFV (2.75%) was observed. CRF08_BC (43.8%) was the dominant subtype. Multivariate analysis identified female gender and higher education as significant risk factors for NMNCHC acquisition. Molecular network analysis incorporated 55.3% of cases, revealing clusters predominantly composed of middle-aged and elderly males, with CRF08_BC and CRF01_AE showing higher NMNCHC transmission risk within networks. These findings underscore an evolving epidemic with significant TDR and highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions, including enhanced resistance surveillance and focused strategies for the concealed NMNCHC population, to curb local HIV-1 transmission.

Keywords: HIV-1; molecular transmission network; non-marital non-commercial heterosexual contact; transmitted drug resistance.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of the data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trends in newly diagnosed HIV-1 patients with NMCHC and NMNCHC from 2020 to 2024.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Phylogenetic tree of ART-naïve HIV-1 patients with NMHC between 2020 and 2024.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trends in drug-resistant mutations and prevalence of TDR among HIV-1 patients with NMHC.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Drug resistance levels among ART-naïve HIV-1 patients with NMHC.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Characterization of the molecular network in ART-naïve HIV-1 patients with NMCHC and NMNCHC.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. De Cock K.M., Jaffe H.W., Curran J.W. Reflections on 40 years of AIDS. Emerg. Infect. Dis. 2021;27:1553–1560. doi: 10.3201/eid2706.210284. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. UNAIDS Global HIV & AIDS Statistics—Fact Sheet. 2025. [(accessed on 27 September 2025)]. Available online: https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/UNAIDS_FactSheet_....
    1. Qu S. National Sentinel surveillance of HIV infection in China from 1995 to 1998. Chin. J. Epidemiol. 2000;1:8–10. - PubMed
    1. Cheng H., Qian X., Cao G., Zhi Y., Gao Y., Qing W. Impact of blood bank management and blood component on HIV infection among paid blood donors. Chin. J. Public Health. 2004;9:41–43.
    1. Anti-Drug Law of China. [(accessed on 17 September 2025)];2007 Available online: https://www.gov.cn/flfg/2007-12/29/content_847311.htm.

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources