Geographical and temporal trends of HIV-1 subtypes and drug resistance in China: a nationwide study over two decades (2003–2024) Bin Xie, Zhenggang Wang, Qixiang Song, Miao Cui, Yelin Deng, et al. Journal of General Virology, 2026 Objective. This study aims to characterize the 20-year trends in human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) in China, as well as patterns of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) to antiretroviral therapies commonly used in clinical practice. Methods. We analysed HIV-1 sequences from 81,563 individuals living in China between 2003 and 2024. Subtypes and CRFs were classified using COMET V2.4. Among these, pol gene sequences from 41,486 treatment-naïve individuals were used to assess TDR via the Stanford HIVdb genotypic resistance interpretation program. Results. Over the past two decades, CRF01_AE (43.9%) was the most prevalent HIV-1 strain in China, followed by CRF07_BC (19.0%), subtype B (12.3%), subtype C (8.4%) and CRF08_B (4.9%). However, subtype and CRF distributions varied considerably across provinces. CRF01_AE predominated in provinces such as Liaoning (92.4%), Guangxi (58.7%), Beijing (47.7%) and Hainan (44.8%), while CRF07_BC was dominant in Sichuan (63.6%), Chongqing (53.2%) and Xinjiang (82.7%). TDR analysis revealed elevated resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in certain provinces, including Yunnan (12.4%), Xinjiang (8.2%), Anhui (7.6%) and Henan (6.7%). In contrast, resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and integrase inhibitors remained low (<1%) across all regions. Notably, the TDR rate exceeded 5% for several regimens freely provided in China, including AZT+3TC+NVP (6.8%), AZT+3TC+RPV (8.0%), AZT+3TC+EFV (6.4%), TDF+3TC+NVP (6.0%), TDF+3TC+RPV (7.2%) and TDF+3TC+EFV (5.7%). Conclusion. Continued surveillance of HIV-1 genotypes and CRFs is critical, particularly in regions where routine genotypic testing is not implemented. Personalized antiretroviral regimens are urgently needed in regions with high levels of TDR.
Plasma lipidome mediates the causal effect of chronic hepatitis B on cirrhosis: A Mendelian randomization study Biao Xiao, Qixiang Song, Zhenggang Wang, Jie Huang, Ying Liu, et al. Medicine United States, 2026 This study aimed to investigate the role of the plasma lipid species in the progression from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection to cirrhosis. We conducted 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and genome-wide mediation analyses to explore the causal relationship between CHB and cirrhosis, focusing on lipid species as potential mediators. The inverse variance weighted method was used as the primary analytical approach, supported by complementary estimators. Sensitivity analyses – including Cochran’s Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, of Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier global test, and leave-one-out analysis – were performed to assess robustness, heterogeneity, and horizontal pleiotropy. We found a significant positive association between CHB and cirrhosis (odds ratio = 1.206; 95% CI: 1.080 to 1.346; P = .001). Among 179 common lipid species analyzed, genetic predispositions for 29 were significantly associated with CHB and 4 with cirrhosis. Mediation analysis identified 2 lipid species – ceramide (d40:2) and phosphatidylcholine (18:2_20:4) – as potential mediators in the causal pathway from CHB to cirrhosis. Ceramide (d40:2) mediated 11.65% of the effect (mediation effect: 0.022; 95% CI: 0.002 to 0.049; P = .037), while phosphatidylcholine (18:2_20:4) mediated 6.62% (mediation effect: 0.012; 95% CI: −0.0003 to 0.030; P = .072). Overall, this study provides genetic evidence supporting the causal role of CHB in the development of cirrhosis and highlights ceramide (d40:2) and phosphatidylcholine (18:2_20:4) as key mediators in this process.
Temporal transcriptional dynamics in cutaneous leishmaniasis reveal novel targets for therapeutic interventions in a dermal mouse model Jessica Lobo-Silva, Cibele Orge, Almiro Pires da Silva Neto, Bruno Vinagre Ribeiro, Regiane Degan Fávaro, et al. Frontiers in Immunology, 2026 Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania braziliensis results in chronic skin ulceration and remains challenging to treat. While human transcriptomic studies have identified pathways driving immunopathology, the early events of infection and the molecular transitions from lesion formation to healing are still poorly understood. Here, we performed a longitudinal transcriptomic analysis of skin lesions and draining lymph nodes (dLNs) in the BALB/c ear dermal model infected with L. braziliensis , which recapitulates features of human CL. Using bulk RNA sequencing at 2, 6, and 48 hours and at 14, 35, and 77 days post-infection, we characterized differential gene expression, pathway enrichment, and gene co-expression networks. Ulcerated mouse lesions (Day 35) recapitulated 77% of the inflammatory pathways described in human CL, with many persisting at Day 77 despite “clinical healing”. Mice displayed additional upregulation of genes linked to macrophage polarization ( Il12a , Il12b , Il4 ), nitric oxide metabolism ( Arg1 , Nos2 ) and epidermal differentiation (e.g., Crnn , Rptn , Tchh , Lce members). Gene co-expression analysis revealed stage-specific gene modules (M) associated with early innate responses (M3), tissue damage (M1), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (M4), and skin barrier remodeling (M6). A long non-coding RNA-enriched module (M2) was selectively downregulated during the ulceration. Cross-species comparison of ulcerated lesions revealed 16 conserved microRNAs and 12 shared epigenetic regulators, including Mir155 , Mir142 , Sp140 , and Kdm6b , with known roles in inflammation and tissue repair, representing promising host-directed therapeutic targets. Together, this study provides a comprehensive temporal framework of host responses to L. braziliensis and identifies actionable non-coding RNAs and epigenetic pathways with translational potential for CL therapy.
Gross Motor Function in Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome Eliana Harumi Morioka Takahasi, Maria Teresa Seabra Soares de Britto Alves, Marizélia Rodrigues Costa Ribeiro, Valéria Ferreira Pereira Souza, Vanda Maria Ferreira Simões, et al. Neuropediatrics, 2021
Glaucoma and Congenital Zika Syndrome Bruno de Paula Freitas, Albert I. Ko, Ricardo Khouri, Monica Mayoral, Daniele Freitas Henriques, et al. Ophthalmology, 2017
