  In this work, we interpret the newly observed $\eta_1(1855)$ resonance with
exotic $J^{PC}=1^{-+}$ quantum numbers in the $I=0$ sector, reported by the
BESIII Collaboration, as a dynamically generated state from the interaction
between the lightest pseudoscalar mesons and axial-vector mesons. The
interaction is derived from the lowest order chiral Lagrangian from which the
Weinberg-Tomozawa term is obtained, describing the transition amplitudes among
the relevant channels, which are then unitarized using the Bethe-Salpeter
equation, according to the chiral unitary approach. We evaluate the
$\eta_1(1855)$ decays into the $\eta\eta^{\prime}$ and $K\bar{K}^*\pi$ channels
and find that the latter has a larger branching fraction. We also investigate
its SU(3) partners, and according to our findings, the $\pi_1(1400)$ and
$\pi_1(1600)$ structures may correspond to dynamically generated states, with
the former one coupled mostly to the $b_1\pi$ component and the latter one
coupled to the $K_1(1270)\bar{K}$ channel. In particular, our result for the
ratio $\Gamma(\pi_1(1600)\to f_1(1285)\pi)/ \Gamma(\pi_1(1600)\to
\eta^{\prime}\pi)$ is consistent with the measured value, which supports our
interpretation for the higher $\pi_1$ state. We also report two poles with a
mass about 1.7~GeV in the $I=1/2$ sector, which may be responsible for the
$K^*(1680)$. We suggest searching for two additional $\eta_1$ exotic mesons
with masses around 1.4 and 1.7~GeV. In particular, the predicted $\eta_1(1700)$
is expected to have a width around 0.1~GeV and can decay easily into $K\bar
K\pi\pi$.
