Morphology and immunoelectron microscopy of AIDS virus

Lymphocytes infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus were examined by thin-section and immunoelectron microscopy, with horseradish peroxidase as an electron-dense marker. There was no evidence of an intracytoplasmic virion precursor, but viral antigen accumulated at the plasma membrane. Particles formed at the plasma membrane, and most virus was found in extracellular spaces. Mature virus had an envelope with fuzzy surface projections surrounding a centric core and an electron-dense eccentric nucleoid.