[Detection of HTLV-III-specific sequences in T-lymphocyte lines by molecular hybridization]

The methods of molecular hybridization are described using 32P-labeled plasmid pBHIO carrying the cloned HTLV-III provirus employed for the detection of HTLV-III-specific sequences in lines of T-lymphocytes from patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The presence of virus-specific sequences was demonstrated in 13 out of 20 lines examined by the dot-blot hybridization method. The blot-hybridization method revealed differences in sites of Hind III restriction in 2 out of 6 lines studied. The possibility of combined infection of line No. 17 with two different variants of HTLV-III is discussed.