[Morphological analysis of a cell system, infected with different strains of the human immunodeficiency virus]

Cell systems infected with 63 strains of types 1 and 2 HIV virus (HIV-1 and HIV-2) were examined under electron microscope. HIV virions were most frequently detected near the cell membrane or budding from it. In the cytoplasm HIV occurred only in vacuole-like formations. Accumulations of mature virions were seen in the cell-to-cell space. Mature particles of HIV-1 and HIV-2 differed by their morphology from oncoviral C particles and were similar rater to the Visna/Medi type Lentiviruses. Morphological analysis of HIV strains isolated in Russia demonstrated their similarity to be foreign HIV strains.