Comparative study of ultrastructure of HIV and SIV
The ultrastructural feature of AIDS viruses (HIV and SIV) was observed by ultrathin-sectioning and negative staining method, and the surface structures of these viruses were compared.HIV-1 group including, HTLV-III and LAV-1 were used. And in HIV-2 group, LAV-2, which was isolated from a Senegalese AIDS patient, and GH-1, which was isolated from a Ghanan AIDS patient, were used. SIV group was used AGM-1, which was isolated from an African green monkey. The virions were used which was produced from Molt-4 cells after the infection of each viruses of these strains. The infected cells and viral particles, which were collected by centrifugation were fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde (GA), washed with PBS, and postfixed with 1% osmium tetroxide. The specimens were dehydrated in graded ethanol, and embedded in Epon 812. The thin sections were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. On the other hand, for negative staining, 25% GA was added to the supernatant culture fluid and finally concentrated on 2% GA. Then virions were collected by ultracentrifugation.