Human Immunodeficiency Virus

David M. Phillips, Ph.D.

N Engl J Med 1995; 332:233January 26, 1995

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Figure 1 Transmission electron microphotographs of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are shown. In Panel A, four viruses are shown budding from the surface of a cultured human lymphoma cell (×63,000). Like other enveloped viruses, HIV is unable to make lipids. The virus uses the lipid component of the membrane of the host cell as part of its envelope. During assembly at the cell surface, the viral envelope incorporates viral glycoprotein into the cell membrane. The membrane proteins of the cell are left behind when the virus buds off. Mature viruses are shown in Panel B (×50,000). The central dark spot in each virion is a cone-shaped core containing the RNA genome, reverse transcriptase, and core proteins.

Kim Eagle, M.D.

David M. Phillips, Ph.D.
Population Council, New York, NY 10021

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