Purification of simian T-cell lymphotropic virus-III and a comparison with human immunodeficiency virus

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has reached epidemic proportions with the earliest cases found in eastern and central Africa where AIDS could have originated. Several new retroviruses similar to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) including HIV-2 have recently been isolated. Simian T-cell Lymphotropic virus-III (STLV-III), isolated from healthy African green monkeys and known to cause AIDS-like disease in monkeys, was concentrated from STLV-III infected H-9 cells. Several biochemical and immunologic tests were used to compare STLV-III and HIV. Western blots, immunoprecipitations, and radioimmunoassays showed similarities in the major core protein p24 and p27 of HIV and STLV-III, respectively. A better understanding of the differences between these two viruses might further the knowledge of the mechanism of cytotoxicity of the AIDS virus.