Human immunodeficiency virus-like, nonreplicating, gag-env particles assemble in a recombinant vaccinia virus expression system.

We report the assembly of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-like particles in African green monkey kidney cells coinfected with two recombinant vaccinia viruses, one carrying the HIV-1 gag and protease genes and the other the env gene. Biochemical analysis of particles sedimented from culture supernatants of doubly infected cells revealed that they were composed of gag proteins, primarily p24, as well as the env proteins gp120 and gp41. Thin-section immunoelectron microscopy showed that these particles were 100 to 120 nm in diameter, were characterized by the presence of cylindrical core structures, and displayed the mature gp120-gp41 complexes on their surfaces. Furthermore, thin-section immunoelectron microscopy analysis of infected cells showed that particle assembly and budding occurred at the plasma membrane. Nucleic acid hybridization suggested that the particles packaged only the gag mRNA but not the env mRNA. Therefore, the system we present is well suited for studies of HIV virion maturation. In addition, the HIV-like particles provide a novel and attractive approach for vaccine development.