PRODUCTION OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS BY CHRONICALLY INFECTED-CELLS GROWN IN PROTEIN-FREE MEDIUM

A human T cell line chronically infected with Human Immunodeficiency V irus (HIV) has been adapted to grow in a chemically defined, protein-f ree medium. Virus particles are produced at rates comparable to those of serum-supplemented cultures; virus preparations free of undesirable proteins can be produced in preparative amounts by simple ultrafiltra tion procedures and cell culture supernatants can be used as such for the preparation of ELISA solid phases. This material has been used ver y conveniently for studies concerning characterization of antibodies a gainst HIV-specific proteins, interaction of HIV with complement compo nents and inclusion of human cell-derived proteins into virions; we pr opose its use as a powerful tool for the structural as well as functio nal analysis of the virus particle itself.