Growth characteristics of SHIV without the vpu gene

NM-3 is a prototype of chimeric virus between simian and human immunodefici ency viruses (SHIV). It grows. in monkey lymphocytic cells in vitro and in vivo as well as in human cells. A mutant designated NM3-E65, which lacks ex pression of the entire vpu gene, was constructed from NM-3, and monitored f or its replication property. Examination of growth properties in simian and human cells of SHIV, HIV, and their vpu mutants revealed that the vpu gene in the genome of the chimeric virus is functional, but non-essential for v irus replication.