Analysis of the cell-dependent replication potentials of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vif mutants

Eleven in-frame vif gene mutants of HIV type 1 produced in non-permissive c ells were examined for their replication potentials in various CD4-positive and -negative cell lines. Virus replication for each mutant was monitored by using several single- and multiple-cycle infectivity assays. Except for a mutant with wild-type phenotype, most mutants were severely defective for replication in all the cell lines as expected from the producer cell-depen dent functioning of Vif so far reported. In contrast, two mutants, which ha ve mutations in the hydrophilic or effector regions of Vif were found to ha ve target cell-dependent replication potentials. These results demonstrate the presence of a novel category of the vif mutants important for elucidati on of the Vif function. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevi er SAS.