FIG. 2.

The Q76R mutation in Vpx strongly impairs HIV-2 replication in human primary macrophages. (A) The Q76R mutation impairs HIV-2 replication in macrophages to an extent similar to that with the Vpx deletion. Macrophages (left) or CD4 T cells (right) were infected with the indicated HIV-2 strains, and the CA contents of the culture supernatants were monitored over time by ELISA. Shown is a representative experiment out of four performed with macrophages from different donors. The results are expressed as means of the CA levels from triplicate samples ± standard deviations. (B) The Q76R Vpx mutant is efficiently encapsidated into virions. The culture supernatants of 293T cells were harvested 48 h after transfection with the indicated HIV-2 proviral plasmids and were ultracentrifuged through a 20% sucrose cushion. After lysis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, the pelleted virions were analyzed by WB using anti-Vpx and anti-CA antibodies. Δ, lack of Vpx.