FIG. 3.

Characterization of the infectivity and nuclear import abilities of mutant viruses in primary cells. Normalized quantities of virions were used to infect PHA-IL-2-stimulated PBLs, monocyte-derived macrophages, and DCs. (A) The quantities of infected cells were assessed at 3 days (for PBLs and MDM) or 5 days (for DCs) postinfection by flow cytometry and are presented here normalized to the wild-type level. For PCR analysis, cells were lysed at 24 h (for PBLs and MDM) or 48 h (for DCs) postinfection, and the accumulation of reverse transcription products was analyzed with primers specific for full-length viral DNA (B) and 1- and 2-LTR circles (C). The quantity of viral DNA circles presented is normalized to the amount of FL DNA, thus taking into account possible differences at steps prior to nuclear import. Values that are significantly lower than those observed for the wild type are indicated by an asterisk (Student test; P < 0.05). The graphs present values obtained in 3 to 5 independent experiments.