[The characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus strains isolated from HIV-infected persons on the territory of the USSR].

: Fifty-seven HIV-1 strains were isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes of 102 HIV-infected persons involved in epidemic outbreaks in different cities of the USSR. The effectiveness of isolation was 29.1% in asymptomatic infection, 51.7% in cases with generalized lymphadenopathy, and 82.6% in persons with severe clinical manifestations. Identification of the isolates by indirect immunofluorescence, ELISA, reverse transcriptase activity, Western blot, electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction showed them to belong to HIV-1 type. Reproduction of the isolates in cell cultures was accompanied by cytopathic effect and syncytium formation. The isolated strains can be divided into two groups: (1) the poorly growing isolates with low or negative RT and ELISA results and (2) the isolates with high infectivity, broad spectrum of cell tropism, and high levels of RT and ELISA. These data show the correlation of biological properties of HIV-1 strains isolated in the USSR with those of HIV strains previously isolated in Europe, USA, and Africa.