Carbohydrate components of human immunodeficiency viruses type I and II.

The terminal carbohydrate residues of HIV I and II were detected by ferritin labeled lectins in electron microscopy. Different cell lines, which were infected with HIV I and II, expressed different terminal carbohydrate residues, which could also be detected on the viral envelope by electronmicroscopy. Especially N-Acetylgalactosamine residues were detected by Vicia villosa agglutinin only on Jurkat cells. This may have functional implications, since this lectin recognizes contrasuppressor T cells.