Envelope structure model of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
The envelope structure of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was examined using a computer image processor combined with an image rotation-averaging system. Our results indicate that the envelope of the HIV-1 particle is constructed of a T-7 laevo icosahedral surface net, and the knobs are distributed in the positions of pentamer-hexamer clustering, the total number being 72, which correspond to the results obtained by Gelderblom et al. and Ozel et al.