Numerous lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) of causative agents of human AIDS as representative, have been recently isolated from various species of primates. The fundamental and most prominent feature of the viruses is the presence of a number of accessory genes in their genomes. Extensive biological and biochemical studies have demonstrated that the accessory gene products are not essential for viral replication at least in certain types of cells. Quite surprisingly, some of these accessory proteins are absolutely non-essential in any types of cells so far examined. In this brief review, our systematic genetic studies on the importance of the accessory proteins of HIV-1 and HIV-2 for viral replication are described and discussed.

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