Errrr…an electron micrograph was generated as far back as the early 80s. The entire genome has been decoded.
Since those papers aren’t available online, I can only suggest going to a library and checking them, since I can’t verify them myself:
Microbiologica. 1987 Apr;10(2):209-16.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): an ultrastructural study.
Filice G, Carnevale G, Lanzarini P, Orsolini P, Soldini L, Cereda PM.
H-9 cells producing HIV were examined by electron microscopy to value the virus-host cell relationships. HIV fine structure was also studied. HIV induces little cellular damages and it can penetrate into the cytoplasm by phagocytosis. Phagocytosis of the virus could play an important role in the mechanism of cellular infection.
Virology. 1987 Jan;156(1):171-6.
Fine structure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and immunolocalization of structural proteins.
Gelderblom HR, Hausmann EH, Ozel M, Pauli G, Koch MA.
Ultrathin section and surface replica electron microscopy were applied in combination with immunoelectron microscopy to elucidate the fine structure of HIV. The shell of the tubular core shows p24 antigenicity, while p17 is located at the inner leaflet of the lipid membrane. The virus particle is studded with 70-80 protrusions. These knobs have a diameter of 15 nm, a height of 9 nm, and are probably arranged in a T = 7 I symmetry. The major envelope protein gp120 is spontaneously shed from the viral surface. A possible role of released gp120 in pathogenesis is discussed.
J Electron Microsc Tech. 1989 Jun;12(2):95-100.
Ultrastructural features of the AIDS virus (HIV) and its morphogenesis.
Nakai M, Goto T, Imura S.
Department of Microbiology, Osaka Medical College, Japan.
HIV particles were usually seen on the surface of established lymphoid cells derived from AIDS patients or on CEM cells infected with HIV, and sometimes in cytoplasmic vacuoles. The virus particles were formed by a budding process from the plasma membrane of an infected cell. The budding particles were of a doughnut form. Various profiles of virus particles were seen extracellularly: type 1 had a bar-shaped, electron-dense core, type 2 had a central and type 3 an eccentric electron-dense round core, type 4 was doughnut-shaped, and type 5 had a layered core. However, projection patterns of the AIDS virus model suggested that type 1, 2 and 3 particles are similar. Therefore, the AIDS virus may be one of three main types: with or without a dense core, and with a layered core. It is thought that a particle with a layered core and a doughnut-type particle may be immature viruses.
Micron. 1998 Apr-Jun;29(2-3):123-38.
The life-cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
Goto T, Nakai M, Ikuta K.
Department of Microbiology, Osaka Medical College, Japan. tgoto@art.osaka-med.ac.jp
The life-cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been studied using several techniques including immunoelectron microscopy and cryomicroscopy. The HIV-1 particle consists of an envelope, a core and the region between the core and the envelope (matrix). Virus particles in the extracellular space are observed as having various profiles: a central or an eccentric round electron-dense core, a bar-shaped electron-dense core, and immature doughnut-shaped particle. HIV-1 particles in the hydrated state were observed by high-resolution electron cryomicroscopy to be spherical and the lipid membrane was clearly resolved as a bilayer. Projections around the circumference were seen to be knob-like. The shapes and sizes of the projections, especially the head parts, were found to vary with each projection. HIV-1 cores were isolated with a mixture of Nonidet P40 and glutaraldehyde, and were confirmed to consist of HIV-1 Gag p24 protein by immunogold labelling. On infection, the HIV-1 virus was found to enter the cell in two ways: membrane fusion and endocytosis. After viral entry, no structures resembling virus particles could be seen in the cytoplasm. In the infected cells, positive reactions by immunolabelling suggest that HIV-1 Gag is produced in membrane-bound structures and transported to the cell surface by the cytoskeletons. A crescent electron-dense layer is then formed underneath the cell membrane. Finally, the virus particle is released from the cell surface and found extracellularly to be a complete virus particle with an electron-dense core. However, several cell clones producing defective mature, doughnut-shaped (immature) or teardrop-shaped particles were found to be produced in the extracellular space. In the doughnut-shaped particles, Gag p17 and p24 proteins exist facing each other against an inner electron-dense ring, suggesting that the inner ring consists of a precursor Gag protein showing a defect at the viral proteinase.
AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1993 Oct;9(10):929-38.
Further evidence of icosahedral symmetry in human and simian immunodeficiency virus.
Nermut MV, Grief C, Hashmi S, Hockley DJ.
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Hertfordshire, England.
Specimens of HIV and SIV have been examined by electron microscopy, using the techniques of conventional thin sectioning, freeze-substitution, cryosectioning, and cryomicroscopy of frozen hydrated specimens. In addition freeze-drying and critical point drying were used for both shadowed replicas and scanning electron microscopy. Thin sections revealed hexagonal, pentagonal, or near-spherical profiles. Angular particles were seen in shadowed replicas and also by scanning electron microscopy. The images observed were consistent with an icosahedral shape of the virus. It is proposed that mature HIV (SIV) is an icosadeltahedron with flat triangular facets. Size measurements of the specimens showed a wide range of values for conventional embedding, but a narrow range for specimens prepared by low-temperature techniques.
J Gen Virol. 1988 Jun;69 ( Pt 6):1425-9.
Ultrastructure of human immunodeficiency virus type 2.
Palmer E, Martin ML, Goldsmith C, Switzer W.
Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
The ultrastructure of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) was determined by negative stain and thin section electron microscopy (EM). Some virus particles had surface projections about 10 nm in length which were evenly spaced. Nonidet P40-treated particles which were penetrated by stain revealed a distinctive off-centre cone-shaped core and, in addition, free-lying cores were also seen in detergent-treated preparations. The surface of the cores was composed of a layer of small subunits. The structure of HIV-2 determined by thin section EM was the same as that deduced by negative stain EM.
Nakai M, Goto T.
Ultrastructure and morphogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus.
J Electron Microsc (Tokyo). 1996 Aug;45(4):247-57. Review.
Department of Microbiology, Osaka Medical College, Japan.
The ultrastructure and morphogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were elucidated by observation with several techniques including immunoelectron microscopy and cryo-microscopy. The virus particle consists of an envelope, a core and matrix. The virus particles were observed extracellularly as having one of three profiles: (1) a centric or an eccentric electron-dense core, (2) rod-shaped electron-dense core, and (3) doughnut-shaped. HIV-1 particles in the hydrated state were observed by high resolution electron cryo-microscopy to be globular, and the lipid membrane was clearly resolved as a bilayer. Many projections around the circumference were seen to be knob-like. The shapes and sizes of the projections, especially head parts, were found to vary in each projection. By isolation with Nonidet P40 and glutaraldehyde, HIV-1 cores were confirmed to consist of p24 protein by immunogold labeling. When the virus enters the cell, two entry modes were found: membrane fusion and endocytosis. No structures resembling virus particles could be seen in the cytoplasm after viral entry. In HIV-1-infected cells, positive reactions by immuno-labeling suggest that HIV-1 Gag may be produced in membrane-bound structures and transported to the cell surface by cytoskeletons. Then a crescent electron-dense layer was first formed underneath the cell membrane. Finally, the virus particle was released from the cell surface. Several cell clones producing defective particles were isolated from MT-4/HIV-1 cells. Among them, doughnut-shaped or teardrop-shaped particles were seen to be produced in the extracellular space. In the doughnut-shaped particles, Gag p17 and p24 proteins faced each other against the inner electron dense ring, suggesting that the inner ring consists of a precursor Gag protein.
Tell me if you need more, there’s plenty