Vilmer E et al. Isolation of new lymphotropic retrovirus from two siblings with Haemophilia B, one with AIDS. Lancet. 1984 Apr 7; 323(8380): 753-7.

The authors state: “Definite evidence [for HIV, LAV, HTLV, etc. causing AIDS] will require an animal model in which such viruses could induce a disease similar to AIDS.”

And there is no such model even today, 24 years later.

In this paper, and others, the ‘isolation’ means evidence of reverse transcription in culture, which means reverse transcription probably occurred. And, if so, the reverse transcriptase enzyme may be present. And if so, this may be due to a retrovirus, or another cause. They also detected particles in unpurified cell cultures. But you cannot tell without purification that these are viral particles. And they detected p25 (except now everyone agrees its weight is 24 kilodaltons, not 25), and about half of people who are HIV-antibody positive don’t have it detectable, and a significant number of people who are antibody-negative do have it.

Also, here’s a quote from:
Chermann JC et al. Isolation of a new retrovirus in a patient at risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Antibiot Chemother. 1984; 32: 48-53.

“We report here the isolation of a new retrovirus from a lymph node of a homosexual patient (RUB ) with multiple lymphadenopathy [swollen lymph glands, not AIDS, described in the title as 'at risk for AIDS']…15 days after culturing the T cells from the lymph node, a retrovirus could be detected…by its reverse transcriptase activity. The production of virus [actually, the detection of reverse transcription, indirectly]…[was detected by...] The virus had the main characteristics of a retrovirus: typical budding particles with a dense crescent could be seen [in electron micrograph pictures]…some mature particles with a small dense core could also be seen…the peak [of density centrifugation] could be labelled with tritirated uridine [implying but not proving that it was an RNA virus]…To date we have been able to propagate our viral isolate only in mature T lymphocytes…The lymphotropic retroviruses could be responsible for AIDS by at least three mechanisms [Hold on a minute! This patient didn't have AIDS, and there is no evidence that even if a virus was detected, that it would be the cause of any future illness]“

JAMA. 1985 Mar 22-29;253(12):1737-9.

Isolation of lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) and detection of LAV antibodies from US patients with AIDS.

Barré-Sinoussi F, Mathur-Wagh U, Rey F, Brun-Vezinet F, Yancovitz SR, Rouzioux C, Montagnier L, Mildvan D, Chermann JC.
A human retrovirus was isolated from the peripheral blood of three American patients newly diagnosed with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In each case the major core viral protein (p25) was shown to be antigenically identical to that of the prototype lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV). Two of the viral isolates were derived from intravenous narcotics abusers, the first demonstration of LAV isolation from this risk group. Antibody to LAV was detected by an IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the serum samples of these and 14 additional American patients with AIDS and in none of 12 hospital worker controls. These findings provide support for the etiologic association of LAV and AIDS.

Lancet. 1984 Jun 23;1(8391):1383-5.

Isolation of human T-lymphotropic retrovirus (LAV) from Zairian married couple, one with AIDS, one with prodromes.

Ellrodt A, Barre-Sinoussi F, Le Bras P, Nugeyre MT, Palazzo L, Rey F, Brun-Vezinet F, Rouzioux C, Segond P, Caquet R, et al.
A Zairian married couple had been living in France since 1981. The man had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and his wife had prodromes of the disorder. Infection with a human T-lymphotropic retrovirus (lymphadenopathy-associated virus) was demonstrated in both by isolation of the virus from their cultured lymphocytes and the detection of specific antibodies in serum samples. Since this virus has been isolated from patients in other AIDS risk categories, the finding of the virus in AIDS patients from the African group adds further support to the hypothesis that this human retrovirus is the AIDS aetiological agent.

Lancet. 1984 Apr 7;1(8380):753-7.

Isolation of new lymphotropic retrovirus from two siblings with haemophilia B, one with AIDS.

Vilmer E, Barre-Sinoussi F, Rouzioux C, Gazengel C, Brun FV, Dauguet C, Fischer A, Manigne P, Chermann JC, Griscelli C, et al.
A human T-lymphotropic retrovirus was isolated from cultured T lymphocytes from two siblings with haemophilia B. Patient 2 was healthy, but patient 1 had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The retrovirus differed from human T-cell leukaemia virus (HTLV) but it was similar to the lymphadenopathy-associated retrovirus (LAV) in its morphology and its major core protein (P25). Both patients had antibodies against LAV and patient 1’s retrovirus, detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or a radioimmunoprecipitation assay. Seroepidemiological data indicated the transmission of this retrovirus by plasma products.

Princess Takamatsu Symp. 1984;15:319-31.

Lymphadenopathy associated virus and its etiological role in AIDS.

Montagnier L, Chermann JC, Barré-Sinoussi F, Klatzmann D, Wain-Hobson S, Alizon M, Clavel F, Brun-Vezinet F, Vilmer E, Rouzioux C, et al.

Lymphadenopathy associated virus (LAV) is a novel human retrovirus first reported in 1983. It was isolated from the lymph node lymphocytes of a French homosexual patient with generalized hyperplasic lymphadenopathy. Subsequently LAV was isolated from patients with frank acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) coming from all the different high-risk groups, while anti-LAV antibodies were detected equally in individuals from all “at-risk” groups. Such a profile is consistent with the virus being the major etiological agent of AIDS. Furthermore its biological properties, namely its cytopathic effect in vitro, its T4-cell tropism as well as the role of the T4 molecule in virus infection explain, at least in part, the pathophysiology of AIDS. The major core (gag) proteins are p18, p25, and p13 which are products of a Pr55 precursor. The major envelope (env) glycoprotein is unusually large (gp110) for a retrovirus and comparable to those of the lentiviruses. Recently the virus has been molecularly cloned. The genome is 9.2 kb long, longer than any other known replication competent retrovirus apart from the lentiviruses. The absence of molecular hybridization between cloned LAV and human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) genomes compounds the original and extensive differences noted between these viruses and demonstrates that LAV is a prototype of a new class of human retrovirus.

Antibiot Chemother. 1983;32:48-53.

Isolation of a new retrovirus in a patient at risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Chermann JC, Barré-Sinoussi F, Dauguet C, Brun-Vezinet F, Rouzioux C, Rozenbaum W, Montagnier L.

The Noble Prize has now been further reduced, or shall we say, continually eroded, with this event and. The prize is meaningless.