The role of MVV Vif in neutralizing ovine APOBEC3Z2–Z3 is confirmed.
A W98R mutation in Vif disrupts Vif-APOBEC3Z2-Z3 interaction.
A P205S mutation in Vif together with a mutation in CA impairs virus replication.
The phenotype of the CA(L120R)-Vif(P205S) double mutant is cell-type specific.
No hypermutation is associated with the CA(L120R)-Vif(P205S) phenotype.