Many outstanding discoveries accompany the existence of HIV infections. International teams of scientists cooperate and in their work they use a great many methods from haematology and immunology to methods of molecular biology that pass into methods of molecular virology. These, in turn, open new prospects for methods of molecular epidemiology. The development of sensitive and specific antibody tests made possible the testing of blood intended for transfusions and helped map the epidemilogical situation, describe the clinical course of the disease and, in particular, diagnose the asymptomaic stage of infection. Gradually, the jigsaw puzzle of the pathogenesis of HIV infections was completed. The tremendous advances in antiretrovirus treament meant a turning point in the mortality and morbidity of HIV infection. Clinical trials of therapeutic vaccines are in progress. Yet despite all the advances and prevention efforts the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues.

AIDS Center Faculty Hospital Bulovka 3rd Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague 180 81 Prague 8 Czech Republic