[Current aspects of HIV infection].

The epidemiology of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection in 1989/90 shows a further spread of both viruses, especially in southern Europe, eastern Asia and central Africa. The sequence analysis of an immunodeficiency virus of a chimpanzee indicates the presence of SIV-1, in contrast to all other monkey isolates analyzed hitherto as members of SIV-2. The occurrence of eight newly HIV-infected hemophiliacs by one factor IX product gives rise to the question whether a 100% safety of blood products can be achieved. Analysis of HIV nucleic acids by PCR leads not to an improvement compared to the serological tests for the screening of blood donors. Despite all the efforts in the recent years, a safe and effective HIV vaccine will not be available in the near future.