HIV infection causes progressive immune system deficiency, the development of AIDS and eventual death. Genetic factors play a very important role in the susceptibility to HIV infection and disease progression. Estimation of their effects is realized by comparing different patients groups. Four group of HIV-infected patients are taken into account: RP - rapid progressors, SP - slow progressors, LTNP - long term non-progressors and EU - exposed but uninfected. Genetic factors influencing the course of disease can be divided in groups, for example genes coding proteins connected with viral entry into cells (chemokine receptors, chemokines, lectins receptors), proteins engaged in the innate response to viral infections (cytokines, MBL, cyclophilin A, TRIM-5 alpha, APOBEC3G), human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). It is suggested that some sequences of human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) and microRNA (miRNA) can also interact with the course of HIV infection. Knowledge of the roles of genetic determinants in HIV infection is very important and useful for their cognitive significance as well as in the prognosis of AIDS progression and the selection of specific therapies for individual patients. It is also a basis for the development of new antiviral drugs and vaccines.