MONASH U. (AUS) — Given within four months of infection, HIV antiretroviral therapy helps the immune system restore T-cells to healthy levels. Patients demonstrated stronger and faster recovery of the body’s CD4+ T-cells than patients who started therapy later. CD4+ T-cells are specialized immune cells required to fight infections and are depleted during HIV infection. The new insight into the optimal timing of therapy for HIV infection could give patients a better chance of responding to potential cure strategies of the future.