Genome-intact HIV-1 proviruses were detected in autopsy samples from the brain of ART-treated persons living with HIV, indicating that the virus can persist in the central nervous system.

An early start to long-term antiretroviral therapy limits the size of the HIV-1 reservoir more effectively than treatment that starts later.

In two independent cohorts, NNRTI-based cART regimens are associated with significantly lower cell-associated HIV RNA levels than PI-based regimens, suggesting more potent suppression of residual virus replication by NNRTI-based regimens.

Measuring HIV-1 DNA levels at the time of stopping antiretroviral therapy (when initiated during primary infection) predicts clinical progression and the time taken for plasma viraemia to become detectable.

A new study in monkeys suggests that treating HIV infection early with antiretroviral therapy reduces the number of latent viruses, but has little impact on viral reactivation when treatment stops.

A stepped-wedge randomised controlled trial shows that early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation does not negatively affect the economic welfare of HIV patients in a low-income country.

Building on previous work (Zanini et al, 2015), deep-sequencing is used to show that HIV persistence during suppressive antiretroviral therapy, the main hurdle for HIV cure, is due to homeostatic proliferation and longevity of infected cells rather than ongoing virus replication.

HIV-specific T cells remain detectable for years in HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy and importantly, mostly (68%) recognize HIV viruses that have the capacity to rebound following treatment interruption.