Aspro Betty Maepa

Betty Maepa is a biomedical researcher focused on hepatitis B virus biology and the development of gene-based therapeutics. Her scholarship centers on viral vector platforms, particularly adeno-associated and adenoviral systems, to enable durable suppression of HBV replication and progression toward functional cure. Work spans molecular virology, liver-directed gene delivery, and translational strategies relevant to regions heavily burdened by HBV, including Southern Africa.

Publications highlight expertise in engineering AAV vectors, ancestral capsids, and designer nucleases to target HBV cccDNA and viral transcripts. Contributions include in vivo HBV modeling using recombinant AAVs, evaluation of microRNA-based silencing approaches, and critical analyses of immunotoxicity that shape safer vector design. Reviews on AAV- and adenoviral-based vaccines further demonstrate strength in bridging gene therapy and next-generation vaccine technologies.

Research also addresses HBV epidemiology and management challenges in South Africa, integrating molecular insights with public health relevance. Additional work on circular RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma reflects broader interest in virus-associated liver cancer biology. Collectively, these contributions position her as a specialist in antiviral gene therapy, vector optimization, and innovative therapeutic strategies against chronic HBV infection.