Prof Maria Papathanasopoulos

Maria Papathanasopoulos is a South African biomedical researcher affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand and its infectious diseases research platforms. Her work bridges HIV virology, immunology, and translational vaccine science, with collaborations spanning oncology and public health. She contributes to integrative African-led research initiatives addressing HIV, cancer, and emerging therapeutic strategies.

Her publications highlight expertise in HIV-1 subtype C drug resistance, phenotypic susceptibility testing, and the evaluation of novel antiretrovirals such as islatravir and doravirine. She has advanced understanding of resistance mutation patterns relevant to Southern Africa and co-developed innovative antibody and Env-based vaccine approaches, including CD4-bound SOSIP trimers and bispecific antibodies to enhance neutralization breadth.

Recent studies extend to HIV-associated comorbidities and neuropathobiology, including steatotic liver disease and mechanisms of remyelination in substance use contexts. Collectively, her scholarship demonstrates strengths in molecular virology, translational immunogen design, and clinically relevant resistance surveillance, contributing to regionally grounded yet globally significant HIV research.