Fellows
Mahlatse Maseeme
ACP-HIV/TB Fellowship Recipient
Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), Durban, South Africa
Mahlatse Maseeme began his academic training at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he completed both a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours (BHSc) in 2016. He later joined the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) in 2021 for his master’s degree, which he completed cum laude, focusing on immunometabolism in tuberculosis (TB) and HIV.
His master’s research explored how metabolic processes influence immune cell function during TB and TB–HIV co-infection, with the aim of identifying biomarkers for disease diagnosis and treatment response.
For his PhD, he is investigating immune correlates of protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). His work is based on the observation that many individuals are exposed to TB without developing active disease, suggesting the presence of natural protective immunity. By characterising these immune signatures, his research aims to contribute to the development of improved TB vaccines and preventive strategies.