Dr Tongai Gibson Maponga

I am interested in research on viral hepatitis in general but with particular focus on chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) because it is the most common cause of HCC in sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa. HBV infection is vaccine-preventable and its long-term complications are avoidable if infected patients are diagnosed and treated early. Unfortunately, this is yet to be realized, particularly in Africa because of inadequate health policies, lack of knowledge, and limited access to therapy. 

My focus is to conduct quality and impactful research to provide information on the burden of infection with viral hepatitis (HBV) to advocate for health policy changes where necessary, using an epidemiological approach to understand that burden of the infection and its associated complications. Together with my colleagues, we also use molecular biology techniques to characterize the virus.

Tongai was an AfOx-Collaborative Fellow in 2018.

During his 8 week AfOx fellowship in 2018, Tongai was hosted by the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine and St Peter's College

• Mokaya J, Maponga TG, McNaughton AL, Van Schalkwyk M, Hugo S, Singer JB, Sreenu VB, Bonsall D, de Cesare M, Andersson M, Gabriel S, Taljaard J, Barnes E, Preiser W, Van Rensburg C, Matthews PC. 2020. Evidence of tenofovir resistance in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection: An observational case series of South African adults. J Clin Virol 129:104548. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104548
• Maponga TG, McNaughton AL, van Schalkwyk M, Hugo S, Nwankwo C, Taljaard J, Mokaya J, Smith DA, van Vuuren C, Goedhals D, Gabriel S, Andersson MI, Preiser W, van Rensburg C, Matthews PC. 2020. Treatment advantage in HBV/HIV coinfection compared to HBV monoinfection in a South African cohort. J Infect 81:121-130. doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2020.04.037    
• Maponga TG, Glashoff RH, Vermeulen H, Robertson B, Burmeister S, Bernon M, Omoshoro-Jones J, Ruff P, Neugut AI, Jacobson JS, Preiser W, Andersson MI. 2020. Hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma in South Africa in the era of HIV. BMC Gastroenterol 20:226. doi.org/10.1186/s12876-020-01372-2
• O'Hara GA, McNaughton AL, Maponga T, Jooste P, Ocama P, Chilengi R, Mokaya J, Liyayi MI, Wachira T, Gikungi DM, Burbridge L, O'Donnell D, Akiror CS, Sloan D, Torimiro J, Yindom LM, Walton R, Andersson M, Marsh K, Newton R, Matthews PC. 2017. Hepatitis B virus infection as a neglected tropical disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 11:e0005842. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005842