Theodoros Kelesidis, M.D., Ph.D.

Theodoros Kelesidis, M.D., Ph.D., MSc, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine.

Originally from Greece, Dr. Kelesidis earned his medical degree at the University of Athens Medical School and completed his doctorate degree and his master's degree at the University of California-Los Angeles. 

Dr. Kelesidis' research focuses on infectious diseases, immunology, and cardiometabolic complications of infectious diseases including HIV infection. His lab aims at understanding the complex interplay between oxidative stress, inflammation, and aberrant host responses that drive end-organ disease in infectious diseases.  

Dr. Kelesidis’ lab integrates both basic and translational research platforms with the goal to apply tools from multiple fields, such as immunology, virology, molecular biology, and medicine to understand the immunopathogenesis of infectious diseases. His vision is to define the mechanistic links between viral infections such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2 infection, oxidative stress, inflammation, and end-organ disease such as cardiovascular disease. These findings may lead to the development of novel therapeutic interventions that might improve the prognosis of patients infected with viruses such as HIV and SARS-CoV-2. He is recognized as an international expert on infectious diseases and cardiometabolic syndrome and has received numerous awards for his research.

Personal Note

Dr. Kelesidis’ interests outside of medicine include his family and traveling.

Medical School

University of Athens School of Health Sciences, Greece (2004)

Residency

St. Elizabeth's Medical Center (2009), Internal Medicine

Other Post Graduate Training

University of California Los Angeles (2013)

Undergraduate School

UCLA School of Medicine (2013)

Fellowship

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2013), Infectious Diseases

Undergraduate School

UCLA School of Medicine (2016)

• Cardiometabolic disease
• End organ disease associated with viral infections
• HIV-associated cardiometabolic disease
• Host pathogen interactions
• Immunology
• Immunopathogenesis of HIV infection
• Inflammation
• Oxidative stress
• Respiratory viruses
• SARS-CoV-2
• Toxicity of antiretroviral therapy
• Virology

Featured Publications

Blood immune cells from people with HIV on antiviral regimens that contain tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) have differential metabolic signatures.

Ritou E, Satta S, Petcherski A, Daskou M, Sharma M, Vasilopoulos H, Murakami E, Shirihai OS, Kelesidis T, Metabolism 2023 Apr 141 155395

Mitoquinone Mesylate and Mitochondrial DNA in End Organs in Humanized Mouse Model of Chronic Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Song S, Satta S, Sharma MB, Hugo C, Kossyvakis A, Sen Roy S, Kelesidis T, J Infect Dis 2023 Mar

Mitoquinone mesylate attenuates brain inflammation in humanized mouse model of chronic HIV infection.

Satta S, Hugo C, Sharma M, Rezek V, Kossyvakis A, Roy SS, Kitchen S, Kelesidis T, AIDS 2022 Sep 36 11 1609-1611

ApoA-I mimetics reduce systemic and gut inflammation in chronic treated HIV.

Daskou M, Mu W, Sharma M, Vasilopoulos H, Heymans R, Ritou E, Rezek V, Hamid P, Kossyvakis A, Sen Roy S, Grijalva V, Chattopadhyay A, Kitchen SG, Fogelman AM, Reddy ST, Kelesidis T, PLoS Pathog 2022 Jan 18 1 e1010160

The ApoA-I mimetic peptide 4F attenuates in vitro replication of SARS-CoV-2, associated apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in epithelial cells.

Kelesidis T, Madhav S, Petcherski A, Cristelle H, O'Connor E, Hultgren NW, Ritou E, Williams DS, Shirihai OS, Reddy ST, Virulence 2021 12 12 1 2214-2227

Association of 1 Vaping Session With Cellular Oxidative Stress in Otherwise Healthy Young People With No History of Smoking or Vaping: A Randomized Clinical Crossover Trial.

Kelesidis T, Tran E, Nguyen R, Zhang Y, Sosa G, Middlekauff HR, JAMA Pediatr 2021 Nov 175 11 1174-1176

ApoA-I mimetics favorably impact cyclooxygenase 2 and bioactive lipids that may contribute to cardiometabolic syndrome in chronic treated HIV.

Daskou M, Sharma M, Mu W, Heymans R, Ritou E, Rezek V, Hamid P, Kossyvakis A, Sen Roy S, Grijalva V, Chattopadhyay A, Papesh J, Meriwether D, Kitchen SG, Fogelman AM, Reddy ST, Kelesidis T, Metabolism 2021 Sep 124 154888

Apolipoprotein A-I mimetics attenuate macrophage activation in chronic treated HIV.

Mu W, Sharma M, Heymans R, Ritou E, Rezek V, Hamid P, Kossyvakis A, Sen Roy S, Grijalva V, Chattopadhyay A, Papesh J, Meriwether D, Kitchen SG, Fogelman AM, Reddy ST, Kelesidis T, AIDS 2021 03 35 4 543-553

Elevated Cellular Oxidative Stress in Circulating Immune Cells in Otherwise Healthy Young People Who Use Electronic Cigarettes in a Cross-Sectional Single-Center Study: Implications for Future Cardiovascular Risk.

Kelesidis T, Tran E, Arastoo S, Lakhani K, Heymans R, Gornbein J, Middlekauff HR, J Am Heart Assoc 2020 Sep 9 18 e016983

Brief Report: Changes in Plasma RANKL-Osteoprotegerin in a Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial of Initial Antiviral Therapy: A5260s.

Kelesidis T, Moser CB, Johnston E, Stein JH, Dube MP, Yang OO, McComsey GA, Currier JS, Brown TT, J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2018 Jul 78 3 362-366

 Featured Books

The HAART induced metabolic syndrome. In Obesity and Diabetes:The HAART induced metabolic syndrome

Tsiodras S, Kelesidis T, Mantzoros C (2005). Totowa NJ, Humana Press, Inc

Environmental inputs, intake of nutrients and endogenous molecules contributing to the regulation of energy homeostasis. In Nutrition and Metabolism:Environmental inputs, intake of nutrients and endogenous molecules contributing to the regulation of energy homeostasis

Kelesidis T, Kelesidis I, Mantzoros C (2009). Totowa, NJ, Humana Press, Inc

Central integration of environmental and endogenous signals important in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. In Nutrition and Metabolism: Central integration of environmental and endogenous signals important in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure

Kelesidis T, Kelesidis I, Mantzoros C (2009). Totowa, NJ, Humana Press, Inc

Clinical Management of Complicated Urinary Tract Infection. In Urinary Tract Immunology: Clinical Management of Complicated Urinary Tract Infection

Kelesidis T (2011). InTech

Clostridium difficile. In Gut Instincts: A Clinician’s Handbook of Digestive and Liver Diseases: Clostridium difficile

Kelesidis T, Pothoulakis C (2012). SLACK Incorporated

• R21 AI178632 Research Award
  (2023)
• Merck Investigator Studies Program Research Award
  (2022)
• R01 AG059502 Research Award
  (2020)
• Investigator initiated research Award Gilead
  (2019)
• R03AG059462 Research Award
  (2019)
• First Place Award in Basic Science Competition, UCLA Department of Medicine Research Day
  (2018)
• OS17-LA-002 California HIV Research Program One Step Ahead Award
  (2018)
• R01AG059501 Research Award
  (2018)
• R03AG059462 Research Award
  (2018)
• R21AI36708 Research Award
  (2018)
• ACSR Young Investigator Research Award
  (2017)
• Campbell Foundation Award Research Award
  (2016)
• Teaching Award David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA: Outstanding Problem-Based Learning Tutor Award
  (2014-2017)
• K08AI108272 Career development award
  (2013)
• Young Investigator Award 19th Conferences on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2012) K08AI108272 Career development award
  (2012)
• George L Tully III, MD, Medical Educator Award for excellence in patient care and education as well as commitment to student and resident teaching, Caritas St Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA
  (2009)
• Krishnaswamy Ramaswamy, MD House Officer Award for the most outstanding medical resident Caritas St Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA
  (2009)
• Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching of Medical Students, Tufts University, Boston, MA
  (2008)
• Commendation awarded from Academia of the University of Athens for ranking first in the class at the Medical School of University of Athens
  (2005)
• State Scholarship ‘‘Propondis Foundation’’ for postgraduate research in the Division of Endocrinology, BIDMC, Boston, MA
  (2005-2007)
• Commendation awarded from the Dean of Medical School for ranking first in the class at the Medical School of University of Athens
  (2004)
• State Scholarship ‘‘A. Maurokordatos’’ from the National Endowments Foundation, Greece
  (2002-2005)
• State Scholarship for outstanding academic performance from the State Scholarship Foundation Greece
  (1998-2001)
• R21HL134444. Research Award
  2018

• American College of Physicians (2013)
• American Heart Association (2015)
• American Medical Association (2013)
• Infectious Diseases Society of America (2013)
• International AIDS Society (2014)