Biography
Dr. Ozbun received a B.S. degree in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry from Colorado State University (1987). She earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Molecular Virology from Baylor College of Medicine (1994). Thereafter, she completed a 4-year NIH NRSA-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine (1994-1998).
Personal Statement
As a scientist, I have over 30 years of experience in biomedical research focused on oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and their related pathologies. I am an internationally recognized molecular virologist and cancer biologist with a translational program that spans from basic science research to efforts aimed at HPV infection prevention and improving clinical outcomes. The NIH has continuously funded my research since 2000. I have also received substantial funding from industry and foundations. My current studies involve early HPV infection events and the regulation of HPV gene expression. I utilize monolayer cell culture, organotypic three-dimensional epithelial ("raft"") tissue cultures, and animal models for the study of anogenital and oral infections and their neoplastic conversion. Over the years my research program has grown in grant funding, productivity, and as a training environment for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. I am aware of the importance of frequent communication among project members and of constructing realistic research plans, outcomes, timelines, and budgets. Trainees in my laboratory have the opportunity to work with animal models of papillomavirus infection and pathogenesis and are exposed to a variety of state-of-the-art techniques, including cell biology, tissue engineering, biochemical, and genetic approaches.
Areas of Specialty
Molecular Virology, Papillomavirus Infections, Epithelial Tissue Biology, Keratinocyte Biology, Tumor/Cancer Biology
Education
PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, 1994 (Molecular Virology)
BS, Colorado State University, 1987 (Microbiology)
Achievements & Awards
1995-1997 NIH NRSA F32CA066316 Papillomavirus Vegetative Replication
1996 - The Papillomavirus Workshop Award, 15th Intl. Papillomavirus Workshop, Brisbane, AU
2000 - U.S. Patent 6,110,663: “Methods for Detecting, Titering, and Determining Susceptibility to Papillomavirus”
2006 - Educational Excellence Award, University of New Mexico School of Medicine 2007 - U.S. Patent 7,285,386: “RhPV as a model for HPV-induced cancers”
2009, -17,-18, -24 - Plenary Speaker at the International Papillomavirus Conferences
2009 - Distinguished Alumna Award, Mesa State College, Grand Junction, CO USA
2011 - TWiV Special Guest - This Week in Virology, Issue 126: “Wart’s up, doc?” www.twiv.tv
2013-present The Maralyn S. Budke Endowed Professorship, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
2021 - William A. Rutala Award (Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology) for the best abstract presented during the conference on disinfection, sterilization, or antisepsis
2021 - U.S. Patent 11,045,519 “Arginine-rich polypeptide compositions and methods of using same.”
2022 - Elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology
Gender
Female
Languages
- English
Courses Taught
BioMed 616 - Molecular Virology (3 cr.): Course developer and director from 2003 to 2022. Developed and deliverd 1/3 of all lectures.
Lectured in MSI Curricula: DNA viruses and Associated Diseases, Virus Structure & Composition, Virus Replications I & II, Cancer as an Infectious Disease.
Research and Scholarship
Citations (*denotes a current or former trainee in my lab):
*Luna, A.J., *Young, J.M., Sterk, R.T., Bondu, V., Schultz, F.A., Kusewitt, D.F., Kang, H., Ozbun, M.A. The antiviral effects of a MEK1/2 inhibitor promote tumor regression in a preclinical model of human papillomavirus infection-induced tumorigenesis. Antiviral Res. 2023 Aug;216:105667. DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105667). PMID: 37429527.
*Luna A.J., Sterk R.T., *Griego-Fisher A.M., Chung J-Y, *Berggren, K.L., Bondu V., *Barraza-Flores P., Cowan A.T., Gan G.N, Yilmaz E., Cho H, Kim J-H, Hewitt S.M., Bauman J.E., Ozbun M.A. 2021. MEK/ERK Signaling is a Critical Regulator of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Oncogene Expression Revealing Therapeutic Targets for HPV-Induced Tumors. PLoS Pathog. 2021 Jan 22;17(1):e1009216. PMC7857559
Ozbun, M.A., Bondu, V., *Patterson, N.A., Sterk, R.T., Waxman, A.G., Bennett, E.C., McKee, R., Sharma, A., Yarwood, J., Rogers, M., Eichenbaum, G. Infectious titres of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in patient lesions, methodological considerations in evaluating HPV infectivity and implications for the efficacy of high-level disinfectants. EBioMedicine. 2021 Jan;63:103165. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.103165. Epub 2021 Jan 7. PMID: 33422988; PMC7808919
*Young JM, *Zine El Abidine A, *Gómez-Martinez RA, Bondu V, Sterk RT, Surviladze Z, Ozbun M.A.. 2021. Protamine Sulfate Is a Potent Inhibitor of Human Papillomavirus Infection In Vitro and In Vivo. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 66(1):e0151321. PMCID: PMC8765401 doi: 10.1128/AAC.01513-21.
Ozbun M.A. and *S. K. Campos. 2021. The Long and Winding Road: Human Papillomavirus Entry and Subcellular Trafficking. Curr. Op. Virol. 50:76-86. PMC8500947