Dr Stephanie Bozonet graduated from Newcastle University in the UK with an honours degree in medical microbiology, followed by a PhD in redox cell biology and signalling. After postdoctoral work in Newcastle she moved to New Zealand, joining the Mātai Hāora – Centre for Redox Biology and Medicine in 2008.
In addition to academia, Dr Bozonet has also worked in the brewing and pharmaceutical industries, gaining expertise in microbiology, cell and molecular biology, microscopy, flow cytometry, protein expression and analysis, enzyme kinetics, neutrophil function and HPLC.
Her research interests lie in the field of redox biology and the effects of oxidants on cell systems. She has been involved in several studies into the bioavailability of ascorbate (vitamin C), an essential enzyme co-factor as well as an important biological antioxidant, and its role in the immune system. Her current focus is the role of oxidants in innate immunity, and their contribution to inflammation and disease. Immune cells such as neutrophils produce oxidants to fight infection but they can also damage host cells and tissues. Dr Bozonet's is currently characterising the effects of oxidants on the regulation of cell death pathways.
Dr Bozonet has co-supervised three PhD students, she is the biological compliance officer for the centre and is a university health & safety worker representative.
Praditi, C., Bozonet, S. M., Dachs, G. U., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2023). Ascorbate uptake and retention by breast cancer cell lines and the intracellular distribution of sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2. Antioxidants, 12, 1929. doi: 10.3390/antiox12111929
Journal - Research Article
Bozonet, S. M., Magon, N. J., Schwartfeger, A. J., Konigstorfer, A., Heath, S. G., Vissers, M. C. M., … Göbl, C., … Hampton, M. B. (2023). Oxidation of caspase-8 by hypothiocyanous acid enables TNF-mediated necroptosis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 104792. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104792
Journal - Research Article
Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S., Pullar, J., Spencer, E., Rosengrave, P., & Shaw, G. (2021). Neutrophils isolated from septic patients exhibit elevated uptake of vitamin C and normal intracellular concentrations despite a low vitamin C milieu. Antioxidants, 10(10), 1607. doi: 10.3390/antiox10101607
Journal - Research Article
Talla, U., Bozonet, S. M., Parker, H. A., Hampton, M. B., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2019). Prolonged exposure to hypoxia induces an autophagy-like cell survival program in human neutrophils. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 106, 1367-1379. doi: 10.1002/jlb.4a0319-079rr
Journal - Research Article
Tang, J. S., Bozonet, S. M., McKenzie, J. L., Anderson, R. F., Melton, L. D., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2019). Physiological concentrations of blueberry-derived phenolic acids reduce monocyte adhesion to human endothelial cells. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 63, 1900478. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201900478
Journal - Research Article
Bozonet, S. M., & Carr, A. C. (2019). The role of physiological vitamin C concentrations on key functions of neutrophils isolated from healthy individuals. Nutrients, 11(6), 1363. doi: 10.3390/nu11061363
Journal - Research Article
Pullar, J. M., Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S. M., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2018). High vitamin C status is associated with elevated mood in male tertiary students. Antioxidants, 7(7), 91. doi: 10.3390/antiox7070091
Journal - Research Article
Tang, J. S., Vissers, M. C. M., Anderson, R. F., Sreebhavan, S., Bozonet, S. M., Scheepens, A., & Melton, L. D. (2018). Bioavailable blueberry-derived phenolic acids at physiological concentrations enhance Nrf2-regulated antioxidant responses in human vascular endothelial cells. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 62(5), 1700647. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700647
Journal - Research Article
Pullar, J. M., Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S. M., Rosengrave, P., Kettle, A. J., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2017). Elevated seminal plasma myeloperoxidase is associated with a decreased sperm concentration in young men. Andrology, 5(3), 431-438. doi: 10.1111/andr.12327
Journal - Research Article
Bozonet, S., Hampton, M., & Vissers, M. (2017, September). Hypothiocyanous acid protects endothelial cells from hypochlorous acid-mediated death. Poster session presented at the European Cell Death Organisation (ECDO)25gth Conference: Cell Death and Immunity in Disease: From Molecules to Translational Medicine, Leuven, Belgium.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Hampton, M. B., Dickerhof, N., Pace, P. E., & Bozonet, S. M. (2017, July). Redox signalling and the regulation of immune cell life and death. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Society for Immunology (NZ ASI) Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Talla, U. R., Parker, H., Bozonet, S., Hampton, M., & Vissers, M. (2017, July). An altered cell death pathway for neutrophils in a hypoxic environment. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Branch of the Australasian Society for Immunology (NZ ASI) Annual Scientific Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Campbell, E. J., Vissers, M. C. M., Wohlrab, C., Hicks, K. O., Strother, R. M., Bozonet, S. M., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2016). Pharmacokinetic and anti-cancer properties of high dose ascorbate in solid tumours of ascorbate-dependent mice. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 99, 451-462. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.08.027
Journal - Research Article
Carr, A. C., Pullar, J. M., Bozonet, S. M., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2016). Marginal ascorbate status (Hypovitaminosis C) results in an attenuated response to vitamin C supplementation. Nutrients, 8(6), 341. doi: 10.3390/nu8060341
Journal - Research Article
Campbell, E., Vissers, M., Wohlrab, C., Hicks, K., Strother, M., Robinson, B., Bozonet, S., & Dachs, G. (2016). High-dose ascorbate administration increases tumor ascorbate levels and decreases hypoxia-inducible factor-1 activity and tumor growth in mice. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 100(Suppl.), (pp. S132). doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.10.346
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Talla, U. R., Bozonet, S., Parker, H., Hampton, M., & Vissers, M. (2016). Inhibition of neutrophil apoptosis and initiation of an autophagy-like process in hypoxia and effects on neutrophil function. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 100(Suppl.), (pp. S63). doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.10.166
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Vissers, M. C. M., Campbell, E. J., Kuiper, C., Carr, A. C., Wohlrab, C., Bozonet, S. M., Morrin, H., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2016). Ascorbate as an anti-cancer therapy? Investigations into feasibility and potential mechanism of action. Proceedings of the Diagnostics, Drugs, Devices, Discovery (D4) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/d4/index.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Bozonet, S. M., Carr, A. C., Pullar, J. M., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2015). Enhanced human neutrophil vitamin C status, chemotaxis and oxidant generation following dietary supplementation with vitamin C-rich SunGold kiwifruit. Nutrients, 7(4), 2574-2588. doi: 10.3390/nu7042574
Journal - Research Article
Campbell, E. J., Vissers, M. C. M., Bozonet, S., Dyer, A., Robinson, B. A., & Dachs, G. U. (2015). Restoring physiological levels of ascorbate slows tumor growth and moderates HIF-1 pathway activity in Gulo−/− mice. Cancer Medicine, 4(2), 303-314. doi: 10.1002/cam4.349
Journal - Research Article
Carr, A., Pullar, J., Bozonet, S., & Vissers, M. (2015). Marginal ascorbate status (hypovitaminosis C) results in an attenuated response to supplementation. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia, 39, (pp. 71). Sydney, Australia: Nutrition Society of Australia. [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Campbell, E. J., Bozonet, S. M., Robinson, B. A., Vissers, M. C. M., & Dachs, G. U. (2014). Restoring physiological levels of ascorbate alleviates HIF-1 activation and reduces tumour growth in Gulo-/- mice. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 105th Annual Meeting. Retrieved from http://www.aacr.org/home/scientists/meetings--workshops/aacr-annual-meeting-2014.aspx
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Campbell, E. J., Bozonet, S., Robinson, B. A., Vissers, M. C. M., & Dachs, G. U. (2014, August). Pharmacokinetic and anti-cancer properties of high dose vitamin C in tumour bearing Gulo-/- mice. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S. M., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2013). A randomised cross-over pharmacokinetic bioavailability study of synthetic versus kiwifruit-derived vitamin C. Nutrients, 5(11), 4451-4461. doi: 10.3390/nu5114451
Journal - Research Article
Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S. M., Pullar, J. M., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2013). Mood improvement in young adult males following supplementation with gold kiwifruit, a high-vitamin C food. Journal of Nutritional Science, 2, e24. doi: 10.1017/jns.2013.12
Journal - Research Article
Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S. M., Pullar, J. M., Simcock, J. W., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2013). A randomized steady-state bioavailability study of synthetic versus natural (kiwifruit-derived) vitamin C. Nutrients, 5(9), 3684-3695. doi: 10.3390/nu5093684
Journal - Research Article
Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S. M., Pullar, J. M., Simcock, J. W., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2013). Human skeletal muscle ascorbate is highly responsive to changes in vitamin C intake and plasma concentrations. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 97, 800-807. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.053207
Journal - Research Article
Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S. M., Pullar, J. M., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2013). Mood and vitality improvement in young adult males following supplementation with gold kiwifruit, a high vitamin C food. Australasian Medical Journal, 6(11), (pp. 667). [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Carr, A. C., Pullar, J. M., Bozonet, S. M., Moran, S., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2013). Bioavailability of vitamin C from a common food source (kiwifruit) in young adult males. Australasian Medical Journal, 6(11), (pp. 658). [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S. M., Pullar, J. M., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2013, August). Mood improvement and reduced fatigue in young adult males following supplementation with kiwifruit, a high vitamin C food. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Carr, A. C., Bozonet, S. M., Pullar, J. M., Simcock, J. W., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2013, August). Human skeletal muscle ascorbate is highly responsive to changes in vitamin C intake and plasma concentrations. Poster session presented at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Vissers, M. C. M., Kuiper, C., Dachs, G. U., Campbell, E., Pujary, U.-R., Bozonet, S. M., Pullar, J. M., & Carr, A. C. (2013, August). The role of vitamin C in managing metabolic stress and its impact in tumour biology and inflammation. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Vissers, M. C. M., Bozonet, S. M., Pearson, J. F., & Braithwaite, L. J. (2011). Dietary ascorbate intake affects steady state tissue concentrations in vitamin C-deficient mice: Tissue deficiency after suboptimal intake and superior bioavailability from a food source (kiwifruit). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 93, 292-301. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.110.004853
Journal - Research Article
Bozonet, S. M., Scott-Thomas, A. J., Nagy, P., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2010). Hypothiocyanous acid is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis and caspase 3 activation in endothelial cells. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 49(6), 1054-1063. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2010.06.028
Journal - Research Article
Bozonet, S. (2010, September). Hypothiocyanous acid is a selective inhibitor of caspase activation and apoptosis. Poster session presented at the 18th Euroconference on Apoptosis and the 7th Training Course on 'Concepts and Methods in Programmed Cell Death', Ghent, Belgium.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Bozonet, S. M., Scott-Thomas, A., Nagy, P., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2010, November-December). Hypothiocyanous acid is a selective inhibitor of caspase activation and apoptosis. Verbal presentation at the Society for Free Radical Research (SFRR) Australasia 19th Annual Conference, Akaroa, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Vissers, M. C. M., Bozonet, S. M., & Kuiper, C. (2010, November-December). The vital role of ascorbate as an enzyme co-factor and implications for its role in health and nutrition. Verbal presentation at the Society for Free Radical Research (SFRR) Australasia 19th Annual Conference, Akaroa, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Bozonet, S. M., Scott-Thomas, A., Nagy, P., & Vissers, M. (2009). Hypothiocyanous acid is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis and caspase 3 activation. Free Radical Biology and Medicine.47(Suppl. 1), (pp. S55). [Abstract]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Morgan, B., Veal, E., Bozonet, S., Day, A., Findley, V., & Ross, S. (2009). The regulation of oxidative stress responses using yeast as a model organism. Mutagenesis, 24(1), (pp. 100). doi: 10.1093/mutage/gen055
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Vissers, M., & Bozonet, S. (2009). Oxidative stress in the blood vessel wall and the development of atherosclerosis. Journal of Vascular Research, 46(Suppl. 2), (pp. 11). doi: 10.1159/000230992
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Bozonet, S. (2009, August). Hypothiocyanous acid is a selective inhibitor of caspase activation and apoptosis. Poster session presented at the 14th Australian and New Zealand Microcirculation Society (ANZMS) Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Bozonet, S. (2009, November). Hypothiocyanous acid is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis and caspase 3. Poster session presented at the Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine (SFRBM) 16th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Bozonet, S. (2008, November). Hypothiocyanous acid targets endothelial intracellular proteins. Poster session presented at the Society for Free Radical Research Australasia Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Bozonet, S. M., Findlay, V. J., Day, A. M., Cameron, J., Veal, E. A., & Morgan, B. A. (2005). Oxidation of a eukaryotic 2-Cys peroxiredoxin is a molecular switch controlling the transcriptional response to increasing levels of hydrogen peroxide. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280(24), 23319-23327. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M502757200
Journal - Research Article
Veal, E. A., Findlay, V. J., Day, A. M., Bozonet, S. M., Evans, J. M., Quinn, J., & Morgan, B. A. (2004). A 2-Cys peroxiredoxin regulates peroxide-induced oxidation and activation of a stress-activated MAP kinase. Molecular Cell, 15(1), 129-139.
Journal - Research Article
Senior Research Fellow