Ethel-Michele de Villiers

Ethel-Michele de Villiers
Keynote speakers Nobel Laureate Prof. Harald zur Hausen and Prof. Ethel-Michele de Villiers from the DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center) with the symposium chairs.
Born1947 (age 77–78)
Pretoria, South Africa
Alma materUniversity of Pretoria, University of Freiburg
Known forHPV research; Bovine Meat and Milk Factors (BMMFs) research
SpouseHarald zur Hausen
Scientific career
FieldsVirology, Cancer Research
InstitutionsGerman Cancer Research Center

Ethel-Michele de Villiers (born 1947) is a South African virologist and researcher known for her work in the study of human papillomaviruses (HPV) and her role at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). As a virologist and researcher, she has made contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms behind HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer.[1]

She has helped identify and characterize numerous HPV types, contributing to the body of knowledge that links HPV to cervical cancer.

She has also led studies on Bovine Meat and Milk Factors (BMMFs), a novel category of pathogens found in bovine products. Her work explores the potential links between long-term inflammation and cancer development.[2]

Early life and education

Ethel-Michele de Villiers was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1947. She studied biology at the University of Pretoria, earning her doctorate in 1980 and later conducting research at the University of Freiburg in Germany. She later returned to South Africa, where she worked at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital.[3]

Her early academic work laid the foundation for her future contributions to the field of virology, particularly in understanding the role of viruses in human diseases. In 1984, de Villiers began working at the German Cancer Research Center.[4] After she moved to Germany, she began working with her husband and colleague, Harald zur Hausen, with whom she co-led several research projects.[5][6]

During her time in Germany, she gained recognition for her work in virus-induced cancer and was notable for identifying the connection between HPVs and cervical cancer.[5][7]

Contributions

De Villiers is known for her research in virology, particularly her work on HPV and its connection to cervical cancer, contributing to the scientific understanding of viral carcinogenesis.[8] She worked alongside her husband, Harald zur Hausen, who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2008 for his discovery of the link between HPV and cervical cancer.[9]

In addition to her work on HPV, de Villiers' research also delved into emerging viruses.[8] She co-led studies on BMMFs, a newly identified category of pathogens linked to chronic diseases including cancer, which are believed to be associated with long-term inflammation.

Awards and recognition

  • Emerging Microbes & Infections Best Paper Award, third place.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Episomal-Persistent DNA in Cancer- and Chronic Diseases - German Cancer Research Center". Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  2. ^ zur Hausen, Harald; de Villiers, Ethel-Michele (2022). "A Novel Class of Pathogens Linked to Specific Human Cancers: Do these Agents also Contribute to Aging?". In Ho, Anthony D (ed.). Altern: Biologie und Chancen : Alter und Altern individuell, kollektiv und die Folgen. pp. 87–96.
  3. ^ Verwoerd, D.W. "Part 3: History of Individual Disciplines: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Immunochemistry" (PDF). The Veterinary History of Southern Africa. Onderstepoort, South Africa: Veterinary History Committee of the South African Veterinary Association. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-620-41399-2.
  4. ^ "Ethel-Michele de Villiers-Zur Hausen". The COINS 2019. Vilnius University Students' Representation in Life Sciences center. 2019-03-06. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  5. ^ a b Zur Hausen, Harald (September 29, 2019). "Cancers in Humans: A Lifelong Search for Contributions of Infectious Agents, Autobiographic Notes". Annual Review of Virology. 6 (1): 18, 23, 26 – via PubMed.
  6. ^ Baumann, Michael; von Knebel Doeberitz, Magnus (2023-07-21). "Harald zur Hausen, virologist who linked viruses to cancer (1936–2023)". Nature. 619 (7971): 693–693. doi:10.1038/d41586-023-02370-6.
  7. ^ de Villiers, Ethel-Michele; Gissmann, Lutz; zur Hausen, Harald (1981). "Molecular cloning of viral DNA from human genital warts". Journal of Virology. 40: 932–35 – via PubMed.
  8. ^ a b "Research - German Cancer Research Center". Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  9. ^ Lowy DR (12 March 2024). "Harald zur Hausen (1936 to 2023): Discoverer of human papillomavirus infection as the main cause of cervical cancer". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 121 (11) e2400517121. doi:10.1073/pnas.2400517121. PMC 10945753. PMID 38437560.
  10. ^ "Emerging Microbes & Infections Best Paper Award". Taylor & Francis. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
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