Research Professor
Department of Medicine
8317 MBRB
CB#7031
919-966-5050
Research
Research in our laboratory spans the division between clinical and basic science investigations of non-viral sexually transmitted pathogens including Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium. As part of the NC Sexually Transmitted Infections and Southeastern Sexually Transmitted Infections Cooperative Research Center, we are developing a genotyping system for the protozoan parasite T. vaginalis to better understand the genetic diversity of clinical isolates. We also provide support for clinical research studies offering state of the art molecular detection assays for the sexually transmitted bacterial pathogens N. gonorrheae, C. trachomatis and M. genitalium. Current collaborations include projects in NC, Jamaica, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.
Publications
Eggleston E, Rogers SM, Turner CF, Miller WC, Roman AM, Hobbs MM, Erbelding E, Tan S, Villarroel MA, Ganapathi L (2011). Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Among 15- to 35-Year-Olds in Baltimore, MD. Sex Transm Dis. 38(8):743-749.
Hobbs MM, Sparling PF, Cohen MS, Shafer WM, Deal CD, Jerse AE (2011). Experimental Gonococcal Infection in Male Volunteers: Cumulative Experience with Neisseria gonorrhoeae Strains FA1090 and MS11mkC. Front Microbiol. 2:123.
Leduc I, Fusco WG, Choudhary N, Routh PA, Cholon DM, Hobbs MM, Almond GW, Orndorff PE, Elkins C (2011). Passive immunization with a polyclonal antiserum to the hemoglobin receptor of Haemophilus ducreyi confers protection against a homologous challenge in the experimental swine model of chancroid. Infect Immun. 79(8):3168-77.
Hobbs MM, Steiner MJ, Rich KD, Gallo MF, Warner L, Macaluso M (2010). Vaginal swab specimen processing methods influence performance of rapid semen detection tests: a cautionary tale. Contraception. 82(3):291-5.
Gallo MF, Steiner MJ, Hobbs MM, Weaver MA, Hoke TH, Van Damme K, Jamieson DJ, Macaluso M (2010). Predictors of unprotected sex among female sex workers in Madagascar: comparing semen biomarkers and self-reported data. AIDS Behav. 14(6):1279-86.
Fusco WG, Afonina G, Nepluev I, Cholon DM, Choudhary N, Routh PA, Almond GW, Orndorff PE, Staats H, Hobbs MM, Leduc I, Elkins C (2010). Immunization with the Haemophilus ducreyi hemoglobin receptor HgbA with adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A protects swine from a homologous but not a heterologous challenge. Infect Immun. 78(9):3763-72.
Minnis AM, Steiner MJ, Gallo MF, Warner L, Hobbs MM, van der Straten A, Chipato T, Macaluso M, Padian NS (2009). Biomarker validation of reports of recent sexual activity: results of a randomized controlled study in Zimbabwe. Am J Epidemiol. 170(7):918-24.
Torok MR, Miller WC, Hobbs MM, Macdonald PD, Leone PA, Schwebke JR, Seña AC (2009). The association between oral contraceptives, depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate, and trichomoniasis. Sex Transm Dis. 36(6):336-40.
Hobbs MM, Steiner MJ, Rich KD, Gallo MF, Alam A, Rahman M, Menezes P, Chipato T, Warner L, Macaluso M (2009). Good performance of rapid prostate-specific antigen test for detection of semen exposure in women: implications for qualitative research. Sex Transm Dis. 36(8):501-6.
Huppert JS, Mortensen JE, Reed JL, Kahn JA, Rich KD, Hobbs MM (2008). Mycoplasma genitalium detected by transcription-mediated amplification is associated with Chlamydia trachomatis in adolescent women. Sex Transm Dis. 35(3):250-4.
Huppert JS, Mortensen JE, Reed JL, Kahn JA, Rich KD, Miller WC, Hobbs MM (2007). Rapid antigen testing compares favorably with transcription-mediated amplification assay for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis in young women. Clin Infect Dis. 45(2):194-8.
Seña AC, Miller WC, Hobbs MM, Schwebke JR, Leone PA, Swygard H, Atashili J, Cohen MS (2007). Trichomonas vaginalis infection in male sexual partners: implications for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Clin Infect Dis. 44(1):13-22.
Thomsen SC, Gallo MF, Ombidi W, Omungo Z, Janowitz B, Hawken M, Tucker H, Wong EL, Hobbs MM (2007). Randomised controlled trial on whether advance knowledge of prostate-specific antigen testing improves participant reporting of unprotected sex. Sex Transm Infect. 83(5):419-20.
Hobbs MM, Lapple DM, Lawing LF, Schwebke JR, Cohen MS, Swygard H, Atashili J, Leone PA, Miller WC, Seña AC (2006). Methods for detection of Trichomonas vaginalis in the male partners of infected women: implications for control of trichomoniasis. J Clin Microbiol. 44(11):3994-9.
Gallo MF, Behets FM, Steiner MJ, Hobbs MM, Hoke TH, Van Damme K, Ralimamonjy L, Raharimalala L, Cohen MS (2006). Prostate-specific antigen to ascertain reliability of self-reported coital exposure to semen. Sex Transm Dis. 33(8):476-9.
Morris M, Handcock MS, Miller WC, Ford CA, Schmitz JL, Hobbs MM, Cohen MS, Harris KM, Udry JR (2006). Prevalence of HIV infection among young adults in the United States: results from the Add Health study. Am J Public Health. 96(6):1091-7.
Steiner MJ, Hylton-Kong T, Figueroa JP, Hobbs MM, Behets F, Smikle M, Tweedy K, Powell S, McNeil L, Brathwaite A (2006). Does a choice of condoms impact sexually transmitted infection incidence? A randomized, controlled trial. Sex Transm Dis. 33(1):31-5.
Miller WC, Swygard H, Hobbs MM, Ford CA, Handcock MS, Morris M, Schmitz JL, Cohen MS, Harris KM, Udry JR (2005). The prevalence of trichomoniasis in young adults in the United States. Sex Transm Dis. 32(10):593-8.
Hoyo C, Hoffman I, Moser BK, Hobbs MM, Kazembe P, Krysiak RG, Cohen MS (2005). Improving the accuracy of syndromic diagnosis of genital ulcer disease in Malawi. Sex Transm Dis. 32(4):231-7.
Huppert JS, Batteiger BE, Braslins P, Feldman JA, Hobbs MM, Sankey HZ, Sena AC, Wendel KA (2005). Use of an immunochromatographic assay for rapid detection of Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal specimens. J Clin Microbiol. 43(2):684-7.
Lynn F, Hobbs MM, Zenilman JM, Behets FM, Van Damme K, Rasamindrakotroka A, Bash MC (2005). Genetic typing of the porin protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from clinical noncultured samples for strain characterization and identification of mixed gonococcal infections. J Clin Microbiol. 43(1):368-75.
