Associate Professor Karyn Johnson
Associate Professor

Karyn Johnson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53276

Background

Invertebrate Virology

Insects are commonly infected with viruses. We study the interactions between viruses and their insect or arthropod hosts.

Viruses are obligate parasites, that is, they are completely dependent on the host cell machinery to complete their replication cycle. During infection, viruses commonly cause pathology in the host. For these reasons, viruses and hosts are in a constant evolutionary arms race. The host evolves antiviral mechanisms to prevent virus infection, while the virus adapts to overcome these host responses. Insects are ideal hosts to understand both the host response and the virus mechanisms for controlling the host.

My research group investigates the interactions between viruses and insects, primarily using Drosophila as a model. In this model we can control the genetics of both the host and the virus to tease apart the contribution of each partner to the interaction.

We discovered that a bacterium, Wolbachia, mediated antiviral protection in insects. We have several projects investigating both the mechanisms that protect the insects from virus infection and the impact of this protection on virus transmission.

Availability

Associate Professor Karyn Johnson is:
Not available for supervision

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Invertebrate biology Microbiology Virology Zoology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University

Research impacts

Understanding how insects respond to infection with viruses is important to develop strategies to control the spread of virus induced disease.

Search Professor Karyn Johnson’s works on UQ eSpace

77 works between 1995 and 2025
All (77) Journal Article (70) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (3)

21 - 40 of 77 works

2019

Journal Article

Contrasting patterns of virus protection and functional incompatibility genes in two conspecific Wolbachia strains from Drosophila pandora

Asselin, Angelique K., Villegas-Ospina, Simon, Hoffmann, Ary A., Brownlie, Jeremy C. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2019). Contrasting patterns of virus protection and functional incompatibility genes in two conspecific Wolbachia strains from Drosophila pandora. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 85 (5) e02290-18. doi: 10.1128/aem.02290-18

Contrasting patterns of virus protection and functional incompatibility genes in two conspecific Wolbachia strains from Drosophila pandora

2018

Journal Article

The taxonomy of an Australian nodavirus isolated from mosquitoes

Warrilow, David, Huang, Bixing, Newton, Natalee D., Harrison, Jessica J., Johnson, Karyn N., Chow, Weng Kong, Hall, Roy A. and Hobson-Peters, Jody (2018). The taxonomy of an Australian nodavirus isolated from mosquitoes. PLoS One, 13 (12) e0210029, 1-9. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210029

The taxonomy of an Australian nodavirus isolated from mosquitoes

2018

Journal Article

miRNAs in insects infected by animal and plant viruses

Monsanto-Hearne, Verna and Johnson, Karyn N. (2018). miRNAs in insects infected by animal and plant viruses. Viruses, 10 (7) 354, 354. doi: 10.3390/v10070354

miRNAs in insects infected by animal and plant viruses

2018

Journal Article

Wolbachia-mediated protection of Drosophila melanogaster against systemic infection with its natural viral pathogen Drosophila C virus does not involve changes in levels of highly abundant miRNAs

Monsanto-Hearne, Verna and Johnson, Karyn N. (2018). Wolbachia-mediated protection of Drosophila melanogaster against systemic infection with its natural viral pathogen Drosophila C virus does not involve changes in levels of highly abundant miRNAs. Journal of General Virology, 99 (6) 001064, 827-831. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001064

Wolbachia-mediated protection of Drosophila melanogaster against systemic infection with its natural viral pathogen Drosophila C virus does not involve changes in levels of highly abundant miRNAs

2017

Journal Article

Drosophila microRNA modulates viral replication by targeting a homologue of mammalian cJun

Monsanto-Hearne, Verna, Asad, Sultan, Asgari, Sassan and Johnson, Karyn N. (2017). Drosophila microRNA modulates viral replication by targeting a homologue of mammalian cJun. Journal of General Virology, 98 (7) 000831, 1904-1912. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000831

Drosophila microRNA modulates viral replication by targeting a homologue of mammalian cJun

2017

Journal Article

Drosophila miR-956 suppression modulates Ectoderm-expressed 4 and inhibits viral replication

Monsanto-Hearne, Verna, Tham, Annabelle L. Y., Wong, Zhee Sheen, Asgari, Sassan and Johnson, Karyn N. (2017). Drosophila miR-956 suppression modulates Ectoderm-expressed 4 and inhibits viral replication. Virology, 502, 20-27. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.12.009

Drosophila miR-956 suppression modulates Ectoderm-expressed 4 and inhibits viral replication

2016

Journal Article

Plant virus-insect vector interactions: current and potential future research directions

Dietzgen, Ralf G., Mann, Krin S. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2016). Plant virus-insect vector interactions: current and potential future research directions. Viruses, 8 (11) 303, 303. doi: 10.3390/v8110303

Plant virus-insect vector interactions: current and potential future research directions

2016

Journal Article

Impact of ERK activation on fly survival and Wolbachia-mediated protection during virus infection

Wong, Zhee Sheen, Brownlie, Jeremy C. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2016). Impact of ERK activation on fly survival and Wolbachia-mediated protection during virus infection. Journal of General Virology, 97 (6) 000456, 1446-1452. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000456

Impact of ERK activation on fly survival and Wolbachia-mediated protection during virus infection

2016

Journal Article

Cytorhabdovirus P protein suppresses RISC-mediated cleavage and RNA silencing amplification in planta

Mann, Krin S., Johnson, Karyn N., Carroll, Bernard J. and Dietzgen, Ralf G. (2016). Cytorhabdovirus P protein suppresses RISC-mediated cleavage and RNA silencing amplification in planta. Virology, 490, 27-40. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.01.003

Cytorhabdovirus P protein suppresses RISC-mediated cleavage and RNA silencing amplification in planta

2016

Journal Article

Corrigendum to "Cytorhabdovirus P3 genes encode 30K-like cell-to-cell movement proteins" [Virology, 489, (2016), 20-33]

Mann, Krin S., Bejerman, Nicolas, Johnson, Karyn N. and Dietzgen, Ralf G. (2016). Corrigendum to "Cytorhabdovirus P3 genes encode 30K-like cell-to-cell movement proteins" [Virology, 489, (2016), 20-33]. Virology, 490, 119-119. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2016.01.014

Corrigendum to "Cytorhabdovirus P3 genes encode 30K-like cell-to-cell movement proteins" [Virology, 489, (2016), 20-33]

2016

Journal Article

Cytorhabdovirus P3 genes encode 30K-like cell-to-cell movement proteins

Mann, Krin S., Bejerman, Nicolas, Johnson, Karyn N. and Dietzgen, Ralf G. (2016). Cytorhabdovirus P3 genes encode 30K-like cell-to-cell movement proteins. Virology, 489, 20-33. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.11.028

Cytorhabdovirus P3 genes encode 30K-like cell-to-cell movement proteins

2016

Conference Publication

Evolution of cell death responses to cytosolic DNA

Vitak, N., Johnson, K. N., Hume, D. A., Sester, D. P. and Stacey, K. J. (2016). Evolution of cell death responses to cytosolic DNA. ICI 2016 International Congress of Immunology, Melbourne, Australia, 21-26 August 2016. Weinheim, Germany: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/eji.201670200

Evolution of cell death responses to cytosolic DNA

2015

Journal Article

Drosophila melanogaster does not exhibit a behavioural fever response when infected with Drosophila C virus

Arnold, Pieter A., White, Craig R. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2015). Drosophila melanogaster does not exhibit a behavioural fever response when infected with Drosophila C virus. Journal of General Virology, 96 (12), 3667-3671. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000296

Drosophila melanogaster does not exhibit a behavioural fever response when infected with Drosophila C virus

2015

Journal Article

Cytorhabdovirus phosphoprotein shows RNA silencing suppressor activity in plants, but not in insect cells

Mann, Krin S., Johnson, Karyn N. and Dietzgen, Ralf G. (2015). Cytorhabdovirus phosphoprotein shows RNA silencing suppressor activity in plants, but not in insect cells. Virology, 476, 413-418. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.12.023

Cytorhabdovirus phosphoprotein shows RNA silencing suppressor activity in plants, but not in insect cells

2015

Journal Article

A novel pathway of cell death in response to cytosolic DNA in Drosophila cells

Vitak, Nazarii, Johnson, Karyn N., Sester, David P. and Stacey, Katryn J. (2015). A novel pathway of cell death in response to cytosolic DNA in Drosophila cells. Journal of Innate Immunity, 7 (2), 212-222. doi: 10.1159/000368276

A novel pathway of cell death in response to cytosolic DNA in Drosophila cells

2013

Journal Article

Physiological and metabolic consequences of viral infection in Drosophila melanogaster

Arnold, Pieter A., Johnson, Karyn N. and White, Craig R. (2013). Physiological and metabolic consequences of viral infection in Drosophila melanogaster. Journal of Experimental Biology, 216 (17), 3350-3357. doi: 10.1242/jeb.088138

Physiological and metabolic consequences of viral infection in Drosophila melanogaster

2013

Journal Article

Antiviral immunity and protection in penaeid shrimp

Underwood, Darren J., Cowley, Jeff A. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2013). Antiviral immunity and protection in penaeid shrimp. Invertebrate Immunity, 1, 2-14. doi: 10.2478/invim-2013-0001

Antiviral immunity and protection in penaeid shrimp

2013

Journal Article

Dietary cholesterol modulates pathogen blocking by Wolbachia

Caragata, Eric P., Rances, Edwige, Hedges, Lauren M., Gofton, Alexander W., Johnson, Karyn N., O'Neill, Scott L. and McGraw, Elizabeth A. (2013). Dietary cholesterol modulates pathogen blocking by Wolbachia. PloS Pathogens, 9 (6) e1003459, e1003459. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003459

Dietary cholesterol modulates pathogen blocking by Wolbachia

2012

Journal Article

The Small interfering RNA pathway is not essential for Wolbachia-mediated antiviral protection in Drosophila melanogaster

Hedges, Lauren M., Yamada, Ryuichi, O'Neill, Scott L. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2012). The Small interfering RNA pathway is not essential for Wolbachia-mediated antiviral protection in Drosophila melanogaster. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 78 (18), 6773-6776. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01650-12

The Small interfering RNA pathway is not essential for Wolbachia-mediated antiviral protection in Drosophila melanogaster

2012

Journal Article

Genetic analysis of Black Tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) across its natural distribution range reveals more recent colonization of Fiji and other South Pacific islands

Waqairatu, Salote S., Dierens, Leanne, Cowley, Jeff A., Dixon, Tom J., Johnson, Karyn N., Barnes, Andrew C. and Li, Yutao (2012). Genetic analysis of Black Tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) across its natural distribution range reveals more recent colonization of Fiji and other South Pacific islands. Ecology and Evolution, 2 (8), 2057-2071. doi: 10.1002/ece3.316

Genetic analysis of Black Tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) across its natural distribution range reveals more recent colonization of Fiji and other South Pacific islands

Past funding

  • 2018
    Advanced imaging with wide spectrum molecular, quantitative and morphological applications in biological research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Beyond genomes, transcriptomes and proteomes: high throughput analysis of gene and protein expression and function
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012
    High Throughput Genotyping using Paralleled and Miniaturized DNA amplification.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Cellular and molecular interactions of rhabdoviruses with their plant hosts and insect vectors
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Cellular and molecular interactions of rhabdoviruses with their plant hosts and insect vectors: RNA silencing suppression and cell-to-cell movement
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Understanding the mechanism of Wolbachia-mediated antiviral protection
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Building Capacity in Quantitative Genomics
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Controlled Environment Facilities for the Challenges of the 21st Century
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Fiji Disease Research Project 1
    CRC for Tropical Plant Protection
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Fiji Disease Research Project 2
    CRC for Tropical Plant Protection
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Biophysical and Genomic Characterisation of Drosophila Viruses
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Development of a genetically-tractable model for host-pathogen interactions using Drosophila melanogaster
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Drosophila virus genomics
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Karyn Johnson is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Associate Professor Karyn Johnson's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au