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)

41 - 60 of 77 works

2011

Journal Article

Solving the Wolbachia Paradox: Modeling the Tripartite Interaction between Host, Wolbachia, and a Natural Enemy

Fenton, Andrew, Johnson, Karyn N., Brownlie, Jeremy C. and Hurst, Gregory D. D. (2011). Solving the Wolbachia Paradox: Modeling the Tripartite Interaction between Host, Wolbachia, and a Natural Enemy. American Naturalist, 178 (3), 333-342. doi: 10.1086/661247

Solving the Wolbachia Paradox: Modeling the Tripartite Interaction between Host, Wolbachia, and a Natural Enemy

2011

Journal Article

Wolbachia-mediated antibacterial protection and immune gene regulation in Drosophila

Wong, Zhee Sheen, Hedges, Lauren M., Brownlie, Jeremy C. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2011). Wolbachia-mediated antibacterial protection and immune gene regulation in Drosophila. PLoS One, 6 (9 Article # e25430) e25430, e25430-1-e25430-8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025430

Wolbachia-mediated antibacterial protection and immune gene regulation in Drosophila

2010

Journal Article

Gill-associated virus and recombinant protein vaccination in Penaeus monodon

Underwood, Darren J., Cowley, Jeff A., Sellars, Melony J., Barnes, Andrew C., van Hulten, Marielle C. W. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2010). Gill-associated virus and recombinant protein vaccination in Penaeus monodon. Aquaculture, 308 (3-4), 82-88. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2010.08.027

Gill-associated virus and recombinant protein vaccination in Penaeus monodon

2010

Journal Article

Ectopic expression of an endoparasitic wasp venom protein in Drosophila melanogaster affects immune function, larval development and oviposition

Thomas, P., Yamada, R., Johnson, K. N. and Asgari, S. (2010). Ectopic expression of an endoparasitic wasp venom protein in Drosophila melanogaster affects immune function, larval development and oviposition. Insect Molecular Biology, 19 (4), 473-480. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2010.01004.x

Ectopic expression of an endoparasitic wasp venom protein in Drosophila melanogaster affects immune function, larval development and oviposition

2010

Book Chapter

Dicistroviruses

Bonning, Bryony C. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2010). Dicistroviruses. Insect Virology. (pp. 197-229) edited by Sussan Asgari and Karyn N. Johnson. Norfolk, United Kingdom: Caister Academic Press.

Dicistroviruses

2010

Journal Article

Dicistroviruses

Bonning, Bryony C. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2010). Dicistroviruses. Insect Virology, 201-229.

Dicistroviruses

2009

Journal Article

A Wolbachia Symbiont in Aedes aegypti Limits Infection with Dengue, Chikungunya, and Plasmodium

Moreira, LA, Iturbe-Ormaetxe, I, Jeffery, JA, Lu, GJ, Pyke, AT, Hedges, LM, Rocha, BC, Hall-Mendelin, S, Day, A, Riegler, M, Hugo, LE, Johnson, KN, Kay, BH, McGraw, EA, van den Hurk, AF, Ryan, PA and O'Neill, SL (2009). A Wolbachia Symbiont in Aedes aegypti Limits Infection with Dengue, Chikungunya, and Plasmodium. Cell, 139 (7), 1268-1278. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2009.11.042

A Wolbachia Symbiont in Aedes aegypti Limits Infection with Dengue, Chikungunya, and Plasmodium

2009

Journal Article

Symbiont-mediated protection in insect hosts

Brownlie, J.C. and Johnson, K.N. (2009). Symbiont-mediated protection in insect hosts. Trends in Microbiology, 17 (8), 348-354. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2009.05.005

Symbiont-mediated protection in insect hosts

2009

Journal Article

Drosophila A virus is an unusual RNA virus with a T=3 icosahedral core and permuted RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Ambrose, R.L., Lander, G.C., Maaty, W.S., Bothner, B., Johnson, J.E. and Johnson, K.N. (2009). Drosophila A virus is an unusual RNA virus with a T=3 icosahedral core and permuted RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Journal of General Virology, 90 (9), 2191-2200. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.012104-0

Drosophila A virus is an unusual RNA virus with a T=3 icosahedral core and permuted RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

2009

Book Chapter

Development of vaccines and management of viral diseases of crustaceans

Van Hulten, M., Johnson, K.N. and Barnes, A.C. (2009). Development of vaccines and management of viral diseases of crustaceans. Shellfish Safety and Quality. (pp. 359-383) edited by Sandra Shumway and Gary E. Rodrick. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Woodhead Publishing . doi: 10.1533/9781845695576.3.359

Development of vaccines and management of viral diseases of crustaceans

2008

Journal Article

“Vaccination” of Shrimp Against Viral Pathogens: Phenomenology and Underlying Mechanisms

Johnson, K. N., van Hulten, M.C.W. and Barnes, A. C. (2008). “Vaccination” of Shrimp Against Viral Pathogens: Phenomenology and Underlying Mechanisms. Vaccine, 26 (38), 4885-4892. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.07.019

“Vaccination” of Shrimp Against Viral Pathogens: Phenomenology and Underlying Mechanisms

2008

Journal Article

In vitro rearing of Perkinsiella saccharicida and the use of leaf segments to assay Fiji disease virus transmission

Hughes, G. L., Allsopp, P., Brumbley, S., Johnson, K. N. and O'Neill, S. L. (2008). In vitro rearing of Perkinsiella saccharicida and the use of leaf segments to assay Fiji disease virus transmission. Phytopathology, 98 (7), 810-814. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-98-7-0810

In vitro rearing of Perkinsiella saccharicida and the use of leaf segments to assay Fiji disease virus transmission

2008

Journal Article

Induction of host defence responses by Drosophila C virus

Hedges, Lauren M. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2008). Induction of host defence responses by Drosophila C virus. Journal of General Virology, 89 (6), 1497-1501. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.83684-0

Induction of host defence responses by Drosophila C virus

2008

Journal Article

Genetic variability of genome segments 3 and 9 of Fiji disease virus field isolates

Jiang, Jun-xi, Ridley, A., Tang, H -M.H., Croft, B.J. and Johnson, K. N. (2008). Genetic variability of genome segments 3 and 9 of Fiji disease virus field isolates. Archives of Virology, 153 (5), 839-848. doi: 10.1007/s00705-008-0058-1

Genetic variability of genome segments 3 and 9 of Fiji disease virus field isolates

2008

Journal Article

Variation in acquisition of Fiji disease virus by Perkinsiella saccharicida (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Ridley, Andrew W., Dhileepan, K., Walter, Gimme H., Johnson, Karyn N. and Croft, Barry J. (2008). Variation in acquisition of Fiji disease virus by Perkinsiella saccharicida (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 101 (1), 17-22. doi: 10.1093/jee/101.1.17

Variation in acquisition of Fiji disease virus by Perkinsiella saccharicida (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

2006

Journal Article

Is the distribution of Fiji leaf gall in Australian sugarcane explained by variation in the vector Perkinsiella saccharicida?

Ridley, A. W., Dhileepan, K., Johnson, K. N., Allsopp, P. G., Nutt, K. A., Walter, G. H. and Croft, B. J. (2006). Is the distribution of Fiji leaf gall in Australian sugarcane explained by variation in the vector Perkinsiella saccharicida?. Australasian Plant Pathology, 35 (2), 103-112. doi: 10.1071/AP06011

Is the distribution of Fiji leaf gall in Australian sugarcane explained by variation in the vector Perkinsiella saccharicida?

2006

Conference Publication

Identification, culturing and transformation of yeast-like symbionts of the planthopper, Perkinsiella saccharicida

Hughes, G. L., Allsopp, P. G., Brumbley, S. M, Johnson, K. N. and O'Neill, S. L. (2006). Identification, culturing and transformation of yeast-like symbionts of the planthopper, Perkinsiella saccharicida. 5th International Society of Symbiosis conference, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 4-10 August, 2006.

Identification, culturing and transformation of yeast-like symbionts of the planthopper, Perkinsiella saccharicida

2006

Conference Publication

Acquisition of Fiji disease virus from sugarcane by its insect vector

Ridley, A. W., Walter, G. H., Croft, B. J. and Johnson, K. N. (2006). Acquisition of Fiji disease virus from sugarcane by its insect vector. 28th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, Mackay, Queensland, Australia, 2-5 May 2006. Mackay, Australia: Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.

Acquisition of Fiji disease virus from sugarcane by its insect vector

2005

Book Chapter

Iflavirus in Virus Taxonomy

Christian, P. D., Carstens, E. B., Domier, L., Johnson, J., Johnson, K. N., Nakashima, N., Scotti, P. D. and van der Wilk, F. (2005). Iflavirus in Virus Taxonomy. Virus taxonomy: Classification and nomenclature of viruses : Eighth report of the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses. (pp. 678-683) edited by Fauquet, C. M., Mayo, M. A., Maniloff, J., Desselberger, U. and Ball, L. A.. San Diego: Elsevier Academic press.

Iflavirus in Virus Taxonomy

2005

Book Chapter

Dicistroviridae in virus taxonomy

Christian, P. D., Carstens, E. B., Domier, L., Johnson, J., Johnson, K. N., Nakashima, N., Scotti, P. D. and van der Wilk, F. (2005). Dicistroviridae in virus taxonomy. Virus taxonomy : the eighth report of the International Committee on taxonomy viruses. (pp. 678-683) edited by Fauquet, C. M., Mayo, M. A., Maniloff, J., Desselberger, U. and Ball, L. A.. San Diego: Academic Press (Elsevier Press).

Dicistroviridae in virus taxonomy

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

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