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)

61 - 77 of 77 works

2004

Journal Article

Heterologous RNA encapsidated in pariacoto virus-like particles forms a dodecahedral cage similar to genomic RNA in wild-type virions

Johnson, Karyn N., Tang, Liang, Johnson, John E. and Ball, L. Andrew (2004). Heterologous RNA encapsidated in pariacoto virus-like particles forms a dodecahedral cage similar to genomic RNA in wild-type virions. Journal of Virology, 78 (20), 11371-11378. doi: 10.1128/JVI.78.20.11371-11378.2004

Heterologous RNA encapsidated in pariacoto virus-like particles forms a dodecahedral cage similar to genomic RNA in wild-type virions

2003

Journal Article

Virlons of Pariacoto virus contain a minor protein translated from the second AUG codon of the capsid protein open reading frame

Johnson, Karyn N. and Ball, L. Andrew (2003). Virlons of Pariacoto virus contain a minor protein translated from the second AUG codon of the capsid protein open reading frame. Journal of General Virology, 84 (10), 2847-2852. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.19419-0

Virlons of Pariacoto virus contain a minor protein translated from the second AUG codon of the capsid protein open reading frame

2003

Journal Article

Providence virus: a new member of the Tetraviridae that infects cultured insect cells

Pringle, Fiona M., Johnson, Karyn N., Goodman, Cynthia L., McIntosh, Arthur H. and Ball, L. Andrew (2003). Providence virus: a new member of the Tetraviridae that infects cultured insect cells. Virology, 306 (2), 359-370. doi: 10.1016/S0042-6822(02)00052-1

Providence virus: a new member of the Tetraviridae that infects cultured insect cells

2001

Journal Article

Recovery of infectious pariacoto virus from cDNA clones and identification of susceptible cell lines

Johnson, Karyn N. and Ball, L. Andrew (2001). Recovery of infectious pariacoto virus from cDNA clones and identification of susceptible cell lines. Journal of Virology, 75 (24), 12220-12227. doi: 10.1128/JVI.75.24.12220-12227.2001

Recovery of infectious pariacoto virus from cDNA clones and identification of susceptible cell lines

2001

Journal Article

Comparisons among the larger genome segments of six nodaviruses and their encoded RNA replicases (vol 82, pg 1855, 2001)

Johnson, K.N., Johnson, K.L., Dasgupta, R., Gratsch, T. and Ball, L.A. (2001). Comparisons among the larger genome segments of six nodaviruses and their encoded RNA replicases (vol 82, pg 1855, 2001). Journal of General Virology, 82 (12), 3119-3119. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-82-12-3119

Comparisons among the larger genome segments of six nodaviruses and their encoded RNA replicases (vol 82, pg 1855, 2001)

2001

Journal Article

Comparisons among the larger genome segments of six nodaviruses and their encoded RNA replicases

Johnson, Karyn N., Johnson, Kyle L., Dasgupta, Ranjit, Gratsch, Theresa and Ball, L. Andrew (2001). Comparisons among the larger genome segments of six nodaviruses and their encoded RNA replicases. Journal of General Virology, 82 (8), 1855-1866. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-82-8-1855

Comparisons among the larger genome segments of six nodaviruses and their encoded RNA replicases

2001

Journal Article

The structure of Pariacoto virus reveals a dodecahedral cage of duplex RNA

Tang, L., Johnson, K. N., Ball, L. A., Lin, T. W., Yeager, M. and Johnson, J. E. (2001). The structure of Pariacoto virus reveals a dodecahedral cage of duplex RNA. Nature Structural Biology, 8 (1), 77-83. doi: 10.1038/83089

The structure of Pariacoto virus reveals a dodecahedral cage of duplex RNA

2000

Journal Article

Characterization and construction of functional cDNA clones of pariacoto virus, the first Alphanodavirus isolated outside Australasia

Johnson, Karyn N., Zeddam, Jean-Louis and Ball, L. Andrew (2000). Characterization and construction of functional cDNA clones of pariacoto virus, the first Alphanodavirus isolated outside Australasia. Journal of Virology, 74 (11), 5123-5132. doi: 10.1128/JVI.74.11.5123-5132.2000

Characterization and construction of functional cDNA clones of pariacoto virus, the first Alphanodavirus isolated outside Australasia

2000

Journal Article

Characterization and Construction of Functional cDNA Clones of Pariacoto Virus, the First Alphanodavirus Isolated outside Australasia

Johnson, Karyn N., Zeddam, Jean-Louis and Ball, L. Andrew (2000). Characterization and Construction of Functional cDNA Clones of Pariacoto Virus, the First Alphanodavirus Isolated outside Australasia. Journal of Virology, 74 (11), 5123-5132. doi: 10.1128/JVI.74.11.5123-5132.2000

Characterization and Construction of Functional cDNA Clones of Pariacoto Virus, the First Alphanodavirus Isolated outside Australasia

2000

Journal Article

Reverse transcription of a naturally occurring nonretroviral RNA produces a precise deletion in the majority of its cDNA products

Johnson, Karyn N., Gordon, Karl H. J. and Hanzlik, Terry N. (2000). Reverse transcription of a naturally occurring nonretroviral RNA produces a precise deletion in the majority of its cDNA products. Iubmb Life, 49 (3), 223-227. doi: 10.1080/152165400306241

Reverse transcription of a naturally occurring nonretroviral RNA produces a precise deletion in the majority of its cDNA products

1999

Journal Article

Molecular characterization of Drosophila C virus isolates

Johnson, KN and Christian, PD (1999). Molecular characterization of Drosophila C virus isolates. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 73 (3), 248-254. doi: 10.1006/jipa.1998.4830

Molecular characterization of Drosophila C virus isolates

1998

Journal Article

The novel genome organization of the insect picorna-like virus Drosophila C virus suggests this virus belongs to a previously undescribed virus family

Johnson, K. N. and Christian, P. D. (1998). The novel genome organization of the insect picorna-like virus Drosophila C virus suggests this virus belongs to a previously undescribed virus family. Journal of General Virology, 79 (1), 191-203. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-79-1-191

The novel genome organization of the insect picorna-like virus Drosophila C virus suggests this virus belongs to a previously undescribed virus family

1996

Journal Article

A molecular taxonomy for cricket paralysis virus including two new isolates from Australian populations ofDrosophila

Johnson, K. N. and Christian, P. D. (1996). A molecular taxonomy for cricket paralysis virus including two new isolates from Australian populations ofDrosophila. Archives of Virology, 141 (8), 1509-1522. doi: 10.1007/BF01718251

A molecular taxonomy for cricket paralysis virus including two new isolates from Australian populations ofDrosophila

1996

Journal Article

The hermit transposable element of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, belongs to the hAT family of transposable elements

Coates, Craig J., Johnson, Karyn N., Perkins, Harvey D., Howells, Antony J., O'Brochta, David A. and Atkinson, Peter W. (1996). The hermit transposable element of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, belongs to the hAT family of transposable elements. Genetica, 96 (1), 23-31. doi: 10.1007/BF00132577

The hermit transposable element of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, belongs to the hAT family of transposable elements

1995

Journal Article

The Larger Genomic Rna of Helicoverpa-Armigera Stunt Tetravirus Encodes the Viral-Rna Polymerase and Has a Novel 3'-Terminal Transfer-Rna-Like Structure

Gordon, Khj, Johnson, KN and Hanzlik, TN (1995). The Larger Genomic Rna of Helicoverpa-Armigera Stunt Tetravirus Encodes the Viral-Rna Polymerase and Has a Novel 3'-Terminal Transfer-Rna-Like Structure. Virology, 208 (1), 84-98. doi: 10.1006/viro.1995.1132

The Larger Genomic Rna of Helicoverpa-Armigera Stunt Tetravirus Encodes the Viral-Rna Polymerase and Has a Novel 3'-Terminal Transfer-Rna-Like Structure

1995

Journal Article

Sequence of RNA2 of the Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (Tetraviridae) and bacterial expression of its genes

Hanzlik, Terry N., Dorrian, Susan J., Johnson, Karyn N., Brooks , Elizabeth M. and Gordon , Karl H. J. (1995). Sequence of RNA2 of the Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (Tetraviridae) and bacterial expression of its genes. Journal of General Virology, 76 (4), 799-811. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-76-4-799

Sequence of RNA2 of the Helicoverpa armigera stunt virus (Tetraviridae) and bacterial expression of its genes

1995

Journal Article

The larger genomic RNA of Helicoverpa armigera stunt tetravirus encodes the viral RNA polymerase and has a novel 3'-terminal t-RNA-like structure

Gordon, K. H. J., Johnson, K. N. and Hanzlik, T. N. (1995). The larger genomic RNA of Helicoverpa armigera stunt tetravirus encodes the viral RNA polymerase and has a novel 3'-terminal t-RNA-like structure. Virology, 208 (1), 84-98. doi: 10.1006/viro.1995.1132

The larger genomic RNA of Helicoverpa armigera stunt tetravirus encodes the viral RNA polymerase and has a novel 3'-terminal t-RNA-like structure

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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