Associate Professor Annika Antonsson
Associate Professor

Annika Antonsson

Email: 

Background

Associate Professor Annika Antonsson is a virologist with epidemiological training. Viruses can cause cancer, and Annika’s research has been focused on human papillomavirus (HPV) and its role in different types of cancer. HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer.

Her current main research areas are oral HPV infections in the general population and HPV in mouth and throat cancer (mucosal squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck; HNSCC).

Some cancers of the mouth and throat are increasing and some of this increase is caused by HPV infection. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection and changing sexual behaviour is believed to have caused the increase in HPV-positive tumours of the mouth and throat. Annika is investigating how often HPV in found in HNSCCs and if there are any lifestyle factors linked with having HPV or not to have HPV in tumours.

It is not known how common the potentially cancer-causing viruses are in the mouth of the general population, and this is another area of research Annika is looking into. She has also worked on HPV in skin (normal skin and cancer), infections in breast carcinogenesis, HPV in oesophageal cancer and polyomaviruses in normal skin and skin cancer.

Availability

Associate Professor Annika Antonsson is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing Biological Sciences Epidemiology Health Sciences Indigenous Studies Microbiology Virology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Institution to be confirmed

Research interests

  • The Oral Diversity Study

    Oral HPV infection in vaccinated and unvaccinated people

  • The Oral Health Study

    Oral HPV infection in the general population

  • The PAH/QIMRB Head and Neck Cancer Study

    Human papillomavirus infection and risk factors in head and neck cancer patients

  • HPV and microRNA in oropharyngeal cancers

    comparing microRNA expression in HPV positive and HPV negative oropharyngeal cancers

  • CHANNEL (Care of Head And Neck cancer Needs EvaLuation Study)

    a quality of life and supportive care needs study of patients with head and neck cancer

  • Indigenous Oral HPV

    Longitudinal study of oral HPV infection and risk factors associated with infection in Indigenous Australians

  • Breast cancer microbiome

    Profiling the intratumoural microbiome in breast cancer and control tissue

Research impacts

  • Oral HPV infection in people vaccinated with Gardasil® and unvaccinated people. We will investigate if people who have been vaccinated against HPV have the same or different HPV types compared to unvaccinated people
  • Natural history of oral HPV infection. We have been investigating how common oral HPV infection is in the general population in Australia, and if oral HPV infection is linked to lifestyle or sexual behaviours. We have also studied how often people get a new oral HPV infection (incidence) and how long oral HPV infections last for (persistence)
  • HPV and head and neck cancer (cancers of mouth and throat). We have been investigating risk factors for HPV in head and neck cancer. We have looked at differences in lifestyle factors and host SNPs in patients with HPV-positive vs HPV-negative tumours and are currently looking into miRNA regulation. We have found high HPV prevalence (most commonly HPV-16), especially in younger individuals and in cancers of the tonsil
  • HPV and oesophageal cancer. Very low prevalence of HPV detected in tumours, suggesting that HPV is not associated with oesophageal cancer (both cancer types squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma)
  • HPV and breast cancer. The viral role of breast cancer is still under debate. In our Australian breast cancer cohort we found HPV, but very low viral load. We found low prevalences of other DNA tumour viruses in this dataset. We are currently looking for viral sequences by deep sequencing of breast cancer
  • HPV in normal skin. Annika was involved in developing a new revolutionary tool that detects the majority of HPV types, the FAP (Forslund-Antonsson-Primer). The FAP has, over the years isolated most known HPVs plus hundreds of new, previously unknown skin HPVs in both humans and animals. FAP has explosively expanded the phylogenetic papillomavirus tree She has used the FAP in several publications to show the very high HPV prevalence and abundance of HPV types present in healthy skin in people of all ages across the globe

Search Professor Annika Antonsson’s works on UQ eSpace

73 works between 1999 and 2024
All (73) Journal Article (72) Conference Publication (1)

1 - 20 of 73 works

2024

Journal Article

Persistent oral HPV infections – Are we vaccinating against the right HPV types to prevent HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer?

Antonsson, Annika (2024). Persistent oral HPV infections – Are we vaccinating against the right HPV types to prevent HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer?. Oral Oncology Reports, 10 100423, 100423. doi: 10.1016/j.oor.2024.100423

Persistent oral HPV infections – Are we vaccinating against the right HPV types to prevent HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer?

2024

Journal Article

Investigating oral human papillomavirus co-infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis

Trembizki, Ella, Anderson, Taylah, Whiley, David M. and Antonsson, Annika (2024). Investigating oral human papillomavirus co-infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Epidemiology and Infection, 152 e8. doi: 10.1017/s095026882300198x

Investigating oral human papillomavirus co-infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis

2023

Journal Article

Development and validation of an HPV infection knowledge assessment scale among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Sethi, Sneha, Santiago, Pedro Henrique Ribeiro, Soares, Gustavo Hermes, Ju, Xiangqun, Antonsson, Annika, Canfell, Karen, Smith, Megan, Garvey, Gail, Hedges, Joanne and Jamieson, Lisa (2023). Development and validation of an HPV infection knowledge assessment scale among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Vaccine: X, 14 100317, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2023.100317

Development and validation of an HPV infection knowledge assessment scale among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

2023

Journal Article

Natural history of oral HPV infection among Indigenous South Australians

Ju, Xiangqun, Sethi, Sneha, Antonsson, Annika, Hedges, Joanne, Canfell, Karen, Smith, Megan, Garvey, Gail, Logan, Richard M. and Jamieson, Lisa M. (2023). Natural history of oral HPV infection among Indigenous South Australians. Viruses, 15 (7) 1573, 1573. doi: 10.3390/v15071573

Natural history of oral HPV infection among Indigenous South Australians

2023

Journal Article

Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV vaccination in an Australian cohort

de Souza, Marjorie M. A., Hartel, Gunter, Olsen, Catherine M., Whiteman, David C. and Antonsson, Annika (2023). Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV vaccination in an Australian cohort. International Journal of Cancer, 153 (2), 417-426. doi: 10.1002/ijc.34517

Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV vaccination in an Australian cohort

2023

Journal Article

Self-reported HPV vaccination and vaccination record linkage in the Australian Oral Diversity Study

Antonsson, Annika (2023). Self-reported HPV vaccination and vaccination record linkage in the Australian Oral Diversity Study. Cancer Causes and Control, 34 (9), 785-789. doi: 10.1007/s10552-023-01729-4

Self-reported HPV vaccination and vaccination record linkage in the Australian Oral Diversity Study

2023

Journal Article

The Indigenous Australian Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Cohort Study 2, Continuation for 5 to 10 Years: protocol for a longitudinal study

Hedges, Joanne, Sethi, Sneha, Garvey, Gail, Whop, Lisa, Canfell, Karen, Dodd, Zell, Larkins, Priscilla, Antonsson, Annika, Smith, Megan, Mittinty, Murthy, Leane, Cathy, Reid, Nic, Ooi, Eng, Ju, Xiangqun, Logan, Richard and Jamieson, Lisa (2023). The Indigenous Australian Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Cohort Study 2, Continuation for 5 to 10 Years: protocol for a longitudinal study. JMIR Research Protocols, 12 e44593, e44593. doi: 10.2196/44593

The Indigenous Australian Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Cohort Study 2, Continuation for 5 to 10 Years: protocol for a longitudinal study

2022

Journal Article

Polygenic risk score as a determinant of risk of keratinocyte cancer in an Australian population‐based cohort

Liyanage, U. E., Law, M. H., Antonsson, A., Hughes, M.C.B., Gordon, S., van der Pols, J. C. and Green, A. C. (2022). Polygenic risk score as a determinant of risk of keratinocyte cancer in an Australian population‐based cohort. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 36 (11), 2036-2042. doi: 10.1111/jdv.18466

Polygenic risk score as a determinant of risk of keratinocyte cancer in an Australian population‐based cohort

2022

Journal Article

Associations of keratinocyte cancers with snp variants in the sonic hedgehog pathway

Rodriguez-Acevedo, Astrid J., Antonsson, Annika, Liyanage, Upekha E., Hughes, Maria Celia, Gordon, Scott, van der Pols, Jolieke and Green, Adele C. (2022). Associations of keratinocyte cancers with snp variants in the sonic hedgehog pathway. BMC Cancer, 22 (1) 490, 490. doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-09565-6

Associations of keratinocyte cancers with snp variants in the sonic hedgehog pathway

2022

Journal Article

Sexual debut and association with oral human papillomavirus infection, persistence and oropharyngeal cancer—an analysis of two Australian cohorts

Antonsson, Annika, de Souza, Marjorie M. A., Panizza, Benedict J. and Whiteman, David C. (2022). Sexual debut and association with oral human papillomavirus infection, persistence and oropharyngeal cancer—an analysis of two Australian cohorts. International Journal of Cancer, 151 (5), 764-769. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33986

Sexual debut and association with oral human papillomavirus infection, persistence and oropharyngeal cancer—an analysis of two Australian cohorts

2022

Journal Article

Dark green leafy vegetable intake, MTHFR genotype, and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Hughes, Maria Celia B., Antonsson, Annika, Rodriguez-Acevedo, Astrid J., Liyanage, Upekha E., Green, Adele C. and van der Pols, Jolieke C. (2022). Dark green leafy vegetable intake, MTHFR genotype, and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Dermatology, 238 (4), 1-5. doi: 10.1159/000520941

Dark green leafy vegetable intake, MTHFR genotype, and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

2021

Journal Article

Oral HPV infection among Indigenous Australians; incidence, persistence and clearance at 12-months follow-up

Sethi, Sneha, Ju, Xiangqun, Antonsson, Annika, Canfell, Karen, Smith, Megan A, Garvey, Gail, Hedges, Joanne and Jamieson, Lisa (2021). Oral HPV infection among Indigenous Australians; incidence, persistence and clearance at 12-months follow-up. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 31 (3), 604-613. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-21-1056

Oral HPV infection among Indigenous Australians; incidence, persistence and clearance at 12-months follow-up

2021

Journal Article

Human papillomavirus infection and tumor microenvironment are associated with the microbiota in patients with oropharyngeal cancers—pilot study

Zakrzewski, Martha, Gannon, Orla Margaret, Panizza, Benedict James, Saunders, Nicholas Andrew and Antonsson, Annika (2021). Human papillomavirus infection and tumor microenvironment are associated with the microbiota in patients with oropharyngeal cancers—pilot study. Head and Neck, 43 (11) hed.26821, 3324-3330. doi: 10.1002/hed.26821

Human papillomavirus infection and tumor microenvironment are associated with the microbiota in patients with oropharyngeal cancers—pilot study

2021

Journal Article

Host genetic polymorphisms associated with beta human papillomavirus seropositivity

Antonsson, Annika, Rodriguez-Acevedo, Astrid J., Liyanage, Upekha E., Hughes, Maria Celia B., van der Pols, Jolieke C. and Green, Adele C. (2021). Host genetic polymorphisms associated with beta human papillomavirus seropositivity. Archives of Virology, 166 (9), 2569-2572. doi: 10.1007/s00705-021-05137-4

Host genetic polymorphisms associated with beta human papillomavirus seropositivity

2021

Journal Article

Cohort profile: indigenous human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma study - a prospective longitudinal cohort

Jamieson, Lisa M, Garvey, Gail, Hedges, Joanne, Leane, Cathy, Hill, Isaac, Brown, Alex, Ju, Xiangqun, Sethi, Sneha, Roder, David, Logan, Richard M, Johnson, Newell, Smith, Megan, Antonsson, Annika and Canfell, Karen (2021). Cohort profile: indigenous human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma study - a prospective longitudinal cohort. BMJ open, 11 (6) e046928, e046928. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046928

Cohort profile: indigenous human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma study - a prospective longitudinal cohort

2021

Journal Article

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in Indigenous populations - A Global Picture

Sethi, Sneha, Ali, Anna, Ju, Xiangqun, Antonsson, Annika, Logan, Richard, Canfell, Karen, Smith, Megan, Garvey, Gail, Hedges, Joanne and Jamieson, Lisa (2021). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in Indigenous populations - A Global Picture. Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine, 50 (9), 843-854. doi: 10.1111/jop.13201

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in Indigenous populations - A Global Picture

2021

Journal Article

MicroRNA expression is associated with human papillomavirus status and prognosis in mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Emmett, S.E., Stark, M.S., Pandeya, N., Panizza, B., Whiteman, D.C. and Antonsson, A. (2021). MicroRNA expression is associated with human papillomavirus status and prognosis in mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Oral Oncology, 113 105136, 105136. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105136

MicroRNA expression is associated with human papillomavirus status and prognosis in mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

2021

Journal Article

An update on Heck's disease-a systematic review

Sethi, Sneha, Ali, Anna, Ju, Xiangqun, Antonsson, Annika, Logan, Richard and Jamieson, Lisa (2021). An update on Heck's disease-a systematic review. Journal of Public Health, 44 (2) fdaa256, 269-285. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdaa256

An update on Heck's disease-a systematic review

2020

Journal Article

Natural history of oral HPV infection: longitudinal analyses in prospective cohorts from Australia

Antonsson, Annika, de Souza, Marjorie, Wood, Zoe C., Carroll, Angela, Van, Kim, Paterson, Lachlan, Pandeya, Nirmala and Whiteman, David C. (2020). Natural history of oral HPV infection: longitudinal analyses in prospective cohorts from Australia. International Journal of Cancer, 148 (8) ijc.33442, 1964-1972. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33442

Natural history of oral HPV infection: longitudinal analyses in prospective cohorts from Australia

2020

Journal Article

High-risk human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma among non-indigenous and indigenous populations: a systematic review

Ju, Xiangqun, Canfell, Karen, Smith, Megan, Sethi, Sneha, Garvey, Gail, Hedges, Joanne, Logan, Richard M, Antonsson, Annika and Jamieson, Lisa M (2020). High-risk human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma among non-indigenous and indigenous populations: a systematic review. Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, 165 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1177/0194599820975042

High-risk human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma among non-indigenous and indigenous populations: a systematic review

Past funding

  • 2007 - 2008
    Development of models to study human papillomaviruses and their involvement in non-melanoma skin cancer
    Cancer Council Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Development of an organotypic skin culture model to study human papillomaviruses and their involvement in non-melanoma skin cancer
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2009
    The Role of Human Papillomaviruses in the Development of Prostate Cancer
    Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    The role of human papillomaviruses in the development of prostate cancer
    Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Annika Antonsson is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Is indigenous status, socioeconomic indexes for areas (SEIFA) or remoteness associated with survival in head and neck cancer patients?

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ben Panizza

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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communications@uq.edu.au