
Overview
Background
A/Prof Stephen Johnston is a Reader in Reproduction (40% Teaching; 40% Research and 20% Service) in the School of Environment at the University of Queensland, where he teaches animal reproduction and captive husbandry to Bachelor of Wildlife Science and Science undergraduate and postgraduate students. He is current program coordinator for the Bachelor of Wildlife Science Program. He is also a research affiliate in the School of Veterinary Science. Stephen was trained as a zoologist and specialises in the area of reproductive biology in a broad diversity of species ranging from prawns to tigers but with a major focus on Australian mammals. A/Prof Johnston has published 300 scientific works in basic and applied science disciplines including reproductive anatomy, physiology and behaviour. He was the first person in the world to produce a pouch young following artificial insemination in a marsupial, a task that he and his colleagues have now carried out successfully in the koala, a total of 34 times. Stephen is also a specialist in the cryopreservation of marsupial spermatozoa and in the assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation, including human and domestic animal spermatozoa. A/Prof Johnston’s recent research interests and grant success include studies aimed at a better understanding of the effect of chlamydia on male koala reproduction, heat stress in koalas, sociobiology of koalas, genetic and reproductive management of koalas, wombat captive reproduction, echidna captive breeding, crocodile artificial insemination and prawn aquaculture. He is a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology (2019)
Availability
- Associate Professor Steve Johnston is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Reproductive Biology of Wildlife
The study of fundamental (anatomy, physiology and behaviour) and applied biology of the reproduction of Australian fauna and exotic mammals
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Assessment of male human fertility
Studies centred around the assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation in human reproductive medicine
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Cryopreservation of spermatozoa
A study of the cryopreservation of spermatozoa of vertebrate species
Research impacts
For 25 years, A/Prof Johnston has been the leader in the development of assisted breeding technology in Australian native fauna, with a strong interest in marsupial reproduction. His successful koala artificial breeding technology has been incorporated into State Government Conservation Policy and Legislation. The koala assisted breeding technology, which he developed, is also currently been used by the Queensland Zoo industry for genetic exchange and there are plans to use the technology for the overseas export of koala sperm to Japan and the United States. This work has also received recent acknowledgement n the Koala Expert Panel Final Report to the Queensland Government (2018). He provides expert advice and consultancy to the (1) Zoo Industry - Dreamworld, Australia Zoo, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Taronga Zoo, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Rockhampton Zoo, Perth Zoo, Australian Animals Care and Education, Sea World, Paradise Country, San Diego Zoo, Australian Japan Wildlife Education Conservation Foundation, Japanese Zoo Industry (2) Production Animal Industry - Koorana Crocodile Farm, Ag Force – teacher education programs, Prawn and Aquaculture (DAFFI and CSIRO). He is a regular media commentator on wildlife related issues for TV and radio and has been involved with numerous documentaries on marsupial and monotreme reproduction including “Koala Miracle” by Lyndal Davies (1998) from Rock Wallaby Productions, (which featured his work on the successful artificial insemination of the koala) “Miracle babies” produced by National Geographic Channel (2012) - http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/episodes/koala-dating-game1/ and morerecently, a new documentary “Born in the Wild” produced by Charlotte Hunt-Grubble from Windfall Films on my koala and echidna reproductive research.
Works
Search Professor Steve Johnston’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
DNA fragmentation of human spermatozoa: simple assessment of single‐ and double‐strand DNA breaks and their respective dynamic behavioral response
Tímermans, Ana, Vázquez, Rosana, Otero, Fátima, Gosálvez, Jaime, Johnston, Stephen and Fernández, José Luis (2020). DNA fragmentation of human spermatozoa: simple assessment of single‐ and double‐strand DNA breaks and their respective dynamic behavioral response. Andrology, 8 (5) andr.12819, 1287-1303. doi: 10.1111/andr.12819
2020
Journal Article
Body temperature of free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in south-east Queensland
Adam, D., Johnston, S. D., Beard, L., Nicolson, V., Gaughan, J. B., Lisle, A. T., FitzGibbon, S., Barth, B. J., Gillett, A., Grigg, G. and Ellis, W. (2020). Body temperature of free-ranging koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in south-east Queensland. International Journal of Biometeorology, 64 (8), 1305-1318. doi: 10.1007/s00484-020-01907-y
2020
Journal Article
The incidence and etiology of sperm DNA fragmentation in the ejaculates of males with spinal cord injuries
Vargas-Baquero, Eduardo, Johnston, Stephen, Sánchez-Ramos, Antonio, Arévalo-Martín, Angel, Wilson, Richard and Gosálvez, Jaime (2020). The incidence and etiology of sperm DNA fragmentation in the ejaculates of males with spinal cord injuries. Spinal Cord, 58 (7), 803-810. doi: 10.1038/s41393-020-0426-6
2020
Journal Article
Preliminary evaluation of urinary cytology and running wheel activity to detect oestrus and the effect of daily handling on breeding success of fat-tailed dunnarts Sminthopsis crassicaudata
Swinston, Paige, Johnston, Stephen D., O'Hara, Patricia, Englebright, Robert and Keeley, Tamara (2020). Preliminary evaluation of urinary cytology and running wheel activity to detect oestrus and the effect of daily handling on breeding success of fat-tailed dunnarts Sminthopsis crassicaudata. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 32 (13), 1108-1115. doi: 10.1071/rd20001
2020
Journal Article
Epidemiology of chlamydia-induced reproductive disease in male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from Southeast Queensland, Australia as assessed from penile urethral swabs and semen
Hulse, Lyndal S., Beagley, Kenneth, Ellis, William, Fitzgibbon, Sean, Gillett, Amber, Barth, Ben, Robbins, Amy, Pyne, Michael, Larkin, Rebecca and Johnston, Stephen D. (2020). Epidemiology of chlamydia-induced reproductive disease in male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from Southeast Queensland, Australia as assessed from penile urethral swabs and semen. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 56 (1) 2019-03-062, 82-92. doi: 10.7589/2019-03-062
2019
Journal Article
Co-incubation of spermatozoa with human follicular fluid reduces sperm DNA fragmentation by mitigating DNase activity in the seminal plasma
Dorado-Silva, Monica, Bartolomé-Nebreda, Javier, Sánchez-Martín, Pascual, Johnston, Stephen and Gosálvez, Jaime (2019). Co-incubation of spermatozoa with human follicular fluid reduces sperm DNA fragmentation by mitigating DNase activity in the seminal plasma. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 37 (1), 63-69. doi: 10.1007/s10815-019-01643-2
2019
Journal Article
Individual variation of the masticatory system dominates 3D skull shape in the herbivory-adapted marsupial wombats
Weisbecker, Vera, Guillerme, Thomas, Speck, Cruise, Sherratt, Emma, Abraha, Hyab Mehari, Sharp, Alana C., Terhune, Claire E., Collins, Simon, Johnston, Stephen and Panagiotopoulou, Olga (2019). Individual variation of the masticatory system dominates 3D skull shape in the herbivory-adapted marsupial wombats. Frontiers in Zoology, 16 (1) 41, 41. doi: 10.1186/s12983-019-0338-5
2019
Journal Article
The piRNA response to retroviral invasion of the koala genome
Yu, Tianxiong, Koppetsch, Birgit S, Pagliarani, Sara, Johnston, Stephen, Silverstein, Noah J, Luban, Jeremy, Chappell, Keith, Weng, Zhiping and Theurkauf, William E (2019). The piRNA response to retroviral invasion of the koala genome. Cell, 179 (3), 632-643.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.09.002
2019
Journal Article
Rapid point‐of‐care diagnostics for the detection of Chlamydia pecorum in koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) using loop‐mediated isothermal amplification without nucleic acid purification
Hulse, Lyndal S., McDonald, Sean, Johnston, Stephen D. and Beagley, Kenneth W. (2019). Rapid point‐of‐care diagnostics for the detection of Chlamydia pecorum in koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) using loop‐mediated isothermal amplification without nucleic acid purification. MicrobiologyOpen, 8 (12) e916, e916. doi: 10.1002/mbo3.916
2019
Journal Article
Protamine composition of koala and wombat spermatozoa provides new insights into DNA stability following cryopreservation
Johnston, S. D., López-Fernández, C., Arroyo, F., Roy, R., Holt, W. V. and Gosálvez, J. (2019). Protamine composition of koala and wombat spermatozoa provides new insights into DNA stability following cryopreservation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 31 (10), 1558-1566. doi: 10.1071/rd18512
2019
Journal Article
Kinematic and head morphometric characterisation of spermatozoa from the Brown Caiman (Caiman crocodilus fuscus)
Valverde, Anthony, Madrigal-Valverde, Mónica, Castro-Morales, Olivier, Gadea-Rivas, Arnoldo, Johnston, Stephen and Soler, Carles (2019). Kinematic and head morphometric characterisation of spermatozoa from the Brown Caiman (Caiman crocodilus fuscus). Animal Reproduction Science, 207, 9-20. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.06.011
2019
Conference Publication
Challenges associated with the development and transfer of assisted breeding technology in marsupials and monotremes: lessons from the koala, wombat and short-beaked echidna
Johnston, Stephen (2019). Challenges associated with the development and transfer of assisted breeding technology in marsupials and monotremes: lessons from the koala, wombat and short-beaked echidna. Clayton, VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. doi: 10.1071/rd18113
2019
Journal Article
Modification of crocodile spermatozoa refutes the tenet that post-testicular sperm maturation is restricted to mammals
Nixon, Brett, Johnston, Stephen D., Skerrett-Byrne, David A., Anderson, Amanda L., Stanger, Simone J., Bromfield, Elizabeth G., Martin, Jacinta H., Hansbro, Philip M. and Dun, Matthew D. (2019). Modification of crocodile spermatozoa refutes the tenet that post-testicular sperm maturation is restricted to mammals. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, 18 (3), S59-S76. doi: 10.1074/mcp.RA118.000904
2019
Journal Article
Developing non-invasive methodologies to assess koala population health through detecting Chlamydia from scats
Cristescu, Romane H., Miller, Russell L., Schultz, Anthony J., Hulse, Lyndal, Jaccoud, Damian, Johnston, Stephen, Hanger, Jon, Booth, Rosie and Frère, Céline H. (2019). Developing non-invasive methodologies to assess koala population health through detecting Chlamydia from scats. Molecular Ecology Resources, 19 (4) 1755-0998.12999, 957-969. doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.12999
2019
Book Chapter
Assessment and management of reproduction in Australian monotremes and marsupials
Keeley, Tamara and Johnston, Stephen (2019). Assessment and management of reproduction in Australian monotremes and marsupials. Current therapy in medicine of Australian mammals. (pp. 63-84) edited by Larry Vogelnest and Timothy Portas. Clayton South, VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.
2019
Book Chapter
Using the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) as a case study to illustrate the development of artificial breeding technology in marsupials: An update
Johnston, Stephen D. and Holt, William V. (2019). Using the koala (phascolarctos cinereus) as a case study to illustrate the development of artificial breeding technology in marsupials: An update. Reproductive sciences in animal conservation. (pp. 327-362) Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-23633-5_12
2019
Journal Article
DNA damage and repair in human reproductive cells
García-Rodríguez, Anaís, Gosálvez, Jaime, Agarwal, Ashok, Roy, Rosa and Johnston, Stephen (2019). DNA damage and repair in human reproductive cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20 (1) 31, 31. doi: 10.3390/ijms20010031
2019
Journal Article
Association of polymorphisms in genes coding for antioxidant enzymes and human male infertility
García Rodríguez, Anaís, de la Casa, Moises, Johnston, Stephen, Gosálvez, Jaime and Roy, Rosa (2019). Association of polymorphisms in genes coding for antioxidant enzymes and human male infertility. Annals of Human Genetics, 83 (1), 63-72. doi: 10.1111/ahg.12286
2018
Journal Article
Amphibian sperm chromatin structure and function and its relevance to sperm preservation
Pollock, Kate, Gosálvez, Jaime, López-Fernández, Carmen and Johnston, Stephen D. (2018). Amphibian sperm chromatin structure and function and its relevance to sperm preservation. Journal of Herpetology, 52 (4), 486-491. doi: 10.1670/17-163
2018
Journal Article
Evaluating the impact of moulting and chilled storage of spermatophores on the integrity of plasma membrane, acrosome and DNA of black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) spermatozoa
Feng, Tianyi, Paterson, Brian, Coman, Greg and Johnston, Stephen (2018). Evaluating the impact of moulting and chilled storage of spermatophores on the integrity of plasma membrane, acrosome and DNA of black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) spermatozoa. Aquaculture Research, 50 (1), 226-235. doi: 10.1111/are.13888
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Steve Johnston is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Monotreme and Marsupial Accessory Glands
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri, Dr Taylor Pini
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel methods for improving in vitro production of bovine embryos
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andres Gambini
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Doctor Philosophy
The Development and Application of Assisted Breeding Technology for theConservation of Avian wildlife
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bob Doneley, Dr Taylor Pini
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Doctor Philosophy
Hatching out the secrets of female monotreme reproductive biology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri, Dr Taylor Pini
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel strategies for marsupial genetic preservation and in vitro embryo production
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Andres Gambini
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
New insights into the reproductive physiology of female short-beaked echidnas
Principal Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of Chlamydia on male koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) fertility
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of heat stress on testicular thermoregulation in the bovine
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The establishment of a Living Genome Resource Bank utilising genetic analysis and assisted breeding technology: a case study on the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Spermatogenesis and Sperm Assessment in the Black Tiger Prawn, Penaeus monodon
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
The use of urine as a tool to analyse the reproductive function of captive female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
Principal Advisor
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2018
Master Philosophy
The assessment of reproductive function, behaviour and adrenal physiology in captive male southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
Principal Advisor
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
New insights into the Reproductive Physiology and Management of the Female Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus): Factors affecting the control of the oestrous cycle
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Stephen Anderson
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
The Novel Reproductive Biology of Flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.): Implications for the Development of Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Principal Advisor
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2012
Master Philosophy
Chlamydial Disease of the Male Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Reproductive Tract
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Refinement of Artificial Insemination Program in the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) with an Emphasis on Male Factor Fertility
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Functional Approaches to the Development of Koala Sperm Cryopreservation Techniques
Principal Advisor
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2005
Master Philosophy
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE MALE AND FEMALE COMMON WOMBAT, Vombatus ursinus: STUDIES TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARTIFICAL INSEMINATION PROTOCAL
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the koala retrovirus epidemic: genetic diversity, transmission and immunogenicity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Keith Chappell
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Further insights into the pathogenesis of Chlamydiosis and characterisation of immune cells in the reproductive tract of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The physiological and behavioural adaptations in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in response to climate change
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bill Ellis
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE MALE AUSTRALIAN PARROT An emphasis on the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)
Associate Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
The behavioural biology and management of southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) in captivity
Associate Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The behaviour and reproductive biology of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
Associate Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
The identification of factors responsible for boar testicular hypertrophy following neonatal hemicastration
Associate Advisor
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2008
Master Philosophy
Longitudinal Changes in Testosterone Secretion and Agressive Behaviour and the Use of a GnRH Agonist in Male Australian Sea Lions, Neophoca Cinerea
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Steve Johnston directly for media enquiries about:
- Animal reproduction
- Bilbies
- Breeding technologies - for animals
- Captive breeding programs
- Crocodile reproduction
- Cryopreservation - animal genetics
- Embryo transfer - animals
- Exotic animals - reproductive biology
- IVF - for animals
- Kangaroos
- Koalas
- Koalas - reproductive biology
- Reproduction in animals
- Rhinos
- Spermatology - animal studies
- Wildlife reproductive biology
- Wombats
- Zoo captive breeding
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