Dr Lee McMichael
Dr

Lee McMichael

Email: 

Background

My research has focused on molecular studies of pathogens, disease syndromes and health of Australian wildlife and domestic species. Particular research interests include the study of emerging and novel viral infections and syndromes of Australian bat species, being awarded the School of Veterinary Science, Award for Outstanding Contribution to Research in 2023. I am passionate about my undergraduate teaching in the discipline of animal genetics and genomics and my supervision and mentorship of Higher Degree Research students, being awarded the School of Veterinary Science, Helen Keates Developing Teacher Award, and Higher Degree Research Supervision Excellence Award in 2022. I mentor my students in developing their molecular biology skills in a diverse range of project areas, from molecular detection and characterisation of pathogens with zoonotic potential in wildlife and companion animals, characterisation of novel viruses of wildlife with potential wildlife health and conservation impacts and gene expression analyses in disease of companion animals.

Availability

Dr Lee McMichael is:
Not available for supervision

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Veterinary epidemiology Veterinary sciences Veterinary virology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Overview

    Dr McMichael's research focuses on molecular studies of emerging viruses with veterinary health, zoonotic and conservation implications; investigation of health biomarkers and gene expression analyses in disease of companion animals with translational outputs; and threatening disease syndromes of Australian wildlife species with a particular focus on threatened Australian bat species.

  • Pathogenic threats to Australian Pteropus (flying fox) species

    Generously supported by the Australian Bat Society, the Keith Mackie Lucas student scholarship, SVS Philanthropic Funds, and in collaboration with Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory.

  • Tick paralysis in the endangered Spectacled flying fox

    Generously supported by NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) and the Department of Environment and Science Threatened Species Research Grant Program, in collaboration with the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI) and the Tolga Bat Hospital.

  • Tick borne pathogens

    Generously supported by Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, in collaboration with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.

  • Cleft palate syndrome in the endangered Spectacled flying fox

    Generously supported by Wildlife Health Australia (WHA), Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholar Program, and in collaboration with the Tolga Bat Hospital, James Cook University and the University of Missouri.

Research impacts

Dr McMichael's research into the epidemiology of Hendra virus in its Australian reservoir flying fox host has contributed to establishing risk management policies at Queensland state government levels. Her continuing research into emerging viruses in Australian bats has lead to the discovery and characterision a number of novel viruses with potential wildlife health and conservation implications. Dr McMichael works collaboratively with Biosecurity Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries), and several Australian universities, inclusive of Griffith University, University of Southern Queensland, James Cook University and Macquarie University as part of her research into emerging infectious diseases. Dr McMichael also has ongoing collaborations with wildlife research organisations, in particular the University of Queensland Hidden Vale Teaching and Research Centre and the Tolga Bat Rehabilitation and Research Organisation, in undertaking conservation orientated research in Australian endangered species, particularly the mahogany glider and spectacled flying fox.

Search Professor Lee McMichael’s works on UQ eSpace

58 works between 1999 and 2024
All (58) Journal Article (35) Conference Publication (18) Other Outputs (5)

41 - 58 of 58 works

2024

Journal Article

A novel RT‐qPCR health assay reveals differential expression of stress and immunoregulatory genes between the seasonal migrations of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Linsky, Jacob M. J., Dunlop, Rebecca A. and McMichael, Lee A. (2024). A novel RT‐qPCR health assay reveals differential expression of stress and immunoregulatory genes between the seasonal migrations of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Molecular Ecology, 33 (2) e17209, e17209. doi: 10.1111/mec.17209

A novel RT‐qPCR health assay reveals differential expression of stress and immunoregulatory genes between the seasonal migrations of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

2023

Other Outputs

Data for: A novel RT-qPCR health assay reveals differential expression of stress and immunoregulatory genes between the seasonal migrations of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Linsky, Jake, Linsky, Jacob and McMichael, Lee (2023). Data for: A novel RT-qPCR health assay reveals differential expression of stress and immunoregulatory genes between the seasonal migrations of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/70000a6

Data for: A novel RT-qPCR health assay reveals differential expression of stress and immunoregulatory genes between the seasonal migrations of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

2023

Other Outputs

Dugong Microsatellite and SNP Genotypes

McGowan, Alexandra, Seddon, Jenny, McMichael, Lee, Lanyon, Janet, McCarthy, Morgan Lee and Ooi, Vicky (2023). Dugong Microsatellite and SNP Genotypes. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/6735890

Dugong Microsatellite and SNP Genotypes

2023

Conference Publication

Love of the night .. bats take flight

McMichael, Lee (2023). Love of the night .. bats take flight. Australian Biospecimen Network Association, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 18-20 October 2023.

Love of the night .. bats take flight

2023

Conference Publication

Threats to the endangered spectacled flying fox of wet tropics world heritage area

McMichael, Lee (2023). Threats to the endangered spectacled flying fox of wet tropics world heritage area. Wildlife Disease Association Australasian Section 2023 Conference, Bynoe, NT, Australia, 4 - 8 September 2023.

Threats to the endangered spectacled flying fox of wet tropics world heritage area

2017

Journal Article

Lessons learned from the virus indexing of Musa germplasm: insights from a multiyear collaboration

De Clerck, C., Crew, K., Van den Houwe, I., McMichael, L., Berhal, C., Lassois, L., Haissam Jijakli, M., Roux, N., Thomas, J. and Massart, S. (2017). Lessons learned from the virus indexing of Musa germplasm: insights from a multiyear collaboration. Annals of Applied Biology, 17 (1), 15-27. doi: 10.1111/aab.12353

Lessons learned from the virus indexing of Musa germplasm: insights from a multiyear collaboration

2008

Conference Publication

Detection and characterisation of viruses from sweet potato in Papua New Guinea and Queensland, Australia

McMichael, Lee, Coleman, Eric, Spence, David and Persley, Denis (2008). Detection and characterisation of viruses from sweet potato in Papua New Guinea and Queensland, Australia. 8th Australasian Plant Virology workshop, Lake Okataina, Rotorua, New Zealand, 19-22 November 2008.

Detection and characterisation of viruses from sweet potato in Papua New Guinea and Queensland, Australia

2007

Conference Publication

Tospoviruses infecting capsicum and tomato in Australia

Sharman, M., Persley, D., McMichael, L. and Thomas, J. (2007). Tospoviruses infecting capsicum and tomato in Australia. VIII International Symposium on Thysanoptera and Tospoviruses, Pacific Grove, California, September 11-15, 2005. TUCSON: UNIV ARIZONA. doi: 10.1673/031.007.2801

Tospoviruses infecting capsicum and tomato in Australia

2005

Journal Article

Cucumber mosaic virus infection of kava (Piper methysticum) and implications for cultural control of kava dieback disease

Davis, RI, Lomavatu-Fong, MF, McMichael, LA, Ruabete, TK, Kumar, S and Turaganivalu, U (2005). Cucumber mosaic virus infection of kava (Piper methysticum) and implications for cultural control of kava dieback disease. Australasian Plant Pathology, 34 (3), 377-384. doi: 10.1071/AP05050

Cucumber mosaic virus infection of kava (Piper methysticum) and implications for cultural control of kava dieback disease

2003

Journal Article

Iris yellow spot virus found infecting onions in three Australian states

Coutts, BA, McMichael, LA, Tesoriero, L, Rodoni, BC, Wilson, CR, Wilson, AJ, Persley, DM and Jones, RAC (2003). Iris yellow spot virus found infecting onions in three Australian states. Australasian Plant Pathology, 32 (4), 555-557. doi: 10.1071/AP03060

Iris yellow spot virus found infecting onions in three Australian states

2002

Journal Article

A new tospovirus serogroup IV species infecting capsicum and tomato in Queensland, Australia

McMichael, LA, Persley, DM and Thomas, JE (2002). A new tospovirus serogroup IV species infecting capsicum and tomato in Queensland, Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 31 (3), 231-239. doi: 10.1071/AP02016

A new tospovirus serogroup IV species infecting capsicum and tomato in Queensland, Australia

2002

Journal Article

Plant virus surveys on the island of New Guinea and adjacent regions of northern Australia

Davis, RI, Thomas, JE, McMichael, LA, Dietzgen, RG, Callaghan, B, James, AP, Gunua, TG and Rahamma, S (2002). Plant virus surveys on the island of New Guinea and adjacent regions of northern Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 31 (4), 385-390. doi: 10.1071/AP02047

Plant virus surveys on the island of New Guinea and adjacent regions of northern Australia

2001

Conference Publication

Capsicum chlorosis tospovirus, a tospovirus serogroup IV species infecting capsicum and tomato in Queensland, Australia

McMichael, Lee , Persley, Denis and Thomas, John (2001). Capsicum chlorosis tospovirus, a tospovirus serogroup IV species infecting capsicum and tomato in Queensland, Australia. In: 13th Biennial Conference of the Australasian plant Pathology Society, Cairns, Queensland, (). 24-27 September 2001.

Capsicum chlorosis tospovirus, a tospovirus serogroup IV species infecting capsicum and tomato in Queensland, Australia

2001

Journal Article

Detection of Peanut stripe virus in post-entry quarantine in Queensland

Persley, DM, McMichael, L and Spence, D (2001). Detection of Peanut stripe virus in post-entry quarantine in Queensland. Australasian Plant Pathology, 30 (4), 377-377. doi: 10.1071/AP01051

Detection of Peanut stripe virus in post-entry quarantine in Queensland

2000

Journal Article

Genetic diversity among banana streak virus isolates from Australia (vol 90, pg 921, 2000)

Geering, ADW, McMichael, LA, Dietzgen, RG and Thomas, JE (2000). Genetic diversity among banana streak virus isolates from Australia (vol 90, pg 921, 2000). PHYTOPATHOLOGY, 90 (11), 1295-1295.

Genetic diversity among banana streak virus isolates from Australia (vol 90, pg 921, 2000)

2000

Journal Article

Genetic diversity among Banana streak virus isolates from Australia

Geering, A. D. W., McMichael, L. A., Dietzgen, R. G. and Thomas, J. E. (2000). Genetic diversity among Banana streak virus isolates from Australia. Phytopathology, 90 (8), 921-927. doi: 10.1094/PHYTO.2000.90.8.921

Genetic diversity among Banana streak virus isolates from Australia

2000

Journal Article

The first record of a serotype IV tospovirus in Australia

McMichael, LA, Persley, DM and Thomas, JE (2000). The first record of a serotype IV tospovirus in Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology, 29 (2), 149-149. doi: 10.1071/AP00023

The first record of a serotype IV tospovirus in Australia

1999

Conference Publication

Promoters from Australian Banana streak Badna-Virus (BSV) isolates drive transgene expression in Banana, Sugarcane and Tobacco

Remans, T., Schenk, P. M., Elliot, A. R., Sagi, L., Geering, A. D., McMichael, L. A., Thomas, J.E., Swennen, R. L., Grof, C. P., Manners, J. and Ebert, P.R. (1999). Promoters from Australian Banana streak Badna-Virus (BSV) isolates drive transgene expression in Banana, Sugarcane and Tobacco. ComBio 99, Conrad Jupiters, Gold Coast, 27-30 September, 1999. Kent Town, SA: Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Promoters from Australian Banana streak Badna-Virus (BSV) isolates drive transgene expression in Banana, Sugarcane and Tobacco

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Diagnosis of stress-levels in koalas across different habitats with a species-specific enzyme immunoassay kit
    Community Sustainability Action - Qld Dep Env Science
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Saving the endangered Spectacled flying fox from annual tick paralysis mortality events:
    Threatened Species Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Innate immune response to Ross River virus infection in horses
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Reduction in tick paralysis mortalities of the endangered spectacled flying fox
    WIRES National Grant Program
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    Combination immunotherapies for the treatment of solid canine cancers
    Canine Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Epidemiology of retroviral infections of flying-foxes ...does infection predispose flying-foxes to infection and excretion of Hendra virus?
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Investigation of causal etiologies of cleft palate neonatal mass mortality events of the endangered Spectacled flying-fox in Far North Queensland's Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
    Annandale Bequest
    Open grant

Availability

Dr Lee McMichael is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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