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Dr Rhys Parry
Dr

Rhys Parry

Email: 

Overview

Background

I am a molecular virologist and postdoctoral research fellow in Prof. Alexander Khromykh's laboratory, specialising in virus evolution, virus bioinformatics, and reverse genetics.

My research journey began with a Bachelor of Science, First Class Honours in Molecular Biology from The University of Queensland (2015). I then pursued my PhD (2016-2021) at UQ's School of Biology under Prof. Sassan Asgari, where I analysed the virome and microbiome of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, focusing on their interactions with Wolbachia pipientis infections.

Since 2021, I have been a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Alexander Khromykh's RNA Virology lab. Here, I contributed to developing the SARS-CoV-2 circular polymerase extension reaction (CPER) reverse-genetics methodology. As a physical containment 3 (PC3) researcher, I examine the virological properties of Flaviviruses and SARS-CoV-2 viruses under stringent PC3 conditions. Recently, with support from Therapeutic Innovation Australia and the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, I have been utilising the Kunjin virus replicon system as a versatile and durable self-replicating RNA platform for vaccine and protein replacement therapy.

Beyond my virology work, I actively provide bioinformatics and phylogenetics support within UQ and internationally. Let's connect if you’re interested in collaborating on differential gene and ncRNA expression analysis, ATAC-sequencing, ancestral state prediction, virus discovery, or microbiome analyses.

I am also on the organising committee of MicroSeq (2023-2024), an Australasian Microbiology conference focused on microbial sequencing promoting PhD students and early career researchers. Additionally, I am an incoming Ex Officio member of the Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) Queensland branch.

Availability

Dr Rhys Parry is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

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

Research interests

  • Development of self-replicating RNA vaccines and therapeutics.

  • Flavivirus evolution and diversity.

  • Interferon-antagonistic activities of amino acid residues in the West Nile virus capsid protein identified by deep mutational scanning.

Research impacts

As a COVID-19 scientist, I am actively combating misinformation about COVID-19 research through academic channels and providing expert analysis to independent journalism organisations engaged in Fact-Checking. Some examples include COVID-19 vaccine misinformation examined by the Australian Associated Press and Health Feedback, an organisation contracted by Facebook to verify misinformation.

Works

Search Professor Rhys Parry’s works on UQ eSpace

50 works between 2018 and 2025

1 - 20 of 50 works

2025

Journal Article

Skin Patch Delivery of a SARS-CoV-2 Spike DNA Vaccine Produces Broad Neutralising Antibody Responses

McMillan, Christopher L.D., Corner, Andrea V., Wijesundara, Danushka K., Choo, Jovin J.Y., Pittayakhajonwut, Daraporn, Poredi, Indrajeet, Parry, Rhys H., Bindra, Guneet K., Bruce, Kimberley, Khromykh, Alexander A., Fernando, Germain J.P., Dapremont, Laurent, Young, Paul R. and Muller, David A. (2025). Skin Patch Delivery of a SARS-CoV-2 Spike DNA Vaccine Produces Broad Neutralising Antibody Responses. Heliyon e42533, e42533. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42533

Skin Patch Delivery of a SARS-CoV-2 Spike DNA Vaccine Produces Broad Neutralising Antibody Responses

2025

Journal Article

Henipavirus in Northern Short-Tailed Shrew, Alabama, USA

Parry, Rhys H., Yamada, KayLene Y.H., Hood, Wendy R., Zhao, Yang, Lu, Jinlong Y., Seluanov, Andrei, Gorbunova, Vera, Modhiran, Naphak, Watterson, Daniel and Isaacs, Ariel (2025). Henipavirus in Northern Short-Tailed Shrew, Alabama, USA. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 31 (2). doi: 10.3201/eid3102.241155

Henipavirus in Northern Short-Tailed Shrew, Alabama, USA

2024

Journal Article

No evidence that mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern derive from homologous fragments in gut microbiota

Parry, Rhys H., Lytras, Spyros, Petrone, Mary E., Wille, Michelle, Crits-Christoph, Alexander, Gifford, Robert J., Saito, Akatsuki, Smura, Teemu and Peacock, Thomas P. (2024). No evidence that mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern derive from homologous fragments in gut microbiota. Journal of Virology, 98 (12), 1-2. doi: 10.1128/jvi.01468-24

No evidence that mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern derive from homologous fragments in gut microbiota

2024

Journal Article

Synthetic recovery of Yada Yada virus expands insect-specific alphavirus knowledge and facilitates production of chimeric viruses

Bell, Mikaela G., Parry, Rhys H., Lee, Tricia S. E., Habarugira, Gervais, McMahon, Isabella E., Thompson, Madeline A., Modhiran, Naphak, Watterson, Daniel, Batovska, Jana, Lynch, Stacey E., Hall, Roy A., Harrison, Jessica J. and Hobson-Peters, Jody (2024). Synthetic recovery of Yada Yada virus expands insect-specific alphavirus knowledge and facilitates production of chimeric viruses. npj Viruses, 2 (1) 45, 1-14. doi: 10.1038/s44298-024-00052-2

Synthetic recovery of Yada Yada virus expands insect-specific alphavirus knowledge and facilitates production of chimeric viruses

2024

Journal Article

Diverse RNA viruses of parasitic nematodes can elicit antibody responses in vertebrate hosts

Quek, Shannon, Hadermann, Amber, Wu, Yang, De Coninck, Lander, Hegde, Shrilakshmi, Boucher, Jordan R., Cresswell, Jessica, Foreman, Ella, Steven, Andrew, LaCourse, E. James, Ward, Stephen A., Wanji, Samuel, Hughes, Grant L., Patterson, Edward I., Wagstaff, Simon C., Turner, Joseph D., Parry, Rhys H., Kohl, Alain, Heinz, Eva, Otabil, Kenneth Bentum, Matthijnssens, Jelle, Colebunders, Robert and Taylor, Mark J. (2024). Diverse RNA viruses of parasitic nematodes can elicit antibody responses in vertebrate hosts. Nature Microbiology, 9 (10), 2488-2505. doi: 10.1038/s41564-024-01796-6

Diverse RNA viruses of parasitic nematodes can elicit antibody responses in vertebrate hosts

2024

Journal Article

Detection of Dengue Virus 1 and Mammalian Orthoreovirus 3, with Novel Reassortments, in a South African Family Returning from Thailand, 2017

Jansen van Vuren, Petrus, Parry, Rhys H. and Pawęska, Janusz T. (2024). Detection of Dengue Virus 1 and Mammalian Orthoreovirus 3, with Novel Reassortments, in a South African Family Returning from Thailand, 2017. Viruses, 16 (8) 1274, 1274. doi: 10.3390/v16081274

Detection of Dengue Virus 1 and Mammalian Orthoreovirus 3, with Novel Reassortments, in a South African Family Returning from Thailand, 2017

2024

Journal Article

A ~40-kb flavi-like virus does not encode a known error-correcting mechanism

Petrone, Mary E., Grove, Joe, Mélade, Julien, Mifsud, Jonathon C. O., Parry, Rhys H., Marzinelli, Ezequiel M. and Holmes, Edward C. (2024). A ~40-kb flavi-like virus does not encode a known error-correcting mechanism. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (30) e2403805121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2403805121

A ~40-kb flavi-like virus does not encode a known error-correcting mechanism

2024

Journal Article

The <scp>RNA</scp> interference response to alphanodavirus replication in <i>Phlebotomus papatasi</i> sand fly cells

Alexander, Akira J. T., Parry, Rhys H., Ratinier, Maxime, Arnaud, Frédérick and Kohl, Alain (2024). The RNA interference response to alphanodavirus replication in Phlebotomus papatasi sand fly cells. Insect Molecular Biology, 33 (6), 687-696. doi: 10.1111/imb.12932

The <scp>RNA</scp> interference response to alphanodavirus replication in <i>Phlebotomus papatasi</i> sand fly cells

2024

Journal Article

Multiple novel caliciviruses identified from stoats (Mustela erminea) in the United Kingdom

Hinds, Joseph, Apaa, Ternenge, Parry, Rhys H., Withers, Amy J., MacKenzie, Laura, Staley, Ceri, Morrison, Joshua, Bennett, Malcolm, Bremner-Harrison, Samantha, Chadwick, Elizabeth A., Hailer, Frank, Harrison, Stephen W.R., Lambin, Xavier, Loose, Mathew, Mathews, Fiona, Tarlinton, Rachael and Blanchard, Adam (2024). Multiple novel caliciviruses identified from stoats (Mustela erminea) in the United Kingdom. Access Microbiology, 6 (7), 1-8. doi: 10.1099/acmi.0.000813.v4

Multiple novel caliciviruses identified from stoats (Mustela erminea) in the United Kingdom

2024

Journal Article

Xinyang flavivirus, from Haemaphysalis flava ticks in Henan Province, China, defines a basal, likely tick-only Orthoflavivirus clade

Wang, Lan-Lan, Cheng, Qia, Newton, Natalee D., Wolfinger, Michael T., Morgan, Mahali S., Slonchak, Andrii, Khromykh, Alexander A., Cheng, Tian-Yin and Parry, Rhys H. (2024). Xinyang flavivirus, from Haemaphysalis flava ticks in Henan Province, China, defines a basal, likely tick-only Orthoflavivirus clade. Journal of General Virology, 105 (5) 001991. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001991

Xinyang flavivirus, from Haemaphysalis flava ticks in Henan Province, China, defines a basal, likely tick-only Orthoflavivirus clade

2024

Journal Article

A novel papillomavirus in a New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) with oral lesions

Mifsud, Jonathon C. O., Hall, Jane, Van Brussel, Kate, Rose, Karrie, Parry, Rhys H., Holmes, Edward C. and Harvey, Erin (2024). A novel papillomavirus in a New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) with oral lesions. npj Viruses, 2 (1) 10, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s44298-024-00020-w

A novel papillomavirus in a New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) with oral lesions

2024

Journal Article

Dicer-2 mutations in Aedes aegypti cells lead to a diminished antiviral function against Rift Valley fever virus and Bunyamwera virus infection

Dornbusch, Susann, Reuter, Melinda, Parry, Rhys H., Stern, Michael, Becker, Stefanie C. and Schnettler, Esther (2024). Dicer-2 mutations in Aedes aegypti cells lead to a diminished antiviral function against Rift Valley fever virus and Bunyamwera virus infection. Journal of General Virology, 105 (11) 002046. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.002046

Dicer-2 mutations in Aedes aegypti cells lead to a diminished antiviral function against Rift Valley fever virus and Bunyamwera virus infection

2023

Journal Article

A novel tamanavirus (Flaviviridae) of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) from the UK

Parry, Rhys H., Slonchak, Andrii, Campbell, Lewis J., Newton, Natalee D., Debat, Humberto J., Gifford, Robert J. and Khromykh, Alexander A. (2023). A novel tamanavirus (Flaviviridae) of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) from the UK. Journal of General Virology, 104 (12) 001927, 1-12. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001927

A novel tamanavirus (Flaviviridae) of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) from the UK

2023

Journal Article

The role of N-glycosylation in spike antigenicity for the SARS-CoV-2 gamma variant

Pegg, Cassandra L., Modhiran, Naphak, Parry, Rhys H., Liang, Benjamin, Amarilla, Alberto A., Khromykh, Alexander A., Burr, Lucy, Young, Paul R., Chappell, Keith, Schulz, Benjamin L. and Watterson, Daniel (2023). The role of N-glycosylation in spike antigenicity for the SARS-CoV-2 gamma variant. Glycobiology, 34 (2) cwad097, 1-13. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwad097

The role of N-glycosylation in spike antigenicity for the SARS-CoV-2 gamma variant

2023

Journal Article

SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.5 and XBB variants have increased neurotropic potential over BA.1 in K18-hACE2 mice and human brain organoids

Stewart, Romal, Yan, Kexin, Ellis, Sevannah A., Bishop, Cameron R., Dumenil, Troy, Tang, Bing, Nguyen, Wilson, Larcher, Thibaut, Parry, Rhys, Sng, Julian De Jun, Khromykh, Alexander A., Sullivan, Robert K. P., Lor, Mary, Meunier, Frédéric A., Rawle, Daniel J. and Suhrbier, Andreas (2023). SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.5 and XBB variants have increased neurotropic potential over BA.1 in K18-hACE2 mice and human brain organoids. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14 1320856, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1320856

SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.5 and XBB variants have increased neurotropic potential over BA.1 in K18-hACE2 mice and human brain organoids

2023

Journal Article

Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology

Aguado, Julio, Amarilla, Alberto A., Taherian Fard, Atefeh, Albornoz, Eduardo A., Tyshkovskiy, Alexander, Schwabenland, Marius, Chaggar, Harman K., Modhiran, Naphak, Gómez-Inclán, Cecilia, Javed, Ibrahim, Baradar, Alireza A., Liang, Benjamin, Peng, Lianli, Dharmaratne, Malindrie, Pietrogrande, Giovanni, Padmanabhan, Pranesh, Freney, Morgan E., Parry, Rhys, Sng, Julian D. J., Isaacs, Ariel, Khromykh, Alexander A., Valenzuela Nieto, Guillermo, Rojas-Fernandez, Alejandro, Davis, Thomas P., Prinz, Marco, Bengsch, Bertram, Gladyshev, Vadim N., Woodruff, Trent M., Mar, Jessica C. ... Wolvetang, Ernst J. (2023). Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology. Nature Aging, 3 (12), 1561-1575. doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00519-6

Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology

2023

Journal Article

Evidence for an ancient aquatic origin of the RNA viral order Articulavirales

Petrone, Mary E., Parry, Rhys, Mifsud, Jonathon C. O., Van Brussel, Kate, Vorhees, Ian, Richards, Zoe T. and Holmes, Edward C. (2023). Evidence for an ancient aquatic origin of the RNA viral order Articulavirales. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (45) e2310529120, 1-10. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2310529120

Evidence for an ancient aquatic origin of the RNA viral order Articulavirales

2023

Journal Article

Egg protein profile and dynamics during embryogenesis in Haemaphysalis flava ticks

Cheng, Rong, Li, Dan, Duan, De-yong, Parry, Rhys, Cheng, Tian-yin and Liu, Lei (2023). Egg protein profile and dynamics during embryogenesis in Haemaphysalis flava ticks. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 14 (4) 102180, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102180

Egg protein profile and dynamics during embryogenesis in Haemaphysalis flava ticks

2023

Journal Article

Fluid Optimisation in Emergency Laparotomy (FLO-ELA) Trial: study protocol for a multi-centre randomised trial of cardiac output-guided fluid therapy compared to usual care in patients undergoing major emergency gastrointestinal surgery

Edwards, Mark R., Forbes, Gordon, Walker, Neil, Morton, Dion G., Mythen, Monty G., Murray, Dave, Anderson, Iain, Mihaylova, Borislava, Thomson, Ann, Taylor, Matt, Hollyman, Marianne, Phillips, Rachel, Young, Keith, Kahan, Brennan C., Pearse, Rupert M., Grocott, Michael P. W., Skubala, Alexandra, Tapley, Patrick, Kellett, Suzanne, Bolger, Clare, Burnish, Rachel, Collings, Nikki, Cumpstey, Andrew, Wong, Hannah, Rehnberg, Vic, Lees, Jessica, Salmon, Karen, Wee, Naomi, Harrison, Sarah ... Brennan, Christopher (2023). Fluid Optimisation in Emergency Laparotomy (FLO-ELA) Trial: study protocol for a multi-centre randomised trial of cardiac output-guided fluid therapy compared to usual care in patients undergoing major emergency gastrointestinal surgery. Trials, 24 (1) 313, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07275-3

Fluid Optimisation in Emergency Laparotomy (FLO-ELA) Trial: study protocol for a multi-centre randomised trial of cardiac output-guided fluid therapy compared to usual care in patients undergoing major emergency gastrointestinal surgery

2023

Journal Article

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”

Speck, Peter, Mackenzie, Jason, Bull, Rowena A., Slobedman, Barry, Drummer, Heidi, Fraser, Johanna, Herrero, Lara, Helbig, Karla, Londrigan, Sarah, Moseley, Gregory, Prow, Natalie, Hansman, Grant, Edwards, Robert, Ahlenstiel, Chantelle, Abendroth, Allison, Tscharke, David, Hobson-Peters, Jody, Kriiger-Loterio, Robson, Parry, Rhys, Marsh, Glenn, Harding, Emma, Jacques, David A., Gartner, Matthew J., Lee, Wen Shi, McAuley, Julie, Vaz, Paola, Sainsbury, Frank, Tate, Michelle D., Sinclair, Jane ... Young, Paul (2023). Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”. Journal of Virology, 97 (5), e0045123. doi: 10.1128/jvi.00451-23

Statement in Support of: “Virology under the Microscope—a Call for Rational Discourse”

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Lost in translation: why flaviviruses induce cleavage of tRNAs
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Broad-spectrum vaccine design for flaviviruses and henipaviruses
    NHMRC MRFF EMCR - Early to Mid-Career Researchers
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Rhys Parry is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Rhys Parry directly for media enquiries about:

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Virology
  • Virus evolution

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au