
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
Fields of research
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
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Development of self-replicating RNA vaccines and therapeutics.
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Flavivirus evolution and diversity.
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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
2020
Journal Article
Transcription profile and genomic variation of Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) in Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle
Etebari, Kayvan, Parry, Rhys, Beltran, Marie Joy B. and Furlong, Michael J. (2020). Transcription profile and genomic variation of Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) in Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle. Journal of Virology, 94 (22) e01097-20, 1-18. doi: 10.1128/jvi.01097-20
2020
Journal Article
Sequencing of historical isolates, k‐mer mining and high serological cross‐reactivity with Ross River virus argue against the presence of Getah virus in Australia
Rawle, Daniel J., Nguyen, Wilson, Dumenil, Troy, Parry, Rhys, Warrilow, David, Tang, Bing, Le, Thuy T., Slonchak, Andrii, Khromykh, Alexander A., Lutzky, Viviana P., Yan, Kexin and Suhrbier, Andreas (2020). Sequencing of historical isolates, k‐mer mining and high serological cross‐reactivity with Ross River virus argue against the presence of Getah virus in Australia. Pathogens, 9 (10) 848, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/pathogens9100848
2020
Journal Article
Divergent influenza-like viruses of amphibians and fish support an ancient evolutionary association
Parry, Rhys, Wille, Michelle, Turnbull, Olivia M. H., Geoghegan, Jemma L. and Holmes, Edward C. (2020). Divergent influenza-like viruses of amphibians and fish support an ancient evolutionary association. Viruses, 12 (9) 1042, 1042. doi: 10.3390/v12091042
2020
Journal Article
Viral CpG deficiency provides no evidence that dogs were intermediate hosts for SARS-CoV-2
Pollock, David D., Castoe, Todd A., Perry, Blair W., Lytras, Spyros, Wade, Kristen J., Robertson, David L., Holmes, Edward C., Boni, Maciej F., Kosakovsky Pond, Sergei L., Parry, Rhys, Carlton, Elizabeth J., Wood, James L. N., Pennings, Pleuni S. and Goldstein, Richard A. (2020). Viral CpG deficiency provides no evidence that dogs were intermediate hosts for SARS-CoV-2. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 37 (9), 2706-2710. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msaa178
2020
Journal Article
Identification and RNAi profile of a novel iflavirus infecting Senegalese Aedes vexans arabiensis mosquitoes
Parry, Rhys, Naccache, Fanny, Ndiaye, El Hadji, Fall, Gamou, Castelli, Ilaria, Lühken, Renke, Medlock, Jolyon, Cull, Benjamin, Hesson, Jenny C., Montarsi, Fabrizio, Failloux, Anna-Bella, Kohl, Alain, Schnettler, Esther, Diallo, Mawlouth, Asgari, Sassan, Dietrich, Isabelle and Becker, Stefanie C. (2020). Identification and RNAi profile of a novel iflavirus infecting Senegalese Aedes vexans arabiensis mosquitoes. Viruses, 12 (4) 440, 440. doi: 10.3390/v12040440
2020
Journal Article
Wolbachia endosymbiont of the horn fly Haematobia irritans irritans: a supergroup A strain with multiple horizontally acquired cytoplasmic incompatibility genes
Madhav, Mukund, Parry, Rhys, Morgan, Jess A. T., James, Peter and Asgari, Sassan (2020). Wolbachia endosymbiont of the horn fly Haematobia irritans irritans: a supergroup A strain with multiple horizontally acquired cytoplasmic incompatibility genes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 86 (6) e02589. doi: 10.1128/aem.02589-19
2019
Journal Article
Effect of Wolbachia wAlbB on a positive-sense RNA negev-like virus: a novel virus persistently infecting Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and cells
Bishop, Cameron, Parry, Rhys and Asgari, Sassan (2019). Effect of Wolbachia wAlbB on a positive-sense RNA negev-like virus: a novel virus persistently infecting Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and cells. Journal of General Virology, 101 (2) 001361, 216-225. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001361
2019
Journal Article
Discovery of novel crustacean and cephalopod flaviviruses: insights into evolution and circulation of flaviviruses between marine invertebrate and vertebrate hosts
Parry, Rhys and Asgari, Sassan (2019). Discovery of novel crustacean and cephalopod flaviviruses: insights into evolution and circulation of flaviviruses between marine invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Journal of Virology, 93 (14) e00432. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00432-19
2019
Journal Article
Density-dependent enhanced replication of a densovirus in Wolbachia-infected Aedes cells is associated with production of piRNAs and higher virus-derived siRNAs
Parry, Rhys, Bishop, Cameron, De Hayr, Lachlan and Asgari, Sassan (2019). Density-dependent enhanced replication of a densovirus in Wolbachia-infected Aedes cells is associated with production of piRNAs and higher virus-derived siRNAs. Virology, 528, 89-100. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.12.006
2018
Journal Article
Aedes Anphevirus: an insect-specific virus distributed worldwide in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that has complex interplays with Wolbachia and dengue virus infection in cells
Parry, Rhys and Asgari, Sassan (2018). Aedes Anphevirus: an insect-specific virus distributed worldwide in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that has complex interplays with Wolbachia and dengue virus infection in cells. Journal of Virology, 92 (17) e00224-18, JVI.00224-18. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00224-18
2018
Journal Article
Mapping the virome in wild-caught Aedes aegypti from Cairns and Bangkok
Zakrzewski, Martha, Rašić, Gordana, Darbro, Jonathan, Krause, Lutz, Poo, Yee S., Filipović, Igor, Parry, Rhys, Asgari, Sassan, Devine, Greg and Suhrbier, Andreas (2018). Mapping the virome in wild-caught Aedes aegypti from Cairns and Bangkok. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 4690, 4690. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-22945-y
2018
Journal Article
Upregulation of Aedes aegypti Vago1 by Wolbachia and its effect on dengue virus replication
Asad, Sultan, Parry, Rhys and Asgari, Sassan (2018). Upregulation of Aedes aegypti Vago1 by Wolbachia and its effect on dengue virus replication. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 92, 45-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.11.008
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Rhys Parry is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Survey of farmers¿ perceptions of gastrointestinal parasites and investigation of prevalence, impact, and control of these parasites on sub-tropical dairy cattle
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ben Wood, Professor Ricardo Soares Magalhaes, Dr Shahab Ranjbar Nezhad Isfahani, Dr Swaid Abdullah
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Doctor Philosophy
Predicting and preparing for the unfolding evolution of SARS-CoV-2
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alexander Khromykh
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Rhys Parry directly for media enquiries about:
- SARS-CoV-2
- Virology
- Virus evolution
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