Dr Karyn Johnson    Lecturer

	Biography

Molecular virology and host:virus interactions

My labs research focus is virus:insect host interactions and molecular virology. In particular we focus on the molecular genetics and interactions of viruses that have RNA genomes. Insects transmit many viruses that infect either animals or plants. We are primarily interested in viruses that replicate in their insects host. Using reverse genetics to manipulate the gene expression of positive-sense RNA viruses we analyse the processes involved in virus infection, replication and assembly. We also use a variety of techniques to look at acquisition and transmission of viruses by insect vectors.

Examples of projects:
1. Planthopper transmission of Fiji disease virus to sugarcane
2. Genetic diversity and pathology of Fiji disease virus isolates
3. Response of Drosophila to viral infection
4. Drosophila virus genomics and proteomics

	Links
	www.sib.uq.edu.au

	Keywords
	Science and Technology: Entomology, Science and Technology: Molecular Biology, Science and Technology: Viral Studies (Virology), Science and Technology: Microbiology