Research Team

Associate Professor Stephen Johnston

A/Prof Stephen Johnston is a Reader in Reproduction (40% Teaching; 40% Research and 20% Service) in the School of Environment and School of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland, where he teaches animal reproduction to applied science and science undergraduate and postgraduate students

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 285 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 was recently elected Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology (2019)

You can view his full biography by clicking here

1999: PhD (Wildlife Reproduction)
University of Queensland, St Lucia - “Studies towards the development of an artificial insemination program in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)”
1994: Bachelor of Science BSc (Honours 1A) Zoology (University Medalist)
University of Queensland, St Lucia
1992: Bachelor of Science BSc (Zoology)
University of Queensland, Australia

2015 – Current: Reader in Reproduction

2008 – 2014: Senior Lecturer at University of Queensland

Senior Lecturer in Animal Reproduction, School of Agriculture & Food Sciences

2000 – 2007: Lecturer at University of Queensland

Lecturer in Animal Reproduction, School of Animal Studies

Teaching

Over the last 6 years A/Prof Johnston has been the annual course coordinator in 3 undergraduate and 2 postgraduate courses at the University of Queensland and teaches into 6 undergraduate and 4 post-graduate courses. Over the course of his career, he has taught animal reproductive biology to an estimated 3000 undergraduates and 300 post- graduate students

Higher Degree Research Students

Since 2000, A/Prof Johnston has supervised a total of 19 PhD, 5 MPhil and 45 honours students. He has also supervised the Master of Animal Science Coursework Project of 24 students. Two of his honours students graduated as prestigious University Medalists and 16 of his PhD students received postgraduate scholarships

Over the course of his career, A/Prof Johnston is or has been a Chief Investigator on research projects that have attracted ~$5.5 million in funding

Research Publications

A/Prof Johnston’s comprehensive publication record totals 285 peer-reviewed publications, including 1 book, 16 book chapters, and 216 journal publications, along with 49 conference/other publications. His publication record is summarised by a current H-index of 32, a citation count of 3617, and a citation average of 12.3. He is listed in the top 2.5% of researchers on Research Gate, with an RG score of 42.61

Investigation of pathology associated with Chlamydia pecorum infection in the male reproductive tract, and the effect on spermatogenesis and semen quality in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Hulse L. et al. and Johnston SD. Theriogenology 180 30-39 (2022)

Koala retrovirus genetic diversity and transmission dynamics within captive koala populations.

Joyce BA, Blyton MDJ, Johnston SD, et al. National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings 118 (38) (2021).

Proteomic analysis of koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) spermatozoa and prostatic bodies

Skerrett-Byrne DA et al. Johnston SD, and Nixon B. Proteomics 21 (19) 2100067 e2100067 (2021)

Epidemiology of chlamydia-induced reproductive disease in male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) from Southeast Queensland, Australia as assessed from penile urethral swabs and semen

Hulse L, et al. and Johnston, SD. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 56 (1) 2019-03-062 82-92 (2020)

The piRNA response to retroviral invasion of the koala genome

Yu T, Johnston SD, et al. Cell 179 (3) 632-643.e12 (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

Hulse LS, McDonald, S, Johnston SD and Beagley KW. Microbiology Open 8 (12) e916 e916 (2019)

Developing non-invasive methodologies to assess koala population health through detecting Chlamydia from scats

Cristescu, RH et al., Johnston SD, Hanger J, Booth R, and Frère CH. Molecular Ecology Resources 19 (4) 1755- 0998.12999 957-969 (2019)

Using the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as a case study to illustrate the development of artificial breeding technology in marsupials: An update

Johnston SD and Holt WV. Reproductive Sciences in Animal Conservation. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland.327-362 (2019)

Chlamydia pecorum infection in the male reproductive system of Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Palmieri C, et al. and Johnston SD. Veterinary Pathology 56 (2) 300985818806963-306 (2018)

Phylogenetic diversity of koala retrovirus within a wild koala population

Chappell KJ, et al. Johnston SD, Holmes EC, Meers J and Young P. Journal of Virology 91 (3) e01820-16 363-374 (2016)

The role of bioacoustic signals in koala sexual selection: Insights from seasonal patterns of associations revealed with GPS Proximity units

Ellis W et al., Johnston, SD, Seddon J, Melzer A, Higgins D, and Bercovitch F. PLoS ONE 10 (7) e0130657 e0130657 (2015)

Orchitis and epididymitis in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) infected with Chlamydia pecorum

Johnston SD et al. Veterinary Pathology 52 (6) 1254-1257 (2015)

Use of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist azaline B to control the oestrous cycle in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Ballantyne K., et al. and Johnston SD. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28 (11) 1686-1694 (2015)

The use of a synthetic progesterone, levonorgestrel (LNG), to control the oestrous cycle in the koala

Ballantyne K, et al. and Johnston SD. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28 (10) 1526-1532 (2015)

Preliminary study of faecal cortisol and corticosterone as an index of acute cortisol secretion in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Johnston SD et al. Australian Veterinary Journal 91 (12) 534-537 (2013)

The effect of chilled storage and cryopreservation on the sperm DNA fragmentation dynamics of a captive population of koalas

Johnston SD et al. Journal of Andrology 33 (5) 1007-1015 (2013)

Genetic diversity in natural and introduced island populations of koalas in Queensland

Lee KE., Seddon JM, Johnston SD et al. Australian Journal of Zoology 60 (5) 303-310 (2012)