This page in Swedish

Magnus Johansson

Position: Professor School/office: School of Medical Sciences

Email: bWFnbnVzLmpvaGFuc3NvbjtvcnUuc2U=

Phone: +46 19 302443

Room: X5512

Research subject

Biomedicine

About Magnus Johansson

Research
I am a molecular virologist and professor of biomedical science with a specialization in biochemistry, with a particular focus on tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and other flaviviruses. My research aims to understand the viral life cycle and host immune interactions, with the goal of developing new vaccines and therapeutic strategies.

My group primarily focuses on:
- Developing infectious clones and live attenuated viruses for vaccine research
- Exploring infectious RNA as a future platform for rapidly deployable vaccines
- Molecular epidemiology and sequencing of TBEV from patients and ticks
- We are conducting a new research project using fMRI to investigate how TBEV affects the brain, in collaboration with experts in psychology

We use Langat virus, Zika virus, and Kunjin virus as model flaviviruses to investigate disease mechanisms and immune responses.

I lead the KK Foundation-funded project Developvaccines@oru, which brings together academia, healthcare, and industry to develop next-generation vaccine technologies. Key collaborators include Travis Taylor (University of Toledo), Åshild Andreassen (Norwegian Institute of Public Health), and Matti Sällberg (Karolinska Institutet).

I have supervised several PhD students to completion and currently serve as main supervisor for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. I am also an active opponent and reviewer, with deep insight into the quality standards of graduate education.

Teaching and Educational Development
I have extensive teaching experience in the medical programme at Örebro University. I am responsible for biochemistry and metabolism in the NME theme (Nutrition, Metabolism and Elimination) during the early semesters, including energy metabolism, hormonal regulation, liver physiology, enzymology, protein binding, and protein sorting within the cell.

I have served as course director for term 3, been part of the programme board, and am currently a member of the NME theme group. Previously, I was responsible for biochemistry teaching at Södertörn University and developed a one-year interdisciplinary Master's programme in Infectious Disease Control in collaboration with the Swedish Public Health Agency.

Recently, I developed a course in vaccinology and vaccine administration (2024) in collaboration with Region Örebro County and the Swedish Public Health Agency. I also lead a working group that is developing new biomedical courses and programmes. I have broad experience in curriculum planning, course design, and educational quality assurance.

Leadership and Responsibilities
I am currently subject director for both the research and doctoral education programmes in biomedical science at Örebro University. I also serve as the research coordinator for the School of Medical Sciences and chair its internal research council, with responsibility for strategic development of research environments and external collaboration.

From 2015 to 2024, I served as deputy head of school and have also acted as interim head on several occasions. I have represented the school in the doctoral education programme board, served on the university’s internationalisation council, and have been a deputy member of the Örebro University Ethics Council since its inception. I now serve as a full member of the council.

I have completed several academic leadership programmes, including “Future Academic Leadership” (MAL3, 2008–2009) and the Eastern Sweden Leadership Programme for Experienced Leaders (2024), deepening my skills in strategic and inter-institutional leadership.

Active projects

Completed projects

Research groups

Publications

Articles in journals | Books | Conference papers | Manuscripts |

Articles in journals

Asghar, N. , Jaafar, R. , Valko, A. , Merinder, O. , Ljungberg, K. , Lindqvist, C. M. & Johansson, M. (2025). Development of Langat virus infectious clones as a platform for live-attenuated tick-borne encephalitis vaccine. Npj viruses, 3 (1). [BibTeX]
Tran, P. , Kabir, M. H. , Asghar, N. , Hathaway, M. R. , Hayderi, A. , Karlsson, R. , Karlsson, A. , Taylor, T. & et al. (2025). Identification of TRIM21 and TRIM14 as Antiviral Factors Against Langat and Zika Viruses. Viruses, 17 (5). [BibTeX]
Maharjan, U. , Skudal, H. K. , Asghar, N. , Soleng, A. , Johansson, M. , Lindstedt, H. E. H. , Koskela von Sydow, A. , Pettersson, J. H. & et al. (2025). Novel variants of tick-borne encephalitis virus from patient and tick samples in Norway. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 16 (4). [BibTeX]
Koskela, A. , Lindqvist, C. M. , Asghar, N. , Johansson, M. , Sundqvist, M. , Mölling, P. & Stenmark, B. (2023). Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing using tiled amplicon enrichment and bait hybridization. Scientific Reports, 13 (1). [BibTeX]
Omazic, A. , Wallenhammar, A. , Lahti, E. , Asghar, N. , Hanberger, A. , Hjertqvist, M. , Johansson, M. & Albihn, A. (2023). Dairy milk from cow and goat as a sentinel for tick-borne encephalitis virus surveillance. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 95. [BibTeX]
Burm, R. , Maravelia, P. , Ahlen, G. , Ciesek, S. , Caro Perez, N. , Pasetto, A. , Urban, S. , Van Houtte, F. & et al. (2023). Novel prime-boost immune-based therapy inhibiting both hepatitis B and D virus infections.. Gut, 72 (6), 1186-1195. [BibTeX]
Kjær, L. J. , Johansson, M. , Lindgren, P. , Asghar, N. , Wilhelmsson, P. , Fredlund, H. , Christensson, M. , Wallenhammar, A. & et al. (2023). Potential drivers of human tick-borne encephalitis in the Örebro region of Sweden, 2010-2021. Scientific Reports, 13 (1). [BibTeX]
Tran, P. T. H. , Höglund, U. , Larsson, O. , Appelberg, S. , Mirazimi, A. , Johansson, M. & Melik, W. (2022). Enhanced Seroconversion to West Nile Virus Proteins in Mice by West Nile Kunjin Replicon Virus-like Particles Expressing Glycoproteins from Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus. Pathogens, 11 (2). [BibTeX]
Tran, P. T. H. , Chiramel, A. I. , Johansson, M. & Melik, W. (2022). Roles of ESCRT Proteins ALIX and CHMP4A and Their Interplay with Interferon-Stimulated Gene 15 during Tick-Borne Flavivirus Infection. Journal of Virology, 96 (3). [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Melik, W. , Paulsen, K. M. , Pedersen, B. N. , Bø-Granquist, E. G. , Vikse, R. , Stuen, S. , Andersson, S. & et al. (2022). Transient Expression of Flavivirus Structural Proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana . Vaccines, 10 (10). [BibTeX]
Maravelia, P. , Frelin, L. , Ni, Y. , Pérez, N. C. , Ahlén, G. , Jagya, N. , Verch, G. , Verhoye, L. & et al. (2021). Blocking entry of hepatitis B and D viruses to hepatocytes as a novel immunotherapy for treating chronic infections. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 223 (1), 128-138. [BibTeX]
Tran, P. , Asghar, N. , Johansson, M. & Melik, W. (2021). Roles of the Endogenous Lunapark Protein during Flavivirus Replication. Viruses, 13 (7). [BibTeX]
Tran, P. T. H. , Asghar, N. , Höglund, U. , Larsson, O. , Haag, L. , Mirazimi, A. , Johansson, M. & Melik, W. (2020). Development of a Multivalent Kunjin Virus Reporter Virus-Like Particle System Inducing Seroconversion for Ebola and West Nile Virus Proteins in Mice. Microorganisms, 8 (12). [BibTeX]
Wallenhammar, A. , Lindqvist, R. , Asghar, N. , Gunaltay, S. , Fredlund, H. , Davidsson, Å. , Andersson, S. , Överby, A. K. & et al. (2020). Revealing new tick-borne encephalitis virus foci by screening antibodies in sheep milk. Parasites & Vectors, 13 (1). [BibTeX]
Lindqvist, R. , Rosendal, E. , Weber, E. , Asghar, N. , Schreier, S. , Lenman, A. , Johansson, M. , Dobler, G. & et al. (2020). The envelope protein of tick-borne encephalitis virus influences neuron entry, pathogenicity, and vaccine protection. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 17 (1). [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Pettersson, J. H. , Dinnetz, P. , Andreassen, Å. & Johansson, M. (2017). Deep sequencing analysis of tick-borne encephalitis virus from questing ticks at natural foci reveals similarities between quasispecies pools of the virus. Journal of General Virology, 98 (3), 413-421. [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Petersson, M. , Johansson, M. & Dinnetz, P. (2016). Local landscape effects on population dynamics of Ixodes ricinus. Geospatial health, 11 (3), 283-289. [BibTeX]
Bertrand, Y. J. K. , Johansson, M. & Norberg, P. (2016). Revisiting Recombination Signal in the Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus: A Simulation Approach. PLOS ONE, 11 (10). [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Lee, Y. , Nilsson, E. , Lindqvist, R. , Melik, W. , Kröger, A. , Överby, A. K. & Johansson, M. (2016). The role of the poly(A) tract in the replication and virulence of tick-borne encephalitis virus. Scientific Reports, 6. [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Lindblom, P. , Melik, W. , Lindqvist, R. , Haglund, M. , Forsberg, P. , Överby, A. K. , Andreassen, Å. & et al. (2014). Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Sequenced Directly from Questing and Blood-Feeding Ticks Reveals Quasispecies Variance. PLOS ONE, 9 (7). [BibTeX]
Rytkonen, P. , Bonow, M. , Johansson, M. & Persson, Y. (2013). Goat cheese production in Sweden: a pioneering experience in the re-emergence of local food. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica - Section B, 63 (Suppl. 1), 38-46. [BibTeX]
Hamsten, C. , Starkhammar, M. , Tran, T. A. , Johansson, M. , Bengtsson, U. , Ahlén, G. , Sällberg, M. , Grönlund, H. & et al. (2013). Identification of galactose-α-1,3-galactose in the gastrointestinal tract of the tick Ixodes ricinus; possible relationship with red meat allergy. Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 68 (4), 549-552. [BibTeX]
Wigerius, M. , Asghar, N. , Melik, W. & Johansson, M. (2013). Scribble controls NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. European Journal of Cell Biology, 92 (6-7), 213-221. [BibTeX]
Bertrand, Y. , Töpel, M. , Elväng, A. , Melik, W. & Johansson, M. (2012). First dating of a recombination event in mammalian tick-borne flaviviruses. PLOS ONE, 7 (2). [BibTeX]
Melik, W. , Ellencrona, K. , Wigerius, M. , Hedström, C. , Elväng, A. & Johansson, M. (2012). Two PDZ binding motifs within NS5 have roles in Tick-borne encephalitis virus replication. Virus Research, 169 (1), 54-62. [BibTeX]
Elväng, A. , Melik, W. , Bertrand, Y. , Lönn, M. & Johansson, M. (2011). Sequencing of a tick-borne encephalitis virus from Ixodes ricinus reveals a thermosensitive RNA switch significant for virus propagation in ectothermic arthropods. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 11 (6), 649-658. [BibTeX]
Wigerius, M. , Melik, W. , Elväng, A. & Johansson, M. (2010). Rac1 and Scribble are targets for the arrest of neurite outgrowth by TBE virus NS5. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 44 (3), 260-271. [BibTeX]
Ellencrona, K. , Syed, A. & Johansson, M. (2009). Flavivirus NS5 associates with host-cell proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis-2 (RIMS2) via an internal PDZ binding mechanism. Biological chemistry (Print), 390 (4), 319-323. [BibTeX]
Werme, K. , Wigerius, M. & Johansson, M. (2008). Tick-borne encephalitis virus NS5 associates with membrane protein scribble and impairs interferon-stimulated JAK-STAT signalling.. Cellular Microbiology, 10 (3), 696-712. [BibTeX]
Melik, W. , Nilsson, A. S. & Johansson, M. (2007). Detection strategies of tick-borne encephalitis virus in Swedish Ixodes ricinus reveal evolutionary characteristics of emerging tick-borne flaviviruses. Archives of Virology, 152 (5), 1027-1034. [BibTeX]
Brooks, A. J. , Johansson, M. , John, A. V. , Xu, Y. , Jans, D. A. & Vasudevan, S. G. (2002). The interdomain region of dengue NS5 protein that binds to the viral helicase NS3 contains independently functional importin beta 1 and importin alpha/beta-recognized nuclear localization signals. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 277 (39), 36399-36407. [BibTeX]
Johansson, M. , Brooks, A. J. , Jans, D. A. & Vasudevan, S. G. (2001). A small region of the dengue virus-encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, NS5, confers interaction with both the nuclear transport receptor importin-beta and the viral helicase, NS3. Journal of General Virology, 82 (Pt 4), 735-745. [BibTeX]
Vasudevan, S. G. , Johansson, M. , Brooks, A. J. , Llewellyn, L. E. & Jans, D. A. (2001). Characterisation of inter- and intra-molecular interactions of the dengue virus RNA dependent RNA polymerase as potential drug targets. Il Farmaco, 56 (1-2), 33-36. [BibTeX]
Cheng, J. , Johansson, M. & Nordlund, S. (1999). Expression of P(II) and glutamine synthetase is regulated by P(II), the ntrBC products, and processing of the glnBA mRNA in Rhodospirillum rubrum. Journal of Bacteriology, 181 (20), 6530-6534. [BibTeX]
Johansson, M. & Nordlund, S. (1999). Purification of P(II) and P(II)-UMP and in vitro studies of regulation of glutamine synthetase in Rhodospirillum rubrum. Journal of Bacteriology, 181 (20), 6524-6529. [BibTeX]
Johansson, M. & Nordlund, S. (1997). Uridylylation of the P(II) protein in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum. Journal of Bacteriology, 179 (13), 4190-4194. [BibTeX]
Lindblad, A. , Jansson, J. , Brostedt, E. , Johansson, M. , Hellman, U. & Nordlund, S. (1996). Identification and sequence of a nifJ-like gene in Rhodospirillum rubrum: partial characterization of a mutant unaffected in nitrogen fixation. Molecular Microbiology, 20 (3), 559-568. [BibTeX]
Johansson, M. & Nordlund, S. (1996). Transcription of the glnB and glnA genes in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum. Microbiology, 142 ( Pt 5), 1265-1272. [BibTeX]

Books

Venizelos, N. , Sirsjö, A. , Ericsson, E. , Johansson, M. , Hjelmqvist, H. , Jendle, J. , Eriksson, M. , Karlsson, M. & et al. Venizelos, N. (ed.) , Sirsjö, A. (ed.) , Ericsson, E. (ed.) , Johansson, M. (ed.) , Hjelmqvist, H. (ed.) , Jendle, J. (ed.) , Eriksson, M. (ed.) , Karlsson, M. (ed.) & Möller, M. (ed.) (2018). Örebro University’s Nobel Day Festivities: Book of abstracts, 2018. Örebro: Örebro universitet. [BibTeX]

Conference papers

Asghar, N. , Maravelia, P. , Ahlen, G. , Jaafar, R. , Frelin, L. , Larsson, O. , Johansson, C. , Sällberg, M. & et al. (2024). Flavivirus replicon-based novel vaccine candidates against Hepatitis viruses. Paper presented at 21st Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology, Smögen, August 22-24, 2024. [BibTeX]
Jaafar, R. , Asghar, N. , Ljungberg, K. , Melik, W. & Johansson, M. (2024). Pre-Clinical Development of a Novel Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine for Mucosal Immunization. Paper presented at 21st Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology, Smögen, August 22-24, 2024. [BibTeX]
Koskela, A. , Lindqvist, C. M. , Asghar, N. , Johansson, M. , Sundqvist, M. , Mölling, P. & Stenmark, B. (2023). Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing using tiled amplicon enrichment and bait hybridization. Paper presented at Smögen Virology Symposium 2023, Smögen, Sweden, August 24-26, 2023. [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Jaafar, R. , Lindqvist, C. M. , Ljunberg, K. & Johansson, M. (2023). Design, rescue, and characterization of Langat virus infectious clone by next generation sequencing. Paper presented at 20th Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology, Smögen, August 24-26, 2023. (pp. 51-51). [BibTeX]
Jaafar, R. , Asghar, N. , Ljungberg, K. , Melik, W. & Johansson, M. (2023). Development of a potential live-attenuated Langat virus as candidate for novel tick-borne encephalitis vaccine. Paper presented at 39th annual meeting of NSCMID, Örebro, 21-24 September, 2023. [BibTeX]
Jaafar, R. , Asghar, N. , Ljungberg, K. , Melik, W. & Johansson, M. (2023). Development of Live attenuated Langat virus infectious clone as potential new TBEV vaccine candidate: Study of cellular and humoral immune response in mice. Paper presented at 20th Smögen Summer Symposim on Virology, Smögen, August 24-26, 2023. [BibTeX]
Alim, A. , Pelli, F. , Asghar, N. , Melik, W. & Johansson, M. (2023). Tick-borne encephalitis virus protein expression to develop novel subunit vaccines and diagnostic tools. Paper presented at 20th Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology, Smögen, Sweden, August 24-26, 2023. [BibTeX]
Wallenhammar, A. , Koskela, A. , Asghar, N. & Johansson, M. (2020). Developing a quantitative technique for detection of low levels ofTBE virus in ticks and milk. In: ÖREBRO UNIVERSITY’S NOBEL DAY FESTIVITIES BOOK OF ABSTRACTS. Paper presented at ÖREBRO UNIVERSITY’S NOBEL DAY FESTIVITIES, Örebro, 9 December, 2020. (pp. 19-19). Örebro University. [BibTeX]
Tran, P. T. H. , Asghar, N. , Karlsson, R. , Karlsson, A. , Johansson, M. & Melik, W. (2019). Identification and characterization of host proteins inducing the endoplasmic reticulum invagination during Flavivirus infection. In: Positive-Strand RNA Viuses. Paper presented at Positive-Strand RNA Viuses, KILLARNEY, Co.Kerry, Ireland, June 9-13,2019. (pp. 280-280). [BibTeX]
Johansson, M. , Frelin, L. , Maravelia, P. , Asghar, N. , Melik, W. , Caro-Perez, N. , Pasetto, A. , Ahlen, G. & et al. (2019). Immunogenicity of a New Flaviviral-Based DNA Launched Suicidal Replicon for Protective Vaccination Against Hepatitis C. In: Molecular Therapy. Paper presented at 22nd Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Gene-and-Cell-Therapy (ASGCT), Washington, DC, USA, April 29 - May 2, 2019,. (pp. 139-139). Cell Press. [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Maravelia, P. , Caro-Perez, N. , Tran, H. , Melik, W. , Pasetto, A. , Ahlen, G. , Frelin, L. & et al. (2019). Immunogenicity of DNA launched suicidal flavivirus replicons for protective vaccination against hepatitis viruses. Paper presented at Positive-Strand RNA Viruses (E2), Killarney, Co. Kerry Ireland, June 9-13, 2019. [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Maravelia, P. , Caro-Perez, N. , Tran, P. T. H. , Melik, W. , Pasetto, A. , Ahlen, G. , Frelin, L. & et al. (2019). Immunogenicity of DNA launched suicidal flavivirus replicons for protective vaccination against hepatitis viruses. Paper presented at 16th Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology, Smögen, Sweden, August 22-24, 2019. [BibTeX]
Wallenhammar, A. , Asghar, N. , Gunaltay, S. , Lindqvist, R. , Fredlund, H. , Davidsson, Å. , Andersson, S. , Överby Wernstedt, A. & et al. (2019). Revealing new tick-borne encephalitis foci by screening antibodies in sheep milk. In: 16th Smögen Symposium on Virology, August 22-24, 2019. Paper presented at 16th Smögen Symposium on Virology, Smögen, Sweden, August 22-24, 2019. [BibTeX]
Tran, P. T. H. , Asghar, N. , Karlsson, R. , Karlsson, A. , Johansson, M. & Melik, W. (2019). Screening of host proteins interacting with Kunjin, Langat, Zika replication complex. In: Positive-Strand Rna Viuses. Paper presented at Positive-Strand RNA Viuses, KILLARNEY, Co.Kerry, Ireland, June 9-13,2019. [BibTeX]
Tran, P. T. H. , Asghar, N. , Karlsson, A. , Karlsson, R. , Johansson, M. & Melik, W. (2019). Screening of host proteins interacting with Kunjin, Langat, Zikareplication complex. In: 16th Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology. Paper presented at 16th Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology, Smögen, Sweden, August 22-24, 2019. [BibTeX]
Wallenhammar, A. , Asghar, N. , Gunaltay, S. , Andersson, S. , Davidsson, Å. , Överby Wernstedt, A. & Johansson, M. (2018). Developing a novel strategy to determine new Tick-borne encephalitis foci. In: 15th Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology, Smögen, Sweden, August 23-25, 2018.. Paper presented at 15th Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology, August 23-25, 2018. [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Gunaltay, S. , Tran, P. T. H. , Melik, W. , Höglund, U. , Johansson, C. , Frelin, L. , Sällberg, M. & et al. (2018). DNA launched suicidal flaviviruses as therapeutic vaccine candidates. Paper presented at 15th Smögen Summer Symposium on Virology, Smögen, Sweden, August 23-25, 2018. [BibTeX]
Johansson, M. (2017). Development of an edible Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine. Paper presented at SNÄFF (Svenska nätverket för fästing forskare) 2017, Varberg, Sweden, 3-5 maj 2017. [BibTeX]
Asghar, N. , Wessam, M. , Lindblom, P. , Lindgren, P. , Andreassen, Å. & Johansson, M. (2013). Genomic Sequencing of Tick-borne Encephalitis Virus frin Questing and Blood-Feeding Ixodes ricinus. Paper presented at Positive strand RNA viruses, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, April 28 - May 3 2013. [BibTeX]

Manuscripts

Tran, P. , Karlsson, R. , Karlsson, A. , Asghar, N. , Melik, W. & Johansson, M. Proteomic screening identifies TRIM21 and TRIM14 as antiviral proteins against Langat virus and Zika virus. [BibTeX]