This page in Swedish

Magnus Johansson

Magnus Johansson Position: Professor School/office: School of Medical Sciences

Email: bWFnbnVzLmpvaGFuc3NvbjtvcnUuc2U=

Phone: +46 19 302443

Room: X4313

Magnus Johansson
Research subject

About Magnus Johansson

Research
I am a molecular virologist and Professor of Biomedical Science with a specialisation in Biochemistry. My research focuses on tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and other flaviviruses, with the aim of understanding their life cycles, interactions with host cells and the immune system, and how this knowledge can be applied to the development of novel vaccines, diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies.

My research group primarily focuses on:

- molecular virus–host interactions and mechanisms that regulate viral replication and innate immune responses,
- development of novel vaccine platforms based on live attenuated viruses, infectious RNA and mRNA,
- molecular epidemiology and whole-genome sequencing of TBEV from ticks and clinical patient samples,
- clinical and translational studies of TBE, linking viral genetics and disease course to the neurological and neurocognitive consequences of infection.

We use Langat virus, Kunjin virus and Zika virus as model flaviviruses to investigate viral replication, virulence, immune responses and vaccine development.

The Developvaccines@oru research environment was established through a previous project funded by the Knowledge Foundation and brings together expertise in virology, immunology and vaccine development. This work is now being continued through new research projects. In 2026, the Knowledge Foundation-funded project Development of novel mRNA-based TBE vaccines was launched, in which Örebro University, together with Moderna, Nordic BioAnalysis and Legado BioResearch, develops and evaluates novel mRNA-based vaccine candidates against TBE.

Another important area of our research is the molecular epidemiology of TBEV and patient-oriented studies of TBE. In recent years, we have developed methods that have enabled us to expand our sequencing work from primarily analysing TBEV in ticks to sequencing and characterising complete viral genomes directly from clinical patient samples. This provides new opportunities to investigate associations between viral genetic variation, transmission and disease course.

In our ongoing patient-based TBE research, clinical material and viral sequencing are combined with neurological and neurocognitive assessments. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is used to investigate how TBE affects the brain, and the findings are related to clinical outcome and neuropsychological testing. The research brings together expertise in virology, clinical medicine and neuropsychology and is supported by Nyckelfonden, the Research Committee of Region Örebro County and ALF funding.

Our research is conducted in close collaboration with Swedish and international academic research environments, clinical partners and companies within the vaccine and biotechnology sectors.

Academic roles and responsibilities
I am the subject coordinator for Biomedical Science within both research and doctoral education at Örebro University and work with strategic issues relating to research and doctoral education at the School of Medical Sciences. As part of my responsibilities for doctoral education, I am a member of the Faculty's Committee for Doctoral Education (KFU) and the Doctoral Education Programme Council.

I am also Vice Chair of the Academic Appointments Committee for the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

From 2015 to 2025, I served as Deputy Head of the School of Medical Sciences and also as Acting Head of School on several occasions. I have previously served as a member of Örebro University's Internationalisation Council. I have been involved in the University's Research Ethics Council since its establishment, initially as a deputy member and currently as a full member.

I have completed several academic leadership programmes, including Morgondagens akademiska ledarskap (MAL3; Future Academic Leadership) in 2008–2009 and the Leadership Programme for Experienced Academic Managers within Lärosäten Öst in 2024.

Research groups

Publications

Articles in journals |  Books |  Conference papers |  Manuscripts | 

Articles in journals

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

Manuscripts