Biography

Fascinated by the role bacteria play in interacting with our immune system, Julia-Green Johnson, PhD, an immunologist and microbiologist, has been leading important research in this area at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) for over a decade, with the goal of improving our understanding of the effects of diet and gut microbes on immunity and health of humans and animals.

An Associate Professor in UOIT’s Faculty of Science, the impact of Dr. Green-Johnson’s work has had far-reaching implications. Her research is supported by industry and government with the goal of understanding how microbes and foods components affect the immune system. Sharing her knowledge and expertise with her students, Dr. Green-Johnson hopes collaborative research will inspire them to continue pushing the boundaries of discovery.

Looking through a microscope teeming with microbes in her high school biology class was enough to pull Dr. Green-Johnson into world of science, and she has been immersed in the study of their effects on the immune system ever since. Dr. Green-Johnson earned both her Bachelor of Science (Honours) and her Master of Science from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Saskatchewan in 1983 and 1986, respectively. She obtained her Doctorate from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 1990, examining effects of aging on the immune system; and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology at the University of Manitoba in 1994, focusing on neuro-immune interactions.

She began her teaching and research career 20 years ago at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia where she first held the position of assistant professor (CLT) in the Department of Biology; then she was appointed assistant professor (tenure track) in Acadia’s School of Nutrition and Food Science, and later became an honorary research associate in the Department of Biology.

Actively involved in sharing her research for the benefit of organizations dedicated to advancing knowledge in microbiology, immunology and nutrition, Dr. Green-Johnson is a member of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists, the American Society of Microbiologists, the Institute of Food Technologists, the American Association of Immunologists, and the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology.

Industry Expertise (5)

Dairy

Research

Laboratory Services

Health and Wellness

Education/Learning

Areas of Expertise (10)

Microbiology and Immunology

Diet and Immunity

Microbe-Host Cell Interactions

Neuroimmune Interactions

Gut Microbes

Immune System

Dietary Fibre

Fructans and Digestive Health

Mucosal and Systemic Immunity

Biological Effects of Dairy and Soy Ferments

Accomplishments (1)

Associate Professor, Faculty of Science, UOIT (professional)

2007-07-01

Dr. Green-Johnson is the recipient of four UOIT Teaching Innovation Fund Awards, and helped lead the development of the university’s Applied Biosciences Graduate Studies program. She supervises the research of her graduate and undergraduate students, and teaches undergraduate Microbiology and Immunology courses. She has received numerous research awards from industry and government including NSERC, DFC, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Education (3)

Queen's University: PhD, Department of Microbiology and Immunology 1990

University of Saskatchewan: MSc, Department of Microbiology 1986

University of Saskatchewan: BSc, Department of Microbiology 1983

(Hons)

Affiliations (5)

• Canadian Society of Microbiologists
• American Society of Microbiologists
• Institute of Food Technologists
• American Association of Immunologists
• Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology

Event Appearances (12)

Investigating Effects of Fructans on host and immune parameters in a human clinical trial

EFFoST (European Federation of Food Science and Technology) Annual Meeting  Bologna, Italy

2013-11-12

Evaluating Influences of Fructans on Cytokine and Immunoglobulin Production in a human clinical trial

Cytokines 2013: From Molecular Mechanisms to Human Disease  San Francisco, California

2013-09-29

Effects of Dietary Fructo-oligosaccharides on Gender-based differences in Gut Mucosal Cytokines

Cytokines 2013: From Molecular Mechanisms to Human Disease  San Francisco, California

2013-09-29

Effects of soy ferments on the pro-inflammatory gene expression profile of HT-29 intestinal epithelial cells following TNF-α challenge

CIFST 50th Annual conference  Niagara Falls, Ontario

2012-05-27

Tissue-specific cytokine microenvironments develop in the gastrointestinal tract of Bio-breeding rats fed wheat bran, oat bran or resistant starch diets

62nd Annual Conference of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists  Vancouver, British Columbia

2012-06-20

Host-Microbe Interactions: Does Gender influence Immune changes mediated by Dietary Fibre?

Canadian Society of Microbiologists 61st Annual Conference  St. John's, Newfoundland

2011-06-20

Immunomodulatory properties of bovine milks supplemented with dietary omega-3 fatty acids and fermented by lactic acid bacteria

Canadian Society of Microbiologists 61st Annual Conference  St. John's, Newfoundland

2011-06-20

Analysis of Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Lactobacillus strains on Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells in Response to a Range of Pro-Inflammatory Stimuli

Canadian Society of Microbiologists 61st Annual Conference  St. John's, Newfoundland

2011-06-20

Lactic acid bacteria as a novel differentiation agent for Dendritic Cells: Effects on KG-1 differentiation

Canadian Society of Microbiologists 61st Annual Conference  St. John's, Newfoundland

2011-06-20

Effects of soy and dairy ferments on monocyte viability, cytokine production and cell surface molecule expression: impact in a low-shear modeled microgravity system

61st International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Abstract and presentation #A1.7. Biology in Space  Prague, Czech Republic

2010-10-01

Bioactivity of soy and milk ferments: effects on monocyte and macrophage cytokine production

2010 Annual CIFST/AAFC Conference  Winnipeg, Manitoba

2010-06-01

Prebiotic effects on Serum Enzyme levels and Immune cell population

AFMNet 6th Annual Scientific Conference  Halifax, Nova Scotia

2010-05-26

Research Grants (3)

Mechanisms underlying the influence of the gastrointestinal tract environment on probiotic efficacy

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada  $120,000

2011-04-01

As primary investigator, Dr. Green-Johnson has been awarded $24,000 per year over 5 years to study food components and their ability to influence the immune system including interactions mediated by gut microbes and their products in the digestive system.

Investigating anti-atherogenic potential of fermented dairy products

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Dairy Farmers of Canada $160,160

2013-03-01

Studies show that fermented milk has cardiovascular protective effects. Funded by the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Dr. Green-Johnson is collaborating on a two-year study looking at the effects of milk on certain immune system markers associated with cardiovascular disease, and whether milk peptides will impact inflammatory biomarkers. This research could have significant implications for Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease.

Dietary Fibre and Gut Health of Albertans

Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, Quality Food for Health Funding Program $60,000

2012-04-01

A collaborator of this three-year project, Dr. Green-Johnson's research explores the effects of dietary fibre and gut microbes on the immune system. In collaboration with Health Canada and Agriculture Canada, she is completing a controlled, double-blind study to identify the effects of the dietary fibre Fructans (inulin) in humans and animals, to carefully assess the benefits and safety of this food component.