Overview
Background
I am a Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, specialising in systems immunology, data mining, and artificial intelligence. I have made significant contributions to vaccine and biomarker discovery and to defining the molecular basis of host-pathogen immunity.
My academic background includes a Diploma in Physics from La Sapienza University in Italy (2005) and a Ph.D. in Molecular Pathogenesis and Immunology from the University of Perugia, Italy (2011). I have received training from several leading institutions, including Imperial College, LSHTM, the University of Oxford, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, and QIMR Berghofer, where I developed a solid foundation in the analysis of multi-omics data. My work has led to the identification of several malaria vaccine candidates currently under evaluation in pre-clinical trials in a project funded by the National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation. I recently received an NIH RO1 grant alongside PI Doolan to develop the first T cell-exclusive malaria vaccine.
My current research interests can be divided into five general themes:
1)System-based genomic approaches to inform the rational design of vaccines against complex human pathogens
2) Defining the molecular basis of immune heterogeneity between individuals using a system-based approach
2)Biomarker discovery for EBV-related cancers
3)Epigenetics and host immunity
4)Application of advanced data mining techniques in medical genomics
Availability
- Dr Carla Proietti is:
- Available for supervision
Works
Search Professor Carla Proietti’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Sex Differences in Anti–Epstein-Barr Virus Antibody Responses
Jackson, Sarah S, Francis, Julia, Pfeiffer, Ruth M, Proietti, Carla, Coghill, Anna E, Yu, Kelly J, Sarathkumara, Yomani D, Hsu, Wan-Lun, Argirion, Ilona, Wang, Cheng-Ping, Chen, Chien-Jen, Rothman, Nathaniel, Lan, Qing, Hildesheim, Allan, Doolan, Denise L and Liu, Zhiwei (2025). Sex Differences in Anti–Epstein-Barr Virus Antibody Responses. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaf067
2024
Journal Article
A proteome‐wide analysis unveils a core Epstein–Barr virus antibody signature of classic Hodgkin lymphoma across ethnically diverse populations
Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Xian, Rena R., Liu, Zhiwei, Yu, Kelly J., Chan, John K. C., Kwong, Yok‐Lam, Lam, Tai Hing, Liang, Raymond, Chiu, Brian, Xu, Jun, Hu, Wei, Ji, Bu‐Tian, Coghill, Anna E., Kelly, Ashton M., Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Rothman, Nathaniel, Ambinder, Richard F., Hildesheim, Allan, Lan, Qing, Proietti, Carla and Doolan, Denise L. (2024). A proteome‐wide analysis unveils a core Epstein–Barr virus antibody signature of classic Hodgkin lymphoma across ethnically diverse populations. International Journal of Cancer, 155 (8), 1476-1486. doi: 10.1002/ijc.35072
2023
Journal Article
Evaluating the stability of host-reference gene expression and simultaneously quantifying parasite burden and host immune responses in murine malaria
Browne, Daniel J., Kelly, Ashton M., Brady, Jamie, Proietti, Carla, Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Pattinson, David J. and Doolan, Denise L. (2023). Evaluating the stability of host-reference gene expression and simultaneously quantifying parasite burden and host immune responses in murine malaria. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 21071, 1-11. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-48066-9
2023
Journal Article
Comparative analysis of the humoral immune response to the EBV proteome across EBV-related malignancies
Argirion, Ilona, Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Proietti, Carla, Coghill, Anna E., Yu, Kelly J., Middeldorp, Jaap M., Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Hsu, Wan-Lun, Chien, Yin-Chu, Lou, Pei-Jen, Wang, Cheng-Ping, Rothman, Nathaniel, Lan, Qing, Chen, Chien-Jen, Mbulaiteye, Sam M., Jarrett, Ruth F., Glimelius, Ingrid, Smedby, Karin E., Hjalgrim, Henrik, Hildesheim, Allan, Doolan, Denise L. and Liu, Zhiwei (2023). Comparative analysis of the humoral immune response to the EBV proteome across EBV-related malignancies. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, 32 (5), OF1-OF10. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-22-0452
2022
Journal Article
Characterizing and correcting immune dysfunction in non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease
Ratnatunga, Champa N., Tungatt, Katie, Proietti, Carla, Halstrom, Sam, Holt, Michael R., Lutzky, Viviana P., Price, Patricia, Doolan, Denise L., Bell, Scott C., Field, Matt A., Kupz, Andreas, Thomson, Rachel M. and Miles, John J. (2022). Characterizing and correcting immune dysfunction in non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease. Frontiers in Immunology, 13 1047781, 1-20. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1047781
2022
Journal Article
The effect of tropical temperatures on the quality of RNA extracted from stabilized whole-blood samples
Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Browne, Daniel J., Kelly, Ashton M., Pattinson, David J., Rush, Catherine M., Warner, Jeffrey, Proietti, Carla and Doolan, Denise L. (2022). The effect of tropical temperatures on the quality of RNA extracted from stabilized whole-blood samples. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23 (18) 10609, 1-15. doi: 10.3390/ijms231810609
2022
Journal Article
Identifying Epstein-Barr virus peptide sequences associated with differential IgG antibody response
Coghill, Anna E., Fang, Jianwen, Liu, Zhiwei, Chen, Chien-Jen, Jarrett, Ruth F., Hjalgrim, Henrik, Proietti, Carla, Yu, Kelly J., Hsu, Wan-Lun, Lou, Pei-Jen, Wang, Chen-Ping, Zhao, Yingdong, Doolan, Denise L. and Hildesheim, Allan (2022). Identifying Epstein-Barr virus peptide sequences associated with differential IgG antibody response. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 114, 65-71. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.10.054
2021
Journal Article
Characterization of the humoral immune response to the EBV proteome in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma
Liu, Zhiwei, Sarathkumara, Yomani D., Chan, John K. C., Kwong, Yok-Lam, Lam, Tai Hing, Ip, Dennis Kai Ming, Chiu, Brian C. -H., Xu, Jun, Su, Yu-Chieh, Proietti, Carla, Cooper, Martha M., Yu, Kelly J., Bassig, Bryan, Liang, Raymond, Hu, Wei, Ji, Bu-Tian, Coghill, Anna E., Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Hildesheim, Allan, Rothman, Nathaniel, Doolan, Denise L. and Lan, Qing (2021). Characterization of the humoral immune response to the EBV proteome in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 23664, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-02788-w
2021
Journal Article
Immunomics-guided discovery of serum and urine antibodies for diagnosing urogenital schistosomiasis: a biomarker identification study
Pearson, Mark S., Tedla, Bemnet A., Mekonnen, Gebeyaw G., Proietti, Carla, Becker, Luke, Nakajima, Rie, Jasinskas, Al, Doolan, Denise L., Amoah, Abena S., Knopp, Stefanie, Rollinson, David, Ali, Said M., Kabole, Fatma, Hokke, Cornelis H., Adegnika, Akim A., Field, Matt A., van Dam, Govert, Corstjens, Paul L. A. M., Mduluza, Takafira, Mutapi, Francisca, Oeuvray, Claude, Greco, Beatrice, Chaiyadet, Sujittra, Laha, Thewarach, Cai, Pengfei, McManus, Donald P., Bottazzi, Maria Elena, Felgner, Philip L., Sotillo, Javier and Loukas, Alex (2021). Immunomics-guided discovery of serum and urine antibodies for diagnosing urogenital schistosomiasis: a biomarker identification study. The Lancet Microbe, 2 (11), E617-E626. doi: 10.1016/s2666-5247(21)00150-6
2021
Journal Article
Memory CD8+ T cell compartment associated with delayed onset of Plasmodium falciparum infection and better parasite control in sickle-cell trait children
Loiseau, Claire, Traore, Boubacar, Ongoiba, Aissata, Kayentao, Kassoum, Doumbo, Safiatou, Doumtabe, Didier, de Sousa, Karina P., Brady, Jamie L., Proietti, Carla, Crompton, Peter D. and Doolan, Denise L. (2021). Memory CD8+ T cell compartment associated with delayed onset of Plasmodium falciparum infection and better parasite control in sickle-cell trait children. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 10 (3) e1265, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1265
2020
Journal Article
Evaluation of the antibody response to the EBV proteome in EBV-associated classical Hodgkin lymphoma
Liu, Zhiwei, Jarrett, Ruth F, Hjalgrim, Henrik, Proietti, Carla, Chang, Ellen T., Smedby, Karin E., Yu, Kelly J., Lake, Annette, Troy, Sally, McAulay, Karen A., Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Adami, Hans-Olov, Glimelius, Bengt, Melbye, Mads, Hildesheim, Allan, Doolan, Denise L. and Coghill, Anna E. (2020). Evaluation of the antibody response to the EBV proteome in EBV-associated classical Hodgkin lymphoma. International Journal of Cancer, 147 (3), 608-618. doi: 10.1002/ijc.32741
2020
Journal Article
Erratum: Correction: Identification of a Novel, EBV-based Antibody Risk Stratification Signature for Early Detection of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Taiwan (Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (2018) 24 6 (1305-1314))
Coghill, Anna E., Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Proietti, Carla, Hsu, Wan-Lun, Chien, Yin-Chu, Lekieffre, Lea, Krause, Lutz, Teng, Andy, Pablo, Jocelyn, Yu, Kelly J., Lou, Pei-Jen, Wang, Cheng-Ping, Liu, Zhiwei, Chen, Chien-Jen, Middeldorp, Jaap, Mulvenna, Jason, Bethony, Jeff, Hildesheim, Allan and Doolan, Denise L. (2020). Erratum: Correction: Identification of a Novel, EBV-based Antibody Risk Stratification Signature for Early Detection of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Taiwan (Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (2018) 24 6 (1305-1314)). Clinical Cancer Research, 26 (13), 3496-3496. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-1828
2020
Journal Article
Development and validation of serological markers for detecting recent Plasmodium vivax infection
Longley, Rhea J., White, Michael T., Takashima, Eizo, Brewster, Jessica, Morita, Masayuki, Harbers, Matthias, Obadia, Thomas, Robinson, Leanne J., Matsuura, Fumie, Liu, Zoe S. J., Li-Wai-Suen, Connie S. N., Tham, Wai-Hong, Healer, Julie, Huon, Christele, Chitnis, Chetan E., Nguitragool, Wang, Monteiro, Wuelton, Proietti, Carla, Doolan, Denise L., Siqueira, Andre M., Ding, Xavier C., Gonzalez, Iveth J., Kazura, James, Lacerda, Marcus, Sattabongkot, Jetsumon, Tsuboi, Takafumi and Mueller, Ivo (2020). Development and validation of serological markers for detecting recent Plasmodium vivax infection. Nature Medicine, 26 (5), 741-749+. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0841-4
2020
Journal Article
Validation of an Epstein-Barr virus antibody risk stratification signature for nasopharyngeal carcinoma by use of multiplex serology
Simon, Julia, Liu, Zhiwei, Brenner, Nicole, Yu, Kelly J., Hsu, Wan-Lun, Wang, Cheng-Ping, Chien, Yin-Chu, Coghill, Anna E., Chen, Chien-Jen, Butt, Julia, Proietti, Carla, Doolan, Denise L., Hildesheim, Allan and Waterboer, Tim (2020). Validation of an Epstein-Barr virus antibody risk stratification signature for nasopharyngeal carcinoma by use of multiplex serology. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 58 (5) e00077-20, 1-9. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00077-20
2020
Journal Article
A novel population of memory‐activated natural killer cells associated with low parasitaemia in Plasmodium falciparum ‐exposed sickle‐cell trait children
Loiseau, Claire, Doumbo, Ogobara K., Traore, Boubacar, Brady, Jamie L., Proietti, Carla, Sousa, Karina P., Crompton, Peter D. and Doolan, Denise L. (2020). A novel population of memory‐activated natural killer cells associated with low parasitaemia in Plasmodium falciparum ‐exposed sickle‐cell trait children. Clinical and Translational Immunology, 9 (4) e1125, e1125. doi: 10.1002/cti2.1125
2020
Journal Article
Immune signature against Plasmodium falciparum antigens predicts clinical immunity in distinct malaria endemic communities
Proietti, Carla, Krause, Lutz, Trieu, Angela, Dodoo, Daniel, Gyan, Ben, Koram, Kwadwo A., Rogers, William O., Richie, Thomas L., Crompton, Peter D., Felgner, Philip L. and Doolan, Denise L. (2020). Immune signature against Plasmodium falciparum antigens predicts clinical immunity in distinct malaria endemic communities. Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, 19 (1), 101-113. doi: 10.1074/mcp.RA118.001256
2020
Journal Article
The association between the comprehensive Epstein–Barr virus serologic profile and endemic Burkitt lymphoma
Coghill, Anna E., Proietti, Carla, Liu, Zhiwei, Krause, Lutz, Bethony, Jeff, Prokunina-Olsson, Ludmila, Obajemu, Adeola, Nkrumah, Francis, Biggar, Robert J., Bhatia, Kishor, Hildesheim, Allan, Doolan, Denise L. and Mbulaiteye, Sam M. (2020). The association between the comprehensive Epstein–Barr virus serologic profile and endemic Burkitt lymphoma. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, 29 (1), 57-62. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-0551
2019
Journal Article
Protective immunity against severe malaria in children is associated with a limited repertoire of antibodies to conserved PfEMP1 variants
Tessema, Sofonias K., Nakajima, Rie, Jasinskas, Algis, Monk, Stephanie L., Lekieffre, Lea, Lin, Enmoore, Kiniboro, Benson, Proietti, Carla, Siba, Peter, Felgner, Philip L., Doolan, Denise L., Mueller, Ivo and Barry, Alyssa E. (2019). Protective immunity against severe malaria in children is associated with a limited repertoire of antibodies to conserved PfEMP1 variants. Cell Host & Microbe, 26 (5), 579-590+. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2019.10.012
2019
Journal Article
Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale infections and their association with common red blood cell polymorphisms in a highly endemic area of Uganda
Subissi, Lorenzo, Kanoi, Bernard N., Balikagala, Betty, Egwang, Thomas G., Oguike, Mary, Verra, Federica, Proietti, Carla, Bousema, Teun, Drakeley, Chris J. and Sepulveda, Nuno (2019). Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale infections and their association with common red blood cell polymorphisms in a highly endemic area of Uganda. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 113 (7), 370-378. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trz015
2018
Journal Article
Patterns of interindividual variability in the antibody repertoire targeting proteins across the Epstein-Barr virus proteome
Liu, Zhiwei, Coghill, Anna E., Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Proietti, Carla, Hsu, Wan-Lun, Chien, Yin-Chu, Lekieffre, Lea, Krause, Lutz, Yu, Kelly J., Lou, Pei-Jen, Wang, Cheng-Ping, Mulvenna, Jason, Middeldorp, Jaap M., Bethony, Jeff, Chen, Chien-Jen, Doolan, Denise L. and Hildesheim, Allan (2018). Patterns of interindividual variability in the antibody repertoire targeting proteins across the Epstein-Barr virus proteome. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 217 (12), 1923-1931. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy122
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Carla Proietti is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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UNDERSTANDING THE LINK BETWEEN EBV AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
An opportunity exists for a PhD position in molecular immunology, where cutting-edge technologies will be applied to understand the molecular basis of the link between EBV and Multiple Sclerosis. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the top identified causative agent of Multiple Sclerosis, but how this occurs is not known. This project aims to apply an innovative approach using proteome-wide screening of EBV to identify the subset of EBV proteins from the complete EBV proteome that triggers MS. It will compare responses in individuals with different stages of MS and apply sophisticated computational analytics to identify specific EBV proteins that predict MS disease. This EBV signature of MS could be translated into a clinic-friendly point-of-care test. If successful, this project could revolutionize the diagnosis and management of MS, providing patients with a quicker and more accurate diagnosis and enhanced quality of life.
Subject areas: Immunology, Molecular immunology, Systems biology, Multiple Sclerosis, Autoimmunity, EBV
Eligibility: Entry: Bachelor degree with Honours Class I (or equivalent via outstanding record of professional or research achievements) Experience/Background: laboratory-based experience in immunology, host-pathogen interactions, immune regulation and infectious diseases; excellent computer, communication, and organisational skills are required.
Supervisors:
Professor Denise Doolan & Dr Carla Proietti
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MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY OF MALARIA
An opportunity exists for a PhD position in the molecular immunology of malaria. The focus of this project will be to apply cutting-edge technologies to understand the molecular basis of protective immunity to malaria. It will take advantage of controlled human infection models and as well as animal models to explore the mechanisms underlying protective immunity to malaria and immune responsiveness. Using a range of interdisciplinary approaches, including immune profiling, transcriptomics, proteomics, and small molecule characterization, the project aims to define the critical cells and signalling pathways required for protective immunity against malaria. It is anticipated that this research will have broad application to a wide range of infectious and chronic diseases, with important implications for vaccination.
Subject areas: Immunology, Molecular immunology, Systems biology, Vaccinology, Malaria
Eligibility: Entry: Bachelor degree with Honours Class I (or equivalent via outstanding record of professional or research achievements) Experience/Background: laboratory-based experience in immunology, host-pathogen interactions, immune regulation and infectious diseases; excellent computer, communication, and organisational skills are required.
Supervisors:
Professor Denise Doolan (IMB) & Dr Carla Proietti (IMB)
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SYSTEMS IMMUNOLOGY AND MULTI-OMICS APPROACHES TO UNDERSTAND PROTECTIVE IMMUNITY TO HUMAN MALARIA
This PhD project aims to develop and apply computational approaches that integrate systems biology and molecular immunology to understand host-pathogen immunity and predict immune control of malaria. The project will utilise systems-based immunology and multi-omics approaches to profile the host immune response in controlled infection models of malaria at molecular, cellular, transcriptome and proteome-wide scale.
The overall aim will be to develop and apply omics-based technologies and computational tools, including network theory and machine learning, to integrate multiple high-dimensional datasets and reveal novel insights into host-pathogen immunity and predict immune responsiveness and parasite control. Modelling of large-scale existing datasets, including those generated by single-cell RNA-sequencing technologies, may also be a feature of this project. The opportunity to identify new knowledge and integrate this with experimental data produced by our laboratory will be instrumental to extending the impact of these bioinformatics analyses. This project will provide an opportunity to be at the forefront in cutting-edge technologies and advances in computational analysis of integrated high-dimensional omic data.
Methodologies: Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, Immunology, Systems Immunology, Systems Biology, Genomics/Proteomics/Transcriptomics, Molecular and Cell Biology, Statistics
Eligibility: Entry: BSc Honours Class I (or equivalent via outstanding record of professional or research achievements) Experience/Background: Experience with programming languages, mathematics, statistics and/or background in immunology and molecular sciences, with an interest in integrating the fields of immunology and bioinformatics.
Excellent computer, communication, and organisational skills are required. Forward thinking, innovation and creativity are encouraged.
Supervisors:
Professor Denise Doolan (IMB) & Dr Carla Proietti (IMB)
Associate Professor Jessica Mar (AIBN)
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