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
2018
Journal Article
Identification of a Novel, EBV-based antibody risk stratification signature for early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Taiwan
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. (2018). Identification of a Novel, EBV-based antibody risk stratification signature for early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Taiwan. Clinical Cancer Research, 24 (6), 1305-1314. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-1929
2017
Journal Article
Calypso: a user-friendly web-server for mining and visualizing microbiome-environment interactions
Zakrzewski, Martha, Proietti, Carla, Ellis, Jonathan J., Hasan, Shihab, Brion, Marie-Jo, Berger, Bernard and Krause, Lutz (2017). Calypso: a user-friendly web-server for mining and visualizing microbiome-environment interactions. Bioinformatics, 33 (5), 782-783. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btw725
2016
Journal Article
Mining, visualizing and comparing multidimensional biomolecular data using the Genomics Data Miner (GMine) web-server
Proietti, Carla, Zakrzewski, Martha, Watkins, Thomas S., Berger, Bernard, Hasan, Shihab, Ratnatunga, Champa N., Brion, Marie-Jo, Crompton, Peter D., Miles, John J., Doolan, Denise L. and Krause, Lutz (2016). Mining, visualizing and comparing multidimensional biomolecular data using the Genomics Data Miner (GMine) web-server. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 38178. doi: 10.1038/srep38178
2015
Journal Article
The case for a rational genome-based vaccine against malaria
Proietti, Carla and Doolan, Denise L. (2015). The case for a rational genome-based vaccine against malaria. Frontiers in Microbiology, 5 (DEC) 741, 1-19. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00741
2014
Journal Article
Genome-based vaccine design: The promise for malaria and other infectious diseases
Doolan, Denise L., Apte, Simon H. and Proietti, Carla (2014). Genome-based vaccine design: The promise for malaria and other infectious diseases. International Journal for Parasitology, 44 (12), 901-913. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.07.010
2013
Journal Article
Influence of infection on malaria-specific antibody dynamics in a cohort exposed to intense malaria transmission in northern Uganda
Proietti, C., Verra, F., Bretscher, M. T., Stone, W., Kanoi, B. N., Balikagala, B., Egwang, T. G., Corran, P., Ronca, R., Arca, B., Riley, E. M., Crisanti, A., Drakeley, C. and Bousema, T. (2013). Influence of infection on malaria-specific antibody dynamics in a cohort exposed to intense malaria transmission in northern Uganda. Parasite Immunology, 35 (5-6), 164-173. doi: 10.1111/pim.12031
2012
Conference Publication
Dissecting T cell or antibody immunodominance in a complex host-pathogen system
Proietti, Carla, Krause, Lutz, Roddick, Joanne, Trieu, Angela and Doolan, Denise L. (2012). Dissecting T cell or antibody immunodominance in a complex host-pathogen system. Challenges in Malaria Research, Basel, Switzerland, 10-12 October 2012. London, United Kingdom: BioMed Central. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-11-s1-o23
2011
Journal Article
Continuing intense malaria transmission in northern Uganda
Proietti, Carla, Pettinato, Davide D., Kanoi, Bernard N., Ntege, Edward, Crisanti, Andrea, Riley, Eleanor M., Egwang, Thomas G., Drakeley, Chris and Bousema, Teun (2011). Continuing intense malaria transmission in northern Uganda. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 84 (5), 830-837. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0498
2008
Journal Article
Temporal and spatial distribution of Toxoplasma gondii differentiation into bradyzoites and tissue cyst formation in vivo
Di Cristina, Manlio, Marocco, Daniela, Galizi, Roberto, Proietti, Carla, Spaccapelo, Roberta and Crisanti, Andrea (2008). Temporal and spatial distribution of Toxoplasma gondii differentiation into bradyzoites and tissue cyst formation in vivo. Infection and Immunity, 76 (8), 3491-3501. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00254-08
2007
Journal Article
An anti-β-glucan monoclonal antibody inhibits growth and capsule formation of Cryptococcus neofonnans in vitro and exerts therapeutic, anticryptococcal activity in vivo
Rachini, Anna, Pietrella, Donatella, Lupo, Patrizia, Torosantucci, Antonella, Chiani, Paola, Bromuro, Carla, Proietti, Carla, Bistoni, Francesco, Cassone, Antonio and Vecchiarelli, Anna (2007). An anti-β-glucan monoclonal antibody inhibits growth and capsule formation of Cryptococcus neofonnans in vitro and exerts therapeutic, anticryptococcal activity in vivo. Infection and Immunity, 75 (11), 5085-5094. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00278-07
2007
Journal Article
A biophysical investigation on the binding and controlled DNA release in a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-sodium octyl sulfate cat-anionic vesicle system
Bonincontro, Adalberto, La Mesa, Camillo, Proietti, Carla and Risuleo, Gianfranco (2007). A biophysical investigation on the binding and controlled DNA release in a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-sodium octyl sulfate cat-anionic vesicle system. Biomacromolecules, 8 (6), 1824-1829. doi: 10.1021/bm0612079
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)
Media
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