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Dr Carla Proietti

Research Fellow/Senior Research off

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
c.proietti@uq.edu.au

Overview

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

Publications

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

View all Publications

Grants

View all Grants

Available Projects

  • 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

  • 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)

  • 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)

View all Available Projects

Publications

Journal Article

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

Grants (Administered at UQ)

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • 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

  • 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)

  • 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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ORCID: 0000-0002-6290-0261

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