Dr Salenna Elliott (MBBS, PhD, MPH) is a Senior Research Fellow in the UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health at the University of Queensland. She is a medical practitioner with over 20 years’ experience in infection and immunity research and public health, and has worked in Aboriginal health since 2016. She is committed to addressing inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly young people, in relation to sexual and reproductive health. She coordinates the ENDING-STI project funded by an NHMRC Synergy grant led by Professor James Ward. ENDING-STI is a multidisciplinary precision public health project that aims to reduce prevalence and improve management of sexually transmissible infections in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Northern Territory and Central Queensland. She is also Chief Investigator on a funded NHMRC Ideas grant led by James Ward (IMPACT-STI study: Implementing a precision public health approach to move toward elimination of STIs, control of HIV and inform on other BBVs in regional Australia) and the GOANNA Survey 3, a national sexual health survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. She is Associate Investigator on two additional projects focused on sexually transmissible infections and/or blood borne viruses in Aboriginal communities.
Salenna worked previously with Professor Ward at the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Unit, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) where she coordinated the second GOANNA Survey and co-led the inaugural South Australian sexual health survey Let’s Talk About It. Her earlier research focused on anti-malarial immunity and vaccine development.
She has supervised or mentored Honours, Medical and PhD students in a number of fields.
Journal Article: Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection by age: a global systematic review and meta-analysis
Wang, Bing, Andraweera, Prabha, Elliott, Salenna, Mohammed, Hassen, Lassi, Zohra, Twigger, Ashley, Borgas, Chloe, Gunasekera, Shehani, Ladhani, Shamez and Marshall, Helen Siobhan (2023). Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection by age: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 42 (3), 232-239. doi: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003791
Journal Article: The health and wellbeing of Indigenous adolescents: a global collective for an equitable and sustainable future
Brown, Alex D. H., Crengle, Sue, Tewhaiti-Smith, Jordan, Westhead, Seth, Bingham, Brittany, Brown, Ngiare, Cassidy-Matthews, Chenoa, Clark, Terryann, Finlay, Summer M., Hansen, Ketil L., Harwood, Matire, Niia, Katarina S. H., Iversen, Kine N., Knapp, Jonill M. F., Kvernmo, Siv, Lee, Crystal, Watts, Ricky-Lee T., Nadeau, Melanie, Pearson, Odette, Reading, Jeff, Sarre, Áigin M. F., Seljenes, Amalie, Stoor, Jon Petter A., Eckhoff, Christian, Saewyc, Elizabeth, San Sebastian, Miguel, Elliott, Salenna, Larsen, Christina V. L., Sise, Andrew and Azzopardi, Peter S. (2022). The health and wellbeing of Indigenous adolescents: a global collective for an equitable and sustainable future. The Lancet, 399 (10322), 341-343. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02719-7
Journal Article: A rapid global review of strategies to improve influenza vaccination uptake in Australia
Mohammed, Hassen, McMillan, Mark, Andraweera, Prabha H., Elliott, Salenna R. and Marshall, Helen S. (2021). A rapid global review of strategies to improve influenza vaccination uptake in Australia. Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, 17 (12), 5487-5499. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1978797
(2023–2026) Commonwealth Department of Health
Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection by age: a global systematic review and meta-analysis
Wang, Bing, Andraweera, Prabha, Elliott, Salenna, Mohammed, Hassen, Lassi, Zohra, Twigger, Ashley, Borgas, Chloe, Gunasekera, Shehani, Ladhani, Shamez and Marshall, Helen Siobhan (2023). Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection by age: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 42 (3), 232-239. doi: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003791
Brown, Alex D. H., Crengle, Sue, Tewhaiti-Smith, Jordan, Westhead, Seth, Bingham, Brittany, Brown, Ngiare, Cassidy-Matthews, Chenoa, Clark, Terryann, Finlay, Summer M., Hansen, Ketil L., Harwood, Matire, Niia, Katarina S. H., Iversen, Kine N., Knapp, Jonill M. F., Kvernmo, Siv, Lee, Crystal, Watts, Ricky-Lee T., Nadeau, Melanie, Pearson, Odette, Reading, Jeff, Sarre, Áigin M. F., Seljenes, Amalie, Stoor, Jon Petter A., Eckhoff, Christian, Saewyc, Elizabeth, San Sebastian, Miguel, Elliott, Salenna, Larsen, Christina V. L., Sise, Andrew and Azzopardi, Peter S. (2022). The health and wellbeing of Indigenous adolescents: a global collective for an equitable and sustainable future. The Lancet, 399 (10322), 341-343. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02719-7
A rapid global review of strategies to improve influenza vaccination uptake in Australia
Mohammed, Hassen, McMillan, Mark, Andraweera, Prabha H., Elliott, Salenna R. and Marshall, Helen S. (2021). A rapid global review of strategies to improve influenza vaccination uptake in Australia. Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, 17 (12), 5487-5499. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1978797
Harfield, Stephen, Elliott, Salenna, Ramsey, Liam, Housen, Tambri and Ward, James (2021). Using social networking sites to recruit participants: methods of an online survey of sexual health, knowledge and behaviour of young South Australians. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45 (4) 1753-6405.13117, 1-7. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13117
Bradley, Clare, Hengel, Belinda, Crawford, Katy, Elliott, Salenna, Donovan, Basil, Mak, Donna B., Nattabi, Barbara, Johnson, David, Guy, Rebecca, Fairley, Christopher K., Wand, Handan, Ward, James and and the Centre of Research Excellence in Aboriginal Sexual Health investigator group (2020). Establishment of a sentinel surveillance network for sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses in Aboriginal primary care services across Australia: the ATLAS project. BMC Health Services Research, 20 (1) 769, 769. doi: 10.1186/s12913-020-05388-y
Elliott, Salenna R., Betts, Sarah, Hobbs, Katie, Wand, Handan, Rumbold, Alice R., Ward, James and Johnson, David R. (2019). Analysis of diagnostic data for sexually transmissible infections in South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (2008-16). Sexual Health, 16 (6), 566-573. doi: 10.1071/SH18189
Mugyenyi, Cleopatra K., Elliott, Salenna R., Yap, Xi Zen, Feng, Gaoqian, Boeuf, Philippe, Fegan, Gregory, Osier, Faith F. H., Fowkes, Freya J. I., Avril, Marion, Williams, Thomas N., Marsh, Kevin and Beeson, James G. (2017). Declining malaria transmission differentially impacts the maintenance of humoral immunity to plasmodium falciparum in children. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 216 (7), 887-898. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix370
Drew, Damien R., Wilson, Danny W., Elliott, Salenna R., Cross, Nadia, Terheggen, Ulrich, Hodder, Anthony N., Siba, Peter M., Chelimo, Kiprotich, Dent, Arlene E., Kazura, James W., Mueller, Ivo and Beeson, James G. (2016). A novel approach to identifying patterns of human invasion-inhibitory antibodies guides the design of malaria vaccines incorporating polymorphic antigens. BMC Medicine, 14 (1) 144. doi: 10.1186/s12916-016-0691-6
Elliott, Salenna R., Fowkes, Freya J.I., Richards, Jack S., Reiling, Linda, Drew, Damien R. and Beeson, James G. (2014). Research priorities for the development and implementation of serological tools for malaria surveillance. F1000Prime Reports, 6 100. doi: 10.12703/P6-100
Terheggen, Ulrich, Drew, Damien R., Hodder, Anthony N., Cross, Nadia J., Mugyenyi, Cleopatra K., Barry, Alyssa E., Anders, Robin F., Dutta, Sheetij, Osier, Faith H.A., Elliott, Salenna R., Senn, Nicolas, Stanisic, Danielle I., Marsh, Kevin, Siba, Peter M., Mueller, Ivo, Richards, Jack S. and Beeson, James G. (2014). Limited antigenic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 supports the development of effective multi-allele vaccines. BMC Medicine, 12 (1) 183. doi: 10.1186/s12916-014-0183-5
Mugyenyi, Cleopatra K., Elliott, Salenna R., McCallum, Fiona J., Anders, Robin F., Marsh, Kevin and Beeson, James G. (2013). Antibodies to Polymorphic Invasion-Inhibitory and Non-Inhibitory Epitopes of Plasmodium falciparum Apical Membrane Antigen 1 in Human Malaria. PLoS ONE, 8 (7) e68304. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068304
New insights into acquisition, boosting, and longevity of immunity to malaria in pregnant women
Fowkes, Freya Ji., McGready, Rose, Cross, Nadia J., Hommel, Mirja, Simpson, Julie A., Elliott, Salenna R., Richards, Jack S., Lackovic, Kurt, Viladpai-Nguen, Jacher, Narum, David, Tsuboi, Takafumi, Anders, Robin F., Nosten, François and Beeson, James G. (2012). New insights into acquisition, boosting, and longevity of immunity to malaria in pregnant women. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 206 (10), 1612-1621. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jis566
Wilson, Danny W., Fowkes, Freya J. I., Gilson, Paul R., Elliott, Salenna R., Tavul, Livingstone, Michon, Pascal, Dabod, Elija, Siba, Peter M., Mueller, Ivo, Crabb, Brendan S. and Beeson, James G. (2011). Quantifying the Importance of MSP1-19 as a Target of Growth-Inhibitory and Protective Antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum in Humans. PLoS ONE, 6 (11) e27705. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027705
Hommel, Mirja, Elliott, Salenna R., Soma, Viju, Kelly, Greg, Fowkes, Freya J. I., Chesson, Joanne M., Duffy, Michael F., Bockhorst, Joseph, Avril, Marion, Mueller, Ivo, Raiko, Andrew, Stanisic, Danielle I., Rogerson, Stephen J., Smith, Joseph D. and Beeson, James G. (2010). Evaluation of the antigenic diversity of placenta-binding plasmodium falciparum variants and the antibody repertoire among pregnant women. Infection and Immunity, 78 (5), 1963-1978. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01365-09
Avril, Marion, Cartwright, Megan M., Hathaway, Marianne J., Hommel, Mirja, Elliott, Salenna R., Williamson, Kathryn, Narum, David L., Duffy, Patrick E., Fried, Michal, Beeson, James G. and Smith, Joseph D. (2010). Immunization with VAR2CSA-DBL5 recombinant protein elicits broadly cross-reactive antibodies to placental Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Infection and Immunity, 78 (5), 2248-2256. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00410-09
Estimating the burden of global mortality in children aged <5 years by pathogen-specific causes
Elliott, Salenna R. and Beeson, James G. (2008). Estimating the burden of global mortality in children aged <5 years by pathogen-specific causes. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 46 (11), 1794-1795. doi: 10.1086/588049
Polymorphic and conserved targets of antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum during pregnancy
Beeson, James G., Elliott, Salenna R. and Hommel, Mirja (2008). Polymorphic and conserved targets of antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum during pregnancy. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 197 (9), 1350-1351. doi: 10.1086/586905
Frankland, Sarah, Elliott, Salenna R., Yosaatmadja, Francisca, Beeson, James G., Rogerson, Stephen J., Adisa, Akinola and Tilley, Leann (2007). Serum lipoproteins promote efficient presentation of the malaria virulence protein PfEMP1 at the erythrocyte surface. Eukaryotic Cell, 6 (9), 1584-1594. doi: 10.1128/EC.00063-07
Elliott, Salenna R., Spurck, Timothy P., Dodin, Joelle M., Maier, Alexander G., Voss, Till S., Yosaatmadja, Francisca, Payne, Paul D., McFadden, Geoffrey I., Cowman, Alan F., Rogerson, Stephen J., Schofield, Louis and Brown, Graham V. (2007). Inhibition of dendritic cell maturation by malaria is dose dependent and does not require Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1. Infection and Immunity, 75 (7), 3621-3632. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00095-07
Elliott, Salenna R., Payne, Paul D., Duffy, Michael F., Byrne, Timothy J., Tham, Wai-Hong, Rogerson, Stephen J., Brown, Graham V. and Eisen, Damon P. (2007). Antibody recognition of heterologous variant surface antigens after a single Plasmodium falciparum infection in previously naïve adults. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 76 (5), 860-864. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2007.76.860
Duffy, Michael F., Maier, Alexander G., Byrne, Timothy J., Marty, Allison J., Elliott, Salenna R., O'Neill, Matthew T., Payne, Paul D., Rogerson, Stephen J., Cowman, Alan F., Crabb, Brendan S. and Brown, Graham V. (2006). VAR2CSA is the principal ligand for chondroitin sulfate A in two allogeneic isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 148 (2), 117-124. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2006.03.006
Frankland, Sarah, Adisa, Akinola, Horrocks, Paul, Taraschi, Theodore F., Schneider, Timothy, Elliott, Salenna R., Rogerson, Stephen J., Knuepfer, Ellen, Cowman, Alan F., Newbold, Chris I. and Tilley, Leann (2006). Delivery of the malaria virulence protein PfEMP1 to the erythrocyte surface requires cholesterol-rich domains. Eukaryotic Cell, 5 (5), 849-860. doi: 10.1128/EC.5.5.849-860.2006
Beeson, James G., Mann, Emily J., Byrne, Timothy J., Caragounis, Aphrodite, Elliott, Salenna R., Brown, Graham V. and Rogerson, Stephen J. (2006). Antigenic differences and conservation among placental Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes and acquisition of variant-specific and cross-reactive antibodies. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 193 (5), 721-730. doi: 10.1086/500145
Targets of protective antibodies to malaria during pregnancy
Beeson, James G., Rogerson, Stephen J., Elliott, Salenna R. and Duffy, Michael F. (2005). Targets of protective antibodies to malaria during pregnancy. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 192 (9), 1647-1650. doi: 10.1086/496895
Elliott, Salenna R., Brennan, Amy K., Beeson, James G., Tadesse, Eyob, Molyneux, Malcolm E., Brown, Graham V. and Rogerson, Stephen J. (2005). Placental malaria induces variant-specific antibodies of the cytophilic subtypes immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG3 that correlate with adhesion inhibitory activity. Infection and Immunity, 73 (9), 5903-5907. doi: 10.1128/IAI.73.9.5903-5907.2005
Duffy, Michael F., Byrne, Timothy J., Elliott, Salenna R., Wilson, Danny W., Rogerson, Stephen J., Beeson, James G., Noviyanti, Rintis and Brown, Graham V. (2005). Broad analysis reveals a consistent pattern of var gene transcription in Plasmodium falciparum repeatedly selected for a defined adhesion phenotype. Molecular Microbiology, 56 (3), 774-788. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04577.x
Elliott, Salenna R., Duffy, Michael F., Byrne, Timothy J., Beeson, James G., Mann, Emily J., Wilson, Danny W., Rogerson, Stephen J. and Brown, Graham V. (2005). Cross-reactive surface epitopes on chondroitin sulfate A-adherent Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes are associated with transcription of var2csa. Infection and Immunity, 73 (5), 2848-2856. doi: 10.1128/IAI.73.5.2848-2856.2005
Elliott, Salenna R., Kuns, Rachel D. and Good, Michael F. (2005). Heterologous immunity in the absence of variant-specific antibodies after exposure to subpatent infection with blood-stage malaria. Infection and Immunity, 73 (4), 2478-2485. doi: 10.1128/IAI.73.4.2478-2485.2005
The immunological challenge to developing a vaccine to the blood stages of malaria parasites
Good, Michael F., Stanisic, Danielle, Xu, Huji, Elliott, Salenna and Wykes, Michelle (2004). The immunological challenge to developing a vaccine to the blood stages of malaria parasites. Immunological Reviews, 201 (1), 254-267. doi: 10.1111/j.0105-2896.2004.00178.x
Impairment of humoral immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnancy by HIV infection
Mount, Adele M., Mwapasa, Victor, Elliott, Salenna R., Beeson, James G., Tadesse, Eyob, Lema, Valentino M., Molyneux, Malcolm E., Meshnick, Steven R. and Rogerson, Stephen J. (2004). Impairment of humoral immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnancy by HIV infection. Lancet, 363 (9424), 1860-1867. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16354-X
Beeson, James G., Mann, Emily J., Elliott, Salenna R., Lema, Valentino M., Tadesse, Eyob, Molyneux, Malcolm E., Brown, Graham V. and Rogerson, Stephen J. (2004). Antibodies to Variant Surface Antigens of Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes and Adhesion Inhibitory Antibodies Are Associated with Placental Malaria and Have Overlapping and Distinct Targets. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 189 (3), 540-551. doi: 10.1086/381186
Elliott, Salenna R., Roberton, Don M., Zola, Heddy and MacArdle, Peter J. (2000). Expression of the costimulator molecules, CD40 and CD154, on lymphocytes from neonates and young children. Human Immunology, 61 (4), 378-388. doi: 10.1016/S0198-8859(99)00189-5
Elliott, Salenna R., Macardle, Peter J., Roberton, Don M. and Zola, Heddy (1999). Expression of the costimulator molecules, CD80, CD86, CD28, and CD152 on lymphocytes from neonates and young children. Human Immunology, 60 (11), 1039-1048. doi: 10.1016/S0198-8859(99)00090-7
Interleukin 2 receptor regulation and IL-2 function in the human infant
Zola, H., Ridings, J., Elliott, S., Nobbs, S., Weedon, H., Wheatland, L., Haslam, R., Roberton, D. and Macardle, P. J. (1998). Interleukin 2 receptor regulation and IL-2 function in the human infant. Human Immunology, 59 (10), 615-624. doi: 10.1016/S0198-8859(98)00069-X
Elliott, S. R., MacArdle, P. J. and Zola, H. (1998). Removal of erythroid cells from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cell preparations using magnetic beads and a monoclonal antibody against glycophorin A. Journal of Immunological Methods, 217 (1-2), 121-130. doi: 10.1016/S0022-1759(98)00111-2
(2023–2026) Commonwealth Department of Health