Prof Ivo Mueller, Division Head | WEHI Researcher Profile

Q: Serological markers of recent exposure to malaria

We are developing serological markers of recent exposure to malaria infections to aid elimination of this disease. We are doing so via the measurement of antibody responses in samples from cohort studies conducted in various malaria endemic regions around the world, along with the development of specialised diagnostic algorithms.

Q: Identification of novel malaria vaccine candidates

We are utilising well-characterised epidemiological studies to support the discovery and validation of novel malaria vaccine candidates. People in malaria-endemic countries naturally gain immunity to clinical disease. We are investigating which proteins are good targets for a vaccine-induced protective immune response and how antibodies against these targets induce protection against clinical disease. Our recent studies focus on measurement of functional antibody responses.

Q: COVID PROFILE: A longitudinal Victorian COVID-19 cohort

The COVID PROFILE study is designed to understand COVID-19 immunity in the Victorian community and was launched in October 2020. We have collected multiple different biospecimens from more than 150 participants at regular time points over 2.5 years. This will lead to improved understanding of immunity over time.

Q: Infectious disease transmission modelling

This project involves the modelling and quantitative analyses of infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and malaria, in Australia and the Asia-Pacific to aid in disease prevention, control, and elimination. For example, this work has included the investigation of COVID-19 epidemiology, transmission, acquisition, and waning of both vaccine-induced and naturally acquired immunity to SARS-CoV-2. The results of these scenario models have been used to inform COVID-19 policies in Australia and in the South Pacific countries.

Q: Autoreactive immune responses in infection.

This project involves understanding of autoreactive (both humoral and cellular) immune responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection. As part of this project, a novel, customised serological assay has been developed that enables measurement of autoantibodies in plasma and/or serum. Findings from this project may lead to identification of individuals that are at risk of long-term and/or future complications.

Q: Longitudinal cellular and humoral immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination.

Using samples collected as part of the COVID PROFILE study, this project comprehensively investigates longitudinal immune responses. We have adapted a Luminex-based multiplex serological assay to enable measurement of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels and are also measuring T cell responses over time after primary infection, vaccination and in some cases after re-infection.

About

We aim to study malaria host-parasite interactions with a particular focus on gaining a better understanding of:
* Differential patterns of natural acquisition of immune responses and their association with parasite exposure and protection from infection.
* Parasite dynamics within the human host and the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of parasites.
* Transmission epidemiology and biology of Plasmodium gametocytes and sporozoites.
* Host immune responses to Plasmodium infection and how they relate to exposure history and protection against clinical disease
* The role of hypnozoite in the increase resilience of P. vivax to control and elimination.
* Host genetic adaptation to malaria.

These questions are being addressed with a range of population-based studies in malaria-affected regions of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, Cambodia and Brazil that combine well-designed epidemiological and clinical studies with in-depth molecular, immunological and systems biology studies of host-parasite interactions.

More recently we have extended into studying COVID-19 infection. Leveraging our experience from malaria serology, we have developed novel approached to COVID-19 sero-surveillance and are studying the acquisition and maintenance of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infections.

In parallel, we are supporting health authorities in the Pacific with planning for and managing the COVID-19 pandemic by modelling different SARS-CoV-2 transmission scenarios and development of analytical tools to monitor the local progression of the pandemic.

Education

Grants and funding

Publications

Selected publications from Prof Ivo Mueller

Saeed M, Aitken EH, Naung MT, Bourke C, Wu KW, Longley RJ, Chung AW, Damelang T, Kiniboro B, Mueller I, Rogerson SJ. Association of a novel IgG3 allele with malaria in children from the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2025;:10.1093/infdis/jiaf390

Tacoli C, Kleinecke M, Hoon KS, Trimarsanto H, Nadeem M, Eam R, Khim N, Rumaseb A, Ley B, Sayre D, Phok S, Lek D, Witkowski B, Hwang J, Auburn S, Mueller I, Price RN, Popovici J. Rapid detection of G6PD deficiency SNPs using a novel amplicon-based MinION Sequencing Assay. 2025;:10.1101/2025.06.23.661218

Rosado J, Han J, Obadia T, Munro J, Traore Z, Schoffer K, Brewster J, Bourke C, Vinetz JM, White M, Bahlo M, Gamboa D, Mueller I, Ruybal-Pesántez S. Understanding Plasmodium vivax recurrent infections using an amplicon deep sequencing assay, PvAmpSeq, identity-by-descent and model-based classification. 2025;:10.1101/2025.05.26.25327775

Ciavarella C, Drakeley C, Price RN, Mueller I, White M. Quantifying Plasmodium vivax radical cure efficacy: a modelling study integrating clinical trial data and transmission dynamics. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2025;25(6):10.1016/s1473-3099(24)00689-3

França CT, Hostetler JB, Sharma S, White MT, Lin E, Kiniboro B, Waltmann A, Darcy AW, Li Wai Suen CSN, Siba P, King CL, Rayner JC, Fairhurst RM, Mueller I. Correction: An antibody screen of a Plasmodium vivax antigen library identifies novel merozoite proteins associated with clinical protection. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2025;19(5):10.1371/journal.pntd.0013122

Bernal J, Macalinao ML, Cosca K, Boncayao B, Mueller I, Espino FEJ, Stresman G, Luchavez J, Longley RJ. Applying novel Plasmodium Vivax serological exposure markers to quantify residual malaria transmission in the Philippines through repeated health facility surveys: the SMaRT study protocol. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2025;25(1):10.1186/s12879-025-10934-2

Eriksson EM, Mueller I. Increased fatty acid production and macrophage‐driven inflammation as key drivers of severe respiratory disease. Immunology and Cell Biology. 2025;103(3):10.1111/imcb.12852

D J, Krauss L, Smith L, D’Andrea L, Chan L-J, Abraham A, Kiernan-Walker N, Mazhari R, Lamont M, Lim PS, Sattabongkot J, Lacerda MV, Wini L, Mueller I, Longley RJ, Pymm P, Fleishman SJ, Tham W-H. Stabilized designs of the malaria adhesin protein PvRBP2b for use as a potential diagnostic for Plasmodium vivax. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2025;301(3):10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108290

Tacoli C, Thin S, Ea M, Khim N, Orban A, Lek D, Longley RJ, White M, Robinson LJ, Witkowski B, Mueller I, Popovici J. Evaluating the technical feasibility of serological testing and treatment for Plasmodium vivax in mobile at-risk of malaria Cambodian populations. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific. 2025;56:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101518

Tréhard H, Musset L, Lazrek Y, White M, Pelleau S, Mueller I, Djossou F, Sanna A, Landier J, Gaudart J, Mosnier E. Which diagnostic test to use for Testing and Treatment strategies in Plasmodium vivax low-transmission settings: a secondary analysis of a longitudinal interventional study. The Lancet Regional Health – Americas. 2024;38:10.1016/j.lana.2024.100883