Working groups
Alessia is a PhD student at the Burnet Institute and the University of Melbourne working with the Beeson group on developing novel malaria vaccines under the supervision of Prof James Beeson, Dr Liriye Kurtovic, and Dr Herbert Opi. Her PhD project primarily focuses on the current, leading pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine RTS,S which confers modest efficacy (55% over 12 months in phase III clinical trials).
Alessia is determining the specific conserved, variable, and polymorphic epitopes within the vaccine antigen (circumsporozoite protein) responsible for mediating highly protective RTS,S-induced antibody responses.
Additionally, she investigates how the presence of diverse P. falciparum strains circulating in malaria-endemic regions impacts RTS,S efficacy. Through this work, Alessia seeks to inform the development of highly protective next-generation P. falciparum vaccines.
Alessia previously obtained a Master of Biomedical Science in 2022 (Burnet Institute and the University of Melbourne) and a Bachelor of Biomedicine in 2020 (the University of Melbourne).
The Lancet Microbe
Gaoqian Feng, Liriye Kurtovic, Alessia Hysa, Katherine O’Flaherty, Bruce D. Wines, Laura D’Andrea, Heidi E. Drummer, P. Mark Hogarth, Freya J. I. Fowkes, James G. Beeson
The Lancet Microbe
Gaoqian Feng, Liriye Kurtovic, Alessia Hysa, Katherine O’Flaherty, Bruce D. Wines, Laura D’Andrea, Heidi E. Drummer, P. Mark Hogarth, Freya J. I. Fowkes, James G. Beeson
Trends in Parasitology
Timothy K.C. Ho, Alessia Hysa, K. E. Stoll Pekin, Timothy K.C. Ho, Alessia Hysa, K. E. Stoll Pekin
The project identifies and prioritises candidate antigens for vaccine development.
We're researching the immune responses induced by the RTS,S vaccine where the burden of malaria is highest: among young children in multiple malaria-endemic African countries.
Vaccination is a highly effective strategy to protect populations against infectious diseases. Highly protective and long-lasting vaccines are needed to reduce the global burden of malaria and enable elimination.