Simona Gabrielli

Associate Professor in Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases - SSD MVET-03/B, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases

simona.gabrielli@uniroma1.it

Academic Appointments

  • 2020: Italian habilitation as Full Professor in the scientific discipline H3/07 “Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Animals”
  • 2009: Specialization school (MSc) in Microbiology and Virology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
  • 2005: PhD in Public Health, Sapienza University of Rome in collaboration with the University of Salamanca, Spain.
  • 2002: Degree in Biological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Awards

  • 2022 Best Oral Communication, 7th European Dirofilaria and Angyostrongylus Days, Madrid 23-25 September 2022
  • 2017 Fondo Finanziamento Attività Base di Ricerca FFABR2017-Ministero Università e Ricerca
  • 2017 Award EFSA Congress “Circolazione ed impatto dei patogeni enterici in Italia”, Rome/Italy, 18-10-18.
  • 2008 EFP Student Scholarship- X European Multicolloquium of Parasitology, Paris/France, 24-29/8/08.
  • 2008 Award Excellence in Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease- 18th ECCMID European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Barcelona/Spain, 19- 22/4/08
  • 2006 Award Federico Nitti- Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze detta dei XL
  • 2002 Award Giovani Parassitologi So.I.Pa 2002- XXII Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana di Parassitologia, Grugliasco (TO), 11-14/6/ 2002

Scientific interests

Simona Gabrielli is a recognized expert in human parasitic diseases, with particular emphasis on the diagnosis of dirofilariosis in vertebrate hosts, including humans, as well as in vectors. Her research is documented in over 20 peer-reviewed publications on the subject. With a strong background in medical entomology, she has extensive experience in breeding dipteran vectors, including mosquitoes. Currently, she is engaged in research projects focused on the role of extracellular vesicles in the adult stage of the filarial nematode Dirofilaria and their potential as vaccine candidates.

In addition to her research, she actively participates in educational programs aimed at promoting healthy behaviors, improving healthcare access in low-income countries, and training local healthcare workers in the diagnosis and management of parasitic diseases.

Contribution to Science

Studies on vector-host-parasite interactions
Molecular epidemiology and diagnosis of vector-borne parasites of medical and veterinary significance
Ecological niche modeling to predict the potential distribution of Leishmania and Dirofilaria vectors
Molecular epidemiology of neglected parasitic diseases in low-income countries
Prevention and control of intestinal parasites and vector-borne diseases in low-income countries
Surveillance and monitoring of parasitic diseases in blood donors and vulnerable populations
Development and validation of serological and molecular tools for diagnosing parasitic zoonoses in humans
Molecular epidemiology of parasitic zoonoses of medical importance

5 Selected publications

  • González C, Calderón JM, López AM, Bernardini I, Gradoni L, Pombi M, Bongiorno G, Gabrielli S. Species-specific variation in predicted distribution and habitat suitability of phlebotomine sand flies in Italy under different climate change scenarios. Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 17;15(1):13297. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-96296-w.
  • Gabrielli S, Brustenga L, Morganti G, Ciuca L, Barlozzari G, Rigamonti G, Orlandi M, Sforna M, Veronesi F. Genetic variability of Dirofilaria repens isolates from humans and dogs in Italy. Vet Parasitol. 2024 Feb;326:110096. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110096.
  • Tasić-Otasevic S, Golubović M, Trichei S, Zdravkovic D, Jordan R, Gabrielli S. Microfilaremic Dirofilaria repens Infection in Patient from Serbia. Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Dec;29(12):2548-2550. doi: 10.3201/eid2912.230796.
  • Spinicci M, Macchioni F, Gamboa H, Poma V, Villagrán AL, Strohmeyer M, Roselli M, Vargas R, Bartoloni A, Gabrielli S. Persistence of Trypanosoma cruzi vector-borne transmission among school-age children in the Bolivian Chaco documented by 24-month longitudinal serosurveillance. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2023 Jan 3;117(1):58-60. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trac065.
  • Gabrielli S, Mangano V, Furzi F, Oliva A, Vita S, Poscia R, Fazii P, Di Paolo J, Marocco R, Mastroianni CM, Bruschi F, Mattiucci S. Molecular Identification of New Cases of Human Dirofilariosis (Dirofilaria repens) in Italy. Pathogens. 2021 Feb 23;10(2):251. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10020251.

On-going Grants

Project Title Funding source Amount (Euros) Period Role of the PI
Development of Aedes albopictus / Dirofilaria immitis experimental model for the study of host-parasite interactions Progetti di Ricerca, Università Sapienza Prot. RM123188F416446B 10.600 2023-2026 PI (20% of time)

Complete list of published work in MyBibliography:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=gabrielli+simona&size=50

KEYWORDS:

Parasitic diseases; Vector-borne parasitic diseases; Vectors; Zoonosis; Diagnosis; Surveillance.

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