Mubassir has successfully defended his MPhil thesis on 1 December 2016, and passed with minor corrections. He was working on the modelling and bioinformatic analysis of Xa21 and PAMP RaxX21, which are the key proteins involved in pathogen triggered immunity in plant.
Congratulations Mubassir!
Congratulations Judith Audu on being awarded UTM International Doctoral Fund (IDF) for Semester I 2016/2017. Judith is working towards her PhD in Proteomics Lab, on POME treatment/energy generation using dark fermentation and bioelectrochemical systems.
Well done!
Congratulations Fatin Syuhadah on successfully submitting her MSc dissertation! She was working on the anaerobic utilisation of starch and simultaneous biohydrogen production by Bacillus sp. SSA. We wish her all the best with her new position.
Chon Shi Jing, from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) has just completed her internship in Proteomics Lab. She was working on the isolation and identification of starch-degrading, biohydrogen-producing bacteria from starch processing industry. We wish her all the best in her studies!
Congratulations to Proteomics Lab FYUP students on successfully presenting their reports during the last FYUP Seminar. They are Ayathull Fatin Mohd Jar, Mohd Sukri Hassan, Mohd Firdaus Noraslan, and Tham Sin Ying. Good luck in your future endeavour!
Update (18 October 2016): This position has now been filled.
MSc and PhD positions are now available on characterisations of marine microalgae associated with harmful algal bloom (HAB) in Malaysia. Applications are invited from candidates with good BSc (for MSc study), and MSc degree (for PhD study) in Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Marine Biology, and related disciplines. Monthly allowance are provided (Malaysian only). Interested candidate may email me at firdausw@utm.my. Project details are provided below.
Title: Characterisation of Marine Microalgae Associated with Algal Bloom Events in Malaysian Waters
Researchers: Assoc. Prof. Datin Dr. Zaharah Ibrahim, Dr. Mohd Firdaus Abdul Wahab, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir, Dr. Haryati Jamaluddin, FBME, UTM Skudai.
Dr. Shaza Eva Mohamad, MJIIT, UTM Kuala Lumpur.
Collaborators:
Prof. Dr. Mazlan Hashim (and his remote sensing team), Geoscience and Digital Earth Centre (INSTeG), UTM.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Normah Maan (and her mathematics team), Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, UTM.
Dr. Batiah Mahadi (and her social science team), Faculty of Management, UTM.
Dr. Amin Pour (and his geology team), Geoscience and Digital Earth Centre (INSTeG), UTM.
Project Summary:
This study is an important sub-project of TRGS programme focusing on the verification of mathematical modelling developed by sub-project 4 (mathematics team) related to algal bloom events and the impacts of climate change on marine microalgae in Malaysian waters.
The physiology and chemical responses of marine microalgae changes according to the environmental impacts. The change in climate affects the ocean parameters, leading to more frequent algal blooms. Evidently, harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Malaysian waters were found to occur more frequently, with significant economic impacts on coastal aquaculture industries. Space-based satellite detection provides a platform for early warning system. However, models constructed based on the satellite data will have to be correlated with in situ measurements and laboratory experiments on the marine microalgae.
Thus, seawater samples will be collected and ocean parameters will be measured at the algal bloom locations. The samples will be brought back to the laboratory to further characterise the species present. Toxins levels in the microalgae will be identified and quantified. Mathematical models will be developed, based on satellite data and historical in situ data on algal bloom events in Malaysia. The models will be used to predict the location and time of next algal bloom events. At the predicted location and time, seawater samples will be collected together with measurements of parameters described above.
This research is expected to provide laboratory data to determine the accuracy of the developed mathematical model and to bridge the gap between observations and predictive understanding of algal blooms. Real data such as algal cell concentration, species and toxin levels and types will be utilised to validate the model to predict and forecast algal growth dynamics and HAB formation. Accurate forecasting of algal bloom events by specifically addressing algal dynamics as predictive tool will mitigate the impacts on human populations and ecosystems.
Specific Project Objectives:
Update (18 October 2016): This position has now been filled.
One (1) MSc by full research position is currently available in my lab, on the biochemistry of heat shock protein 47. Application is welcomed from Malaysian candidate, with suitable background (good BSc degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology or related). Monthly allowance will be provided. Please email me at firdausw@utm.my if interested.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project title: Binding Strength and pH-release Behaviour of Human Heat Shock Protein 47 (HSP47).
Main supervisor: Dr. Mohd Firdaus Abdul Wahab, Faculty of Biosciences and Medical Engineering, UTM.
Co-supervisors: Dr. Normala Abd. Latip, Faculty of Pharmacy;
Dr. Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abdul Kadir, Institute for Medical Molecular Biotechnology, UiTM.
Summary: Previously, we have successfully constructed a series of His-to-Ala (HA) mutants targeting all fourteen histidine residues of human HSP47, to elucidate the so- called “pH-switch mechanism”. This is the mechanism known to govern the release of HSP47 from collagen. While some HA mutations do not pose significant perturbations in HSP47 function, several others were found to impair the binding to collagen. This current project is thus proposed to investigate this effect, and to further investigate the pH-switch mechanism using a more advanced biophysical technique. Several HA mutants will be subjected to an ELISA-based binding assay, and pH-titration circular dichroism spectroscopy. This project is expected to further shed light on the involvement of histidine residues to HSP47 behaviour, not only on the release mechanism, but also on the binding or on maintaining the protein structural integrity.
Congratulations Nadia Hanis Hashim and Attahiru Abubakar on passing their MSc (mixed mode) viva examinations! Nadia was investigating anaerobic azo dye decolourisation, and its potential biohydrogen production ability, and Attahiru was working on biohydrogen producing bacteria from starch-containing industrial wastes. Well done!
A message from BiotechCorp to all students (UG and PG). Please join to know more about Bio-xcell and BiotechCorp. FBME students can refer to T02 Academic Office for more information and registration.
“Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation Sdn Bhd (BiotechCorp) together with Industry Centre of Excellence (ICoE) Biotechnology Cluster and BioXcell Malaysia Sdn Bhd will jointly organize an event called PURPLE FIESTA @ BIOXCELL MALAYSIA 2015.
PURPLE FIESTA is another career campaign to promote and educate the stakeholders on bioeconomy careers in Malaysia. There are various colour codes exist in biotechnology industry which reflects the fields in the industry; such as white for industrial biotechnology, blue for marine biotechnology, green for agricultural biotechnology and red for biomedical. Shades of purple inspires intellectual thought and achievement, therefore we would like to feature purple as the colour for talent and education in the bioeconomy industry. This fiesta is to enlighten the people particularly the students, graduates and lecturers with the career prospects in the bioeconomy industry. It will be held on 12 & 13 December 2015 at Bio-Xcell Malaysia in Nusajaya, Johor. Bio-Xcell is Malaysia’s premier dedicated custom-built biotechnology park, a joint venture between BiotechCorp and UEM Sunrise Berhad.
At the PURPLE FIESTA, we will organize several workshops under the brand of Studio 777 (Studio Train The Trainers) focusing the educators, lecturers and career counselors. The workshop will feature session on Technology of Engagement to attract Gen-Y in the teaching delivery, Biotechnology Industry Updates by Senior Management of BiotechCorp, Bio-Xcell Tour and also Personal Grooming session.”
Our new paper on silver nanoparticle toxicity on environmental bacteria is now available online. It is published in the Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection (Elsevier). Read the article here.
Abstract
Background/Purposes
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are currently important in various industrial applications. However, the impact upon their release into the environment on the microorganisms remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-capped AgNPs synthesized in this lab on two bacterial strains isolated from the environment; Gram-negative Citrobacter sp. A1 and Gram-positive Enterococcus sp. C1.
Methods
PVP-capped AgNPs were synthesized by ultrasound-assisted chemical reduction. Characterization of the AgNPs involved UV-Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Citrobacter sp. A1 and Enterococcus sp. C1 were exposed to varying concentrations of AgNPs and cell viability determined. Scanning electron microscopy was done to evaluate the morphological alteration on both species upon exposure to AgNPs at 1000 mg/L.
Results
AgNPs synthesized were spherical in shape with an average particle size of 15 nm. The AgNPs had different but prominent effects on either Citrobacter sp. A1 or Enterococcussp. C1. At 1000 mg/L AgNPs, Citrobacter sp. A1 retained viability for 6 h while Enterococcus sp. C1 only 3 h. Citrobacter sp. A1 appeared to be more resistant to AgNPs than Enterococcus sp. C1. The cell wall of both strains was found to be morphologically altered at that concentration.
Conclusions
Minute and spherical AgNPs significantly affected the viability of the two bacterial strains selected from the environment. Enterococcus sp. C1 was more vulnerable to AgNPs, probably due to its cell wall architecture and the absence of silver resistance-related genes.