Staff Directory

Academic Qualification
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ocean Science) - Doctor of Philosophy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
- Master of Science in Microbiology - Masters Degree, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
- Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology - Bachelor Degree, Dublin City University, Ireland
Zaima Azira Bt. Zainal Abidin (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Associate Professor
IIUM Kuantan Campus
KULLIYYAH OF SCIENCE
zzaima@iium.edu.my
5048
Expert Profile
Zaima Azira Zainal Abidin obtained her BSc (Hons) Biotechnology from Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland under Yayasan Tenaga Nasional (YTN) scholarship. She pursed her MSc (Microbiology) in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia doing research in plant biotechnology followed by PhD (Marine Science) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia specializing in marine actinomycetes particularly in natural product discovery. She has joined Kulliyyah of Science, IIUM since 2003 as Assistant Lecturer in Department of Biotechnology and in 2013 she was appointed as Asst. Prof. Dr.
Her research interest include environmental microbiology particularly actinomycetes from underexplored locations, microbial natural product and molecular biology. She has completed several research grants as Principal Investigator - IIUM Endownment Fund, RAGS and FRGS and she also co-researches several other research collaborations. She has won several medals in IRIE exhibition and she is also active in publications.
Her research interest include environmental microbiology particularly actinomycetes from underexplored locations, microbial natural product and molecular biology. She has completed several research grants as Principal Investigator - IIUM Endownment Fund, RAGS and FRGS and she also co-researches several other research collaborations. She has won several medals in IRIE exhibition and she is also active in publications.
Area of Specialisation
- Natural Science ~ Biological Sciences ~ Microbiology ~ Other Microbiology n.e.c. - Marine microbiology
- Natural Science ~ Marine Sciences ~ Marine Biochemistry ~ Marine Natural Products - Bioactive compounds from marine actinomycetes
- Biotechnology ~ Biotechnology ~ Molecular Biology ~ Molecular and Structural Biology - Plant biotechnology
Teaching Responsibilities
APPLIED MOLECULAR GENETICS | 2015/2016 2017/2018 2016/2017 2018/2019 2004/2005 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 |
APPLIED MOLECULAR GENETICS IN FOOD | 2020/2021 |
BASIC GENETIC ENGINEERING | 2005/2006 2004/2005 2018/2019 2003/2004 2017/2018 |
BIODIVERSITY | 2017/2018 2016/2017 |
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY | 2014/2015 2020/2021 2017/2018 2013/2014 2015/2016 2018/2019 2016/2017 |
FINAL YEAR PROJECT | 2020/2021 |
FINAL YEAR PROJECT II | 2020/2021 |
FUNDAMENTAL OF MICROBIOLOGY | 2020/2021 |
INSTRUMENTATION AND TECHNIQUES IN PLANT SCIENCES II | 2018/2019 2016/2017 2017/2018 |
INTRODUCTORY MICROBIOLOGY | 2006/2007 2005/2006 2012/2013 |
MARINE MICROBIOLOGY | 2012/2013 2014/2015 2011/2012 2013/2014 2015/2016 |
MARINE NATURAL PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES | 2014/2015 2012/2013 2013/2014 2015/2016 2016/2017 |
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN BIOTECHNOLOGY | 2018/2019 2017/2018 |
Research Projects
Completed
2018 - 2020 | Empowerment of fisherman-communities in Segari, Perak through participation in mangrove conservation and reforestation initiatives |
2016 - 2019 | Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of genes involved in flowering of Stevia rebaudiana |
2016 - 2020 | The screening of xylanase from Kuantan mangrove actinomycetes |
2015 - 2018 | Over expression of Actinomcyete relA and rshA genes to enhance secondary metabolite production |
2014 - 2018 | Microbial Diversity of Pekan Peat Swamp Forest Soil and their Functional Potential Through Cultivation and Metagenomic Approach |
2014 - 2016 | The Screening for Potential Xylan, Cellulose and Lignin Biodegradation Activities from Microbial Communities in the South East Pahang Peat Swamp Forest Sediment and Peat Water |
2013 - 2016 | Screening of Chloroplast Promoters for Hevea Chloroplast Transformation |
2013 - 2016 | Screening of Mangrove Actinomycetes and Their Antimicrobial Potentials |
2012 - 2014 | Growth and Survival of Malaysian Sport Fish Tor tambroides Fry by Applying Phototropic Bacteria as Feed Supplement. |
2012 - 2015 | Heavy metal and Antibiotic Resistance of the Bacterical Flora in Sediments of Coastal Water of Pahang, Malaysia |
2011 - 2013 | (RU2011) Isolation, diversity, and antimicrobial screening of actinomyctes isolated from mangrove sediments in Tanjung Lumpur, Pahang |
2006 - 2012 | Studies on Mangrove in Pulau Toba, Langkawi |
2005 - 2007 | Physico-Chemical Characteristics and Sediment Environment of the Coastal Water, Pulau Tuba and its Nearby Islands, Langkawi |
On-Going
2020 - Present | The Effectiveness of EM Mudball in Remediating Balok River |
2020 - Present | PEMELIHARAAN DAN PEMULIHARAAN TASIK DI KOMPLEKS YAYASAN PAHANG DAN KAWASAN SEKITAR |
2019 - Present | In vitro propagation of Etlingera elatior J. (Torch ginger) via indirect regeneration |
2019 - Present | Genotypic analysis of Catechol 2,3-Dioxygenase gene in oil clean-up crews isolated from Sungai Balok. |
2018 - Present | Microbial Biotransformation of Sesquiterpenoid and Diarylheptanoid from Curcuma sp. By Actinomycetes strains towards Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer Activities |
2017 - Present | The effect of coculture on rare actinomycete, Actinophytocola sp. with live/dead cells of bacteria in eliciting secondary metabolite production |
2015 - Present | Sponge-associated fungal diversity with functional analysis of halogenase and cellulase |
2004 - Present | Functional Food and Nutraceuticals Research Unit (FFNRU) |
- | Profiling fatty acids and mineral composition of Antarctic microalgae and their potential application in fish nutrition |
Publications
Article
Conference or Workshop Item
2018 | Actinophytocola sp. K4-08: rare actinomycete with potential biosynthetic capability. In: 34th Symposium of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology 2018, |
2017 | Endophytic bacteria from Anysophyllea disticha (Raja Berangkat. In: 6th International Conference on Advancement in Science and Technology (iCAST 2017), |
2017 | Verrucosispora sp. K2-04, potential xylanase producer from Kuantan Mangrove Forest sediment. In: 2017 SEOUL Conference, |
2016 | Antibacterial property of crude extract from stem-bark and leaves of Rhizophora apiculata against selected bacterial fish pathogens. In: Medical Research Symposium & Pacific Partnership in conjunction with Kuantan Research Day 2016, |
2016 | Antimicrobial activities of actinomycetes isolated from Malaysian tropical mangrove forest of Kuantan, Pahang. In: 5th International Conference on Environment, Energy and Biotechnology 2016, |
2016 | Heavy metals resistance bacteria in marine sediment of Pahang coastal water. In: 2nd International Conference on Oceanography and Sustainable Marine Production (ICOSMaP 2016), |
2015 | Antibiotic resistant bacteria from sediment of coastal water of Pahang, Malaysia. In: International Conference on Advancement in Science and Technology (iCAST 2015) , |
2015 | Comparison of different AGAR plates used in the isolation of bacteria from Pekan peat SWAMP forest soil. In: International Congress of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology 2015 (7-10 December 2015) hosted in Bayview Beach resort, Penang, Malaysia, |
2015 | Diversity and antimicrobial activities of mangrove actinomycetes isolated from Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan. In: 5th International Conference of Advancement in Science And Technology (iCAST 2015), |
2015 | Isolation of bacteria from acidic peat swamp forest soil and their lignin degradation potential. In: International Conference on Advancement in Science and Technology (iCAST 2015) - ‘Frontiers in Biotechnology’, |
2015 | Screening for ligninase-producing bacteria from South East Pahang peat swamp forest soil. In: International Congress of the Malaysian Society of Microbiology (Microbiology Meeting the needs of a changing world held 7-10 December 2015,, |
2014 | Antibiotic resistant bacteria from sediment of coastal water of Pahang Malaysia. In: International Conference on Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences (ICABES-14), |
2014 | Selective isolation of actinomycetes from mangrove forest of Pahang, Malaysia. In: International Conference on Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences (ICABES-14), |
2013 | Selective isolation of rare actinomycetes from mangrove sediment of Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan. In: International Congress of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology 2013, |
2011 | Isolation of actinomycin derivatives from diffusible pigment of Streptomyces sp. UKMCC_PT7. In: Simposium Kimia Analisis Malaysia, |
2009 | Antimicrobial activities of some marine actinonycetes isolated from Malaysians waters. In: International Symposium on the Biology of Actinomycetes , |
2009 | Streptomyces sp. UKMCC_PT15: Potential anticancer agent producer. In: International Congress of Malaysian Society for Microbiology, |
Book
2020 | Bioprospects of coastal ecosystem and sustainable resource management. Noor Publishing, ISBN: 978-620-2-79106-9 |