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.

• Biotechnology ~ Biotechnology ~ Molecular Biology ~ Molecular and Structural Biology - Plant biotechnology
• 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

Completed

2020 - 2022	PEMELIHARAAN DAN PEMULIHARAAN TASIK DI KOMPLEKS YAYASAN PAHANG DAN KAWASAN SEKITAR
2020 - 2022	The Effectiveness of EM Mudball in Remediating Balok River
2019 - 2022	In vitro propagation of Etlingera elatior J. (Torch ginger) via indirect regeneration
2019 - 2023	Study of Catechol 2,3-Dioxygenase gene in oil clean-up crews isolated from Sungai Balok.
2018 - 2022	Microbial Biotransformation of Sesquiterpenoid and Diarylheptanoid from Curcuma sp. By Actinomycetes strains towards Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer Activities
2018 - 2020	Empowerment of fisherman-communities in Segari, Perak through participation in mangrove conservation and reforestation initiatives
2017 - 2022	The effect of coculture on rare actinomycete, Actinophytocola sp. with live/dead cells of bacteria in eliciting secondary metabolite production
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 - 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
2014 - 2018	Microbial Diversity of Pekan Peat Swamp Forest Soil and their Functional Potential Through Cultivation and Metagenomic Approach
2013 - 2016	Screening of Mangrove Actinomycetes and Their Antimicrobial Potentials
2013 - 2016	Screening of Chloroplast Promoters for Hevea Chloroplast Transformation
2012 - 2015	Heavy metal and Antibiotic Resistance of the Bacterical Flora in Sediments of Coastal Water of Pahang, Malaysia
2012 - 2014	Growth and Survival of Malaysian Sport Fish Tor tambroides Fry by Applying Phototropic Bacteria as Feed Supplement.
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

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

Article

2022	Biotransformation of curcumin and structure–activity relationship (SAR) of its analogues: a systematic review. Biocatalysis and Biotransformation, () pp.
2022	Isolation of microalgae from antarctic soil. Science Heritage Journal (GWS), 6 (2) pp. 34-36
2022	Microalgae from Antarctic soil. Revelation and Science, 12 (2) pp. 71-78
2021	Biotransformation of sesquiterpenoids: a recent insight. Journal of Asian Natural Products Research, () pp. 1-44
2021	Growth optimization of mangrove Streptomyces for enhancement of actinorhodin production. Desalination and Water Treatment, 219 () pp. 217-222
2021	Growth optimization of mangrove Streptomyces for enhancement of actinorhodin production. Desalination and Water Treatment, 219 () pp. 217-222
2021	Marine actinomycetes from Malaysia marine environments with antagonistic potential. Desalination and Water Treatment, 219 () pp. 51-59
2021	Purification of xanthorrhizol and screening of selected microbes for its biotransformation. Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, 25 (6) pp. 949-958
2020	Diversity of cultivable bacteria by strategic enrichment isolated from farmed edible red seaweed, Gracilaria sp.. Journal Clean WAS (JCleanWAS), 4 (1) pp. 17-20
2020	Endophytic bacteria of Anisophyllea disticha (Raja Berangkat) from tropical lake environment in Malaysia. Desalination and Water Treatment, 188 () pp. 282-287
2020	Fatty acid profiles of Antarctic cyanobacteria Leptolyngbya. Journal of Environmental Biology, 41 (4) pp. 687-694
2020	Isolation of heavy metal resistance bacteria from lake sediment of IIUM, Kuantan. Desalination and Water Treatment, 188 () pp. 431-435
2020	Rare actinomycetes from Kuantan mangrove forest sediment. Journal Clean WAS, 4 (2) pp. 64-68
2020	Screening of biodegradation potential for n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon among isolates from the north-western tip of Pahang. Desalination and Water Treatment, 191 () pp. 207-212
2018	Diversity, antimicrobial capabilities, and biosynthetic potential of mangrove actinomycetes from coastal waters in Pahang, Malaysia. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 82 Fall () pp. 174-179
2018	Genetic polymorphisms of human transcription factor-7 like 2 (TCF7L2), β-defensin (DEFB1) and CD14 genes in nephrolithiasis patients. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 118 (Part A) pp. 610-616
2018	Heavy metals and antibiotic resistance bacteria in marine sediment of Pahang coastal water. Journal CleanWAS, 2 (1) pp. 20-22
2018	Isolation and characterization of hydrocarbon tolerant microorganisms from marine environment. International Journal of Integrated Engineering, 10 (6) pp. 133-138
2017	Association of MMP-9 gene polymorphisms with nephrolithiasis patients. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, 32 (1) pp. 1-6
2017	Determination of alpha-2-MRAP gene polymorphisms innephrolithiasis patients. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 105 (Part 1) pp. 1324-1327
2017	Verrucosispora sp. K2-04, Potential Xylanase Producer from Kuantan Mangrove Forest Sediment. International Journal of Food Engineering, 3 (2) pp. 165-168
2016	Biotechnological potential of Kuantan mangrove actinomycete, Micromonospora K3-13. The International Medical Journal Malaysia, 15 (Supplement Issue) pp. 108-108
2016	Comparison of various culture media effectiveness in the isolation of bacteria from Pekan peat swamp forest soil. Malaysian Journal of Microbiology, 12 (6) pp. 450-454
2016	Marine streptomyces SP. UKMCC_PT15 producing undecylprodigiosin with algicidal activity. Jurnal Teknologi, 78 (11(2)) pp. 55-60
2016	Screening of ligninase-producing bacteria from south east Pahang peat swamp forest soil. Malaysian Journal of Microbiology, 12 (6) pp. 433-437
2016	Selective isolation and antagonistic activity of actinomycetes from mangrove forest of Pahang, Malaysia. Frontiers in Life Science, Vol. 9 (1) pp. 24-31
2016	Serum E3 SUMO-protein ligase NSE2 level and peroxynitrite related to oxidative stress in nephrolithiasis patients. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 7 (3) pp. 249-252
2015	Antibiotic resistant bacteria from sediment of coastal water of Pahang, Malaysia. Jurnal Teknologi, 77 (24) pp. 65-70
2015	Diversity and antimicrobial activity of mangrove soil actinomycetes isolated from Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan. Jurnal Teknologi, 77 (25) pp. 37-43
2015	Isolation of bacteria from the acidic peat swamp forest soil and their lignin degradation potential. Jurnal Teknologi, 77 (24) pp. 77-81
2015	Screening of chloroplast promoters for Hevea brasiliensis chloroplast transformation. Jurnal Teknologi, 77 (24) pp. 165-170
2015	Selective isolation of Actinomycetes from mangrove sediment of Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan, Malaysia . Malaysian Journal of Microbiology, 11 (2) pp. 144-155
2014	Carotenoid contents in anoxygenic phototrophic purple bacteria, Marichromatium Sp. and Rhodopseudomonas Sp. of tropical environment, Malaysia . Oriental Journal of Chemistry, 30 (2) pp. 607-613

Conference or Workshop Item

2021	Purification and Screening of Selected Microbes for Biotransformation of Xanthorrizolfrom the Essential Oil of Curcuma xanthorrhiza. In: 33rdInternational Conference of Analytical Sciences (SKAM33,
2021	Screening of selected microbes as biocatalysts for biotransformation of Xanthorrhizol from curcuma Xanthorrhiza. In: 7th International Conference on Advancement in Science & Technology,
2019	Isolation Of Marine Sponge-associated Fungi From Bidong And Karah Islands. In: KOS Postgraduate Colloquium,
2018	Actinophytocola sp. K4-08: rare actinomycete with potential biosynthetic capability. In: 34th Symposium of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology 2018,
2018	Eukaryotic diversity of marine sponges from Bidong Island, Malaysia. In: KOS PG Colloquium 2018,
2018	Gracilaria manilaensis as an alternative food source. In: National Seminar on Rural Entrepreneurship Development for Poverty Eradication,
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

Book Section

2020	Cultivation vs the ‘omics’ approach for microbial bioprospecting in the 21st century: coastal environment in Malaysia. In: Noor Publishing, ISBN: 9786202791069, pp. 25-34
2020	Heavy metal resistant bacteria from marine sediment of Pantai Balok, Pahang, Malaysia. In: Noor Publishing, ISBN: 9786202791069, pp. 52-59
2020	Heavy metal resistant bacteria from marine sediment of Pantai Balok, Pahang, Malaysia. In: Noor Publishing, ISBN: 9786202791069, pp. 52-59
2020	Heavy metal resistant bacteria from marine sediment of Pantai Balok, Pahang, Malaysia. In: Noor Publishing, ISBN: 9786202791069, pp. 52-59
2020	Heavy metal resistant bacteria from marine sediment of Pantai Balok, Pahang, Malaysia. In: Noor Publishing, ISBN: 9786202791069, pp. 52-59
2020	Review: Actinomycetes Diversity and Biosynthetic Capabilities of East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia Coastal Water. In: Noor Publishing, ISBN: 9786202791069, pp. 68-79
2020	Study of Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase activity assay in mangrove streptomyces for actinohordin and undercylprodigiosin production. In: Noor Publication, ISBN: 978-620-2-79106-9, pp. 17-24
2020	Study of Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase activity assay in mangrove streptomyces for actinohordin and undercylprodigiosin production. In: Noor Publication, ISBN: 978-620-2-79106-9, pp. 17-24
2011	Bioethics and biotechnology: A holistic approach in Islamic perspectives . In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674182007, pp. 1-15
2011	In Planta Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation of MR 219 rice . In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674182007, pp. 258-267
2011	Review on marine actinomycetes . In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674182007, pp. 141-153
2011	The effect of cooking methods on meat samples using PCR-RFLP analysis . In: IIUM Press, ISBN: 9789674182007, pp. 305-313
2006	Biodiversity and marine biotechnology: a new era for the development of biotechnology industry. In: Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, ISBN: 9834301006, pp. 67-74

Monograph

2021	Cadangan Pemeliharaan dan Pemuliharaan tasik di kompleks Yayasan Pahang dan kawasan sekitar. In: IIUM Entrepreneurship and Consultancies Sdn Bhd.,