METABOLIC ENGINEERING AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (MEMO-BIO)

 iKohza Name: METABOLIC ENGINEERING AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (MEMO-BIO)
 Leader's Name and Title: Prof. Ir. Dr. Muhamad Ali Muhammad Yuzir
 Deputy Leader (if any):
 Main Contact Email: muhdaliyuzir@utm.my
 Location/Office: Level 9, MJIIT Building
 Website or Social Media (if available): https://mjiit.utm.my/research-memobio/

 Main Research Themes/Keywords:

The METABOLIC ENGINEERING AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (MEMO-BIO) iKohza envisions advancing sustainable bio-based solutions through the exploration and engineering of microorganisms for environmental and industrial applications. Aligned with Malaysia’s rich microbial biodiversity and abundant biomass resources from palm oil and agro-based industries, MEMO-BIO aims to harness microbial capabilities for pollutant degradation and the biosynthesis of high-value products. These include bioethanol, biohydrogen, antibiotics, vitamins, hormones, and other fine chemicals derived from microbial metabolism and pathway engineering. The iKohza’s core research areas encompass water and wastewater treatment, environmental biotechnology, solid waste and resource recovery, renewable energy, and sustainability reporting. Supported by MJIIT’s state-of-the-art facilities for chemical, genomic, and proteomic analyses, MEMO-BIO integrates interdisciplinary expertise to address global challenges in environmental sustainability, energy transition, and circular bioeconomy. The iKohza is committed to innovation that contributes to cleaner technologies and resource-efficient systems through microbial and biotechnological advancements.

 Description of Research Focus Areas :

 Laboratories Used (if applicable):

Ecological Engineering Lab Equipment Important Equipment: Anaerobic workstation, Muffle furnace, Moisture analyzer, Turbidity meter, Flocculator, HACH DR6000 Spectrophotometer, Humidity chamber
Ecological Engineering Lab Picture
Chemical Lab Equipment Important equipment: High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-PDA/RFID), Autoclave, Critical Point Drying apparatus (CPD), Drying Oven, Sonicator Waterbath
Chemical Lab Picture
Biology Lab Equipment Important Equipment: PCR Thermo Cyclers, SDS-Page, Refrigerated Incubator, Refrigerated Centrifuge, Light Microscope, Growth Chambers, Nanophotometer, Eporator, Gel Documentation System
Biology Lab Picture

 Key Equipment/Technology Available:

1. Ecological Engineering Lab Equipment: Anaerobic workstation, Muffle furnace, Moisture analyzer, Turbidity meter, Flocculator, HACH DR6000 Spectrophotometer, Humidity chamber.
2. Chemical Lab Equipment: High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-PDA/RFID), Autoclave, Critical Point Drying apparatus (CPD), Drying Oven, Sonicator Waterbath.
3. Biology Lab Equipment: PCR Thermo Cyclers, SDS-Page, Refrigerated Incubator, Refrigerated Centrifuge, Light Microscope, Growth Chambers, Nanophotometer, Eporator, Gel Documentation System

 List of Ongoing/Recent Projects or Grants :

1. COLLABORATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING NETWORK (CEP-SEEN)
2. EXPLORATION OF BIORESOURCES FOR MENTAL WELLBEING (PARTNERED WITH DELIGHTEXPTE. LTD., SINGAPORE)
3. LAUNCHING “MJIIT-PANASONIC COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH LABORATORY”

Research Focus Areas

• Main Research Themes/Keywords: Wastewater, Biotechnology, Natural Products, Sustainability, ESG, Solid Waste, Resource Recovery, Renewable Energy, Bio-based Environment
• Description of Research Focus Areas: MEMO-BIO iKohza focuses on water and wastewater treatment, environmental biotechnology, solid waste recovery, renewable energy, and sustainability reporting. Utilising MJIIT’s advanced analytical facilities, it integrates interdisciplinary expertise to address global sustainability and energy challenges, promoting cleaner technologies and efficient resource use through microbial and biotechnological innovations.

 Selected Publications (Last 3 Years, Max 5):

Mustapa, M.A., Yuzir, A., Latif, A.A., Ambran, S., Abdullah, N. (2024) A nucleic acid-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering of gold nanorods in N-gene integrated principal component analysis for COVID-19 detection. Spectrochimica Acta - Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy Vol. 311

Rakhmania, Hesam, K., Yuzir, A., Qaim, F., Purba, L., Riyadi, F., (2023) Application of Box-Behnken design to mineralization and color removal of palm oil mill effluent by electrocoagulation process. Environmental Science and Pollution Research Vol. 30: page 71741–71753

Muhammad Imran Firdaus Kamardan, Vasagi Ramachandran, Nurtasbiyah Yusof, Shi Xuan Wong, Shaza Eva Mohamad, Nadia Farhana Azman, Fazrena Nadia Md Akhir, Nor’azizi Othman, Hirofumi Hara. (2024). Potential of Bioresource Usage in The Tropical Area of Southeast Asia for Human Mental Well-Being. Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 45(1), 189–201.

Sahabudin, E., Kubo, S., Yuzir, M. A. M., Othman, N., Nadia Md Akhir, F., Suzuki, K., Yoneda, K., Maeda, Y., Suzuki, I., Hara, H., Iwamoto, K. (2024). The cadmium tolerance and bioaccumulation mechanism of Tetratostichococcus sp. P1: insight from transcriptomics analysis. Bioengineered, 15(1).

 Patents (if any):

Yuzir, A. (Project Leader) System and Kit for Detection of Covid-19 or Analog Thereof. Malaysia Patent Application No. PI2022006022

Copyright

Fazrena Nadia Md Akhir

1. Isolation of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Under Soil Cooling for the Growth of Temperate Root Crop in the Tropics (IP/CR/04597) – Co-Inventor
2. Synthetic Medium Modification for Co-Culture of Tisochrysis lutea and Arthrospira platensis NIES 39 Using the Taguchi Experimental Design (IP/CR/07478) – Co-Inventor

 Current National and International Collaborations:

• River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC),
• Universiti Sains Malaysia,
• Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB),
• Indah Water Konsortium (IWK), T
• sukuba University (Japan),
• Nippon Koei, (Japan),
• Euglena Co., Ltd (Japan),
• Metagen Inc. (Japan),
• Delightex Ptd. Ltd. (Singapore),
• Panasonic R&D Centre Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd.

 Joint Programs/Student Exchanges/Industrial Engagements:

• Universitas Indonesia Attachment to Memobio Lab (March – May 2025)
• Memobio Lab as part of UTM Summer/Spring Course 2025
• Visitation by National University of Laos
• Water sampling and Visitation from Tokyo University and Shizuoka University, Japan

 Community Engagement (if any):

 Academic Staff (Name, Position, Area of Expertise):

Prof. Ir. Dr. Muhamad Ali Muhammad Yuzir Head of iKohza Water Quality, Water Treatment, Wastewater Engineering, Biotechnology Engineering, Solid Waste Management, Membrane Filtration for Drinking Water

Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Nor'azizi Othman Member Biomass, Biochar, Gasification, Combustion, Renewable Energy

Ts. Dr. Fazrena Nadia Md Akhir Member Biotechnology, Environmental Biotechnology, Environmental Microbiology, Cancer Immunotherapy

Dr. Liew Wai Loan Member Wastewater Treatment Processes, Wastes Conversion / Recycle, Environmental Impacts and Processes Modelling, Sustainability / ESG Reporting Frameworks

Dr. Nadia Farhana Azman Member Environmental Engineering and Green Technology, Bioprocess Engineering, Fermentation Technology, Environmental Biotechnology, Hydrogen Production, Microbial Biotechnology, Valorization

 Postdocs/Researchers:
 Postgraduate Students:

 Activity or Lab Photos :

Activity 1: BSC Algae MJIIT Seminar 2025

The BSC Algae MJIIT Seminar 2025 for Proof of Concept (POC) of Biological Soil Crust (BSC) was held in 9 May 2025, at the Seminar Room, Level 4, MJIIT, UTM Kuala Lumpur. Jointly organized by MEMO-BIO iKohza, MJIIT UTM, and Nippon Koei Japan, the seminar highlighted the potential of algae in sustainable biotechnology. The event provided a platform for researchers and academicians to share knowledge, foster collaborations, and drive innovation toward Malaysia’s green and circular economy goals.

Activity 2: Universitas Indonesia Attachment to Memobio Lab (March – May 2025)

Activity 3: Memobio Lab as part of UTM Summer/Spring Course 2025

Memobio Lab received 14 students and lecturers from Hitotsubashi University, Japan and 15 students and lecturers from Dalian University of Technology, China on 17^th February 2025, as part of the activities in the UTM Summer/Spring Course 2025, organized by UTM International. Memobio Lab was chosen by UTM International to briefly share the research activities being conducted in our lab with Panasonic. We also received the honor by having the Managing Director of Panasonic Malaysia, Mr. Takashi Sugihara on sharing the activities that Panasonic has with Memobio Lab.

Activity 4: Visitation by National University of Laos

Memobio Lab received a delegation from the School of Engineering, National University of Laos on 26^th Nov 2024. The delegation is eager to connect with MJIIT and Memobio iKohza, as well referring to our lab on how to set up a functional research lab with connection to the industry.

Activity 5: Water sampling and Visitation from Tokyo University and Shizuoka University, Japan

In December 2024, Memobio Lab helped Academicians from Tokyo University and Shizuoka University to collect water and soil samples from one of the shrimp pond in Bagan Datoh, Perak. The collected samples were collected to study the presence of multi antibiotics resistant organisms available in the environment.

 Link to Video: