EXPLORING ANTARCTICA		RESEARCH PROJECTS
		Biological and functional diversity of prokaryotes in Antarctica and the arctic Researchers Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irene Tan Kit-Ping (Project Leader), University of Malaya Dr. Geok-Yuan Annie Tan, University of Malaya Assoc. Prof. Dr. Richard Wong Chee-Seng, University of Malaya Assoc. Prof. Dr. Misni Misran, University of Malaya Postgraduate Students NAME CANDIDATURE FIELD OF RESEARCH STATUS Goh Yuh-Shan PhD Polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria from Antarctic soils On-going Chong Chun-Wie PhD Prokaryote diversity in ecologically-distinct sites in Antarctica On-going Sharmila Veerasamy Master of Biotechnology Biosurfactant production by antarctic bacteria Completed Leelatulasi Salwoom Master of Science Prokaryote diversity of Schirmacher Oasis for consecutive seasons On-going Chin Lib-Kent Master of Biotechnology Actinomycetes from Antarctic and arctic soils On-going   Undergraduate Student (Project, 8 credits) NAME DEGREE YEAR GRADUATED PROJECT TITLE Koe Chun Chong BSc (Biochem) 2006 The effect of temperature on the growth and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production of an Antarctic bacterial isolate   International Collaboration 2005: Dr. Irene K.P.Tan signed an MoU entitled “Prokaryote diversity in Antarctic soils and sediments” with Dr. Peter Convey, British Antarctic Survey which allows group members to work at Signy Research Station during the 2005/6 and 2006/7 austral summer seasons, and research collaboration. 2006: Dr. Irene K.P.Tan signed an MoU entitled “Biological and Functional Diversity of Polar Microorganisms” with Dr. Lee Hong-Kum, Korea Polar Research Institute which allows group members to work at KOPRI's arctic and Antarctic stations, and research collaboration. 2005: Our IPY EoI No. 205 entitled “Biological and functional diversity of microbial communities in ecologically distinct polar environments” was accepted by the IPY 2007-2008 International Joint Committee, and is now under a collective project named MERGE (IPY Project No. 429) headed by Dr. Takeshi Naganuma from Hiroshima University.   Fundings (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation) 8 th Malaysia Plan 2001: RM 50,000.00 2002: RM 50,000.00 2003: RM 70,000.00 2004: RM 170,000.00 2005: RM 130,000.00 9 th Malaysia Plan 2006: RM 150,000.00   EXPEDITIONS Expedition to Supported by Expeditioner(s) Period Signy station, Antarctica British Antarctic Survey G.Y.Annie Tan Chong Chun-Wie (underwent pre-departure training at BAS, Cambridge , UK ) Dec 2006 – Jan 2007 Dec 2006 – Mar 2007 (Sept 2006) Dasan station, Arctic Korea Polar Research Institute Irene K.P.Tan July 2006 Casey station, Antarctica Australian Antarctic Division Chong Chun-Wie Dec 2005 Signy station, Antarctica British Antarctic Survey G.Y.Annie Tan Goh Yuh-Shan (Both underwent pre-departure training at BAS, Cambridge , UK ) Dec 2005 – Jan 2006 Dec 2005 – Jan 2006 (Sept 2005) Maitri station, Antarctica National Council for Antarctic and Ocean Research , India Leelatulasi Salwoom Dec 2004 – Mar 2005 Casey station, Antarctica Australian Antarctic Division Irene K.P.Tan Dec 2002 – Jan 2003   Publications  Proceedings Alias SA, Omar S, Abdul Wahab A, Salwoom LT, Tan IKP (2006) Soil microfungi of Windmill Island and Maitri station, Antarctica: Diversity based on molecular and physical characteristics; and preliminary study on the effect of temperature and salinity on selected antarctic fungi.  Proceedíngs of the VI Reunión Chilena de Investigación Antártica y II Simposio Latinoamericano Sobre Investigaciones Antárticas , 16 -18 August 2006, Concepcion, Chile. p. 301-306 Lee SM, Ramachandran S, Tan IKP (2005) Development of molecular techniques to analyse bacterial diversity in two Antarctic specially protected area (ASPA) sites around Casey station. Proceedings of the 2 nd Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica : Global laboratory for scientific and international cooperation, 3-5 May 2004, Penang , Malaysia . p 157-160   Abstracts Goh YS, Tan GYA, Tan IKP (2006) Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)-producing bacteria from Antarctic soils. Abstracts of the 11 th Biological Sciences Graduate Congress , 15-17 December 2006, Bangkok , Thailand .   Salwoom LT, Tan GYA, Tan IKP (2006) Bacterial diversity of soil and sediment samples from Schirmacher Oasis, Antarctica . Abstracts of the 11 th Biological Sciences Graduate Congress , 15-17 December 2006, Bangkok , Thailand .   Chong CW, Tan GYA, Tan IKP (2006) Assessment of Bacterial Communities in Antarctic Soils from Ecologically Distinct Sites around Casey Station, Antarctica . Abstracts of the 9 th Asia Pacific International Molecular Biology Network (A-IMBN) and 16 th Malaysian Society of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MSMBB) Scientific Meeting , 3-5 September 2006, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Goh YS, Tan GYA, Tan IKP (2006) Identification of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-producing Bacteria from Antarctic Soils. Abstracts of the 9 th Asia Pacific International Molecular Biology Network (A-IMBN) and 16 th Malaysian Society of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MSMBB) Scientific Meeting , 3-5 September 2006, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.   Tan IKP , Goh YS, Tan GYA (2006) Occurrence and Diversity of Polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing Bacteria in Antarctic Soils. Abstracts of the 2 nd SCAR Open Science Conf ., 12-14 July 2006, Hobart , Australia .   Tan GYA, Chong CW, Salwoom LT, Tan IKP (2006) Bacterial Diversity in Environmental Samples from Antarctica . Abstracts of the 2 nd SCAR Open Science Conf ., 12-14 July 2006, Hobart , Australia .   Alias SA, Omar S, Abdul Wahab A, Salwoom L, Tan IKP (2006) Diversity of soil fungi from Windmill Island and Maitri Station, Antarctica and Effect of temperature and salinity on selected Antarctic fungi. Abstracts of the 2 nd SCAR Open Science Conf ., 12-14 July 2006, Hobart , Australia .   Tan IKP , Goh YS, Sharmila V, Tan GYA, Misni M (2005) Isolation and screening of Antarctic bacteria for the ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates and biosurfactants. Abstracts Book, 9 th SCAR International Biology Symposium “Evolution and Biodiversity in Antarctica”, 25-29 July 2005, Curitiba , Brazil . p 203   Goh YS, Tan GYA, Tan IKP (2005) Screening of antarctic bacteria for the ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates. Abstracts Book, Seminar on Antarctic Research in the University of Malaya , 27-29 June 2005, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. p 22   Sharmila V, Misni M, Tan IKP (2005) Screening of antarctic bacteria for the ability to produce biosurfactants. Abstracts Book, Seminar on Antarctic Research in the University of Malaya , 27-29 June 2005, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. p 29   Leelatulasi S, Tan GYA, Tan IKP (2005) Expedition to Maitri and assessment of bacteria diversity in environmental samples. Abstracts Book, Seminar on Antarctic Research in the University of Malaya , 27-29 June 2005, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. p 30   Lee SM, Tan IKP (2004) Comparison of protocols for extraction of genomic DNA from antarctic waters. Abstracts Book, 1 st SCAR Open Science Conference “Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the Global System”, 26-28 July 2004, Bremen , Germany . p 117   Thong KL, Lee SM, Tan IKP (2003) Evaluation of various protocols of genomic DNA extraction from tropical and antarctic waters. Abstracts Book, 13 th Scientific Meeting and 14 th Annual Meeting of the Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology ( MSMBB) , 19-21 May 2003, Putrajaya, Malaysia.   Thong KL, Wong YY, Tan IKP (2002) Application of molecular techniques in assessing bacterial diversity. Abstracts Book, 1 st Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica : Opportunities for research, 5-6 August 2002, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia . p 67   Awards Event Date Title of Exhibit Award Expo UM 2006, Research, Invention and Innovation 18-20 July 2006 Tan IKP, Goh YS, Tan GYA. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) – producing bacteria from antarctic soils ………………………………… Tan GYA, Chong CW, Salwoom LT, Tan IKP. Assessment of bacterial community in antarctic soils Bronze       ……….. Bronze   Outreach Activities A Public Talk “Expedition to an arctic station, Ny-Alesund , Norway ” was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irene K.P.Tan, Prof. Dr. Phang Siew Moi and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Aisah Alias on 29 September 2006 in Kuala Lumpur . This was followed by newspaper reports in The Star, 2 Oct 2006 , N21 ( Trio tell of arctic experience ) and in The Sunday Star, 15 Oct 2006 , StarEducation Cover Story pp 1-3 ( Destination Arctic – Conducting research in the cold ). “Sains ke Desa” Programme is organized by the National Science Centre and the Academy of Sciences Malaysia whereby scientists travel to small towns to give talks to secondary school students. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irene K.P.Tan traveled to Mersing, Johor on 28 March 2006 and gave a talk on “Biotechnology” and elaborated on her Bioplastics from Palm Oil project and Antarctica project.    Conference Attended And Papers Presented Conference, date, place Participant(s) Paper(s) presented   11 th Biological Sciences Graduate Congress, 15-17 December 2006, Bangkok , Thailand     Irene K.P.Tan Goh Yuh Shan Leelatulasi Salwoom   Goh YS, Tan GYA, Tan IKP . Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)-producing bacteria from Antarctic soils   Salwoom LT, Tan GYA, Tan IKP . Bacterial diversity of soil and sediment samples from Schirmacher Oasis, Antarctica   Public Talk 29 September 2006 Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia   Irene K.P.Tan   Tan IKP, Phang SM, Alias SA . Expedition to an arctic station, Ny-Alesund , Norway   Antarctic Briefing Conf, First Aid Course and Field Training, September 2006, Cambridge , United Kingdom   Chong Chun-Wie   9 th Asia Pacific International Molecular Biology Network (A-IMBN) and 16 th Malaysian Society of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MSMBB) Scientific Meeting, 3-5 September 2006, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia   G.Y.Annie Tan Goh Yuh-Shan Leelatulasi Salwoom Chong Chun-Wie   Goh YS, Tan GYA, Tan IKP . Identification of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-producing Bacteria from Antarctic Soils   Salwoom LT, Tan GYA, Tan IKP . Bacterial diversity of soil and sediment samples from Schirmacher Oasis, Antarctica   Chong CW, Tan GYA, Tan IKP . Assessment of Bacterial Communities in Antarctic Soils from Ecologically Distinct Sites around Casey Station, Antarctica   Expo UM 2006, Research, Invention and Innovation, 18-20 July 2006, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia   G.Y.Annie Tan Goh Yuh-Shan Leelatulasi Salwoom Chong Chun-Wie   Tan IKP, Goh YS, Tan GYA . Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) – producing bacteria from antarctic soils   Tan GYA, Chong CW, Salwoom LT, Tan IKP . Assessment of bacterial community in antarctic soils   2 nd SCAR Open Science Conference, 12-14 July 2006, Hobart , Australia   Irene K.P.Tan G.Y.Annie Tan   Tan IKP , Goh YS, Tan GYA . Occurrence and Diversity of Polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing Bacteria in Antarctic Soils   Tan GYA, Chong CW, Salwoom LT, Tan IKP . Bacterial Diversity in Environmental Samples from Antarctica   “Sains ke Desa” Programme: Scientists give talks to secondary school students, 28 March 2006 , Mersing , Malaysia   Irene K.P.Tan   Tan IKP . Biotechnology (elaborated on my Bioplastics from Palm Oil project and Antarctica project)   Official visit as Invited Scientist to Korea Polar Research Institute, 26-29 October 2005 Ansan , Korea   Irene K.P.Tan   Tan IKP . Biodiversity of polar microorganisms and screening of useful compounds   Antarctic Briefing Conf, First Aid Course and Field Training, 4-17 September 2005, Cambridge , United Kingdom   G.Y.Annie Tan Goh Yuh-Shan   9 th SCAR International Biology Symposium “Evolution and Biodiversity in Antarctica ”, 25-29 July 2005, Curitiba , Brazil   Irene K.P.Tan   Tan IKP , Goh YS, Sharmila V, Tan GYA, Misni M . Isolation and screening of Antarctic bacteria for the ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates and biosurfactants   Seminar on Antarctic Research in the University of Malaya , 27-29 June 2005, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia   Irene K.P.Tan G.Y.Annie Tan Sharmila Veerasamy Goh Yuh-Shan Leelatulasi Salwoom Chong Chun-Wie   Goh YS, Tan GYA, Tan IKP . Screening of antarctic bacteria for the ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates   Sharmila V, Misni M, Tan IKP . Screening of antarctic bacteria for the ability to produce biosurfactants   Salwoom LT, Tan GYA, Tan IKP . Expedition to Maitri and assessment of bacteria diversity in environmental samples   1 st SCAR Open Science Conference “ Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the Global System”, 26-28 July 2004, Bremen , Germany   Irene K.P.Tan     Lee SM, Tan IKP . Comparison of protocols for extraction of genomic DNA from antarctic waters   2 nd Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica : Global laboratory for scientific and international cooperation, 3-5 May 2004, Penang , Malaysia   Irene K.P.Tan Srividya Ramachandran   Lee SM, Ramachandran S, Tan IKP . Development of molecular techniques to analyse bacterial diversity in two Antarctic specially protected area (ASPA) sites around Casey station   13 th Scientific Meeting and 14 th Annual Meeting of the Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology ( MSMBB), 19-21 May 2003, Putrajaya , Malaysia   Thong Kwai-Lin Lee Sui-Mae   Thong KL, Lee SM, Tan IKP . Evaluation of various protocols of genomic DNA extraction from tropical and antarctic waters   1 st Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica : Opportunities for research, 5-6 August 2002, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia   Irene K.P.Tan Thong Kwai Lin   Thong KL, Wong YY, Tan IKP . Application of molecular techniques in assessing bacterial diversity