EXPLORING ANTARCTICA		RESEARCH PROJECTS
		Adaptative Mechanisms of Antarctic, Tropical and Temperate Microalgae to UVR and Temperature Stress Researchers Prof. Phang Siew Moi (Project Leader) – University of Malaya (PSM) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chu Wan Loy – International Medical University (CWL) Prof. Dr. Rofina Yasmin – University of Malaya (RY) Dr. Ng Kim Yong – Malaysian University of Science and Technology (NKY) Dr. Ho Chai Ling – Universiti Putra Malaysia (HCL) Postgraduate Students Teoh Ming Li (PhD) - University of Malaya Wong Chiew Yen (PhD) – University of Malaya Chong Geeng Loo (MSc) – University of Malaya Shamala Marimuthu (MSc) – University of Malaya External Collaborators Australian Antarctic Division Prof. Andrew McMinn – University of Tasmania , Australia (AM) Prof. John Beardall – Monash University , Australia (JB) Prof. Christian Wiencke – AWI, Germany (CW) Dr. Kai Bischof – University of Kiel , Germany (KB) Prof. Don Cowan – University of the Western Cape , South Africa & South African National Antarctic Program (SANAP) (DC) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hideaki Miyashita- Kyoto Univresity (HM) International Collaboration Projects Project AAD #2590 (Australian Antarctic Division) Microalgae Biodiversity at Antarctica Project AAD #2694 (Australian Antarctic Division) Biochemical Response of Antarctic and Tropical Microalgae to UVR Stress Project AAD #2779 (Australian Antarctic Division) Response of Sea Ice Microalgae to Temperature & Oxidative Stress Collaborator : Prof. Andrew McMinn ( University of Tasmania ) Project SANAP : Microbiology at Marion Island (South African National Antarctic Programme) Collaborator : Prof. Don Cowan (University of the Western Cape , South Africa ) IPY Project No. 429 Microbiological and Ecological Responses to Global Environmental Changes in Polar Regions (MERGE). Collaborator: Prof. Christian Wiencke Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar Research ( Germany ) Grants RMK 8 - RM 525, 950.00 2001 – RM 52,350.00 2002 – RM 48,000.00 2003 – RM 70,000.00 2004 - RM 255,600.00 2005 – RM 100,000.00 RMK 9 (2006) – RM 131,000.00 Publications 3 Refereed journal papers 1 Chapter of book 3 Paper in conference proceedings 26 Conference presentations (Abstracts) 13 International conferences 13 Local conferences Refereed Journals Teoh Ming-Li, Chu Wan-Loy, Harvey Marchant & Phang Siew-Moi (2004) Influence of temperature on the growth, biochemical composition and fatty acid profiles of six Antarctic micromicroalgae J. Applied Phycology 16(6): 421-430 Wong Chiew-Yen, Chu Wan-Loy, Harvey Marchant & Phang Siew-Moi (2004) Growth response, biochemical composition and fatty acid profiles of four Antarctic microalgae subjected to UV radiation stress . Mal. J. Sci . 23(2): 103 – 118. Phang Siew-Moi & Chu Wan-Loy (2004) The University of Malaya Microalgae Culture Collection (UMACC) and potential applications of a unique Chlorella from the collection Japanese Journal of Phycology 52 : 221 – 224 Chapter of Book Chu Wan-Loy, Wong Chiew-Yen, Teoh Ming-Li & Phang Siew-Moi (2005) Response and adaptation of microalgae to the changing global environment In: Fumie Kasai (ed.) Microalgae Culture Collections and the Environment , pp. 177 – 195 Conference Proceedings  Chu Wan-Loy, Heng Poh-Ling, Harvey Marchant & Phang Siew-Moi (2005) Influence of organic carbon on the growth and fatty acid profiles of the Antarctic soil alga Stichococcus UMACC 235 Tan ASH, Yasin Z. & Mansor M (eds), Proceedings of the 2 nd Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica , 3 – 5 May, 2004. Academy of Sciences Malaysia , pp 131 – 135. Teoh Ming-Li, Chu Wan-Loy, Harvey Marchant & Phang Siew-Moi (2005) Variations in growth and fatty acid profiles of six Antarctic micromicroalgae in response to temperature stress Tan ASH, Yasin Z. & Mansor M (eds), Proceedings of the 2 nd Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica , 3 – 5 May, 2004. Academy of Sciences Malaysia , pp141 – 148. Wong Chiew-Yen, Chu Wan-Loy, Harvey Marchant & Phang Siew-Moi (2005) Fatty acid profile as a biochemical marker for four Antarctic micromicroalgae subjected to ultraviolet (UV) radiation stress Tan ASH, Yasin Z. & Mansor M (eds), Proceedings of the 2 nd Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica , 3 – 5 May, 2004. Academy of Sciences Malaysia , pp 149 – 156. Chu Wan-Loy & Phang Siew-Moi (2001) Characteristics of the first Malaysian collection of Antarctic micromicroalgae Proc. 13 th National Biotechnology Seminar, Bayview Beach Resort, Penang . pp. 115-117. Conference Presentations Chu WL , Wong CY, Marchant H, Phang SM. Response of Antarctic, tropical and temperate microalgae to UVR stress. 2nd Latin-American Symposium on Antarctic Research, Concepcion , Chile , 16 – 18 August, 2006 Phang SM, Teoh ML, Chu WL & Harvey Marchant 2006 Comparing the adaptive strategy of Antarctic algae to increasing temperature with that of tropical and temperate algae 29 th SCAR Open Science Conference, Hobart , 8 – 14 th July 2006 Wong CY, Chu WL, & Phang SM. 2006 Comparative studies on the effects of UVR on growth and fatty acid profiles of Antarctic, temperate and tropical microalgae. University of Malaya Graduate Symposium, Kuala Lumpur , 1 – 2 Jun, 2006. Chu WL, Phang SM & Wong CY. 2006 Response and adaptation of Antarctic, temperate and tropical microalgae to UVR stress. 13 th International Symposium on Polar Sciences, Seoul , 9 – 11 May, 2006 . Phang SM, Teoh ML & Chu WL. 2006 Tolerance of Antarctic, temperate and tropical microalgae to temperature stress. 13 th International Symposium on Polar Sciences, Seoul , 9 – 11 May, 2006. Phang SM, Teoh ML & Chu WL. 2006 Response of Antarctic, tropical and temperate microalgae to changing temperature. Poles Apart: Nurturing Global Environment aspects (PANGEA), Chile , 10 – 14 April, 2006. Teoh ML, Chu WL, Marchant H & Phang SM. 2005 Do Antarctic, temperate and tropical microalgae respond differently to temperature stress? The 4 th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum, Bangkok , 2005. Wong CY, Chu WL, Marchant H & Phang SM. 2005 How do Antarctic, temperate and tropical microalgae respond to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) stress? The 4 th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum, Bangkok , 2005. Phang SM, Teoh ML, Chu WL & Marchant H. 2005 Can Antarctic microalgae serve as indicators of global warming? 8 th International Phycological Congress, Durban , South Africa , August 2005. Teoh ML, Chu WL, Marchant H & Phang SM. 2005 Microalgal indicators of global warming in Antarctica . The 10 th International Conference on Applied Phycology, Kunming , China 24 – 28 July 2005. Teoh ML, Chu WL, Marchant H & Phang SM. 2005 Can Antarctic microalgae serve as indicators of global warming? University of Malaya 100 years Expo. Jun, 2005. Phang SM., Chu WL, Wong CY, Teoh ML, Marchant H & Hau L. 2005 Importance of the University of Malaya Algae Culture Collection (UMACC) in the Research on Antarctic Algae. Seminar on Antarctic Research in the University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur , 2005. Chu WL, Chow HW, Yee MS, Wong CY, Teoh ML, Marchant H & Phang SM. 2005. Influence of salinity on the growth and fatty acid profiles of Antarctic Microalgae. Seminar on Antarctic research in the University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur , 2005. Wong CY, Chu WL, Marchant H & Phang SM. 2005. Growth response and fatty acid profiles of Antarctic, tropical and temperate microalgae subjected to UVR stress. Seminar on Antarctic Research in the University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur , 2005 Teoh ML, Chu WL, Marchant H & Phang SM. 2005 How do Antarctic, temperate and tropical microalgae respond differently to temperature stress? Seminar on Antarctic Research in the University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur , 2005. Phang SM, Wong CY, Chu WL & Marchant H. 2004 Effects of UV radiation stress on the growth, biochemical composition and fatty acid profiles of four Antarctic microalgae. 10 th International Congress for Culture Collections : Innovative Roles of Biological Resource Centers , Tsukuba , Japan , 10 – 15 October, 2004 Phang SM & Chu WL. 2004 The University of Malaya Algae Culture Collection. 10 th International Congress for Culture Collections : Innovative Roles of Biological Resource Centers , Tsukuba , Japan , 10 – 15 October, 2004 Teoh ML, Chu WL, Marchant H & Phang SM. 2004 Growth response, biochemical composition and fatty acid profiles of six Antarctic microalgae subjected to temperature stress. 28 th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Open Science Conference , Bremen , Germany , 25 – 31 July, 2004 Phang SM, Chu WL, Wong CY, Teoh ML, Hau L, Marchant H. 2004 Collection of microalgae isolated from the Windmill Islands Region, Antarctica . 2 nd Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica, Penang , April 2004. Wong CY, Chu WL & Phang SM. 2004. Growth response, biochemical composition and fatty acid profiles of four Antarctic microalgae subjected to UV radiation stress. 2 nd Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica, Penang , April 2004. Teoh ML, Chu WL & Phang SM. 2004. Effects of culture temperature on the growth, biochemical composition and fatty-acid profiles of six Antarctic microalgae. 2 nd M'sian International Seminar on Antarctica, Penang , April 2004. Chu WL, Heng PL & Phang SM. 2004. Growth characteristics and fatty acid profiles of the Antarctic soil alga Stichococcus UMACC 235. 2 nd M'sian International Seminar on Antarctica , Penang , April 2004. Teoh ML, Chu WL & Phang SM. 2003 Temperature tolerance of some Antarctic microalgae In: 5 th Asia-Pacific Conference on Algal Biotechnology Qingdao , China , 18 – 21 October, 2003 Chu WL, Wong CY, Teoh ML, Ling H, Marchant H & Phang SM. 2003 Microalgae of the Windmill Islands Region, Antarctica Seminar on “ Islands and Reefs:Towards Conservation and Sustainable Management”, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , 15 – 16 August, 2003 Chu WL, Lim SL, Teoh ML, Wong CY & Phang SM. 2003 Characterisation of the growth and biochemical composition of an Antarctic Chlorella. 13 th Scientific Meeting of the Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Putrajaya , Malaysia , 19 – 21 May, 2003 Chu WL, Yuen YS, and Phang SM. 2002 First Malaysian collection of microalgae from Antarctica . In : Sasekumar A., Gires U., Noraieni M., Ung EH & Lee SC. (eds.), Asia-Pacific Conference on Marine Science & Technology, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , 12-16 May 2002. IPY Project Activity The following Expression of Intent (EOI) (#96) was submitted: Response of Polar, Tropical and Temperate Microalgae to Global Warming and Increased UV Radiation The EOI was under the MERGE consortium (IPY #429). The proposed project will expand our scope to cover the studies on Arctic algae . Collaborators : Prof. Christian Wiencke Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar Research (AWI) Prof. John Beardall Monash University ( Australia ) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hideaki Miyashita Kyoto University Institute of Hydrobiology , Chinese Academy of Sciences ( China ) Prof. Xu Xudong IPY – Logistic Support Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) Dasan Station, Arctic Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar Research (AWI) Koldewey Station Australian Antarctic Division Casey & Davis Station Expeditions under RMK8 Expedition to Casey ( 30 Dec 2000 – 8 Jan 2001 ) Dr. Chu Wan Loy & Dr Selvaraj Expedition to Casey ( 17 Dec 2002 – 8 Jan 2003 ) [AAD Project 2341] Dr. Irene Tan & Wong Chiew Yen Expedition to Casey (17 February – 12 March 2004 ) [AAD Project 2590] Dr. Siti Aisyah Alias & Wong Chiew Yen Expedition to Marion Island (7 Apr – 12 May 2005 ) SANAP Project on “Microbiology at Marion Island ' Dr. Chu Wan Loy Expedition to Casey (2 – 28 Dec 2005) [AAD Project 2694] Wong Chiew Yen & Chong Chung Wie Expeditions under RMK 9 & IPY Project Dasan Station, Arctic (July 2006) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irene Tan, Prof. Phang Siew Moi & Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Aisah Alias Casey Station ( 12 Oct 2006 – 11 Jan 2007 ) AAD 2779 – Sea Ice Algae Project (In collaboration with Prof. Andrew McMinn, Univ. of Tasmania ) Dr. Ng Kim Yong & Shamala Marimuthu Training of Students 3 PhD students (Ongoing) 1 MSc student (Completed 1 MSc student (Ongoing) 8 BSc students (Completed) Postgraduates Name Candidature Title of research project 1. Wong Chiew Yen Doctor of Philosophy ( University of Malaya ) Comparative studies on the effect of UV radiation on the growth and physiological adaptation of Antarctic and tropical micromicroalgae [Ongoing] 2. Teoh Ming Li   Doctor of Philosophy ( University of Malaya ) Comparative studies on the effect of temperature on the growth and physiological adaptation of Antarctic and tropical micromicroalgae [Ongoing]   3. Amy Tam May Yuen   Master of Science (Biotechnology) ( Malaysian University of Science & Technology)   Anti-oxidative enzymes of selected Antarctic micromicroalgae [Ongoing] 4. Chong Geeng Loo Master of Science ( University of Malaya )   Analysis of gene expression of Antarctic micromicroalgae under temperature stress [Ongoing]   5. Shamala Marimuthu Master of Science ( University of Malaya ) Phylogenetics of Antarctic, tropical and temperate Chlorella [Ongoing] 6. Tong Hui Tee Master of Science (Biotechnology) ( Malaysian University of Science & Technology)   Identification and some properties of superoxide dismutase from Antarctica chlorophyte micromicroalgae , Chlamydomonas UMACC 229 [Completed] B. Sc. Students Name Candidature Title of research project 1. Yee Ming Shiang B.Sc. (Biotechnology) ( University of Malaya ) Effect of salinity on the growth and fatty acid profiles of the Antarctic diatom Navicula sp. [Completed in January 2004]   2. Chow Hong Weng B. Sc. (Biotechnology) ( University of Malaya ) Effect of salinity on the growth and fatty acid profiles of the Antarctic chlorophyte Chlamydomonas sp. [Completed in January 2004]   3. Lam Li Yien B. Sc. (Biotechnology) ( University of Malaya ) Influence of glucose on the growth and biochemical composition of the Antarctic chlorophyte Klebsormidium sp. [Completed in January 2004]   4. Lok Chee Yuan B. Sc. (Genetics) ( University of Malaya ) Characterisation of the transposons from selected Antarctic micromicroalgae [Completed in January 2004]   5. Ng Chee Yeong   B. Sc. (Biotechnology) ( University of Malaya )   Effects of freezing stress on the Antarctic alga Chlorella UMACC 237 [Completed in January 2005] 6. Lim Hau Yan B. Sc. (Biotechnology) ( University of Malaya ) Effects of freezing stress on the Antarctic alga Chlamydomonas UMACC 229 [Completed in January 2005] 7. Noor Azlina Kamaruding B. Sc. (Biotechnology) ( University of Malaya ) Effect of UVR stress on a tropical Chlorella [Completed in January 2006] 8. Nurul Dalilah Ali   B. Sc. (Biotechnology) ( University of Malaya ) Effect of freezing stress on a tropical Chlorella [Completed in January 2006]   Award Silver Medal Microalgae as indicators of global warming in Antarctica Expo on Research, Invention and Innovation, University of Malaya , 14 – 17 June 2005 Training Workshop A Training Workshop on Pigment Analysis of Antarctic Microorganisms was held from 29 June to 1 July 2005 at the University of Malaya . Dr. Simon Wright from the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) and Dr Hideaki Miyashita from Kyoto University ( Japan ) were the trainers for the workshop. More than 40 participants took part in this very fruitful workshop to learn about the latest techniques on pigment analysis.   Attachment with Polar Research Institutes Attachment of our scientists with institutions abroad has further enhanced the collaboration in terms of technology transfer in polar research. Two doctoral students under the project have done part of their experiments at the Australian Antarctic Division in Hobart in December 2005.