Fermentation Frontier: Redefining Our Life with Tiny Microorganisms

My Research Interests:
My research interests focus on the bioprocessing, biorefining and biomanufacturing. The main activity is to perform research related to the development of biomanufacturing for the production of various ranges of biotechnology products. The major aim is to discover new principles and options for industrial applications, with optimal and economic use of available resources for the development of green sustainable products and bioprocesses.

The Marvels of Fermentation:
In the vast and intricate world of microbiology, a silent revolution is taking place - one that holds the key to redefining our lives. Fermentation, the age-old process that transforms substances through the action of microorganisms, has been harnessed by humans for centuries. From the creation of flavorful foods and beverages to the production of life-saving pharmaceuticals, fermentation is the unsung hero behind many aspects of our modern lives. 

Bioprocessing Breakthroughs:
Industrially, fermentation is a cornerstone in bioprocessing, enabling the large-scale production of biofuels, enzymes, and pharmaceuticals. The efficiency and sustainability of these processes make fermentation a frontrunner in the race to develop eco-friendly solutions for our growing needs.

A Sustainable Future:
As we navigate an era of increasing environmental consciousness, fermentation emerges as a sustainable ally. The process produces fewer by-products, consumes less energy, and often utilizes renewable resources, making it an attractive option for industries aiming to reduce their ecological footprint.

Innovation and Collaboration:
At the fermentation frontier, collaboration between academia and industry is thriving. Researchers, like myself, work hand-in-hand with biotechnology-based companies to push the boundaries of what is possible. Together, we design and implement cutting-edge technologies, ensuring that the benefits of fermentation reach far and wide.
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Biomanufacturing and Bioprocessing

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Isolation and Characterization of Beneficial Microorganisms 

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(Lactobacillus spp.,Bacillus subtilis,Trichoderma spp. )
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API 50 CHL Medium

Microbial Fermentation using Lab Scale Bioreactors

Integrated Fermentation-Separation System

Pilot Scale Microbial Fermentation

Antimicrobial Activity of Bacteriocin by Lactic Acid Bacteria against Pathogenic Bacteria

Tested Postbiotics in Laboratory Rats

Tested Probiotics in Poultry Farm

Tested Probiotics in Layer Farm

Purification of Proteins/Enzymes using our Developed Aqueous Impregnated Resin System (AIRS)

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SDS-PAGE gel: Lane M is protein marker; Lane 1 & 2 are crude protein; Lane 4 & 5 are purified protein

Featured in The Petri Dish newspaper

https://thepetridish.my/2023/07/03/revolutionising-health-with-postbiotics/

Research Team

Our research group possesses robust expertise and capabilities in the design of bioprocessing and biomanufacturing, encompassing:

1) Bioreactor design and operation
2) Enzyme and fermentation technology
3) Bioprocess optimization
4) Bioseparation
5) Bioprocess scaling-up

2019

2022

Our Projects

 Lactic acid bacteria Postbiotics and its metabolites
(a) In vitro study
​    (i) Postbiotics
  1. A novel heat-tolerant Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Postbiotic (Lassica K014TM) effectively suppresses gastrointestinal diseases caused by pathogenic bacterial-fungal colonisation.
  2. Production and characterization of postbiotic containing exopolysaccharide (EPS) by lactic acid bacteria through fermentation process as potential antidiabetic agent.
  3. Production and characterization of lactic acid bacteria postbiotic (cell-free supernatant and heat-killed cells) on the functional properties  such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammation, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity, and stability (pH, enzymes, temperature).
  4. Skin barrier protection of postbiotic derived from Lactobacillus plantarum BPT1511 by reducing skin permeation of drug.
  5. Postbiotic containing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances production by lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus brevis C23 (isolated from cabbage) on prolonging food spoilage and acts as psychobiotic.
    (ii) Bacteriocin
  1. Formulated oral health spray using novel partially purified enterocin C22 from lactic acid bacteria, Enteroccocus faecium (isolated from Kimchi) against Streptococcus mutans. 
  2. Production of bacteriocin by lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus plantarum K014 (isolated from fermented vegetable) against skin pathogen (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) and evaluation of its antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
  3. Characterization of bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances derived from locally isolated lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus paracasei FD1 (isolated from fermented durian) and its synergic Impact with antibiotics towards inhibition of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens, ESBL E. coli and  multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  4. Isolation, characterization, production, purification of bacteriocin-like substances from Pediococcus acidilactici kp10 (isolated from curd) ​for food application.
   (iii) Other metabolites
  1. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using nitrate reductase produced by Lactobacillus plantarum.
  2. Bioactivities and ACE-inhibitory peptides releasing potential of lactic acid bacteria in fermented milk and plant-based milk.
(b) Animal study/Preclinical
  1. ​A heat-tolerant Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Postbiotic (Lassica K014TM): Acute oral toxicity and efficacy in suppressing polymicrobial growth in gut.
  2. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K014 probiotic: Acute oral toxicity and efficacy in suppressing polymicrobial growth in gut.
(c) Human study/Clinical
  1. A heat-tolerant Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Postbiotic (Lassica K014TM): Safety study and efficacy on immune system and gut health.
  2. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum K014 probiotic: Safety study and efficacy on immune system and gut health.

Bioprocessing and Biomanufacturing
(b) Food/Nutraceutical Biotech/Alternative Protein
  1. Isolation of protein from soybean residues (Okara protein isolate) for lactic acid bacteria fermentation to produce plant-based meat analogue.​
  2. Fermentation of soy residues (Okara) and soy whey using Lactobacillus sp. to improve its nutritional and functional benefits as functional food ingredient.
  3. Fermentation of fruit juices by Lactobacillus spp. with prebiotic supplementation as non-dairy functional beverages.
  4. Utilization of cell wall compound of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as novel material for microencapsulation of Lactobacillus sp. probiotics.
  5. Survivability of lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus FTOC3871 and Lactococcus lactis Gh1 after freeze drying and spray drying.
  6. Yeast extract production using Baker yeast and brewer yeast via autolysis, enzymolysis and ultrasonic-assisted enzymolysis.
  7. Study on in-vitro simulated production technology and accelerating alcoholization technology of Chongcha Tea.
  8. Effects of enzymatic hydrolysates of pumpkin and carrot as carbohydrate-based fat substitute on dough properties and bread quality.
  9. Therapeutic effects of pseudo-stem banana extract on kidney stone from in vitro to in vivo.
  10. Improvement of functionalities of soy residues (Okara) by enzymatic hydrolysis.
(b) Agriculture/Aquaculture Biotech
  1. Fermentation of soy residue (Okara) and soy whey using yeast to improve the crude protein content.​
  2. Fermentation of palm kernel cake (PKC) for production of animal feed using Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  3. Production of beneficial microorganisms from Lactobacillus sp., Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the use in poultry farm.
  4. Postbiotics of Lactobacillus plantarum K014 for the use in poultry farm.
  5. ​Bioconversion of shrimp waste into chitin and chitosan using Lactobacillus acidophilus FTDC3871.
  6. Production of Trichoderma sp. for the use in agricultures.
(c) Industrial Biotech 
  1. Fresh banana frond juice as a renewable substrate for direct bioethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  2. Fermentation of palm kernel cake (PKC) for bioethanol using Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  3. Integration of ion-exchange adsorption system to bioreactor for enhancement of production of biotechnological products.
  4. Enzymes such as lipase, esterase and β-mannanase production from native bacteria/recombinant bacteria via fermentation

Purification System
  1. Development of aqueous impregnated resins system for purification of bacteriocin from Lactobacillus bulgaricus against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
  2. Purification of bioactive compound such as phycocyanin from cyanobacteria and enzymes such as lipase, esterase and β-mannanase from bacteria using aqueous two-phase system and aqueous impregnated resins system.

Design of Experiment (DOE): Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network
  1. Application of response surface methodology and artificial neural network in the design of experiment for bioprocessing.​​

Exploring Research

Precision Fermentation
  1. Animal-free protein through fermentation
Alternative Protein​
  1. Cultured meat production fueled by fermentation

Research Grant (2012-2024)

Principal Investigator
  1. Elucidation of the ionic-liquid phase-structure function small molecule protein complex in aqueous biphasic extraction system for recovery of bacteriocin from locally isolated lactic acid bacteria, 01/09/2022-31/08/2024 FRGS, MOHE RM142,800.00
  2. Development of Aqueous Polymer-Phase Impregnated Adsorbent System for Purification of Biotechnological Products (Esterase and Lipase) 15/03/2018-14/03/2020 USM short term, USM RM32,000
  3. Antimicrobial mechanism of action and structure-function of bacteriocin-cellular target complex from locally isolated lactic acid bacteria towards inhibition of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. 1/1/2019-30/9/2021 FRGS, MOHE RM124,200.00
  4. Development of Efficient and Economical Novel Aqueous Impregnated Resins Chromatography for Extractive Purification of Biotechnological Proteins (Lipase and Bacteriocin) 1/1/2019-31/3/2022 PRGS, MOHE RM121,000.00
  5. Influence of Polymer Phase-Structure Function Proteins Complex on Extraction Behavior of Biotechnological Products in Novel Tunable Aqueous Polymer-Phase Impregnated Resins Technology 2/11/2015-1/04/2018. FRGS, MOHE RM112,000
  6. Renewable Sugars Extracted from Banana Waste as an Alternative Novel Fermentation Substrate for Green Bioproduction of Lipase by Burkholderia cenocepacia 15/9/2015-14/9/2017 USM short term, USM RM38,000

Co-researcher
  1. Electrochemical sensors for detection of Fusarium oxysporium F. SP. cubense tropical race 4,  01/01/2019-31/12/2019 INTI IU Research Seeding Fund, INTI International University RM22,200.00
  2. Unravelling mechanistic crosstalk between immunometabolic regulation and metabolic pathway reorganization induced by celastrol in adipocyte-macrophage co-culture systems,  01/01/2020-31/03/2022 Research University Grant (RUI), USM  RM65,000
  3. Development of in-situ product recovery (ISPR) system by polymeric resins for enhanced biosynthesis of hyaluronic acid 01/09/2019-31/05/2023 FRGS, MOHE RM 165,800 ​
  4. Cellular Mechanism of Celastrol on Palmitate-Induced Insulin Resistance  1/12/2016- 30/11/2018 USM Short Term, USM RM30,000
  5. Large Scale Production And Biodegradable Evaluation Of Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate) on the Basis Of Copolymer Composition Determined By Thermally Assisted Hydrolysis And Methylation-Gas Chromathography 01/03/2017-28/02/2019 Research University Grant (RUI), USM RM94,400
  6. Diafiltration Based Refolding For The Production Of Recombinant Tetrameric Streptavidin 1/09/2018-31/08/ 2020 Research University Grant (RUI), USM RM70,000
  7. Study on Environmental Recycle System (ERS) For Palm Oil Tree Waste (Following Residue) In Their Processing Capacity And Application Of Resulting Products 10/12/2018-09/03/2023 NAGAOKA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY RM304,369.40
  8. Structure Function Relationships of Proteins in Reverse Micelles for Bioseparation of Several Valuable Proteins (Miraculin, Bacteriocin and Lipase) 02/11/2015-30/04/2018 FRGS, MOHE RM166,200
  9. Biomanufacturing of Bacteriocin by Pediococcus acidilacti KP10 based on 100-L Stirred Tank Bioreactor 1/12/2015-30/11/2017 PRGS, MOHE RM210,000
  10. Optimization of solid state fermentation and recovery of extracellular lipase by locally isolated thermophilic bacterium using green coconut shells as substrate 17/11/2014-17/11/2016  Geran Putra IPM, UPM RM50,000
  11. Development of extractive fermentation of lactic acid bacterium by polymeric resins for in situ lactic acid recovery from the culture for growth enhancement. 01/09/2014-31/08/2016 FRGS, MOHE RM99,000
  12. Development and production of recombinant Human Alpha-2b interferon. 01/05/2012-30/04/2015 IRPA, MOSTI RM350,000 
  13. Biomanufacturing design of bacteriocin using Pediococcus acidilactici Kp10 for subsequent use as food preservatives. 01/01/2013-31/12/2014 FRGS, MOHE RM88,000
  14. Fabrication of a miniature bioreactor to facilitate high throughput investigations for acceleration and efficient bioprocess design and optimization. 01/06/2013 – 31/05/2015. ERGS, MOHE RM110,000
  15. Extractive fermentation employing adsorbent resin to enhance production of metabolites subject to product inhibition. 01/11/2012-30/10/2014. RUGS, UPM RM125,000

​We Believe in Sustainability

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Akinsemolu, A. A. (2018). The role of microorganisms in achieving the sustainable development goals. Journal of cleaner production, 182, 139-155.

 Bio-Products from Our Research

Mixture of Beneficial Microbes

Enzymes (Lipase, Esterase, Mannanase, Xylanase, Cellulase)

Bacteriocin-like substance

Lactobacillus spp.

Trichoderma Mixture

Bacillus subtilis Natto

Animal Feed from fermented palm kernel cake

Biofertilizer

Banana pseudostem juice

Fish Hydrolysates (Foliar Spray)