Research
Associate Professor
Dr. Natrah Fatin Mohd Ikhsan
Research Expertise
Dr Natrah specializes in the field of Aquatic Microbial Ecology particularly in the development of innovative and sustainable microbial management strategies through understanding of the host-microbe interaction for enhanced microbial stability and efficient fish health management. Among her current research focus is on quorum sensing sociomicrobiology – its pathogenic and probiotic role particularly in bacteria, algae, zooplankton & other hosts in aquaculture ecosystem as disease control agents.
Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial cell-to-cell communication whereby bacteria regulate gene expression through the presences or absence of small signal molecules. Bacteria use this mechanism to monitor its population density, the surrounding environment and regulate various activities and behaviors. This includes pathogenesis towards aquaculture hosts such as shrimp and fish. Various virulence products in aquatic pathogens were shown to be regulated by such mechanism causing high mortality in the aquatic animals.
Interference of quorum sensing is one of the promising approaches to control the disease of antibiotic resistant pathogens preventing the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Various live food including microalgae and probiotic bacteria can interfere bacterial QS also known as the Quorum Sensing Inhibitors (QSI). Supplementation of QSI organisms or metabolites through feed or into the water was shown to protect aquaculture animals from pathogenic bacteria. This includes the inclusion of these potential probiotics in the form of a mature microbiota such as colonization of slow-growing bacteria, algae rich greenwater and bioencapsulation into zooplanktons such as brine shrimp, copepods and cladocerans.
Research Projects
Research Activities
PROJECT LEADER
No | ROLE | UNIVERSITY | STATUS | YEAR |
1 | Expert panel | Ocean University of China – Integrated Ecosystem Management**
| Ongoing | 2021-2023 |
| Grant | Research Project |
|---|---|
| Grant No. | 6380034 (Project number 109055) |
| Title | Integrated quorum quenching strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance in shrimp aquaculture (i-QAS)** |
| Sponsor | International Development Research Centre, Canada & Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), United Kingdom |
| Amount (RM) | 4,736, 949 |
| Year | July 2019- 30 June 2023 |
| 2.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 6380056 |
| Title | Sustainable Aquatic Resource Management in Mangrove Ecosystem via Internet of Things Application** |
| Sponsor | Asi@Connect, European Union |
| Amount (RM) | 974,286 |
| Year | July 2019 – 31 December 2021 |
| 3.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 6300877 |
| Title | Impact of Vibrio harveyi quorum sensing on the survival and the immune response of hybrid grouper larvae |
| Sponsor | Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (Toray Science Foundation Japan) |
| Amount (RM) | 20,000 |
| Year | January 2017 – December 2017 |
| Grant | Research Project |
|---|---|
| Grant No. | 9734100 |
| Title | Digital Twin in Agriculture (Aquatic Environmental Monitoring in Mangrove Ecosystem via Internet of Things Application)** |
| Sponsor | Geran Inisiatif Putra Berkumpulan |
| Amount (RM) | RM 30,000.00 |
| Year | 1 November 2022 - 30 December 2023 |
| 2.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 9003282 |
| Title | One Stop Solution Advisory For Shrimp Farmers** |
| Sponsor | Skim Geran Kajian Validasi Pasaran (InnoHub) |
| Amount (RM) | RM 30,000.00 |
| Year | 8 March 2021 - 7 March 2022 |
| 3.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 9598400 (UPM/700-2/1/GPB/2017/9598400) |
| Title | Quorum sensing and quorum quenching mechanisms of bacteria-microalgae interactions for acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease control in shrimp culture system** |
| Sponsor | Geran Putra Berimpak |
| Amount (RM) | 145,500 |
| Year | 1 February 2018- 31 January 2020 |
| 4.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | GP-IPS/2015/9469500 |
| Title | Role of rotifer Brachionus sp. as carrier of bacterial probiotic QS degrader for blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus larvae |
| Sponsor | Geran Putra IPS, UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 20,000 |
| Year | 1 January 2016 – 1 January 2019 |
| 5.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | GP/IPS/2013/9396800 |
| Title | Live feed Artemia franciscana as the carrier of probiotic and quorum sensing degrader to grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus larvae |
| Sponsor | Geran Putra IPS, UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 15,000 |
| Year | 1 November 2013 – 31 October 2014 |
| 6.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | GP-IPS/2013/9390900 |
| Title | Development of high nutritive and antipathogenic microalgal-bacteria biofloc system for Macrobrachium rosenbergii postlarvae |
| Sponsor | Geran Putra IPS, UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 14,500 |
| Year | 1 November 2013 – 31 October 2014 |
| 7.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 9325600 |
| Title | Understanding Microalgae and bacteria interactions in bioflocs system |
| Sponsor | Research University Grant Scheme (RUGS), UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 30,000 |
| Year | 2012-2014 |
| Grant | Research Project |
|---|---|
| Grant No. | 9734100 |
| Title | Digital Twin in Agriculture (Aquatic Environmental Monitoring in Mangrove Ecosystem via Internet of Things Application)** |
| Sponsor | Geran Inisiatif Putra Berkumpulan |
| Amount (RM) | RM 30,000.00 |
| Year | 1 November 2022 - 30 December 2023 |
| 2.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 9003282 |
| Title | One Stop Solution Advisory For Shrimp Farmers** |
| Sponsor | Skim Geran Kajian Validasi Pasaran (InnoHub) |
| Amount (RM) | RM 30,000.00 |
| Year | 8 March 2021 - 7 March 2022 |
| 3.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 9598400 (UPM/700-2/1/GPB/2017/9598400) |
| Title | Quorum sensing and quorum quenching mechanisms of bacteria-microalgae interactions for acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease control in shrimp culture system** |
| Sponsor | Geran Putra Berimpak |
| Amount (RM) | 145,500 |
| Year | 1 February 2018- 31 January 2020 |
| 4.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | GP-IPS/2015/9469500 |
| Title | Role of rotifer Brachionus sp. as carrier of bacterial probiotic QS degrader for blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus larvae |
| Sponsor | Geran Putra IPS, UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 20,000 |
| Year | 1 January 2016 – 1 January 2019 |
| 5.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | GP/IPS/2013/9396800 |
| Title | Live feed Artemia franciscana as the carrier of probiotic and quorum sensing degrader to grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus larvae |
| Sponsor | Geran Putra IPS, UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 15,000 |
| Year | 1 November 2013 – 31 October 2014 |
| 6.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | GP-IPS/2013/9390900 |
| Title | Development of high nutritive and antipathogenic microalgal-bacteria biofloc system for Macrobrachium rosenbergii postlarvae |
| Sponsor | Geran Putra IPS, UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 14,500 |
| Year | 1 November 2013 – 31 October 2014 |
| 7.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 9325600 |
| Title | Understanding Microalgae and bacteria interactions in bioflocs system |
| Sponsor | Research University Grant Scheme (RUGS), UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 30,000 |
| Year | 2012-2014 |
| Grant | Research Project |
|---|---|
| Grant No. | - |
| Title | Development of microbial-based nursery production of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) |
| Sponsor | Bogor Agricultural University |
| Amount (RM) | Rp. 586,255,000 (~RM 185,446.21) |
| Year | 2017-2019 |
| 2.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 6300855 |
| Title | SATREPS-COSMOS-MOHE G3: Bacterial-microalgae consortium in zooplankton bioencapsulation for fish health enhancement |
| Sponsor | Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE) |
| Amount (RM) | 194,655.00 |
| Year | 1 September 2016 – 31 August 2017 |
| 3.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 5532200 |
| Title | Production of high quality microalgal (Chlorella sp.) biomass using a closed cultivation system |
| Sponsor | Prototype Research Grant Scheme (PRGS), MOHE |
| Amount (RM) | 150,000 |
| Year | 1 December 2015- 30 November 2017 |
| 4.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 9440400 |
| Title | Broodstocks management, larviculture techniques and nutritional requirements for the sustainable seed production of Portunus pelagicus |
| Sponsor | Geran Putra Berkumpulan, UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 507,000 |
| Year | 1 Jan 2015-1 Jan 2017 |
| 5.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 6369100 |
| Title | Innovative Vaccines and Therapeutics against Avian and Fish Diseases (Subproject: Development of beneficial microalgae based innovative products) |
| Sponsor | Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) |
| Amount (RM) | 1,000,000 |
| Year | 2015-2019 |
| 6.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 550000 |
| Title | Microcystis Blooms and Microcystin Production in Putrajaya Lake and Their Effects on Water Quality and Aquatic Life Along the Lacustrine Food Chain |
| Sponsor | Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), MOHE |
| Amount (RM) | 109,000 |
| Year | 1 Dec 2014- 30 Nov 2016 |
| 7.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 9423000 |
| Title | The role of probiotics in controlling diseases of marine shellfish animals |
| Sponsor | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| Amount (RM) | 50,000 |
| Year | 1 Jan 2014 – 31 Dec 2015 |
| 8.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 6379003 |
| Title | Molecular genetics and bioprospecting of marine macrophytes for novel products-G2M |
| Sponsor | Collaboration of JSPS Asian Core and Universiti Putra Malaysia, MOHE |
| Amount (RM) | 430,000 |
| Year | 2013-2016 |
| 9.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 5524396 |
| Title | Understanding the Role of Antibiotic on Indigenous Probiotic Activity in Protecting Larval Asian Seabass, Lates calcarifer Bloch Against Vibriosis |
| Sponsor | Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), MOHE |
| Amount (RM) | 75,000 |
| Year | 1 Dec 2013 – 30 Nov 2015 |
| 10.Grant | Research Project |
| Grant No. | 9361500 |
| Title | Depigmentation and toxicity effect of Melanogenic regulated compounds in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation |
| Sponsor | Research University Grant Scheme (RUGS), UPM |
| Amount (RM) | 70,000 |
| Year | 1 Sept 2012 – 31 Aug 2014 |