Group – Biomolecular Mechanisms and Interactions

INTRODUCTION

An understanding of the basic molecular interactions and resulting mechanistic processes can be considered key fundamental knowledge that will enable the exploration of novel biology. The course taken to achieve this will in turn strengthen the existing technological platform(s) in addition to providing opportunities for the development of novel technologies.

Intra-molecular and inter-molecular interactions for biological macromolecules play important roles in molecular level functional regulation and processes. Our research group is investigating a wide spectrum of molecular level interactions and resulting mechanisms. These include efforts to gain insights into structural interactions in RNA and proteins leading towards the application of such knowledge to study the interactions of pathogen and parasite virulence and pathogenicity factors of pathogenic members of the Burkholderia genus, the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria spp and fish pathogens such as Cryptocaryon irritans. Through the use of model hosts, including Caenorhabditis elegans, we are able to study the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions for these infectious agents.

Additionally, we are also involved in exploring the genomes and transcriptomes of local resources such as the enigmatic parasitic flower Rafflesia spp. These avenues of research provide us a route towards the discovery of novel biology for therapeutic and industrial applications.

 

RESEARCH FOCUS

The focus of the research group is divided into two thematic areas:

  • The mechanisms of interactions for specific biological macromolecules of interest
  • Systemic studies into host-pathogen interactions

Our research in these areas, utilize several organism models as well as publicly available data repositories for high throughput data analysis and modeling.

 

TEAM MEMBERS

Leader

  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Firdaus Mohd Raih

Members

  • Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohammed Noor Embi
  • Prof. Dr. Sheila Nathan
  • Prof. Dr. Wan Kiew Lian
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasidah M. Sidek

 

GROUP LEADER: ASSOC. PROF. DR. MOHD FIRDAUS MOHD RAIH

School of Biosciences and Biotechnology

Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 UKM Bangi

Tel: 603-89215951 Fax: 603-89252698

Email: m.firdaus@ukm.edu.my