JOHOR BAHRU, Feb 20 – The Joint Seminar on Antimicrobial Resistance, organized by the Faculty of Science, IPASA, NUMed, and the ACS Malaysia Chapter, successfully took place at Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) in EduCity, Iskandar Puteri, Johor. This event brought together academics, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and strategies to combat it.

Co-organized by the Faculty of Science at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security (IPASA) at UTM, NUMed, and the American Chemical Society (ACS) Malaysia Chapter, the seminar featured a series of scientific presentations, discussions, and potential collaborations aimed at addressing the challenges of AMR in Malaysia.

Addressing a Global Crisis

During the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Mallikarjuna Rao Pichika, Dean of Research at NUMed, welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of international research partnerships in bolstering AMR mitigation efforts.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir, Dean of the Faculty of Science at UTM, underscored the urgent need for multi-disciplinary collaboration to tackle AMR, pointing out that the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in healthcare, agriculture, and the environment have worsened the crisis. Dr. Shafinaz also shared her experience working with heavy metal-tolerant microorganisms and how this work may relate to AMR. The ACS Malaysia Chapter was gratefully acknowledged for funding this event.

Supporting this perspective, Prof. Ts. Dr. Zainura Zainon Noor, Director of IPASA, discussed the environmental factors contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly the waterborne transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. She also referenced IPASA’s previous collaboration with Newcastle University through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) project, which aims to address global water security challenges by integrating research, policy, and practice across several countries, including Malaysia, the United Kingdom, India, Ethiopia, and Colombia.

Cutting-edge research and Industry Engagement

The seminar featured five technical sessions covering a diverse range of AMR-related topics. Among the highlights:

Prof. Claire Walsh from Newcastle University (UK) presented a video-recorded session on empowering local waterborne disease surveillance and protection. She emphasized the critical role of environmental monitoring in controlling AMR.

Ts. Dr. Yong Ee Ling from IPASA, UTM, discussed the detection of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in local green-lipped mussels. She raised concerns about pharmaceutical contamination in Malaysian water bodies and seafood products. Dr. Yong highlighted that the presence of PPCPs in water and marine life poses potential risks for the development of AMR, suggesting the need for effective surveillance in fisheries, food, and the environment to manage these risks.

Prof. Dr. Edmund Liang Chai Ong from NUMed and Newcastle University Medical School (UK) explored clinical case studies in Malaysia, Nigeria, Myanmar, and other countries. He underscored the urgent need for stronger AMR surveillance and stewardship programs and identified gaps in AMR stewardship in clinical settings in Malaysia. Prof. Edmund noted that difficulties in accessing tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment have contributed to more undiagnosed and untreated TB cases, leading to increased TB-related deaths and transmission, as well as the emergence of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR-TB) and Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR-TB) cases.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roshan Mascarenhas (NUMed) delved into the genetics of antimicrobial resistance, providing insights into how genetic transfer contributes to resistance proliferation. Dr. Roshan also introduced his Nanopore MinION-based antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) surveillance studies along the Johor River Basin, suggesting the potentially high levels of MDR bacteria presence. Mangrove soil sediment samples also showed the presence of Enterobacteriaceae family members, including Salmonella enterica, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are known to cause AMR.

Finally, Ts. Dr. Nur Syamimi Zaidi (IPASA, UTM) presented a case study on sanitation’s impact on river water quality, demonstrating the environmental consequences of poor waste management and pollution. Dr. Syamimi emphasized that water and wastewater exist in a closed loop, meaning untreated sewage re-enters water systems, affecting human health and the environment. Dr. Syamimi also highlighted the findings from the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study of Sungai Skudai, revealing that industrial effluent, sewage, and urban runoffs are major contributors to river degradation. The study underscored alarming pollution levels, with poorly maintained septic tanks, open defecation, and uncontrolled urban expansion were identified as the key culprits.

In addition to academic insights, the seminar saw registrations from industry representatives and regulatory agencies, including Agri Season Sdn. Bhd., Biocon, Indahwater Konsortium Sdn. Bhd., National Water Service Commission (SPAN), Ranhill SAJ Sdn. Bhd., Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), and Johor Water Regulatory Body (BAKAJ).

Shaping the Future of AMR Research

The event concluded with a roundtable discussion, during which researchers from UTM and NUMed strategized on future collaborations and funding opportunities. The discussions focused on expanding AMR studies through hydrological monitoring, DNA sequencing, and pollutant profiling. Several international research grants were identified as potential funding sources for upcoming projects.

A Call to Action

As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to pose a significant public health and environmental threat, the seminar emphasized the importance of scientific research, industry involvement, and policy development. The organizers expressed optimism that the discussions and collaborations initiated at this seminar would lead to impactful interventions in AMR prevention and control in Malaysia.

The Faculty of Science, IPASA, and NUMed look forward to future events and collaborations, including an upcoming hands-on workshop on Nanopore MinION sequencing technology, aimed at enhancing AMR research in Malaysia.

By:

Assoc. Prof. ChM. Dr. Mohd Firdaus Abdul Wahab
Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, UTM.
Chair of the Organizing Committee, Faculty of Science-IPASA-NUMed-ACS Malaysia Chapter Joint Seminar on Antimicrobial Resistance.