By: Nurul Ezzaty Mohd Azhari
Photo by: Mohammad Izrul Abdul Jabar
KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 – Head of Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Prof. Ts. Dr. Cheah Yoke Kqueen, has received a certificate of recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records as the first Malaysian to discover the Genus Actinobacteria from Antarctica called Barrientosiimonas humi.
Prof. Ts. Dr. Cheah Yoke Kqueen said that the discovery of the genus could produce useful active materials that can inhibit cancer cells.
"It can inhibit specific cancer cells and is used in medical education. The unique name of Genus Actinobacteria, Barrientosiimonas humi, was derived from Barrientos Island, the name of the island where it was found, while Monas refers to the shape of the microbe.
"The naming of the bacteria was suggested by the scientific polarity of the countries involved," he added.
The certificate was presented during the opening ceremony of the News from Antarctica Exhibition in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the Sultan Mizan Antarctica Research Foundation (YPASM).
Also present at the ceremony were the Minister of Environment and Water, Dato' Sri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, YPASM Board Member, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Azhar Yahya, Secretary-General of Environment, Noor Afifah Abdul Razak and Chief Executive Officer of YPASM, Mohd Nasaruddin Abdul Rahman. - UPM
