Microbiology

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

March 2008:

Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Microbiology),

University of Malaya, Malaysia

Jun 2003-October 2004:

 Master’s in Medical Sciences (UM) - converted to PhD,

University of Malaya

May 1998 – April 2001:      

Bachelor of Biomedicine ( 2nd Class Honours Upper Division),

Universiti Putra Malaysia

1996 – 1997:  

Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia ( STPM)- 5 Principals,

Convent Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur

1991 – 1995: 

Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM)- Grade A / Agg 18

Penilaan Menengah Rendah (PMR) – Grade A / 7A’s

Convent Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur

APPOINTMENTS

July 2010 –Present:

Senior lecturer & Microbiologist

Faculty of Medicine,

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM),
Sg. Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.

June 2008 – June 2010: 

Senior lecturer

Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC), Kuala Lumpur.
 

25 February 2008 – 31 May 2008: 

Part –Time Lecturer / Tutor at Monash University Malaysia.

6 Jun 2003-May 2008

Research Assistant / Tutor

7 June 2001-6 Jun 2003:

Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS)-

Department Microbiology,     

Gribbles Pathology (M) Sdn. Bhd.

TEACHING AND SUPERVISION

• MBBS for Advanced Medical Sciences Program

• Undergraduate Elective students

• Industrial training students

• Postgraduate students

RESEARCH GRANTS

1.In vitro Study to Elucidate The Antibacterial Effect of Silver Nanoparticles Against Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas spp Principle researcher, 2011-2012, RM 10,000, DANA Kecemerlangan,UiTM ,Completed.

2. Detection of Antiviral efficacy of Medicinal Plant Swertia chirata on HSV-1: In vivo Study, Co-researcher, 2011-2012, RM 10,000, DANA, Kecemerlangan, UiTM, On-going

3. Immunological Consequences of Appendectomy on the Colonic Microbiota and Body Proteins. Co-researcher, 2011-2013, RM 90,000, ERGS, On-going

4. Transcriptional Analysis of Virulence Genes in Pneumonia Infected Mice Model with Acinetobacter baumannii. Co-researcher, 2011-2013, RM130,000, FRGS, On-going

5. Mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus Exposed to Different Musical Frequencies and Wavelengths, Co-researcher, 2011-2013, RM130,000, FRGS, On-going

6. Characterization of immunostimulatory compounds in S.pneumoniae in relation to TLR responses in cell culture towards understanding the host pathogen interaction. Principal Investigator, 2012- 2014, RM 80,000, RAGS, Ongoing

7. Association of plasmids with antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Co-researcher, 2014-2016, RM 80,000, RAGS, Ongoing

8. Site Directed Mutagenesis Analysis of Quinolone Resistant Protein encoded by Plasmid Borne qnr Genes found in Gram Negative Bacilli Isolates, Co-researcher, 2014-2016, RM 80,000, RAGS, Ongoing

9. A transcriptomic approach in elucidating the antimicrobial activity of silver  nanoparticles on multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Co-researcher, 2014-2016, RM 148,000, FRGS, Ongoing

10. Principal Investigator Support Initiative (PSI). A transcriptomic approach in elucidating the antimicrobial activity of silver  nanoparticles on multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Co-researcher, 2014- 2016, RM 60,000 Principal Investigator Support Initiative, DANA, UiTM, Ongoing

PUBLICATIONS

Journal (Full papers)

• Jayakayatri Jeevajothi Nathan, Phelim Yong Voon Chen, Parasakthi Navarathnam,Mohd NasirMohd Desa, Navindra Kumari Palanisamy, Wong Eng Hwa. Assessment of optimal time for biofilm formation in clinical Acinetobacter baumannii strains.

• Navindra Kumari Palanisamy*1 , Nas Ferina1, Athirah Nur Amirulhusni1, Zaini Mohd-Zain1, Liew Jian Ping2, R. Durairaj2.Antibiofilm properties of chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles found against Pseudomonas aeruginosa,  Journal of nanobiotechnology 2014,12:2 (ISI-Cited Publication)

• Athirah Nur Amirulhusni, Navindra Kumari Palanisamy*, Zaini Mohd-Zain, Liew Jian Ping, R.Durairaj. Antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles on multi drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Issue 67 July 2012-07-22:210-213. (ISI-Cited Publication)

• Navindra Kumari, Le Cheng Foh, Mohd Yasim Yusof, Shamala Devi Sekaran. Capsular serotype and antibiotic resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Malaysia. PLoS ONE, 2011. (ISI-Cited Publication)

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• Navindra Kumari, Mohd Yasim Yusof, Siok Yan Ong, Marzida bt. Mansor, Cheng Foh Le, Shamala Devi Sekaran. Variation of sequence of genes encoding the murMN operon and cell wall composition in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains of different susceptibility levels to penicillin.  2009; 26(3): 97-108.

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• Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi Navaratnam, Shamala Devi Sekaran. Molecular characterization of genes encoding the Quinolone Resistance Determining Regions (QRDRs) of Malaysian Streptococcus pneumoniae Strains. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology. 2008; 26 (2).

• Navindra Kumari, Parasakthi Navaratnam,  Shamala Devi Sekaran , Detection of antibiotic resistance genes pbp2B and ermB in  Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates using Real-Time PCR  Journal of Infectious Diseases in Developing Countries, June 2008; Vol 2(3):193-199.

• Yusof, M. Y.; Palanisamy, N. K.; Sekaran, S. D. (2008) Antimicrobial resistance and serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from patients in University Malaya Medical Centre Malaysia. International Journal of Infectious Diseases Volume: 12 Pages: E264-E265 (ISI-Cited Publication)

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• Navindra Kumari , Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi Navaratnam,  Shamala Devi Sekaran. Expression level of pmrA gene in Streptococcus pneumoniae and its association with fluoroquinolone resistance. J. Infect Dis. Antimicrob. Agents 2007; 24:19-28.

Proceeding (Abstracts)

• Navindra Kumari Palanisamy , Nurul Fathiyah binti Zaipul Anuar, Fathimah binti Tahir, Zaini Mohd-Zain, Liew Jian Ping2, Wong Yee Shiuan, R. Durairaj2.The effect of silver nanoparticles and nanoprism on A549 human lung epithelial cells. . Malaysia-Japan International Conference on Nanoscience, Nanotechnology and Nanoengineering, 2014 (NANO-SciTech 2014 & IC –Net 2014), 28th February – 1st of March 2014.

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• Navindra Kumari, 2EH Wong, 3Parasakthi Navaratnam, 4Shamala Devi Sekaran.Expression of Choline Binding Proteins in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains induced with Penicillin stress. 9th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD), March 9-13, 2014,Hyderabad, India.

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• JN Jayakayatri1, PVC Yong2, N Parasakthi3, MD Mohd Nasir4, P Navindra Kumari5, Eh Wong1*. In Vitro Biofilm Forming Potential Of Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated From Hospitalized Patients.  International Congress of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology 2013, 12-15 December, 2013, Langkawi Lagoon Resort, Malaysia.

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• .JN Jayakayatri, N Parasakthi, MD Mohd Nasir, P Navindra Kumari, EH Wong.                            Molecular characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii clonal lineage using multi  locus sequence typing (MLST). 9th International Symposium on Antimicrobial

Agents and Resistance (ISAAR) 2013, 13 - 15 March 2013, Kuala Lumpur
 Convention Centre, Malaysia.

• Navindra Kumari Palanisamy , Nas Ferina, Athirah Nur Amirulhusni, Zaini Mohd-Zain, Liew Jian Ping2, R. Durairaj2. Inhibitory Effect Of Silver Nanoparticles On Biofilm Formation In Pseudomonas aeruginosa. International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2013 (NANO-SciTech 2013). 1st - 4th of March 2013. Grand Bluewave Hotel, Shah Alam, Malaysia. (Best Poster Award)

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• Athirah Nur Amirulhusni, Navindra Kumari Palanisamy*, Zaini Mohd-Zain, Liew Jian Ping, R.Durairaj. Antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles on multi drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa . World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology . July (67) 2012.

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• Athirah Nur Amirulhusni, Zaini Mohd-Zain, Liew Jian Ping, R.Durairaj, Navindra Kumari Palanisamy.  Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles for Potential Antimicrobial Application.

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• Navindra Kumari Palanisamy, Athirah Nur Amirulhusni, Zaini Mohd-Zain, Liew Jian Ping, R.Durairaj,. Antibacterial Effect Of Silver Nanoparticles On Multi Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Research Colloquim,UiTM December 2012.

• Zaini Mohd Zain, Norlida Buniyamin, Valerie Ross, Navindra Kumari Palanisamy. Mechanisms of Staphylococcus aureus exposed to different musical frequencies and wavelengths . Research Colloquim, UiTM 2012.      

• Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi Navaratnam and Shamala Devi Sekaran. Microarray analysis of gene regulation in Streptococcus pneumoniae upon penicillin exposure.

Presented at the 13th International Congress on Infectious diseases (ICID), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2008. (19-22 June 2008) (Oral presentation).

• Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi Navaratnam and Shamala Devi Sekaran. Characterization of the gyrA gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Malaysia using Real-Time PCR. Presented at the  6th International Symposium on Antimicrobial Agents  and  Resistance (ISAAR), Singapore 2007. (6-9 March 2007) (Abstr.ST11)

• Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi Navaratnam and Shamala Devi Sekaran. Variations in the cell wall composition and sequence variation of the murMN operon of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains of different susceptibility to penicillin. Presented at the 12th Biological Graduate Sciences Congress (BGSC),Kuala Lumpur, 2007 (17-19 December 2007)  (Oral presentation)

• Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi Navaratnam and Shamala Devi Sekaran.  A Comparison of Gene Expression of Penicillin Treated and Non-Treated Strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae using Microarray. Presented at the 7th ASM Conference of Streptococcal Genetics, Saint Malo, 2006 [ abstr. A228]) (18-21 Jun 2006).

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• Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi Navaratnam and Shamala Devi Sekaran. Quintuplex PCR for rapid identification and detection of antibiotic resistance genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Presented at the 9th Western Pacific Congress on Chemotherapy and Infectious Disease, at Bangkok, Thailand (1 – 5th December, 2004)

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• Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi Navaratnam and Shamala Devi Sekaran. Rapid identification and detection of antibiotic resistance genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae using real-time PCR. Presented at the 9th Western Pacific Congress on Chemotherapy and Infectious Disease, at Bangkok, Thailand (1 – 5th December, 2004)(Young Investigator Award)

Patent

2004

• Method For The Detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae And Associated Antibiotic Resistance Genes (Pbp1a, Pbp2b And Ermb), Patent, PI20052928, 2004

Others

• Invited speaker on Bioinformatics at Help University College, Malaysia

             Title: Detection of Multidrug Resistance Genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae

• Reviewer of the American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (2013-2015).

• Invited reviewer: Journal of Bioprocessing & Biotechniques. (2014)

• Invited reviewer “ Journal of Nanoscience (2014)

 Courses Attended 

• PBL Workshop : Facilitating a PBL Session

• CBL workshop (2013).

•   Attended an advance course Organized by the Wellcome Trust, held at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK. Advance course on Microarrays and Transcriptome. [16-24th April, 2005].

•   Solving Problem in Protein Expression- 27 September, 2004.    

• Introduction to Gene Chip Technology using the Affymetrix System ,29-30 September, 2004.

International award

• Travel Grant – 9th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumoccal Diseases

• International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2013 (NANO-SciTech 2013). 1st - 4th of March 2013. Grand Bluewave Hotel, Shah Alam, Malaysia.‘Best poster award’ for the abstract ‘Inhibitory Effect Of Silver Nanoparticles On Biofilm Formation In Pseudomonas aeruginosa’.

• 9th Western Pacific Congress on Chemotherapy and Infectious Disease, Bangkok, Thailand, 1-5 December, 2004).Young Investigator Award for the abstract ‘ Rapid Identification and Detection of  Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae using Real-Time PCR’.

Local Awards

• Service Excellence Award, UiTM 2012.

• Research & Innovation Expo 2004 – Organized by University Malaya, Malaysia

                   Silver Medal for the Invention/ Inovation entitled: ‘Antimicrobial Resistance in
                   Malaysia’.

• Research & Innovation Expo 2005 – Organized by University Malaya, Malaysia

                        Two Bronze Medals for the Invention/ Inovation entitled:

• Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi N., Shamala Devi Sekaran

Pneumokit: A single assay to strain identify & Detect Multiple Drug Resistant
Genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae

•  Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi N., Shamala Devi Sekaran One Step Kit to Detect potential Malaysian Streptococcus pneumoniae That  Are Resistant To Fluoroquinolones Using Real-Time PCR.

• Research & Development IPTA 2005- Organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOSTE),                 Malaysia

Bronze Medal for the Invention / Innovation entitled:

• Navindra Kumari, Geetha Subramaniam, Parasakthi N., Shamala Devi Sekaran

One Step Kit To Detect potential Malaysian Streptococcus pneumoniae That Are
                 Resistant To Fluoroquinolones Using Real-Time PCR

 

ADMINISTRATION (AT UNIVERSITY, FACULTY, CLUSTER, UNIT)

•   Chairperson of the Organizing Committee for the Seminar ‘Updates on Respiratory Infections & Hands on workshop ‘Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) with Bioinformatics Analysis for Respiratory Pathogens” 22-24th October 2013, Institute for Medical Molecular Biotechnology (IMMB), Faculty of Medicine, UiTM, Sg. Buloh.

•   Organizing committee for the Seminar on “Lepto, Melio and Brucellosis: Re-emerging Zoonotic Diseases in Malaysia. 4th April 2012, Faculty of Medicine, Selayang Campus, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).

•  Chairperson of the Organizing Committee for the Pre-Conference Workshop ((11th

      Annual Scientific Meeting, College of Pathologists, Academy of Medicine)
     “Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) as an Epidemiological Tool”6-7 June 2012,      
       Institute for Medical Molecular Biotechnology (IMMB), Faculty of Medicine, UiTM, Sg.   
      Buloh.

•  Quality assurance committee (MQA) member of the faculty.

•  Self-assessment panel committee (2011-2013).

•  Muskuloskeletal system –Year 1 Module coordinator.

•  D-SETARA committee member (2011/2012).

•  MBBS 220 Elective committee member.

PROFESIONAL ORGANIZATION (INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL)

• Member of the Malaysian Society of Parasitology & Tropical Medicine.

• Member of the Malaysian Society for Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy.

• Member of the American Society of Microbiology (ASM) (ID: 56171846)

• Member of the Malaysian Society of Microbiology (MSM).