Associate Professor

B.Sc. (Hons.), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

M.Biotech., Universiti Malaya

Ph.D., RIKEN Institute & Saitama University, Japan

 

Microbiology and Biotechnology

Research Profile

Have carried out research activities on the biosynthesis of microbial polyesters since 1992. Early studies involved the utilization of palm oil and its derivatives as carbon sources for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). This was followed by molecular studies to improve the production of PHAs by bacteria. The use of wild-type and recombinant photosynthetic prokaryotes as PHA producers were also studied. Recently, atomic force microscopy is being used to study the supramolecular architecture of native PHA inclusions along with application-oriented studies for this interesting microbial biopolymers.

 

Current Research

Molecular design and synthesis of bioabsorbable microbial polyesters for use as therapeutic materials as well as environmentally friendly materials. Studies of biopolymer production by bacteria and cyanobacteria. Studies on the intracellular degradation and the native structure of polyhydroxyalkanoate inclusion using atomic force microscopy. The microbial activity in activated sludge is also of research interest.

 

Collaborators

UM

International Medical University

Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan

RIKEN Institute, Japan

Max-Planck Inst. for Marine Microbiology, Germany

 

Selected Publications (2007-2008)

Sato, S., Y. Ono, Y. Mochiyama, E. Sivaniah, Y. Kikkawa, K. Sudesh, T. Hiraishi, Y. Doi, H. Abe, and T. Tsuge. (2008) Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) film formation and PHA synthase activity during in vitro and in situ polymerization on hydrophobic surfaces. Biomacromolecules. 9(10):2811-2818.

Siew, E. L., N. F. Rajab, A. Osman, K. Sudesh, and S. H. Inayat-Hussain. (2008) Mutagenic and clastogenic characterization of post-sterilized poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) copolymer biosynthesized by Delftia acidovorans. J. Biomed. Mat. Res. Part A. (in press)

Abed, R., S. Dobretsov and K. Sudesh. (2008) Applications of cyanobacteria in biotechnology. J. Appl. Microbiol. (in press)

Sudesh, K., and T. Iwata. (2008) Sustainability of biobased and biodegradable plastics. Clean-Soil, Air, Water. 36:433-442

Lee, W. H, C. Y. Loo, C. T. Nomura and K. Sudesh. (2008) Biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers from mixtures of plant oils and 3-hydroxyvalerate precursors. Bioresour. Technol. 99:6844-6851.

Toh, P. S. Y., M. H. Jau, S. P. Yew, R. M. M. Abed and K. Sudesh. (2008) Comparison of polyhydroxyalkanoates biosynthesis, mobilization and the effects on cellular morphology in Spirulina platensis and Synechocystis sp. UNIWG. J. Biosci. 19(2):21-38.

Kek, Y. K., W. H. Lee and K. Sudesh. (2008) Efficient bioconversion of palm acid oil and palm kernel acid oil to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by Cupriavidus necator. Can. J. Chem. 86:533-539.

Sudesh, K., B. Y. Tay and C. Y. Lee. (2008) Occurrence of polyhydroxyalkanoate in the gut homogenate of a phylogenetically higher termite, Macrotermes carbonarius. Can. J. Chem. 86:512-515.

Tang H. Y, D. Ishii, A. Mahara, S. Murakami, T. Yamaoka, K. Sudesh, R. Samian, M. Fujita, M. Maeda and T. Iwata. (2008) Scaffolds from electrospun polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers: fabrication, characterization, bioabsorption and tissue response. Biomaterials. 29:1307-1317.

Bhubalan K, W. H. Lee, C. Y. Loo, T. Yamamoto, T. Tsuge, Y. Doi, and K. Sudesh. (2008) Controlled biosynthesis and characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) from mixtures of palm kernel oil and 3HV-precursors. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 93:17-23.

Amirul, A. A., A. R. M. Yahya, K. Sudesh, M. N. M. Azizan, M. I. A. Majid. (2008) Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) copolymer by Cupriavidus sp. USMAA1020 isolated from Lake Kulim, Malaysia. Bioresour. Technol. 99(11):4903-4909

Lee, W. H., M. N. M. Azizan and K. Sudesh. (2007) Magnesium affects poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) content and composition by affecting glucose uptake in Delftia acidovorans. Mal. J. Microbiol. 3(1):31-34.

Ibrahim, C. O., A. Rosma, I. Darah and K. Sudesh. (2007). Utilization of the Malaysian agrowaste resources for the generation of value added products via biotechnological processes. In Current Topics on Bioprocesses in Food Industry. A. Koutinas. A. Pandey and C. Larroche (eds.) Asiatech Publishers Inc. India.

Sudesh, K., C. Y. Loo, L. K. Goh, T. Iwata and M. Maeda. (2007). The oil absorbing property of polyhydroxyalkanoate films and its practical application: A refreashing new outlook for an old degrading material. Macromol. Biosci. 7:1199-1205

Loo, C. Y and K. Sudesh. (2007) Polyhydroxyalkanoates: Biobased microbial plastics and their properties. Mal. Polym. J. 3(2):31-57.

Loo, C. Y and K. Sudesh. (2007) Biosynthesis and native granule characteristics of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in Delftia acidovorans. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 40(5):466-471.

Siew, E. L., N. F. Rajab, A. Osman, K. Sudesh, and S. H. Inayat-Hussain. (2007) In vitro biocompatibility evaluation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] copolymer in fibroblast cells. J. Biomed. Mat. Res. Part A. 81A:317-325.