International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2022

By Joanna Goh

From left: Dr. Janaranjani, Research coordinator at GK Aqua SDN BHD; Mr. Giva Kuppusamy, founder and CEO of GK Aqua SDN BHD; Academician Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Augustine Ong Soon Hock, the president of Malaysia Invention and Design Society; Dr. Goh Bey Hing, Leader of BMEX at School of Pharmacy, Monash Univeristy Malaysia; Joanna Goh, PhD candidate at Monash Univeristy Malaysia.

Shrimp farming is one of the key blooming economic areas in Malaysia. However, infectious disease among the farmed animals is still one major issue haunting the industry. For example, the Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND), also known as the early mortality syndrome (EMS) is one common disease affecting the shrimps. Since the first outbreak in China in 2009, this relatively new disease induced by V. parahaemolyticus has progressively spread to multiple shrimp farming countries over the years. The disease can result in mass mortality in the shrimp within a short period and wipe out the entire batch of production, thus incurring massive economic losses to the industry. Since the risk of disease is the highest at the larvae stage, the impact of the disease is the highest on the shrimp fry suppliers. Unfortunately, there is a lack of effective therapeutic options targeting the disease. Many local farmers have resorted to the indiscriminate usage of antibiotics as prophylaxis which is certainly not a wise option in the long run.

The research team. From left: Dr. Goh Bey Hing, Kuai Yi He, Zhong Mei, Joanna Goh, Lin Bing Peng, Dr. Jodi Law, Dr. Vengadesh Letchumanan, Associate Professor Dr. Lee Learn Han, and Dr. Tan Loh Teng Hern.

Dr. Goh Bey Hing and Dr. Khaw Kooi Yeong from School of Pharmacy. The team leader and one of the co-inventors of FarmMate-S1.

The research team lead by Dr Goh Bey Hing, Leader of Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory Research Group (BMEX) in Monash University Malaysia has endeavoured to solve this challenge. The team comprises microbiologists and pharmacists from the School of Medicine [Novel Bacteria and Drug Discovery Research Group (NBDD)], biochemists and biomedical scientists from the School of Pharmacy. Streptomyces sp., a bacteria species renowned for its prolific production of useful metabolites, was explored for its potential to control the infectious disease. A strain isolated from the mangrove forest was selected following a series of trials in the laboratory. The team was inspired by the lack of disease occurrence in nature and went on to hypothesise that the microbial community in the natural habitat of the animals produces useful metabolites that help secure the growth and wellbeing of the animals.

From left: Dr. Janaranjani, Research coordinator at GK Aqua SDN BHD; Joanna Goh, PhD candidate at Monash University Malaysia; Professor Matthew Nicholson, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor, Monash University Malaysia; Dr. Goh Bey Hing, Leader of BMEX at School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia.

The idea was well received leading to the team successfully securing the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) in 2019. The team is also closely collaborating with a pioneering company in freshwater farming biotechnology with BIONEXUS status in this research. The preliminary results were promising. The team planned to deliver the strain in modern farming in the form of probiotics. The probiotic bacteria was meant to colonise the animal gut following successive feeding which helps to protect the animal from the opportunistic pathogen. A prototype was developed, which the team fondly named it as FarmMate-S1. The prototype was recently exhibited in the prestigious ITEX invention and design competition, which is also dubbed Asia's Leading Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition.

Dr. Goh Bey Hing (right) receiving the token of special recognition and compliments from the Secretariat General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf GCC Patent Office. FarmMate-S1 emerged as one of the best inventions amongst the array of close to 500 inventions in the exhibition is a testimonial to the research prestige of our institution.

It is a proud moment for our institution when the team won a gold award for the invention on the 26^th and 27^th of May at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. On top of that, the team also received a token of special recognition and compliments from the Secretariat General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf GCC Patent Office. Emerging as one of the best inventions amongst the array of close to 500 inventions in the exhibition is a testimonial to the research prestige of our institution. Along with the FarmMate-S1 team, seven other teams representing our institution also put forth outstanding results in research areas such as agriculture, environment, materials, medical and health. A total of four golds and four silver medals were awarded to Monash University Malaysia in ITEX 2022.

International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2022

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