DR. ANA MASARA BINTI AHMAD MOKHTAR
		Email: anamasara@usm.my
		Ext: 5204
		Expertise: Biochemistry; Small Rho GTPases; Cancer; Immunology; Tumour immunology; Molecular biology; AMR infection

 ~Happy MIND, Happy LIFE~

Happiness is not by CHANCE but by CHOICE (Jim Rohn)

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--PROFILE--

Dr. Ana Masara binti Ahmad Mokhtar is a Senior Lecturer at the Bioprocess Technology Division, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). She has a First Class Honor degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Universiti Putra Malaysia in November 2014. In April 2020, She has completed her PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, specifically under supervision of Dr Darerca Owen. 

Expert USM: https://experts.usm.my/cvitae/anamasara 

Related SDGs:

--UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING--

• IBK402: Bioproduct Development
• IBK314: Downstream Process Technology
• IBG207: Cell and Tissue Culture Technology
• IBG214: Enzyme Technology
• IBG205: DNA & Metabolites Technology
• IBG112: Bioanalysis 1

--RESEARCH--

Dr Ana's research during her PhD focusing on the role of ACK kinase, small Rho GTPases and their regulators in cancer. Thus, continuing from that research, she is currently interested to study the role of small Rho GTPases as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in tumour immunology, especially in Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) and Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She is also interested in looking into the potential use of MFC technology or bacteriocin in reducing human-related diseases. However, she also welcomes collaboration with other researchers in any other field.

ORCID: 0000-0002-7529-1856

ResearcherID: AAX-6754-2020

Author ID (Scopus): 57200383822

Google scholar: aW6gq7QAAAAJ

--GRANT--

• 2022-2026: To Elucidate The Effect of Rhoh Y38X Mutation In Regulating Rac-Induced BAFF-R Signalling In Pid Malignancy (Principal Investigator, RM 143,958.65 (Euro 30,000), ICGEB: International Centre For Genetic Engineering And Biotechnology, International) 
• 2023- 2024: Pelaksanaan program AMbassadoR Untuk Meningkatkan Kesedaran, Pengetahuan dan Amalan Pelajar Pra-Universiti B40 Terhadap Rintangan Antimikrobial (AMR) (Principal Investigator, RM 6,595, Geran BJIM, USM) 
• 2022-2024: Elucidate cancer progression caused by faulty T cell receptor (TCR) signalling in Cdc42 C81Y-induced primary immunodeficiencies (Principal Investigator, RM 191,100, FRGS, National) 
• 2022-2024: Identifying Human Hazard from Microbial Fuel Cell-treated Dewatered Sludge (Principal Investigator, RM 55,850, APEX ERA, USM) 
• 2022-2023: Pemerkasaan Ilmu STEM dan Teknologi HijauTerhadap Warga Kolej Matrikulasi dan Penduduk B40 di Kampar, Perak (Co-Investigator, RM 7,860, Geran BJIM, USM) 
• 2022-2023: Chemical Characterization of E-Liquids, Determination of Nicotine, Glycerol and Propylene Glycol and Short and Long Term Effects (Co-Investigator, RM 185,846.22, WHO grant) 
• 2022-2023: Simultaneously Bioremediation of Chicken Manure and Power Generation using Electrogenic Bacteria in Membrane-Less Microbial Fuel Cell (Co-Investigator, RM 328,370.00, WHO grant) 
• 2022-2023: Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd's Wastewater as Fuel in Microbial Fuel Cell for Advance Treatment and Energy Recovery (Co- Investigator, RM 25,000, Product Innovation And Development Grant, USM)
• 2021-2023: The Immunomodulatory Effect of Christia Vespertilionis Leaf Extract on BAFF-mediated B cell proliferation and Differentiation (Principal Investigator, RM 32,400, Short-term, USM)

--CONFERENCE--

• International conference: Small G proteins in cellular signalling and disease 2022 (United Kingdom, 2022)
• International conference: The RAS superfamily and related pathways in health and disease (Spain, 2019)
• International conference: Small G proteins in cellular signalling and disease (United Kingdom, 2018)
• International conference: Building Bridges in Medical Sciences (United Kingdom, 2017)
• International conference: 2^nd Korea-Asean Symposium on Indonesia Natural Product (Indonesia, 2014)
• International Workshop on Protein Expression and Purification Strategies (Thailand, 2012)

--PUBLICATION--

2023

• Chong, C. F., Hasnizan, N. Y. U., & Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M. (2023). Navigating the landscape of Rho GTPase signalling system in autoimmunity: A bibliometric analysis spanning over three decades (1990 to 2023). Cellular Signalling, 111, 110855.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110855
• Hodder, S., Fox, M., Binti Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M., Mott, H. R., & Owen, D. (2023). ACKnowledging the role of the Activated-Cdc42 associated kinase (ACK) in regulating protein stability in cancer. Small GTPases, 14(1), 14–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/21541248.2023.2212573
• Ahmad Mokhtar, A.M.,Ngee, C.S., Mohammed Alias, M.Z.A., Salikin, N.H., Mohd Fadzil, F.N.I., Kamaruzaman, N.A. (2023). Antimicrobial-Resistant Microorganisms and the Possibility of Using Microbial Fuel Cell Technology to Reduce Their Transmission in the Environment. In: Mohd Zaini Makhtar, M., Shukor, H., Yaser, A.Z. (eds) Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) Applications for Sludge Valorization. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-1083-0_10 
• Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M., Tang Yet Shen, B., Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M., Salikin, N. H., Zaini Makhtar, M. M., Mohd Fadzil, F. N. I., Kamaruzaman, N. A., & Balasubramaniam, M. (2023). Poultry Manure and its Contribution to Inflammation and Cancer Progression. Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, 31(6). https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.31.6.01
• Aminah Suhaila Haron, Ana Masara Ahmad Mokhtar, Genetic Mutations and Clinical Diagnoses Associated with Increased Risk of Malignancy in Primary Immunodeficiencies, Springer, 2022- Accepted
• Deebadarishani Sathasivan, Nur Azzalia Kamaruzaman, Mazlin Mohideen, Mohd Hafiidz Jaafar, Ana Masara Ahmad Mokhtar. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Scenario in Malaysia: A Review on Current Trends, Perspectives and Strategic Action, Journal of Infection and Public Health, 2022- Accepted

2022

• Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M.,Salikin, N. H., Haron, A. S., Amin-Nordin, S., Hashim, I. F., Mohd Zaini Makhtar, M., Zulfigar, S. B., & Ismail, N. I. (2022). RhoG’s Role in T Cell Activation and Function. Frontiers in Immunology, 13. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2022.845064
•  Ismail, N. I., & Mokhtar, A. M. A. (2022). Modularisation of published and novel models toward a complex KIR2DL4 pathway in pbNK cell. MethodsX, 9, 101760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2022.101760
•  Mokhtar A.M.B.A., Makhtar M.M.Z., Mokhtar A.M.A.(2022) Waste and Health: Sewage Sludge and Its Hazard to Human. In: Yaser A.Z., Tajarudin H.A., Embrandiri A. (eds) Waste Management, Processing and Valorisation. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7653-6_8
• Shamsudin N.A., Sabri M.N.I.M., Tajarudin H.A., Mokhtar A.M.A., Makhtar M.M.Z. (2022) The Future Promising Alternative Renewable Energy from Microbial Fuel Cell. In: Yaser A.Z., Tajarudin H.A., Embrandiri A. (eds) Waste Management, Processing and Valorisation. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7653-6_13
• Mohd Sabri, M. N. I., Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M.,Salikin, N. H., Shamsudin, N. A., & Mohd Zaini Makhtar, M. (2022). Critical Appraisal of Anaerobic Digestion Processes for Biogas. In H. Shukor, M. Mohd Zaini Makhtar, & A. Z. Yaser (Eds.), Renewable Energy from Bio-resources in Malaysia (pp. 165–193). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9314-4_8 
• Mohd Sabri, M. N. I., Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M.,Shafiq, M. D., Alkarimiah, R., & Mohd Zaini Makhtar, M. (2022). Different Types of Pre-Treatments for Renewable Bioresources. In H. Shukor, M. Mohd Zaini Makhtar, & A. Z. Yaser (Eds.), Renewable Energy from Bio-resources in Malaysia (pp. 45–78). Springer Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9314-4_3

2021

• Dewi, D. A. P. R., Thomas, T., Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M., Mat Nanyan, N. S., Zulfigar, S. B., & Salikin, N. H. (2021). Carbapenem Resistance among Marine Bacteria—An Emerging Threat to the Global Health Sector. In Microorganisms (Vol. 9, Issue 10). https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9102147 
• Hashim, I. F., & Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M. (2021). Small Rho GTPases and their associated RhoGEFs mutations promote immunological defects in primary immunodeficiencies. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 137, 106034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106034
• Murphy, N. P., binti Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M., Mott, H. R., & Owen, D. (2021). Molecular subversion of Cdc42 signalling in cancer. Biochemical Society Transactions. https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20200557
• Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M. binti, Ahmed, S. B. M., Darling, N. J., Harris, M., Mott, H. R., & Owen, D. (2021). A Complete Survey of RhoGDI Targets Reveals Novel Interactions with Atypical Small GTPases. Biochemistry, acs.biochem.1c00120. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00120
• Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M., Hashim, I. F., Mohd Zaini Makhtar, M., Salikin, N. H., & Amin-Nordin, S. (2021). The Role of RhoH in TCR Signalling and Its Involvement in Diseases. In Cells (Vol. 10, Issue 4). https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10040950

2020

• Binti Ahmad Mokhtar, A. M. (2020). Investigating the Functional Interaction between RhoGDI Family Proteins and Activated Cdc42 associated-kinase (ACK) (Doctoral thesis). https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.54716 

2018

• Yazan, L. S., Zainal, N. A., Ali, R. M., Muhamad Zali, M. F. S., Sze, O. Y., Sim, T. Y., …Mokhtar, A.M, Alwi, S. S. S. (2018). Antiulcer properties of kelulut honey against ethanolinduced gastric ulcer. Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, 26(1), 121–132. 

 

--SUPERVISION--

Main supervisor

Postgraduate

• Saw Keat Chuan, MSc in Bioprocess Technology, School of Industrial Technology (Main Supervisor, on-going)
• Nik Yasmin Umaira Binti Hasnizan, MSc in Bioprocess Technology, School of Industrial Technology (Main Supervisor, on-going)
• Fatin Nur Izzati binti Mohd Fadzil, MSc in Bioprocess Technology, School of Industrial Technology (Main Supervisor, on-going
• Muggunna A/P Balasubramaniam, MSc in Bioprocess Technology, School of Industrial Technology (Main Supervisor, on-going)
• Linesh Kumar A/L Selvaraja- MSc in Bioprocess Technology, School of Industrial Technology (Co-supervisor, ongoing)
• Teh Jia Lin, MSc in Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences (Co-supervisor, on-going)

Undergraduate

• Nurshahira Binti Mohamad Noor- Bachelor of Technology (Bioprocess):Investigating Anti - Inflammatory Properties of Bacteriocin - Like Protein from B. Subtilis, L. Plantarum, And L. Paracasei(Main supervisor, 2022- 2023)
• Mohammed Zharif Asyrani Bin Mohammed Alias- Bachelor of Technology (Bioprocess): Identifying the effect of membraneless microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC)-treated dewatered sludge on cytoxicity and cancer progression (Main supervisor, 2021- 2022)
• Chen Sep Ngee- Bachelor of Technology (Bioprocess): Investigating the effect of membrane-less microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC)-treated dewatered sludge on inflammation (Main supervisor, 2021- 2022)
• Nur Liyana Athilah Bt Mohd Affandi- Bachelor of Technology (Bioprocess): A comparative analysis of anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycemic and cytotoxic properties of Streblus asper and Christia vespertilionis aqueous leaves extracts (2020-2021)

 

--MEMBERSHIP & RECOGNITION--

Membership

• Member of National STEM Association 
• Member of Malaysian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Member of European Respiratory Society
• Member of Malaysian Thoracic Society (MTS) 
• Member of Biochemical society 
• Member of Cambridge Union
• Member of Cambridge Philosophical Society 

Awards and Recognition

• Associate Editor Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins (Q2) (International)
• Special Award from PPV USM (2021)
• Silver award, MTE 2021: Smart Intruder detector with Internet of Things (IOT) Application Powered by Electricity Generation from Microbial Fuel Cell using Household Waste
• Research Studentship award from Cambridge Philosophical Society (2019)
• Travel Award from Newnham College (2018)
• Gold Medal award from Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman (2015)
• Gold Medal Royal Education award from The Conference of Ruler Malaysia (2014) -Pingat Jaya Cemerlang
• The winner of Hiroshima Global Consultant for Best Student in Biomedical Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (2014)

Reviewer for journal

1. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins
2. Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences 

3. Food Science and Biotechnology 

--CONTACT--

Dr. Ana Masara binti Ahmad Mokhtar
Bioprocess Technology Division
School of Industrial Technology
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 Penang
MALAYSIA

Email: anamasara@usm.my
Tel: 04-6535204 

For those who are interested to apply for postgraduate research studies, please feel free to contact me through my email :)

~Happy MIND, Happy LIFE~