Curriculum Vitae

DR. TIONG VUNJIA

Senior Lecturer
  • Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • VIROLOGY
    Epidemiology
  • BIORISK MANAGEMENT
    Biosafety, Biosecurity, High Containment Labs [Training, Research]
  • VIROLOGY
    High-risk pathogens, Arthropod-borne viruses,

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

  • PhD (Molecular Virology), (Molecular Virology)
    Universiti Malaya (UM)
  • MSC - BIOTECHNOLOGY, (Biotechnology)
    Universiti Malaya (UM)
  • BSC - BIOTECHNOLOGY, (Biotechnology)
    Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar)

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

  • Task Force Member
    01 Mar 2022 - 31 Dec 2023 (Faculty)
  • Task Force Member
    01 Apr 2022 - 31 Dec 2023 (Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre, Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre)

AWARD AND STEWARDSHIP

  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Professional Development Award
    International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), 2022 (International)
  • Second prize award for poster presentation
    Colloquium on Updates on Dengue and Arbovirus Research in Malaysia, 2010 (National)

PUBLICATIONS

Article in Journal
WoS
  1. Johari, Jefree; Hontz, Robert. D. D.; Pike, Brian. L. L.; Husain, Tupur; Rusli, Norhayati; Mohd-Zain, Rozainanee; Tiong, Vunjia; Lee, Hai-Yen; Teoh, Boon-Teong; Sam, Sing-Sin; Khor, Chee-Sieng; Loong, Shih-Keng; Abd-Jamil, Juraina; Nor'e, Siti-Sarah; Yahaya, Hasmawati; Che-Kamaruddin, Naim; Garcia-Rivera, Jose. A. A.; AbuBakar, Sazaly (2023). MERS-CoV seroconversion amongst Malaysian Hajj pilgrims returning from the Middle East, 2016-2018: results from the MERCURIAL multiyear prospective cohort study, EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS. 12(1), . doi:10.1080/22221751.2023.2208678
  2. Low, Zhaoxuan; Lani, Rafidah; Tiong, Vunjia; Poh, Chitlaa; AbuBakar, Sazaly; Hassandarvish, Pouya (2023). COVID-19 Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES. 24(11), . doi:10.3390/ijms24119589
  3. Johari, J., Hontz, R. D., Pike, B. L., Husain, T., Chong, C. K., Rusli, N., . . . AbuBakar, S. (2021). Multiyear prospective cohort study to evaluate the risk potential of MERS-CoV infection among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims (MERCURIAL): a study protocol. BMJ Open, 11(8), 6. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050901
  4. Tan, K. K., Tiong, V., Tan, J. Y., Wong, J. E., Teoh, B. T., Abd-Jamil, J., . . . AbuBakar, S. (2021). Multiplex sequencing of SARS-Cov-2 genome directly from clinical samples using the Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM). Tropical Biomedicine, 38(3), 283-288. doi: 10.47665/tb.38.3.069
  5. Tan, Kim-Kee; Tan, Jia-Yi; Wong, Jo-Ern; Teoh, Boon-Teong; Tiong, Vunjia; Abd-Jamil, Juraina; Nor'e, Siti-Sarah; Khor, Chee-Sieng; Johari, Jefree; Yaacob, Che-Norainon; Zulkifli, Mulya-Mustika-Sari; CheMatSeri, AsmaAnati; Mahfodz, Nur-Hidayana; Azizan, Noor Syahida; AbuBakar, Sazaly (2021). Emergence of B.1.524(G) SARS-CoV-2 in Malaysia during the third COVID-19 epidemic wave, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 11(1), . doi:10.1038/s41598-021-01223-4
  6. Tiong, V., Hassandarvish, P., Abu Bakar, S., Mohamed, N. A., Sulaiman, W. S. W., Baharom, N., . . . Isahak, I. (2021). The effectiveness of various gargle formulations and salt water against SARS-CoV-2. Scientific reports, 11(1), 7. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-99866-w
  7. Tiong, V., Loong, S. K., Wali, H. A. M., Tan, K. K., Jee, P. F., Lim, F. S., . . . Abubakar, S. (2021). Isolation of Streptococcus cuniculi from corneal lesion in laboratory-raised mice. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 83(2), 280-284. doi: 10.1292/jvms.20-0070
  8. Hassandarvish, Pouya; Tiong, Vunjia; Mohamed, Nurul Azmawati; Arumugam, Harsha; Ananthanarayanan, Abhishek; Qasuri, Murtaza; Hadjiat, Yacine; Abubakar, Sazaly (2020). In vitro virucidal activity of povidone iodine gargle and mouthwash against SARS-CoV-2: implications for dental practice, BRITISH DENTAL JOURNAL. (), . doi:10.1038/s41415-020-2402-0
Scopus
  1. Johari, J., Hontz, R. D., Pike, B. L., Husain, T., Chong, C. K., Rusli, N., . . . Abubakar, S. (2021). Multiyear prospective cohort study to evaluate the risk potential of MERS-CoV infection among Malaysian Hajj pilgrims (MERCURIAL): A study protocol. Bmj Open, 11(8). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050901
  2. Khor C.-S., Tsuji R., Lee H.-Y., Nor'e S.-S., Sahimin N., Azman A.-S., Tiong V., Hasandarvish P., Teoh B.-T., Soh Y.-H., Chai J.-H., Kokubo T., Kanauchi O., Yamamoto N., Abubakar S. (2021). Lactococcus lactis strain plasma intake suppresses the incidence of dengue fever-like symptoms in healthy malaysians: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Nutrients. 13(12), . doi:10.3390/nu13124507
  3. Tan, K. K., Tan, J. Y., Wong, J. E., Teoh, B. T., Tiong, V., Abd-Jamil, J., . . . AbuBakar, S. (2021). Emergence of B.1.524(G) SARS-CoV-2 in Malaysia during the third COVID-19 epidemic wave. Scientific Reports, 11(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-01223-4
  4. Tan, K. K., Tiong, V., Tan, J. Y., Wong, J. E., Teoh, B. T., Abd-Jamil, J., . . . Abubakar, S. (2021). Multiplex sequencing of sars-cov-2 genome directly from clinical samples using the ion personal genome machine (Pgm). Tropical Biomedicine, 38(3), 283-288. doi: 10.47665/tb.38.3.069
  5. Tiong, V., Loong, S. K., Mohamad Wali, H. A., Tan, K. K., Jee, P. F., Lim, F. S., . . . Abubakar, S. (2021). Isolation of streptococcus cuniculi from corneal lesion in laboratory-raised mice. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 83(2), 280-284. doi: 10.1292/jvms.20-0070
Others
  1. Johari J, Hontz RD, Pike BL, Husain T, Rusli N, Mohd-Zain R, Tiong V, Lee HY, Teoh BT, Sam SS, Khor CS, Loong SK, Abd-Jamil J, Nor'e SS, Yahaya H, Che-Kamaruddin N, Garcia-Rivera A, AbuBakar S. (2023). MERS-CoV Seroconversion amongst Malaysian Hajj Pilgrims Returning from the Middle East, 2016-2018: Results from the MERCURIAL Multiyear Prospective Cohort Study, Emerging Microbes & Infections. 12(1), 2208678.
  2. Hassandarvish, P., Tiong, V., Sazaly, A. B., Mohamed, N. A., Arumugam, H., Ananthanarayanan, A., Qasuri, M. Hadjiat, Y. (2020). Povidone iodine gargle and mouthwash. British Dental Journal, 228(12), 900
  3. P Hassandarvish, V Tiong, NA Mohamed, H Arumugam, A Ananthanarayanan, M Qasuri, Y Hadjiat, and S Abubakar. (2020). In-vitro Virucidal Activity of Povidone Iodine Gargle and Mouthwash against SARS-CoV-2: Implications for Dental Practice. British Dental Journal. doi: 10.1038/s41415-020-2402-0 [Epub ahead of print].
  4. Tiong V, Shu MH, Wong WF, AbuBakar S, Chang LY. (2018). Nipah Virus Infection of Immature Dendritic Cells Increases Its Transendothelial Migration Across Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13(9), 2747
  5. Oral immunization of a non-recombinant Lactococcus lactis surface displaying influenza hemagglutinin 1 (HA1) induces mucosal immunity in mice. Jee PF, Tiong V, Shu MH, Khoo JJ, Wong WF, Abdul Rahim R, AbuBakar S, Chang LY. PLoS One. 2017 Nov 6;12(11):e0187718.
  6. Tiong V, Lam CW, Phoon WH, AbuBakar S, Chang LY. (2017). Serum from Nipah Virus Patients Recognises Recombinant Viral Proteins Produced in Escherichia coli. Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases, 70(1), 26-31
  7. Tiong, V., J. Abd-Jamil, H. A. Mohamed Zan, R. S. Abu-Bakar, C. L. Ew, F. L. Jafar, S. Nellis, R. Fauzi, and S. AbuBakar (2015). Evaluation of land cover and prevalence of dengue in Malaysia. Tropical Biomedicine, 32(4), 587-597.
  8. Teoh BT, Sam SS, Tan KK, Danlami MB, Johari J, Shu MH, Pang SP, Nor-Amdan NA, Hashim SH, Tiong V, Abd-Jamil J, MatRahim N, Misbah S, Wong PF, Zandi K, Mahadi NM, Abubakar S. (2012). Purifying selection in the evolution of dengue virus type 1 in Malaysia. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2012 Jun;16(S1):e273
  9. Tiong V, Thong KL, Yusof MY, Hanifah YA, Sam JI, Hassan H. (2010). Macrorestriction analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility profiling of Salmonella enterica at a University Teaching Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases, 63(5), 317-322
Article in Proceeding
  1. Tiong V, Abubakar S. (2022) Laboratory preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic: challenges and lessons learnt, 7th International Symposium for Cooperation on Infectious Diseases, 18-20 May 2022, South Korea,
  2. Tiong VJ, Shu MH, Abd Rahman H, Wong WF, AbuBakar S, Chang LY. Role of immature dendritic cells in the dissemination of Nipah virus. Abstract submitted to 10th Leiden International Medical Students Conference, Leiden, Netherlands, 2017, p. 208
  3. Jee PF, Chen FS, Shu MH, Tiong V, Khoo JJ, Wong WF, Raha AR, AbuBakar S, Chang LY. (2016). Surface display of the HA1 on Lactococcus lactis: A potential candidate vaccine against influenza. 5th Asian Federation of Societies for Lactic Acid Bacteria International Symposium, Taipei, Taiwan, p. 36
  4. Tiong V, AbuBakar S, Chang LY. Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant Nipah virus attachment protein maintains its immunogenicity. (2013). Proceedings of the International Congress of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology, Langkawi, Malaysia, p. 605-606
  5. Tiong V, AbuBakar S, Chang LY. (2012). Permissiveness and survivability studies of Nipah virus infection of human monocytic THP-1 cells suggest a role in virus spread. Proceedings for 31st Symposium of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology, Sabah, Malaysia, p. 204
  6. Tiong V, Lam CW, Ooi HW, Phoon WH, Lew MH, AbuBakar S, Chang LY. (2011). Production of recombinant Nipah virus proteins and its application in diagnosis of a relapse case of Nipah virus infection. Proceedings of the International Congress of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology, Penang, Malaysia, p. 331
  7. Tiong V, Jafar FL, Ramasame SD, Ew CL, Abd-Jamil J et al.. (2010). Influence of land cover on prevalence of dengue infection in children in Malaysia. Colloquium on Updates on Dengue and Arbovirus Research in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

RESEARCH PROJECT

National
  1. 2021 - 2025, Others MOHE
    Characterization, Safety Profile And Immune Responses Of Candidate Vaccines Against The Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii (mdrvaks) ( Co-Researcher)
  2. 2019 - 2023, RU Geran
    Tidrec- Tropical Infections Disease Programme ( Co-Researcher)
  3. 2020 - 2023, RU Geran
    Tidrec-tropical Infections Disease Programme ( Co-Researcher)
  4. 2021 - 2023, Government Agency
    Pilot Project: Development Of Modular Mucosal Vaccine Platform Using Generally Regarded As Safe (gras) Bacteria Against Covid19 (cv07201e1004) ( Co-Researcher)
  5. 2020 - 2021, USAID
    Enhancing MyOHUN OneHealth Workforce Capability In Laboratory Detection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) ( Co-Researcher)

PAPER PRESENTED

PLENARY SPEAKER
  1. Fostering a culture of safety for laboratory preparedness challenges and lessons from a resource-limited setting, 2nd Malaysian Conference on Biosafety and Biosecurity 2023, MBBA (National) (21 Jun 2023 - 22 Jun 2023)
INVITED SPEAKER
  1. Recollection of Nipah virus outbreak: 20 years after, a photo/video exhibition, Nipah Virus International Conference, Duke-NUS Medical School (International) (09 Dec 2019 - 13 Dec 2019)

ACADEMIC/PROF. SERVICES

Contribution to external organisation
  1. (2019) Biosafety & Biosecurity Training (In-House), TIDREC
  2. (2013) Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association 8th Annual Biosafety Conference, Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association
  3. (2010) Colloquium on Updates on Dengue and Arbovirus Research in Malaysia, TIDREC

COURSE ATTENDED

Internal / External Course
INTERNAL COURSE- ORGANIZED BY PTJ
  1. TIDREC RESEARCH PROGRAM RETREAT 2022, Online (18 Feb 2022 - 20 Feb 2022)
  2. EMERALD TEACHING AND LEARNING 2022, Online (08 Aug 2022 - 12 Aug 2022)
EXTERNAL COURSE
  1. ONE HEALTH BIORISK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP: MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA , FEBRUARY 4TH-8TH 2022, Jw Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (04 Feb 2022 - 08 Feb 2022)
  2. INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BIOSAFETY ASSOCIATION (IFBA) TRAINING CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN BIORISK MANAGEMENT FOR MALAYSIAN BIORISK MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, Kuala Lumpur, Venue to Be Confirmed (23 Mar 2022 - 27 Mar 2022)
  3. ONE HEALTH FIELD EPIDEMIOLOGY TRAINING , Bangi Resort Hotel (09 May 2022 - 12 May 2022)
  4. INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCE SHIPPING COURSE, Putrajaya (05 Jul 2022 - 06 Jul 2022)
  5. AVIAN INFLUENZA SIMULATION EXERCISE, Kingwood Hotel, Sibu, Sarawak (26 Jul 2022 - 28 Jul 2022)