Curriculum Vitae

DR. NURHAFIZA BINTI ZAINAL

Senior Lecturer
  • Department of Medical Microbiology
    Faculty of Medicine
  • nurhafizazainal
  • 0379675756

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • IMMUNOLOGY
    Life Sciences, Biological Sciences, Microbiology
  • VIROLOGY
    Medical And Health Sciences, Medical Sciences, Medical Microbiology

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

  • PhD (Medical Microbiology), (Mikrobiologi Perubatan)
    Universiti Malaya (UM)
  • PhD. (National Cheng Kung University), (Medicine)
    Nat. Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
  • MRes (Biotechnology), (Biotechnology)
    Imperial College London, UK
  • BSc (Hons) (Biotechnology), (Biotechnology)
    Universiti Malaya (UM)

MEMBERSHIPS

  • CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY, MEMBER
    2025 to present (International)
  • EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER OF TROPICAL BIOMEDICINE, BOARD MEMBER
    2023 to 2024 (National)
  • COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITI MALAYA (UM) INSTITUTIONAL BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY COMMITTEE (IBBC), MEMBER
    2021 to 2023 (University)
  • MALAYSIAN SOCIETY OF PARASITOLOGY AND TROPICAL MEDICINE, EDITORIAL BOARD
    2020 to 2023 (National)
  • MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY CARE CLUB, VICE-CHAIRMAN
    2020 to 2021 (University)

AWARD AND STEWARDSHIP

  • Excellence Service Award
    2023, Universiti Malaya
  • Certificate of Excellent Service
    2022, Universiti Malaya
  • Skim Latihan Akademik Ipta (Slai)
    2013, University of Malaya,  (University)

PUBLICATIONS

Article in Journal
WoS
  1. Chin, Kim-Ling; Zainal, Nurhafiza (2025). Antiviral immune responses in human reproductive tract: Pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic implications, ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE. 18(2), 67-76. doi:10.4103/apjtm.apjtm_491_24
  2. Annsley, D. S.; Chin, K. L.; Tan, K. K.; AbuBakar, S.; Zainal, N. (2024). Impact of elevated IgE in protective immunity and immunopathology of dengue, TROPICAL BIOMEDICINE. 41(1), 118-124. doi:10.47665/tb.41.1.014
  3. Annsley, D. S.; Chin, K. L.; Tan, K. K.; Abubakar, S.; Zainal, N. (2024). Association of total and dengue-specific IgE levels in the sera with dengue virus inhibition and antibody-dependent enhancement, TROPICAL BIOMEDICINE. 41(4), 481-490. doi:10.47665/tb.41.4.009
  4. Yip, Jia Qi; Oo, Adrian; Ng, Yan Ling; Chin, Kim Ling; Tan, Kim-Kee; Chu, Justin Jang Hann; Abubakar, Sazaly; Zainal, Nurhafiza (2024). The role of inflammatory gene polymorphisms in severe COVID-19: a review, VIROLOGY JOURNAL. 21(1). doi:10.1186/s12985-024-02597-3
  5. Chin, Kim-Ling; Tan, Kim-Kee; Abu Bakar, Sazaly; Zainal, Nurhafiza (2023). Resveratrol as an epigenetic therapy for flavivirus infection: A narrative review, ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE. 16(12), 546-557. doi:10.4103/1995-7645.391776
  6. Wong, Jo-Ern; Zainal, Nurhafiza; AbuBakar, Sazaly; Tan, Kim-Kee (2023). Monitoring Changes in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells upon Viral Infection Using Impedance-Based Real- Time Cell Analysis, JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS. (195). doi:10.3791/64887
  7. Arham, Ahmad Firdhaus; Hasim, Nur Asmadayana; Mokhtar, Mohd Istajib; Zainal, Nurhafiza; Rusly, Noor Sharizad; Amin, Latifah; Saifuddeen, Shaikh Mohd; Mustapa, Muhammad Adzran Che; Mahadi, Zurina (2022). The Lesser of Two Evils: Application of Maslahah-Mafsadah Criteria in Islamic Ethical-Legal Assessment of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes in Malaysia, JOURNAL OF BIOETHICAL INQUIRY. . doi:10.1007/s11673-022-10216-5
  8. Chin, Kim-Ling; Zainal, Nurhafiza; Sam, Sing-Sin; Hassandarvish, Pouya; Lani, Rafidah; AbuBakar, Sazaly (2022). Intracellular translocation of HMGB1 is important for Zika virus replication in Huh7 cells, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 12(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-022-04955-z
  9. Khor, C. S., Mohd-Rahim, N. F., Hassan, H., Tan, K. K., Zainal, N., Teoh, B. T., . . . Abubakar, S. (2020). Serological evidence of DENV, JEV, and ZIKV among the indigenous people (Orang Asli) of Peninsular Malaysia. Journal of medical virology, 92(8), 956-962. doi: 10.1002/jmv.25649
  10. Lim, F. S., Khoo, J. J., Tan, K. K., Zainal, N., Loong, S. K., Khor, C. S., AbuBakar, S. (2020). Bacterial communities in Haemaphysalis, Dermacentor and Amblyomma ticks collected from wild boar of an Orang Asli Community in Malaysia. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 11(2), 9. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101352
  11. Teoh, B. T., Chin, K. L., Samsudin, N. I., Loong, S. K., Sam, S. S., Tan, K. K., . . . AbuBakar, S. (2020). A reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification for broad coverage detection of Asian and African Zika virus lineages. BMC Infectious Diseases, 20(1), 10. doi: 10.1186/s12879-020-05585-4
  12. Mohd, Azirah; Zainal, Nurhafiza; Tan, Kim-Kee; AbuBakar, Sazaly (2019). Resveratrol affects Zika virus replication in vitro, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 9. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-50674-3
  13. Lim, Fang-Shiang; Loong, Shih-Keng; Khoo, Jing-Jing; Tan, Kim-Kee; Zainal, Nurhafiza; Abdullah, Muhammad-Firdaus; Khor, Chee-Sieng; Abubakar, Sazaly (2018). Identification and characterization of Corynebacterium lactis isolated from Amblyomma testudinarium of Sus scrofa in Malaysia, SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY. 23(9), 1838-1844. doi:10.11158/saa.23.9.10
  14. Loong, Shih Keng; Tan, Kim-Kee; Zainal, Nurhafiza; Phoon, Wai Hong; Zain, Siti Nursheena Mohd; AbuBakar, Sazaly (2017). Draft genome of the emerging pathogen, Kocuria marina, isolated from a wild urban rat, MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ. 112(12), 857-859. doi:10.1590/0074-02760170132
  15. Zainal, N., Chang, C. P., Cheng, Y. L., Wu, Y. W., Anderson, R., Wan, S. W., Chen, C. L., Ho, T. S., AbuBakar, S., Lin, Y. S. (2017). Resveratrol treatment reveals a novel role for HMGB1 in regulation of the type 1 interferon response in dengue virus infection. Scientific Reports, 7, 12.
Scopus
  1. Chin K.-L., Zainal N., Sam S.-S., Bakar S.A. (2023). Resveratrol Treatment-induced Nuclear HMGB1 Retention is Critical for Inducing Host Interferon Responses Against Zika Virus, Natural Products Journal. 13(6), 91-107. doi:10.2174/2210315513666221114112253
  2. Tan J.-Y., Wong J.-E., Zainal N., Abubakar S., Tan K.-K. (2023). Virus Propagation and Cell-Based Colorimetric Quantification, Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE. (194). doi:10.3791/64578
Others
  1. Zainal, N., Tan, K. K., Johari, J., Hussein, H., Wan Musa, W. R., Hassan, J., ... & AbuBakar, S. (2018). Sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus cross neutralizes dengue viruses. Microbiology and immunology, 62(10), 659-672.
Other Publications
  1. Langkah Malaysia tak guna Remdesivir tepat, Berita Harian, 25 Oktober 2020 - Mass Media(Newspaper,Radio,Tv,Popular Magazine)

RESEARCH INTEREST

  • Understanding the interplay between the host immune response and viruses including host protein expression and genetic factors. (Host-pathogen relationship)
  • Examines antiviral responses through the modulation of the host immune response (Antiviral immune modulation)
  • Explores the modulation of host immune pathways for potential therapeutic interventions in viral infections (Immune modulation in viral infections)

RESEARCH PROJECT

National
  1. 2023 - 2026, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
    The Role Of 5-methylcytosine (m5c) In Dengue Virus Replication And Virus-host Interaction ( Co-Researcher)
  2. 2024 - 2026, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
    Pembangunan Kerangka Multidimensi Sains-agama-budaya Dalam Pendidikan Kesihatan Planet Di Malaysia. ( Co-Researcher)
  3. 2021 - 2025, MOSTI-Funding
    Development Of Vaccines Using Mrna Technology Targeting Neglected Tropical Disease (devarna) ( Co-Researcher)
  4. 2021 - 2025, Others MOHE
    Dana Rangsangan Sukuk Pakej Ekonomi Prihatin Rakyat (sukuk Prihatin) - Dana Penyelidikan Berkaitan Penyakit Berjangkit Merangkumi Pembangunan Vaksin Serta Kajian Rawatan Dan Diagnostik ( Co-Researcher)
  5. 2023 - 2025, Others MOHE
    Enhancing The Safety And Efficacy Of Vaccines: Investigating Cross-reactive Immunity And Antibody-dependent Enhancement (ade) For Improved Vaccine Development ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  6. 2023 - 2025, UM International Collaboration Grant
    CD5L: A Novel Key Protein In Dengue Virus Infection ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  7. 2023 - 2025, UM International Collaboration Grant
    The exploration of Sonchus arvensis L. For phytochemical screening and anti-dengue fever (DHF) ( Co-Researcher)
  8. 2024 - 2025, UM Living Labs @ UMSDC
    LabEco Drive: Fostering Environmental Responsibility in Scientific Research ( Co-Researcher)
  9. 2021 - 2024, MOSTI-Funding
    Susceptibility Of Recovered Covid-19 Patients And Covid-19 Vaccinated Individuals To Severe Manifestation Of Covid-19: Genetic Predisposition, Cross-reactive Immunity, And Antibody-dependent Enhancement (long Term Outcomes And Genetics: Longtong) ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  10. 2023 - 2024, RU Geran - UMCares
    Eco-friendly Periods: Saving The Environment One Menstrual Cup At A Time ( Co-Researcher)
  11. 2023 - 2024, Government Agency - Manage by UMCARES
    Program Cawan Haid: Selamat, Mesra Alam Dan Kos Efektif ( Co-Researcher)
  12. 2023 - 2024, UM Community Campus-Manage by UMCARES
    The Sustainable Period: Menstrual Cups and Environmental Responsibility in University ( Co-Researcher)
  13. 2019 - 2023, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
    The Role Of Ige Responses In The Pathogenesis Of Dengue ( Principal Investigator(PI))
  14. 2021 - 2023, Government Agency
    Pilot Project: Development Of Modular Mucosal Vaccine Platform Using Generally Regarded As Safe (gras) Bacteria Against Covid19 (cv07201e1004) ( Co-Researcher)
  15. 2018 - 2022, Long Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS)
    Mrun Kpt: Pathogenic Mechanisms Of Zika Virus Infection ( Co-Researcher)
  16. 2019 - 2021, RU Geran
    Emerging And Re-emerging Infectious Diseases In Maternal Health ( Co-Researcher)
  17. 2019 - 2021, RU Geran - UMCares
    One Health For Underserved Orang Asli Community ( Co-Researcher)
  18. 2018 - 2020, RU Geran
    Tropical Infectious Disease Program ( Co-Researcher)
  19. 2018 - 2019, Long Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS)
    MRUN KPT: Antiviral Activities Of Natural Compounds Against Zikv Infection ( Co-Researcher)

PAPER PRESENTED

INVITED SEMINAR
  1. Invited Lecture: Administrative Control & Standard Operating Procedure, MIC2006 (Biorisk Management for Biomedical Science) Academic Session 2020/2021, Biomedical Science Department (University) (23 Oct 2020 - 23 Oct 2020)
  2. Invited Lecture: Viruses, Basic Medical Science Programme for Dentistry, Academic Session 2019/2020, Basic Medical Science Programme (University) (06 Jan 2020 - 16 Jan 2020)
  3. Invited Lecture: Administrative Control & Standard Operating Procedure, MIC2006 (Biorisk Management for Biomedical Science) Academic Session 2019/2020, Biomedical Science Department (University) (27 Sep 2019 - 27 Sep 2019)
INVITED SPEAKER
  1. Mucosal vaccination: strategies to induce mucosal immunity against pathogen, 2nd National Biotechnology Symposium 2022 "Embracing Homegrown Vaccine", National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM) (National) (09 Nov 2022 - 10 Nov 2022)
  2. The Role of IgE Responses in the Pathogenesis of Dengue, International Symposium on Emerging Infectious Diseases Enterovirus and Vector-Borne Diseases, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan (International) (06 Jul 2019 - 07 Jul 2019)
POSTER PRESENTER
  1. Emergence of dengue virus type 3 genotype I associated with upsurge of DENV3 cases in Klang Valley, Malaysia, 17th International Congress of Virology, Singapore Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology  (International) (17 Jul 2017 - 21 Jul 2017)
  2. Resveratrol treatment reveals a novel role for HMGB1 in regulation of the type 1 interferon response in dengue virus infection, Asia Dengue Conference, dengue: New Challenges, TIDREC (International) (23 Apr 2016 - 24 Apr 2016)
  3. Optimization of Burkholderia pseudomallei Antigenic Protein Expression in Escherichia coli, Symposium of the Malaysian Society for Microbiology, Malaysian Society of Microbiology (National) (13 Dec 2012 - 15 Dec 2012)
  4. Comparison of Real Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for the Detection of Dengue Virus, Singapore International Conference on Dengue and Emerging Infections, STOP Dengue Translational Clinical Research Program and the Duke, NUS Emerging Infectious Diseases Program  (International) (21 Nov 2012 - 23 Nov 2012)

SUPERVISION

Postgraduate Student
PhD/ Doctoral
  1. (2024) THE ROLE OF ANTI-SARS-COV-2 ANTIBODIES IN CROSS-REACTIVE IMMUNITY AND ANTIBODY-DEPENDENT ENHANCEMENT IN ARBOVIRUS INFECTIONS, JALVIANA LANSAYAN
  2. (2024) IN VITRO SYNTHESIS OF SARS-COV-2 SPIKE PROTEIN MRNA AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE TRANSLATIONAL PRODUCTS, CHING YEE MING
  3. (2024) THE ROLE OF 5-METHYLCYTOSINE (M5C) IN DENGUE VIRUS REPLICATION AND VIRUS-HOST INTERACTION, MUHAMMAD FAWWAZ BIN ABDULLAH
  4. (2024) SEROLOGICAL RESPONSE AND DIVERSITY OF MEMORY B-CELL IMMUNOPHENOTYPE REPERTOIRE ANALYSES AGAINST SARS-COV-2, NAIM CHE KAMARUDDIN
  5. (2024) ANTIBODY-DEPENDENT ENHANCEMENT OF SARS-COV-2 AND MERS-COV INFECTIONS BY ANTI-SARS-COV-2 ANTIBODY, MOHD SUHAIMI BIN DRAMAN
  6. (2021) ANTIVIRAL MECHANISM OF RESVERATROL AGAINST ZIKA VIRUS: THE ROLE OF THE ISG-LINKED HMGB1, CHIN KIM LING
Master
  1. (2024) The role of host genetics in the predisposition of severe COVID-19, YIP JIA QI
  2. (2024) Investigating IgE-Mediated Virus Neutralization and Antibody-Dependent Enhancement in Dengue, ANNSLEY DASHAWNA STEPHEN
  3. (2024) Effect of pre-existing antibodies against dengue virus (DENV) on zika virus (ZIKV) infection in endothelial cells., JO ERN WONG
  4. (2024) INHIBITORY POTENTIAL OF SONCHUS ARVENSIS AGAINST DENGUE, NURIN NAZIHA BINTI ZULKEFLE
  5. (2024) THE ASSOCIATION OF MAST CELL ACTIVATION AND SEVERE COVID-19, EZZE FARHANA MOHD TAAM
  6. (2024) CROSS-REACTIVE IMMUNITY AND ANTIBODY-DEPENDENT ENHANCEMENT (ADE) OF THE ANTI-SARS-COV-2 ANTIBODIES AGAINST SUBSEQUENT INFLUENZA INFECTION., NUR HIDAYAH BINTI NOR ISAMUDDIN
  7. (2024) Cross-Neutralizing Capacity of Dengue Immunity Against Zika Virus Infection, TAN JIA YI
  8. (2019) CROSS-NEUTRALIZING CAPACITY OF DENGUE IMMUNITY AGAINST ZIKA VIRUS INFECTION, TAN JIA YI
Under Graduate Students
  1. (2021) Investigation of replication kinetics of mouse-adapted dengue virus (DENV) in Aedes albopictus cell lines
  2. (2019) Investigation of cross-neutralizing antibodies in the dengue seropositive serum against Japanese encephalitis virus (Final Year Project)
  3. (2019) Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines in dengue virus infection by resveratrol (Final Year Project)

TEACHING

Master
  1. (2023) DXGC6180 - Kursus Sains Asas Perubatan (Bms) Sesi 2020/2021, Fakulti Pergigian
  2. (2022) MQG7007 - Applied Immunology and Molecular Biology in Parasitology
  3. (2022) DXGC6180 - Kursus Sains Asas Perubatan (Bms) Sesi 2020/2021, Fakulti Pergigian
  4. (2022) Ummp - Ummp 3.1 Consultant Teaching in Neurology
  5. (2021) DXGC6180 - Kursus Sains Asas Perubatan (Bms) Sesi 2020/2021, Fakulti Pergigian
  6. (2019) 000 - Basic Medical Science Programme for Dentistry (Master of Clinical Dental)
Bachelor
  1. (2023) MIC3011 - Advances in Medical Virology
  2. (2023) GIM2003 - Introduction to Infectious Diseases
  3. (2022) MIC3011 - Advances in Medical Virology
  4. (2022) MIC1011 - Biosafety and Biosecurity
  5. (2022) MIC4004 - Diagnostic Bacteriology and Mycology
  6. (2022) GIM2003 - Introduction to Infectious Diseases
  7. (2022) DIA2005 - Medical Microbiology
  8. (2022) MID1010 - Microbiology and Parasitology
  9. (2022) PBL - Ummp Pbl Endocrine Block 8
  10. (2022) PBL - Ummp Program: Pbl - Block 2 Foundation
  11. (2022) UMMP - Ummp Stage 1,2 and 3.3
  12. (2021) MIC3011 - Advances in Medical Virology
  13. (2021) MIC1011 - Biosafety and Biosecurity
  14. (2021) UMMP PBL - Block 11 Oncology and Paliative Care
  15. (2021) MIC4004 - Diagnostic Bacteriology and Mycology
  16. (2021) GIM2003 - Introduction to Infectious Diseases
  17. (2021) DIA2005 - Medical Microbiology
  18. (2021) MIC2007 - Microbial Infections
  19. (2021) MID1010 - Microbiology and Parasitology
  20. (2021) PBL - Prblem Based Learning
  21. (2021) UMMP - Ummp Stage 1,2 and 3.3
  22. (2021) Problem Based Learning (Pbl) (Block 11-Oncology and Palliative Care)
  23. (2020) GIM2003 - Introduction to Infectious Diseases
  24. (2020) GIM2003 - Introduction to Infectious Diseases
  25. (2020) MIC2006 - Bachelor/First Degree
  26. (2020) MIC2007 - Bachelor/First Degree
  27. (2020) MIC4004 - Bachelor/First Degree
  28. (2020) UMMP1401 - Problem Based Learning (Pbl) (Block 4-Cardiovascular Sciences)
  29. (2020) UMMP2601 - Problem Based Learning (Pbl) (Block 6-Haematology)
  30. (2019) UMMP1201 - Problem Based Learning (Pbl) (Block 2 - Foundation)
  31. (2019) UMMP2111 - Problem Based Learning (Pbl) (Block 11- Oncology & Palliative Care)
  32. (2019) UMMP2701 - Problem Based Learning (Pbl) (Block 7- Neurosciences, Vision, Behaviour)
  33. (2018) GIM2003 - Introduction to Infectious Diseases
  34. (2018) MIC3011 - Advances in Medical Virology

PATENT/ IPR

  • Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Regarding Menstrual Cup Use Among Adolescents: A Structured Questionnaire
    COPYRIGHT
  • Biomarkers for Assessing Predisposition to Severe COVID-19 Risk for Mitigating Severity and Treatment Strategies
    PATENT
  • Mastering the art of the 3MT research presentation
    COPYRIGHT
  • A Method Using Novel Compounds to Inhibit Chikungunya Virus Replication
    PATENT

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACTIVITIES

  • Chairman of The Medical Microbiology Care Club (Mmcc), (02 Aug 2022 - 01 Aug 2023) (University)
  • Academic Advisor for Ummp (Stage 1) - 2020/2021, (28 Jan 2021 - 30 Nov 2022) (University)
  • Menjalankan Kerja-Kerja Pengujian Covid-19 Di Makmal Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Center (TIDREC), (01 Apr 2020 - 30 Jun 2020)
  • Projek Pemindahan Ilmu Di UM Plantation, Kota Tinggi Bagi Projek Newton-Ungku Omar Funds (Nuof), (19 Jun 2019 - 21 Jun 2019)