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Umme Urmi

Umme Urmi

PhD Candidate
Supervisor: Dr Ajay Kumar Vijay, Prof. Mark Willcox Co-Supervisors: Dr Salequl Islam
Efficacy of disinfectants and novel antimicrobials against coronaviruses
School of Optometry and Vision Science

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared SARS-CoV-2 as a pandemic that causes novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Transmission among humans occurs via close contact with an infected individual that produces respiratory droplets while coughing or sneezing within a range of about 6 feet. The viruses can be deposited on the surface by aerosols generated while talking, coughing or sneezing. Disinfection of surfaces is an important strategy in containing the transmission of this virus. Therefore, antimicrobial coatings that can kill the viruses will help in preventing transmission and spread of these viruses. This project will evaluate the efficacy of novel antimicrobial peptide mimics developed and patented in-house against coronaviruses and develop antimicrobial surface coatings to prevent the spread of the virus. There has been a significant increase in the use of disinfectant since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, repeated, and long-term use of disinfectants can result in accumulation of chemical residue affecting human health and environment. This research will also examine the synergy of the novel antimicrobial peptides with currently used common disinfectants. Antimicrobial synergy is the phenomenon where two antimicrobials exhibit enhanced activity that is greater than the sum of their individual activity. This will allow for development of disinfectants that are effective against coronaviruses at much lower concentrations and non-toxic to humans and the environment.

Biography

Urmi completed her MS in Microbiology from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh in 2018. Her research was focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). For next three years she worked for One Health Laboratory, Jahangirnagar University; RT-PCR laboratory under UNFPA project, and WorldFish to lead AMR/One health project. She received university international postgraduate awards (UIPA) in 2021 and started her interdisciplinary PhD journey under the supervision of Dr. Ajay Kumar Vijay, Professor Mark Willcox and Dr. Salequl Islam. Urmi’s study focuses on the different types of antimicrobial peptide, their synergistic relationship, and efficacy against novel coronavirus.

Education

PhD at University of New South Wales, Sydney (current)

Master of Science in Microbiology at Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh (2018)

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Jagangirnagar University, Bangladesh (2016) 
Email

m.urmi@unsw.edu.au

Publications

Journal Articles

  1. Bayasrin Ara, Umme Laila Urmi, Tanjum Ara Haque, Shamsun Nahar,Adity Rumnaz, Tamanna Ali, Mohammed Shah Alam, Abu Syed Md. Mosaddek, Nor Azlina A Rahman, Mainul Haque, and Salequl Islam. “Mobile Colistin-Resistance Gene variants (mcr-1 and mcr-2) Detected in Urinary Tract Pathogens in Bangladesh: The Last Resort of Infectious Disease Management Colistin Efficacy is Under Risk”. Expert rev of Clinical Pharmacology Journal, 2021.
  2. Tamman Ali, Adity Rumnaz, Umme Laila Urmi, Shamsun Nahar, Masud Rana, Fahmida Sultana, Samiul Iqbal, Md. Muklesur Rahman, Nor Azlina A Rahman, Salequl Islam, Mainul Haque. “Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Individuals Carry Different Periodontal Bacteria”. Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clínica Integrada, 2021. Clínica Integrada 2021. doi.org/10.1590/pboci.2021.049
  3. Salequl Islam, Umme Laila Urmi, Masud Rana, Fahmida Sultana, Nusrat Jahan, Billal Hossain, Samiul Iqbal, Md. Moyazzem Hossain, Abu Syed Md. Mosaddek and Shamsun Nahar. “High Abundance of Colistin Resistant mcr-1 Gene in Poultry Chicken Gut-Bacteria in Bangladesh”. Scientific Reports, 2020. doi:
  4. Umme Laila Urmi, Shamsun Nahar, Masud Rana, Fahmida Sultana, Nusrat Jahan, Billal Hossain, Mohammed Shah Alam, Abu Syed Md. Mosaddek, Judy McKimm, Nor Azlina A Rahman, Salequl Islam, Mainul Haque. “Genotypic to Phenotypic Resistance Discrepancies Identified involving β-lactamase genes, blaKPC, blaIMP, blaNDM-1, and blaVIM in uropathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae”. Infection and Drug Resistance, 2020. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S262493
  5. Salequl Islam, Mohammad Ali Moni, Umme Laila Urmi, Atsushi Tanaka, and Hiroo Hoshino “C-C chemokine receptor-like 2 (CCRL2) Acts as Coreceptor for Human Immunodeficiency Virus-2”. Briefings in Bioinformatics, 2020. doi: 10.1093/bib/bbaa333
  6. Umme Laila Urmi, Nusrat Jahan, Shamsun Nahar, Masud Rana, Fahmida Sultana, Billal Hossain, Samiul Iqbal, Moyazzem Hossain, Abu Syed Md Mosaddek, and Salequl Islam. “Gram positive uropathogens: Empirical treatment and emerging antimicrobial resistance”. Biomedical Research and Clinical Practice, April 2019.doi: 10.15761/BRCP.1000182

Conference Abstracts

  1. M. Islam, M. Al Asad, S. Sarker, R. Muhit, N. Islam, A. Siddique Shanta, U. Laila Urmi, S. Nahar. “Culture-independent Real-time Pcr Detected A Plethora Of Colistin Resistance Genes (mcr1-mcr5) In Chicken- And Fish-gut Contents In Bangladesh”. American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Microbe, 2021, USA.
  2. M.U.L. Urmi, S. Sultana, F. Akter, B. Ara, T.A. Haque, A.S. Md. Mosaddek, D.S. Nahar, D.S. Islam. “Modifications of mgrB instigate colistin resistance in poultry gut-isolates in Bangladesh”. International Journal of Infectious Disease (ICID), December, 2020.
  3. Salequl Islam, Umme Laila Urmi, Masud Rana, Fahmida Sultana, Nusrat Jahan, Billal Hossain, Samiul Iqbal, Abu Syed Md. Mosaddek and Shamsun Nahar. “Poultry chicken gut-bacteria carry high extent of colistin resistant mcr-1 gene in Bangladesh”. International Journal of Infectious Disease (ICID), December, 2020.
  4. T.A. Haque, B. Ara, M.U.L. Urmi, S. Sultana, F. Akter, A.S. Md. Mosaddek, S. Nahar, D.S. Islam.“Plasmid mediated genes and mutation in gyrA gene confer quinolone – Antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae independently”. International Journal of Infectious Disease (ICID), December, 2020.
  5. Salequl Islam , Umme Laila Urmi , Tanjum Ara Haque , Bayasrin Ara, Fahima Khatun, Abu Syed Md. Mosaddek , Rinat Rizvi , M Shahabuddin Kabir Choudhuri , and Shamsun Nahar. "The First Human Report of Mobile Colistin-Resistant Gene, mcr-1 in Urinary and Diarrheal Pathogens in Bangladesh" American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Microbe, 2020.
  6. Shamsun Nahar, Umme Laila Urmi, Subrina Sultana , Fatama Akter, Bayasrin Ara , Tanjum Ara Haque,Abu Syed Md. Mosaddek and Salequl Islam “Pleiotropic Resistance Role of New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase-1 (blaNDM-1) Gene Against Aminoglycoside Antibiotics in Uropathogen Bacteria”. American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Microbes, January 28–30, 2020 in Arlington, Virginia, USA.
  7. Tanjum Ara Haque, Bayasrin Ara, Adity Rumnaz, Tamanna Ali, Umme Laila Urmi, Mohammed Shah Alam, Subrina Sultana, Fatama Akter, Abu Syed Md.Mosaddek, Shamsun Naha, and Salequl Islam. “Association of Phenotypic Quinolone Resistance in Enterobacteriaceae to their Plasmid Mediated Genes”. 33rd conference, Bangladesh Society of Microbiologists (BSM), 26th December, 2019, Bangladesh.
  8. Salequl Islam, Umme Laila Urmi, Masud Rana, Nusrat Jahan, Fahmida Sultana, Billal Hossain, Samiul Iqbal, and Shamsun Nahar. “Prophylactic Uses of Antimicrobials in Bangladeshi Poultry Drive Microbial Resistance”. American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Biothreat. Feb 12-14, 2018. Baltimore, MD, USA.
  9. Shamsun Nahar, Fahmida Sultana, Masud Rana, Nusrat Jahan, Billal Hossain, Samiul Iqbal, Azizur Rahman, Umme Laila Urmi, and Salequl Islam. “Prior Exposures of Antimicrobial Contribute Acquisition of Mobile Colistin Resistance (mcr-1) Gene into Bangladeshi Poultry Microbiota”. American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Microbes, 2018, Atlanta, USA.

Awards

Grants

Media

Affiliations and Memberships