Research

Research of interest: Microbiology for Human and Aquatic Animal Health Thriving (MiHaaht)

The overuse of broad-spectrum classical antibiotics may induce an antibiotic-resistant mechanism of bacteria and the accumulation of unused residues of drugs in the environment which, in turn, results in long-term negative effects on human and animal health. Therefore, the development of alternative antimicrobials for reduced pathogen infection & antibiotic resistance and improved food security & human and aquatic animal health is urgent.

We focus our research on microbial biodiversity and microbiome with the development of pharmabiotics, which are any biological materials isolated from gut microbiota, including probiotics, bacteriocins, and bioactive molecules, for application in food production and medicine sectors. Probiotics is “live micro-organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host” (WHO) while bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides or proteins in almost all bacteria groups.

We have a passion to research in Applied and Medical Microbiology. Through research on microbiota of marine animals, we understand more about biodiversity and complex interaction among microorganisms with diverse biological activity to formulate novel probiotics or drugs in Aquaculture and Food Production sectors (Nguyen et al., 2014, Fish Shellfish Immunol), or on microbiome of humans, we have screened novel anticancer bacteriocins in Medicine (Nguyen & Nguyen, 2016, BioMed Res Int). Beside Microbiology and Molecular Biology approaches, we have found the power of computational tools to generate new biological understanding. Interestingly, microbiome is one of the richest untapped resources inside human and animal body which should be uncovered, especially on its link to host health.

We established and developed the collaboration with 30+ local, national and international partners, both higher education institutions (HEIs) and industries. We are also one of founder members of a Vietnam – UK network of HEIs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and hospitals in Vietnam and UK (www.VUHEIE.org).

Key Research Grants

2021-2024: PI, Research Grant no. VINIF.2021.DA00047 “Innovative and Smart Agriculture Platform: A Digital Transformation and High Technology Integration for improved Coffee Value Chain and Supply Chain in Vietnam” (INNSA), funded by Vingroup Innovation Foundation (VinIF). More information

2020-2023: PI, Research Grant “Development of spore vaccines against Helicobacter pylori”, funded by MOST & UK MRC (Newton Fund), led by Dr. Van Duy Nguyen (Vietnam) and Prof. Simon Cutting (UK)

2019-2020: Key Partner, Project “Education fit for the future: development of a university-industry-government model to deliver industrial placements in international and transnational education”, funded by British Council within UK Vietnam Higher Education Partnership , www.vuheie.org, led by Professor Raymond Lee, University of Portsmouth, UK

2018-2020: Coordinator, Project “Transnational Education and Research via the Academic Mobility, Business-University Collaborations and the Joint Postgraduate Programmes in Sustainability, Innovation and Entrepreneurship” (TEAM-SIE), funded by British Council within UK Vietnam Higher Education Partnership , www.vuheie.org

2017-2020: PI, Research Grant no. 106-NN.02-2016.70, “Biodiversity of mycoplankton from coastal waters of Khanh Hoa province (Vietnam) deduced through culture-dependent and independent studies”, funded by NAFOSTED, led by Dr. Thu Thuy Pham

2016-2017: Key Partner, “Enhancements of High-Quality Human Resources and Employability for Vietnam in Design and Development of High-value Added Products, Innovation and Entrepreneurship” (HAPIE), funded by British Council within UK Vietnam Higher Education Partnership , www.vuheie.org, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anh Tuan Mai

2016: Key Partner, “Study on disease caused by microsporidian in penaeid shrimp”, funded by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam, led by Dr. Hung Vu Khac

2015: PI, Research Grant no. 106-YS.04-2014.40, “Molecular screening of potentially anticancer bacteriocins from human microflora using bioinformatics and molecular biology approaches”, funded by NAFOSTED, led by Dr. Van Duy Nguyen

2015: Co-Researcher, Research Grant no. SAT-ASEAN 5606, “Effects of dietary probiotics on growth performance, digestive enzymes and immunity of pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei”, funded by PSU Collaborative Research Fund, Thailand, led by Assist. Prof. Dr. Chokchai Lueangthuwapranit

2011: PI, Research Grant no. 106.03-2011.34, “Isolation, screening and characterization of marine bacteriocin-producing bacteria for the development of multi-functional drugs in aquaculture”, funded by NAFOSTED, led by Dr. Van Duy Nguyen

2011: PI, Research Grant no. B2011-13-02, “Study on new bacteria strains as probiotics against pathogens in ornate spiny lobster in Vietnam”, funded by MOET (Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam), led by Dr. Thu Thuy Pham

2010: PI, Research Grant no. B2010-13-54, “Study on the use of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria for food preservation”, funded by MOET, led by Dr. Van Duy Nguyen

2010: PI, Returning Experts Programme Workplace equipment subsidy (APA), funded by World University Service (WUS), Germany, led by Dr. Van Duy Nguyen

Selected publications

1. Thu Thuy Pham, Khuong V. Dinh & Van Duy Nguyen (2021) Biodiversity and
   Enzyme Activity of Marine Fungi with 28 New Records from the Tropical Coastal Ecosystems in Vietnam, Mycobiology, 49:6, 559-581, DOI: 10.1080/12298093.2021.2008103
2. Thi Kim Cuc Nguyen, Thu Thuy Pham, Thi Bich Mai Huynh, Thanh Hoang Tran, Michael Packianather, Chi Hieu Le, Van Duy Nguyen (2020): Design and Development of a Novel Anticancer Peptide from Human Gut Microbiome by Using Recombinant Protein Engineering. In: Van Toi V., Le T., Ngo H., Nguyen TH. (eds) 7th International Conference on the Development of Biomedical Engineering in Vietnam (BME7). BME 2018. IFMBE Proceedings, vol 69. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5859-3_117
3. Van Duy Nguyen, Thanh Tra Nguyen, Thu Thuy Pham, Michael Packianather, Chi Hieu Le (2019): Molecular screening and genetic diversity analysis of anticancer Azurin-encoding and Azurin-like genes in human gut microbiome deduced through cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent studies. Int Microbiol (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-019-00070-8.
4. Thi Thuy Giang Nguyen, Thi Chinh Nguyen, Montira Leelakriangsak, Thu Thuy Pham, Quoc Hung Pham, Chokchai Lueangthuwapranit, Van Duy Nguyen (2018): Promotion of Lactobacillus plantarum on growth and resistance against acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease pathogens in white-leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine 48 (1), 19-28.
5. Nguyen Chuong, Nguyen Van Duy (2016): Discovery of azurin-like anticancer bacteriocins from human gut microbiome through homology modeling and molecular docking against the tumor suppressor p53. Biomed Research International, 2016, Article ID 8490482, pp. 1-12.
6. Nguyen Van Duy, Pham Thu Thuy, Nguyen Thi Hai Thanh, Nguyen Thi Thanh Xuan, Lone Hoj (2014): Screening of marine bacteria with bacteriocin-like activities and probiotic potential for ornate spiny lobster (Panulirus ornatus) juvenile. Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 40(1): 49-60.
7. Nguyen Van Duy (Editor), Le Dinh Duc, Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc, Pham Thu Thuy, Le Phuong Chung (2015): Probiotics Technology. Science and Engineering Publisher, Hanoi. (In Vietnamese)
8. Nguyen The Han and Nguyen Van Duy (2017): Characterization and Applications of Marine Microbial Enzymes in Biotechnology and Probiotics for Animal Health. In: Se-Kwon Kim and Fidel Toldrá, editors, Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, Vol. 80, Burlington: Academic Press, pp. 37-74. ISBN: 978-0-12-809587-4.
9. Nguyen Van Duy (2016): “Marine glycans in relationship with probiotic microorganisms to improve human and animal health”. In: Se-Kwon Kim (ed.), “Marine Glycobiology: Principles and Applications”, CRC Press, pp. 67-84. ISBN: 978-1-4987-0961-3.
10. Nguyen Van Duy, Le Minh Hoang, Trang Si Trung (2013): “Application of probiotics from marine microbes for sustainable marine aquaculture development”. In: Se-Kwon Kim (ed.), “Marine Microbiology: Bioactive Compounds and Biotechnological Applications”, Weinheim: Wiley, pp. 307-349. ISBN: 978-3-527-33327-1.