Advancing Avian Flu Research in Malaysia
Cindy Tran | July 21, 2008
Tran poses with a lion statue in a Burmese Buddhist temple.
Over the next nine weeks, I hope to influence global health through innovative scientific research. I also will have the opportunity to be immersed in a completely different world and learn about the fascinating fusion of different cultures. I am working with international scientists to identify known drug-resistant avian flu strains at Universiti Sains Malaysia, in Penang, one of Malaysia’s states.
Living on a tropical island may seem like an ideal way to spend the summer, but Penang is quite different from what most Americans are used to on the tourist-flooded shores of Hawaii. The fusion of Chinese, Indian and Malay culture can be seen in the great variety of food available here. It’s also apparent in the many Muslim mosques, Buddhist and Hindu temples on the island. The small island of Penang is crowded, yet its lifestyle is slow-paced.
With its lush greenery, Universiti Sains Malaysia is a beautiful campus, much different from the towering modern buildings we are used to at UCSD. It is even called the “University in a Garden” because of its closeness to nature. While lying in bed at night, we often hear the captivating sounds of nature, from exotic insects to geckos. We jog around a beautiful pond with fish, turtles, monitor lizards and tall stalks of bamboo with our friendly co-workers from the lab everyday after work.
Tran tries on jewelry that Indian brides
wear on their wedding day in a store in Little India.
Since the official religion is Islam, it also is interesting to hear prayers over the university intercom five times a day. Meanwhile, USM students are required to follow a strict, conservative dress code. Even off-campus, wearing common American summer clothes such as a tank top and shorts will draw a lot of unwanted attention. To avoid stares, I have adopted the local style of dress.
All three PRIME UCSD students here have been told that we look like locals (namely Vicky Yang looks Chinese, Ranmali Perera Indian and I Malay). Because we look like locals, we are held more closely to the same expectations as Penang residents. Not looking like a foreigner can be good or bad—depending on your point of view. For instance, even though the weather is hot and humid, it is more difficult for us to wear shorts or tank tops because it is not the local norm. However, because we don't look like tourists, we don't get overcharged at the night market. It is fun to get to pay the much lower local price as long as we don't give away our American accents.
Some cultural differences are still a bit strange to me. We take off our shoes before entering public places such as the Laundromat or tailor and our research lab at work.
Tran poses in front of statues of gods
at an Chinese Buddhist temple in Malaysia.
In the lab, I identify influenza H5N1 neuraminidase (NA) mutations and develop structural models based on known crystal structures. With its high mutation rate, H5N1 will be able to spread to humans and could cause a worldwide pandemic. For my research, I will analyze which NA mutants that may be resistant to potential drug candidates, and evaluate the fitness of NA hits in targeting other pandemic subtypes such as H9N2, H2N2 and H7N7. Being located here allows me to dock my mutants against a library of compounds unique to Malaysia.
Although our research can be carried out in the United States, it is important to create stronger ties and increased communication between different nations. Sharing information and international collaboration leads to scientific progress that benefits all of humanity. Most importantly, conducting research abroad gives us a deeper understanding of other cultures. We are not just tourists living in a five-star hotel, but are fully immersed in everyday life and adjusting to local customs different from our own. I am discovering new things everyday and can’t wait to see what lies ahead for us.
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Cindy Tran does research in Penang, one of Malaysia's states . |
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