Latest news with #WSV2025
Malay Mail
08-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Malaysian scientist unveils vegan oyster mushroom burger, offering a healthy, halal-friendly alternative
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — A Malaysian scientist has developed a plant-based burger patty made from grey oyster mushrooms (pleurotus sajor-caju), offering a healthy and affordable alternative to taditional meat burgers. The innovation, led by Nor Fazila Sulaiman from the Malaysian Agro-Biotechnology Institute's (ABI) Food Biotechnology Department, targets health-conscious consumers and those with dietary restrictions, without compromising on taste or texture. The idea emerged when Nor Fazila noticed that despite being widely cultivated in Malaysia, grey oyster mushrooms remain underutilised in processed food products. 'This patty is a great substitute for chicken or beef burgers, which typically contain high levels of fat and cholesterol. It's also more affordable and ideal for vegetarians,' she said in an interview with Bernama during the recent World Society for Virology 2025 (WSV2025) international conference in Kuala Lumpur. More than just a meat substitute, the mushroom burger is rich in dietary fibre and suitable for individuals with allergies to eggs, soy, or meat. It also caters to those following low-fat, gluten-free diets. The idea emerged when Nor Fazila noticed that despite being widely cultivated in Malaysia, grey oyster mushrooms remain underutilised in processed food products. — Picture via Facebook//Agro-Biotechnology Institute, Malaysia — ABI Nor Fazila added that the patty contains no eggs, soy, or artificial colouring, making it a fully vegan and halal-friendly option. However, perfecting the product wasn't without challenges. Due to the high moisture content in mushrooms, frozen patties risk falling apart when thawed. To solve this, she spent a year conducting experiments and stabilised the texture using food-grade ingredients. 'I applied minimal processing methods so small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can adopt the technique without needing costly equipment,' she said. The prototype is now stable and can be stored frozen for up to three months. Nor Fazila is open to collaborating with companies interested in commercial production. With its science-backed formulation and responsiveness to local market demands, the mushroom burger represents a significant step towards enhancing food security and making nutritious, inclusive food options more accessible to Malaysians. ABI is one of three core institutes under the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM), operating under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). — Bernama
Borneo Post
08-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Malaysian scientist develops vegan burger patties using oyster mushrooms
The idea emerged when Nor Fazila noticed that despite being widely cultivated in Malaysia, grey oyster mushrooms remain underutilised in processed food products. — Photo from Facebook/Agro-Biotechnology Institute, Malaysia – ABI KUALA LUMPUR (May 8): A Malaysian scientist has developed a plant-based burger patty made from grey oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sajor-caju), offering a healthy and affordable alternative to traditional meat burgers. The innovation, led by Nor Fazila Sulaiman from the Malaysian Agro-Biotechnology Institute's (ABI) Food Biotechnology Department, targets health-conscious consumers and those with dietary restrictions, without compromising on taste or texture. The idea emerged when Nor Fazila noticed that despite being widely cultivated in Malaysia, grey oyster mushrooms remain underutilised in processed food products. 'This patty is a great substitute for chicken or beef burgers, which typically contain high levels of fat and cholesterol. It's also more affordable and ideal for vegetarians,' she said in an interview with Bernama during the recent World Society for Virology 2025 (WSV2025) international conference in Kuala Lumpur. More than just a meat substitute, the mushroom burger is rich in dietary fibre and suitable for individuals with allergies to eggs, soy, or meat. It also caters to those following low-fat, gluten-free diets. Nor Fazila added that the patty contains no eggs, soy, or artificial colouring, making it a fully vegan and halal-friendly option. More than just a meat substitute, the mushroom burger is rich in dietary fibre and suitable for individuals with allergies to eggs, soy, or meat. — Photo from Facebook/Agro-Biotechnology Institute, Malaysia – ABI However, perfecting the product wasn't without challenges. Due to the high moisture content in mushrooms, frozen patties risk falling apart when thawed. To solve this, she spent a year conducting experiments and stabilised the texture using food-grade ingredients. 'I applied minimal processing methods so small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can adopt the technique without needing costly equipment,' she said. The prototype is now stable and can be stored frozen for up to three months. Nor Fazila is open to collaborating with companies interested in commercial production. With its science-backed formulation and responsiveness to local market demands, the mushroom burger represents a significant step towards enhancing food security and making nutritious, inclusive food options more accessible to Malaysians. ABI is one of three core institutes under the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM), operating under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti). — Bernama
Malay Mail
07-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Malaysia sets sights on virology leadership by 2030, eyes role as global biotech hub
KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — Malaysia is positioning itself as a global player in virology research and innovation, as part of its broader ambition to become a high-tech, self-sufficient nation by 2030, according to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang. Speaking at the opening of the 3rd International Conference of the World Society for Virology (WSV2025) here yesterday, Chang said Malaysia is committed to building science-driven resilience and public health security. 'Our target is to become a technology producer by 2030 and not just a user, but a creator and innovator, including in biotechnology,' he noted. The conference, also attended by WSV president Dr Maria Soderlund-Venermo, brought together over 300 experts from more than 25 countries, underscoring Malaysia's growing scientific capacity and its aim to become a regional biotechnology hub. Chang stressed that science must serve humanity, guided by ethics, collaboration and shared knowledge, values aligned with the Madani Government's policy framework. 'We are honoured to host leading virology minds dedicated to understanding viruses and their impact on health, agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystems,' he added. Reflecting on the lessons of Covid-19 and the growing threat of zoonotic diseases, Chang called for greater investment in early warning systems, diagnostics, vaccines and antiviral treatments, not just to respond to health crises but to anticipate them. He also highlighted the role of the Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI), under the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM), in halal-certified vaccine development, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) research, antiviral innovation and global scientific collaboration. The three-day WSV2025 conference, themed 'The Virosphere of Our Cellular World', features more than 150 presentations on immunology, zoonotic diseases, vaccine innovation, genomic surveillance and diagnostics. The event is co-organised by WSV and NIBM, with support from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Universiti Malaya, Monash University Malaysia and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB). — Bernama
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Malaysia aims to lead in global virology researc
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is positioning itself as a global player in virology research and innovation, as part of its broader ambition to become a high-tech, self-sufficient nation by 2030, according to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang. Speaking at the opening of the 3rd International Conference of the World Society for Virology (WSV2025) here today, Chang said Malaysia is committed to building science-driven resilience and public health security. 'Our target is to become a technology producer by 2030 and not just a user, but a creator and innovator, including in biotechnology,' he noted. The conference, also attended by WSV president Dr Maria Soderlund-Venermo, brought together over 300 experts from more than 25 countries, underscoring Malaysia's growing scientific capacity and its aim to become a regional biotechnology hub. Chang stressed that science must serve humanity, guided by ethics, collaboration and shared knowledge, values aligned with the MADANI Government's policy framework. 'We are honoured to host leading virology minds dedicated to understanding viruses and their impact on health, agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystems,' he added. Reflecting on the lessons of COVID-19 and the growing threat of zoonotic diseases, Chang called for greater investment in early warning systems, diagnostics, vaccines and antiviral treatments, not just to respond to health crises but to anticipate them. He also highlighted the role of the Malaysia Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI), under the National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM), in halal-certified vaccine development, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) research, antiviral innovation and global scientific collaboration. The three-day WSV2025 conference, themed 'The Virosphere of Our Cellular World', features more than 150 presentations on immunology, zoonotic diseases, vaccine innovation, genomic surveillance and diagnostics. The event is co-organised by WSV and NIBM, with support from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Universiti Malaya, Monash University Malaysia and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB).
