Faradina Merican Mohd. Sidik Merican, Dr

Research background

My research investigates cyanobacterial diversity across tropical to polar regions using a combination of classical taxonomy and molecular methods. I focus on understanding cyanotoxin production, the environmental factors that trigger it, and its ecological and health impacts. Additionally, I explore cyanobacteria’s potential in bioremediation, particularly their capacity to degrade pollutants such as diesel. I am also interested in their secondary metabolites as promising biotechnological applications. Through this integrative approach, my work aims to advance knowledge of cyanobacteria’s taxonomy, ecology, toxicology, and applied environmental roles across diverse ecosystems.

Research focus

Cyanobacteria taxonomy, ecology, toxicity, applications

Selected publications

1. Ginn, B. L. C., Merican, F., Praiboon, J., Kaewsuralikhit, C., Maneekat, S., Zuccarello, G. C., & Muangmai, N. (2025). Neolyngbya tortuosa sp. nov.(Oscillatoriales, Microcoleaceae): a new corticolous cyanobacterium from a tropical mangrove environment in Phuket, west coast of Thailand. Phycologia, 1-11.
   Merican, F., Abdul Rahim, N. A., Zaki, S., Siti Azizah, M. N., Broady, P., Convey, P., Lim, B., & Muangmai, N. (2023). Aliinostoc bakau sp. nov.(Cyanobacteria, Nostocaceae), a New Microcystin Producer from Mangroves in Malaysia. Diversity, 16(1), 22. https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/1/22
   Syuhada, N. H., Merican, F., Zaki, S., Broady, P. A., Convey, P., & Muangmai, N. (2022). Strong and widespread cycloheximide resistance in Stichococcus-like eukaryotic algal taxa. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1080. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05116-y
   Usman, A.S., Merican, F., Zaki, S., Broady, P.A., Convey, P., Muangmai, N. (2022) Microcystin production by oscillatorialean cyanobacteria isolated from cryopreserved Antarctic mats, Harmful Algae, 120, 102336, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2022.102336