Two students from the Master in Biotechnology Study Program Universitas Gadjah Mada, Azmi Zaki Waliudin Althaf and Sarwan Adi Kusumo, were selected to take part in a traineeship program at the University of Helsinki, Finland. This program is part of a collaborative project between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the University of Helsinki which focuses on the study of antimicrobial resistance. This activity, which was carried out at Biokeskus 1, University of Helsinki, lasted for three months from May to August 2024.
During this program, both students are under the guidance of Prof. Marko Virta, an expert in research on the spread of antimicrobial resistance. They study and are directly involved in research exploring antimicrobial resistance in archaeological samples. These samples provide insight into the evolution of antibiotic-producing bacteria such as Streptomyces, which have existed from ancient times to the present, and their relationship to human activities.
Research samples were taken from various locations in Finland and Jordan such as the prehistoric settlement site in Hämeenlinna, agricultural land that has existed since the 1980s, and archaeological sites in Jordan. The diversity of microorganisms and genetic composition present in each sample were analyzed to trace the development and evolution of antimicrobial resistance from prehistoric times to modern times.
This traineeship program is expected to strengthen the collaboration between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the University of Helsinki, as well as opening up new opportunities in broader biotechnology research and development.