Displaying publications 3941 - 3960 of 4700 in total

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  1. Fulltext Transmitted drug resistance and antiretroviral treatment outcomes in non-subtype B HIV-1-infected patients in South East Asia
    Phanuphak P, Sirivichayakul S, Jiamsakul A, Sungkanuparph S, Kumarasamy N, Lee MP, et al.
    J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 2014 May 01;66(1):74-9.
    PMID: 24413039 DOI: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000108
    BACKGROUND: We compared treatment outcomes of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in patients on fully or partially sensitive drug regimens.

    METHODS: Factors associated with survival and failure were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards and discrete time conditional logistic models.

    RESULTS: TDR, found in 60 (4.1%) of 1471 Asian treatment-naive patients, was one of the significant predictors of failure. Patients with TDR to >1 drug in their regimen were >3 times as likely to fail compared to no TDR.

    CONCLUSIONS: TDR was associated with failure in the context of non-fully sensitive regimens. Efforts are needed to incorporate resistance testing into national treatment programs.

    Matched MeSH terms: HIV-1/isolation & purification
  2. Fulltext Genomic reconnaissance of clinical isolates of emerging human pathogen Mycobacterium abscessus reveals high evolutionary potential
    Choo SW, Wee WY, Ngeow YF, Mitchell W, Tan JL, Wong GJ, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2014;4:4061.
    PMID: 24515248 DOI: 10.1038/srep04061
    Mycobacterium abscessus (Ma) is an emerging human pathogen that causes both soft tissue infections and systemic disease. We present the first comparative whole-genome study of Ma strains isolated from patients of wide geographical origin. We found a high proportion of accessory strain-specific genes indicating an open, non-conservative pan-genome structure, and clear evidence of rapid phage-mediated evolution. Although we found fewer virulence factors in Ma compared to M. tuberculosis, our data indicated that Ma evolves rapidly and therefore should be monitored closely for the acquisition of more pathogenic traits. This comparative study provides a better understanding of Ma and forms the basis for future functional work on this important pathogen.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mycobacterium/isolation & purification
  3. Fulltext LiNbO3 coating on concrete surface: a new and environmentally friendly route for artificial photosynthesis
    Nath RK, Zain MF, Kadhum AA
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:686497.
    PMID: 24376384 DOI: 10.1155/2013/686497
    The addition of a photocatalyst to ordinary building materials such as concrete creates environmentally friendly materials by which air pollution or pollution of the surface can be diminished. The use of LiNbO3 photocatalyst in concrete material would be more beneficial since it can produce artificial photosynthesis in concrete. In these research photoassisted solid-gas phases reduction of carbon dioxide (artificial photosynthesis) was performed using a photocatalyst, LiNbO3, coated on concrete surface under illumination of UV-visible or sunlight and showed that LiNbO3 achieved high conversion of CO2 into products despite the low levels of band-gap light available. The high reaction efficiency of LiNbO3 is explained by its strong remnant polarization (70 µC/cm(2)), allowing a longer lifetime of photoinduced carriers as well as an alternative reaction pathway. Due to the ease of usage and good photocatalytic efficiency, the research work done showed its potential application in pollution prevention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Carbon Dioxide/isolation & purification
  4. Fulltext Estrogen receptor modulatory effects of germinated brown rice bioactives in the uterus of rats through the regulation of estrogen-induced genes
    Muhammad SI, Maznah I, Mahmud RB, Saeed MI, Imam MU, Ishaka A
    Drug Des Devel Ther, 2013;7:1409-20.
    PMID: 24324328 DOI: 10.2147/DDDT.S50861
    The expression of genes regulated by estrogen in the uterus was studied in ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated with germinated brown rice (GBR) bioactives, and compared to Remifemin or estrogen at different doses to identify the regulation of these genes in the uterus and their molecular mechanisms.
    Matched MeSH terms: Phenols/isolation & purification
  5. Antibiotic resistance and molecular typing among cockle (Anadara granosa) strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis
    Sahilah AM, Laila RA, Sallehuddin HM, Osman H, Aminah A, Ahmad Azuhairi A
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2014 Feb;30(2):649-59.
    PMID: 24068534 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-013-1494-y
    Genomic DNA of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were characterized by antibiotic resistance, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) analysis. These isolates originated from 3 distantly locations of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka (East coastal areas), Malaysia. A total of 44 (n = 44) of tentatively V. parahaemolyticus were also examined for the presence of toxR, tdh and trh gene. Of 44 isolates, 37 were positive towards toxR gene; while, none were positive to tdh and trh gene. Antibiotic resistance analysis showed the V. parahaemolyticus isolates were highly resistant to bacitracin (92%, 34/37) and penicillin (89%, 33/37) followed by resistance towards ampicillin (68%, 25/37), cefuroxime (38%, 14/37), amikacin (6%, 2/37) and ceftazidime (14%, 5/37). None of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates were resistant towards chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, streptomycin and vancomycin. Antibiogram patterns exhibited, 9 patterns and phenotypically less heterogenous when compared to PCR-based techniques using ERIC- and RAPD-PCR. The results of the ERIC- and RAPD-PCR were analyzed using GelCompare software. ERIC-PCR with primers ERIC1R and ERIC2 discriminated the V. parahaemolyticus isolates into 6 clusters and 21 single isolates at a similarity level of 80%. While, RAPD-PCR with primer Gen8 discriminated the V. parahaemolyticus isolates into 11 clusters and 10 single isolates and Gen9 into 8 clusters and 16 single isolates at the same similarity level examined. Results in the presence study demonstrated combination of phenotypically and genotypically methods show a wide heterogeneity among cockle isolates of V. parahaemolyticus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Vibrio parahaemolyticus/isolation & purification
  6. Fulltext Rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by a newly developed dry reagent-based polymerase chain reaction assay
    Al-Talib H, Yean CY, Al-Khateeb A, Hasan H, Ravichandran M
    J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 2014 Dec;47(6):484-90.
    PMID: 23927820 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2013.06.004
    Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen responsible for significant numbers of nosocomial and community-acquired infections worldwide. Molecular diagnosis for MRSA nasal carriers is increasingly important for rapid detection and screening of MRSA colonization because the conventional methods are time consuming and labor intensive. However, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests still require cold-chain storage as well as trained personnel, which makes them unsuitable for rapid high-throughput analysis. The aim of this study was to develop a thermostabilized PCR assay for MRSA in a ready-to-use form that requires no cold chain.
    Matched MeSH terms: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification*
  7. Safety assessment of standardised methanol extract of Cinnamomum burmannii
    Ahmad M, Lim CP, Akowuah GA, Ismail NN, Hashim MA, Hor SY, et al.
    Phytomedicine, 2013 Sep 15;20(12):1124-30.
    PMID: 23827665 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2013.05.005
    The present study aims to evaluate the safety of methanol extract of Cinnamomum burmannii (MECB) by acute 14-day (single dose) and sub-chronic 28-day (repeated doses) oral administration to Sprague-Dawley rats. Our results showed that no toxicity was found in either acute or sub-chronic toxicity studies. MECB (containing 0.07% and 0.20% (w/w) of coumarin and trans-cinnamaldehyde, respectively), which was given orally at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg caused neither visible signs of toxicity nor mortality. No significant differences were observed in general condition, growth, organ weight, hematological parameters, biochemical values, or the gross and microscopic appearance of the organs from the treatment groups as compared to the control group. In conclusion, MECB did not cause any mortality nor did it cause any abnormalities in the necropsy and histopathology findings of treated rats. The LD50 for the MECB was found to be more than 2000 mg/kg. No adverse effects were observed in the treated rats at all the doses tested. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for the 28-day study was determined to be 2000 mg/kg body weight/day.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Extracts/isolation & purification
  8. Systemic consumption of probiotic curd and use of probiotic toothpaste to reduce Streptococcus mutans in plaque around orthodontic brackets
    Jose JE, Padmanabhan S, Chitharanjan AB
    Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop, 2013 Jul;144(1):67-72.
    PMID: 23810047 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2013.02.023
    The objectives of the study were to evaluate and compare the effects of the systemic consumption of probiotic curd and the topical application of probiotic toothpaste on the Streptococcus mutans levels in the plaque of orthodontic patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Streptococcus mutans/isolation & purification
  9. Molecular diversity of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria community in disused tin-mining ponds located within Kampar, Perak, Malaysia
    Sow SL, Khoo G, Chong LK, Smith TJ, Harrison PL, Ong HK
    World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2014 Feb;30(2):757-66.
    PMID: 24078113
    Disused tin-mining ponds make up a significant amount of water bodies in Malaysia particularly at the Kinta Valley in the state of Perak where tin-mining activities were the most extensive, and these abundantly available water sources are widely used in the field of aquaculture and agriculture. However, the natural ecology and physicochemical conditions of these ponds, many of which have been altered due to secondary post-mining activities, remains to be explored. As ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are directly related to the nutrient cycles of aquatic environments and are useful bioindicators of environmental variations, the focus of this study was to identify AOBs associated with disused tin-mining ponds that have a history of different secondary activities in comparison to ponds which were left untouched and remained as part of the landscape. The 16S rDNA gene was used to detect AOBs in the sediment and water sampled from the three types of disused mining ponds, namely ponds without secondary activity, ponds that were used for lotus cultivation and post-aquaculture ponds. When the varying pond types were compared with the sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the AOB clone libraries, both Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira-like AOB were detected though Nitrosospira spp. was seen to be the most ubiquitous AOB as it was present in all ponds types. However, AOBs were not detected in the sediments of idle ponds. Based on rarefaction analysis and diversity indices, the disused mining pond with lotus culture indicated the highest richness of AOBs. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that among the physicochemical properties of the pond sites, TAN and nitrite were shown to be the main factors that influenced the community structure of AOBs in these disused tin-mining ponds.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/isolation & purification
  10. Fulltext Dissemination of metallo-β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa of sequence type 235 in Asian countries
    Kim MJ, Bae IK, Jeong SH, Kim SH, Song JH, Choi JY, et al.
    J Antimicrob Chemother, 2013 Dec;68(12):2820-4.
    PMID: 23843299 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkt269
    To investigate the epidemiological traits of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MPPA) clinical isolates collected by the Asian Network for Surveillance of Resistant Pathogens (ANSORP).
    Matched MeSH terms: Pseudomonas aeruginosa/isolation & purification
  11. Larvicidal, oviposition, and ovicidal effects of Artemisia annua (Asterales: Asteraceae) against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles sinensis, and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)
    Cheah SX, Tay JW, Chan LK, Jaal Z
    Parasitol Res, 2013 Sep;112(9):3275-82.
    PMID: 23835922 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3506-0
    This study focuses on the larvicidal, oviposition, and ovicidal effects of a crude extract of Artemisia annua against Aedes aegypti, Anopheles sinensis, and Culex quinquefasciatus. Dried cells of Artemisia annua from cell suspension cultures were extracted using hexane. The extract showed moderate larvicidal effects against mosquitoes. At 24-h post treatment, the LC50 values for Anopheles sinensis, Aedes aegypti, and Culex quinquefasciatus were recorded as 244.55, 276.14, and 374.99 ppm, respectively. The percentage mortality of larvae was directly proportional to the tested concentration. Anopheles sinensis was found to be the most susceptible species, whereas Culex quinquefasciatus was the most tolerant to the Artemisia annua extract. The results indicated that the Artemisia annua extract showed concentration-dependent oviposition deterrent activity and had a strong deterrent effect. At 500 ppm, the percentage effective repellency was more than 85% compared with the control group for all the species, with oviposition activity index values of -0.94, -0.95, and -0.78 for Aedes aegypti, Anopheles sinensis, and Culex quinquefasciatus, respectively. In the ovicidal assay, the percentage hatchability of eggs after treatment with 500 ppm of Artemisia annua extract was significantly lower than the control, with values of 48.84 ± 4.08, 38.42 ± 3.67, and 79.35 ± 2.09% for Aedes aegypti, Anopheles sinensis, and Culex quinquefasciatus, respectively. Artemisia annua was found to be more effective against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles sinensis compared with Culex quinquefasciatus. This study indicated that crude extract of A. annua could be a potential alternative for use in vector management programs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Extracts/isolation & purification
  12. Fulltext Phylogenomics of Brazilian epidemic isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii reveals relationships of global outbreak strains
    Davidson RM, Hasan NA, de Moura VC, Duarte RS, Jackson M, Strong M
    Infect Genet Evol, 2013 Dec;20:292-7.
    PMID: 24055961 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.09.012
    Rapidly growing, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in the Mycobacterium abscessus (MAB) species are emerging pathogens that cause various diseases including skin and respiratory infections. The species has undergone recent taxonomic nomenclature refinement, and is currently recognized as two subspecies, M. abscessus subsp. abscessus (MAB-A) and M. abscessus subsp. bolletii (MAB-B). The recently reported outbreaks of MAB-B in surgical patients in Brazil from 2004 to 2009 and in cystic fibrosis patients in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2006 to 2012 underscore the need to investigate the genetic diversity of clinical MAB strains. To this end, we sequenced the genomes of two Brazilian MAB-B epidemic isolates (CRM-0019 and CRM-0020) derived from an outbreak of skin infections in Rio de Janeiro, two unrelated MAB strains from patients with pulmonary infections in the United States (US) (NJH8 and NJH11) and one type MAB-B strain (CCUG 48898) and compared them to 25 publically available genomes of globally diverse MAB strains. Genome-wide analyses of 27,598 core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed that the two Brazilian derived CRM strains are nearly indistinguishable from one another and are more closely related to UK outbreak isolates infecting CF patients than to strains from the US, Malaysia or France. Comparative genomic analyses of six closely related outbreak strains revealed geographic-specific large-scale insertion/deletion variation that corresponds to bacteriophage insertions and recombination hotspots. Our study integrates new genome sequence data with existing genomic information to explore the global diversity of infectious M. abscessus isolates and to compare clinically relevant outbreak strains from different continents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Nontuberculous Mycobacteria/isolation & purification
  13. Langkocyclines: novel angucycline antibiotics from Streptomyces sp. Acta 3034(*)
    Kalyon B, Tan GY, Pinto JM, Foo CY, Wiese J, Imhoff JF, et al.
    J Antibiot (Tokyo), 2013 Oct;66(10):609-16.
    PMID: 23820614 DOI: 10.1038/ja.2013.53
    Langkocyclines A1-A3 and B1 and B2, five new angucycline antibiotics produced by Streptomyces sp. Acta 3034, were detected in the course of our HPLC-diode array screening. The producing strain was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of a Clitorea sp. collected from Burau Bay, Langkawi, Malaysia, and was characterized by morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic features in addition to 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence information. Strain Acta 3034 is closely related to Streptomyces psammoticus NBRC 13971(T) and Streptomyces lanatus NBRC 12787(T). Langkocyclines consist of an angular tetracyclic benz[a]anthracene skeleton and hydrolyzable O-glycosidic sugar moieties. The yellow-colored A-type langkocyclines differ in their aglycon from the blue-lilac-colored B-type langkocyclines. The A-type langkocycline aglycon is identical to that of aquayamycin and urdamycin A. The chemical structures of the langkocyclines were elucidated by HR-MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments. They are biologically active against Gram-positive bacteria and exhibit a moderate antiproliferative activity against various human tumor cell lines.
    Matched MeSH terms: Streptomyces/isolation & purification
  14. Genetic characterization of the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (cox 1) gene of the zoonotic parasitic nematode, Ancylostoma ceylanicum from humans, dogs and cats
    Ngui R, Mahdy MA, Chua KH, Traub R, Lim YA
    Acta Trop, 2013 Oct;128(1):154-7.
    PMID: 23774318 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.06.003
    Ancylostoma ceylanicum is the only zoonotic hookworm species that is able to produce patent infections in humans with the majority of cases reported in South East Asia. Over the past few years, there have been an increasing number of studies investigating the prevalence of this parasitic zoonosis using molecular diagnostic tools and a single genetic locus as marker for species identification. As there can be limitations in using a single genetic locus for epidemiological studies and genetic discrimination, the complementary use of a more variable locus will provide additional evidence to support the zoonotic exchange of hookworm species between humans and animals. In the present study, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox 1) sequence of A. ceylanicum from positive human and animal fecal samples were determined and compared with published reference sequences. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that isolates of A. ceylanicum were divided into two clusters, one consisting 3 human isolates and the other comprising 19 isolates of human and animal origin from different geographical locations within Malaysia. The two groups of A. ceylanicum could be distinguished from one another through five fixed nucleotide differences at locations 891, 966, 1008, 1077 and 1083. The detection of genetically distinct groups and considerable level of genetic variation within the cox 1 sequence of A. ceylanicum might suggest potential haplotype-linked differences in zoonotic, epidemiological and pathobiological characteristics, a hypothesis that still needs further investigation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ancylostoma/isolation & purification
  15. Mutagenicity and genotoxicity effects of Lignosus rhinocerotis mushroom mycelium
    Chen TI, Zhuang HW, Chiao YC, Chen CC
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2013 Aug 26;149(1):70-4.
    PMID: 23773827 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.001
    Lignosus rhinocerotis mushroom is widely used as traditional medicine and as soup ingredient in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Its sclerotium is the part of edibility and is traditionally used for the treatment of fever, cough, asthma and cancer. In view of its safety profile, very little information is found in scientific literature.
    Matched MeSH terms: Biological Products/isolation & purification
  16. Molecular epidemiological investigation of velogenic Newcastle disease viruses from village chickens in Cambodia
    Choi KS, Kye SJ, Kim JY, Damasco VR, Sorn S, Lee YJ, et al.
    Virus Genes, 2013 Oct;47(2):244-9.
    PMID: 23764918 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-013-0930-2
    Three isolates of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were isolated from tracheal samples of dead village chickens in two provinces (Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham) in Cambodia during 2011-2012. All of these Cambodian NDV isolates were categorized as velogenic pathotype, based on in vivo pathogenicity tests and F cleavage site motif sequence ((112)RRRKRF(117)). The phylogenetic analysis and the evolutionary distances based on the sequences of the F gene revealed that all the three field isolates of NDV from Cambodia form a distinct cluster (VIIh) together with three Indonesian strains and were assigned to the genotype VII within the class II. Further phylogenetic analysis based on the hyper-variable region of the F gene revealed that some of NDV strains from Malaysia since the mid-2000s were also classified into the VIIh virus. This indicates that the VIIh NDVs are spreading through Southeast Asia. The present investigation, therefore, emphasizes the importance of further surveillance of NDV in neighboring countries as well as throughout Southeast Asia to contain further spreading of these VIIh viruses.
    Matched MeSH terms: Newcastle disease virus/isolation & purification
  17. Fulltext Prevalence and characterization of verotoxigenic-Escherichia coli isolates from pigs in Malaysia
    Ho WS, Tan LK, Ooi PT, Yeo CC, Thong KL
    BMC Vet Res, 2013;9:109.
    PMID: 23731465 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-109
    Postweaning diarrhea caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli, in particular verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC), has caused significant economic losses in the pig farming industry worldwide. However, there is limited information on VTEC in Malaysia. The objective of this study was to characterize pathogenic E. coli isolated from post-weaning piglets and growers with respect to their antibiograms, carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, pathotypes, production of hemolysins and fimbrial adhesins, serotypes, and genotypes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli/isolation & purification*
  18. Streptomyces kebangsaanensis sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete isolated from an ethnomedicinal plant, which produces phenazine-1-carboxylic acid
    Sarmin NIM, Tan GYA, Franco CMM, Edrada-Ebel R, Latip J, Zin NM
    Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2013 Oct;63(Pt 10):3733-3738.
    PMID: 23645019 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.047878-0
    A spore-forming streptomycete designated strain SUK12(T) was isolated from a Malaysian ethnomedicinal plant. Its taxonomic position, established using a polyphasic approach, indicates that it is a novel species of the genus Streptomyces. Morphological and chemical characteristics of the strain were consistent with those of members of the genus Streptomyces. Analysis of the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence placed strain SUK12(T) in the genus Streptomyces where it formed a distinct phyletic line with recognized species of this genus. The strain exhibited highest sequence similarity to Streptomyces corchorusii DSM 40340(T) (98.2 %) followed by Streptomyces chrestomyceticus NRRL B-3310(T) (98.1 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 74 mol%. Chemotaxonomic data [MK-9(H8) as the major menaquinone; LL-diaminopimelic acid as a component of cell-wall peptidoglycan; C12 : 0, C14 : 0, C15 : 0 and C17 : 1 as the major fatty acids; phospholipid type II] supported the affiliation of strain SUK12(T) to the genus Streptomyces. The results of the phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic data derived from this and previous studies allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain SUK12(T) from the related species of the genus Streptomyces. The DNA-DNA relatedness value between strain SUK12(T) and S. corchorusii DSM 40340(T) is 18.85±4.55 %. Strain SUK12(T) produces phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, known as tubermycin B, an antibacterial agent. It is proposed, therefore, that strain SUK12(T) ( = DSM 42048(T) = NRRL B-24860(T)) be classified in the genus Streptomyces as the type strain of Streptomyces kebangsaanensis sp. nov.
    Matched MeSH terms: Streptomyces/isolation & purification
  19. Fulltext Prevalence, predictors and clinical significance of Blastocystis sp. in Sebha, Libya
    Abdulsalam AM, Ithoi I, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Khan AH, Ahmed A, Surin J, et al.
    Parasit Vectors, 2013;6:86.
    PMID: 23566585 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-86
    BACKGROUND: Blastocystis sp. has a worldwide distribution and is often the most common human intestinal protozoan reported in children and adults in developing countries. The clinical relevance of Blastocystis sp. remains controversial. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Blastocystis infection and its association with gastrointestinal symptoms among outpatients in Sebha city, Libya.
    METHODS: A total of 380 stool samples were collected from outpatients attending the Central Laboratory in Sebha, Libya for routine stool examination. The presence of Blastocystis sp. was screened comparing light microscopy of direct smears against in vitro cultivation. Demographic and socioeconomic information were collected with a standardized questionnaire.
    RESULTS: The us (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.02, 4.70) as significant predictors of Blastocystis infection among this population. In those who had only Blastocystis infection but no other gastrointestinal parasitic infections, the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms was higher compared to those without Blastocystis infection (35.3% vs 13.2%; x² = 25.8; P < 0.001). The most common symptoms among these patients were abdominal pain (76.4%), flatulence (41.1%) and diarrhoea (21.5%).overall prevalence of Blastocystis infection was 22.1%. The prevalence was significantly higher among patients aged ≥18 years compared to those aged < 18 years (29.4% vs 9.9%; x² = 19.746; P < 0.001), and in males compared to females (26.4% vs 17.5%; x² = 4.374; P = 0.036). Univariate analysis showed significant associations between Blastocystis infection and the occupational status (P = 0.017), family size (P = 0.023) and educational level (P = 0.042) of the participants. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed that the age of ≥ 18 years (OR = 5.7; 95% CI = 2.21; 9.86) and occupational stat
    CONCLUSIONS: Blastocystis sp. is prevalent and associated with gastrointestinal symptoms among communities in Sebha city, Libya. Age and occupational status were the significant predictors of infection. However, more studies from different areas in Libya are needed in order to delineate the epidemiology and clinical significance of this infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blastocystis/isolation & purification*
  20. Fulltext Cloning, expression, and immunocharacterization of surface protein containing an altered thrombospondin repeat domain (SPATR) from Plasmodium knowlesi
    Palaeya V, Lau YL, Mahmud R, Chen Y, Fong MY
    Malar J, 2013;12:182.
    PMID: 23734702 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-182
    Plasmodium knowlesi is the fifth species identified to cause malaria in humans and is often misdiagnosed as Plasmodium malariae due to morphological similarities. The development of an inexpensive, serological detection method utilizing antibodies specific to P. knowlesi would be a valuable tool for diagnosis. However, the identification of specific antigens for these parasites remains a major challenge for generating such assays. In this study, surface protein containing an altered thrombospondin repeat domain (SPATR) was selected as a potentially specific antigen from P. knowlesi. Its multistage expression by sporozoites, asexual erythrocytic forms and gametocytes, along with its possible role in liver cell invasion, suggests that SPATR could be used as a biomarker for diagnosis of P. knowlesi.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Proteins/isolation & purification
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