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Fulltext Effective Dose Estimation of Patients Administered with 18F-FDG and Ga-68 DOTATATE in PET/CT Examination Associated with Gender and Weight

Kamal, I., Said, M. A., Bathumalai, J., Abdul Razak, H. R., Abdul Karim, M. K.

Physics and Technology in Medicine, 2020;1(1):15-21.
MyJurnal

The whole-body fluorodeoxyglucose F18 (18F-FDG) and gallium-68 (Ga-68 DOTATATE) are the most common radiopharmaceutical use in PET/CT imaging for cancer staging. Although radiopharmaceutical for PET/CT examination has been acknowledged for its safety and efficacy, the internal dosimetry and effective dose (ED) from the examinations are rarely discussed. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate radiation ED for whole-body radiopharmaceuticals PET/CT concerning patients’ gender and their weight. A total of 82 oncology patients (44 males and 38 females) were collected retrospectively from Institut Kanser Negara, Putrajaya. Data, such as 18F-FDG and Ga-68 DOTATATE activity and patient demography (weight, height, age), were recorded and analyzed. Effective doses from both internal and external exposure were calculated using the coefficient
provided by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) report. The total ED of 18F-FDG for male patients was 20.2 ± 8.6 mSv and for female patients were 19.0 ± 8.2 mSv while total whole-body ED for Ga-68 DOTATATE for male patients was 18.5 ± 7.0 mSv and 17.0 ± 5.6 mSv for female patients. The ratio for ED between male and female were 1:1 for both examinations ranged from 12.0 – 23 mSv. From this study, it indicated that the ED of Ga-68 DOTATATE was far lower when compared to the ED of 18F-FDG by a factor of 0.7. Therefore, it is crucial to optimize the PET/CT protocol dose in order to uphold the dose as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
Effects of some dietary crude plant extracts on the growth and gonadal maturity of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and their resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae infection

Kareem ZH, Abdelhadi YM, Christianus A, Karim M, Romano N

Fish Physiol Biochem, 2016 Apr;42(2):757-69.
PMID: 26643907 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-015-0173-3

A 90-day feeding trial was conducted on the growth performance, feeding efficacy, body indices, various hematological and plasma biochemical parameters, and histopathological examination of the gonads from male and female Nile tilapia fingerlings when fed different crude plant extracts from Cinnamomum camphora, Euphorbia hirta, Azadirachta indica, or Carica papaya at 2 g kg(-1) compared to a control diet. This was followed by a 14-day challenge to Streptococcus agalactiae. All treatments were triplicated, and each treatment consisted of 30 fish. Results showed that C. papaya extracts were the most effective at delaying gonadal maturation to both male and female tilapia, as well as significantly increasing (P < 0.05) growth performance compared to the control treatment. Similarly, dietary C. camphora and E. hirta extracts also significantly improved growth, while no significant growth effect was detected between the A. indica and control treatments (P > 0.05). Further, crude body lipid was lower in the C. camphora, E. hirta and C. papaya treatments, but was only significantly lower for the E. hirta treatment compared to the control. Meanwhile, none of the hematological or biochemical parameters were significantly affected, although plasma ALT was significantly lower for tilapia fed A. indica compared to the control. After the 14-day bacterial challenge, tilapia fed C. camphora supplementation had significantly higher survival, compared to the control, but was not significantly higher than the other supplemented diets. Results indicate that dietary C. papaya extract can significantly promote growth and delay gonadal maturation to both male and female tilapia, while C. camphora was the most effective prophylactic to S. agalactiae and may be a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to antibiotics.
Fulltext Efficacy of Single and Multi-Strain Probiotics on In Vitro Strain Compatibility, Pathogen Inhibition, Biofilm Formation Capability, and Stress Tolerance

Puvanasundram P, Chong CM, Sabri S, Yusoff MSM, Lim KC, Karim M

Biology (Basel), 2022 Nov 10;11(11).
PMID: 36358345 DOI: 10.3390/biology11111644

Compatibility of each strain in a multi-strain probiotic (MSP), along with its properties, becomes a strong base for its formulation. In this study, single-strain probiotics (SSPs) and multi-strain probiotics (MSPs) were evaluated in vitro for strain compatibility, microbial antagonism, biofilm formation capacity, and stress tolerance. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens L11, Enterococcus hirae LAB3, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis SPS11 were chosen as MSP1 candidates because they showed much stronger antagonism to Aeromonas hydrophila and Streptococcus agalactiae than a single probiotic. MSP 2 candidates were Lysinibacillus fusiformis strains SPS11, A1, and Lysinibacillus sphaericus strain NAS32 because the inhibition zone produced by MSP 2 against Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio parahaemolyticus was much higher than that produced by its constituent SSPs. MSP1 in the co-culture assay reduced (p < 0.05) A. hydrophila count from 9.89 ± 0.1 CFU mL−1 to 2.14 ± 0.2 CFU mL−1. The biofilm formation of both MSPs were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than its constituent SSPs and the pathogens. The SSPs in both MSPs generally showed resistance to high temperatures (80, 90, and 100 °C) and a wide range of pH (2 to 9). This in vitro assessment study demonstrates that MSP1 and 2 have the potential to be further explored as multi-strain probiotics on selected aquatic species.
Fulltext Enhancement of Live Food Nutritional Status with Essential Nutrients for Improving Aquatic Animal Health: A Review

Samat NA, Yusoff FM, Rasdi NW, Karim M

Animals (Basel), 2020 Dec 21;10(12).
PMID: 33371528 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122457

At the present time, no artificial larval diet is capable of entirely fulfilling the dietary requirements of several larval fish and crustacean species. Zooplankton live food is the basic foundation of fish larviculture, and successful rearing of fish larvae still heavily depends on an adequate supply of nutritious live food. Despite being important, the production protocols of copepods and cladocerans (Moina) are still underdeveloped in hatcheries. Rotifers and Artemia are the most commonly used live foods. However, these live foods are evidently lacking in crucial nutrient constituents. Hence, through nutrient enrichment, live food with the nutritional profile that meets the requirements of fish larvae can be produced. With the aim to maximize the effectiveness of production to optimize profitability, it is important to evaluate and improve culture techniques for the delivery of micro- and macro-nutrients as feed supplements to larvae in aquaculture systems. Bioencapsulation and enrichment are the evolving techniques in aquaculture that are commonly employed to enhance the nutritional quality of live food by integrating nutrients into them, which subsequently improves the growth, survival, and disease resistance of the consuming hosts. This review aims to highlight some of the approaches and methods used to improve the nutritional quality of live food by modifying their nutrient composition, which could have immense promise in the enhancement of aquatic animal health.
Fulltext Entrance Surface Dose Measurement and Lifetime Attribute Risk Analysis from Postero-anterior Chest X-ray Imaging via Direct and Indirect Measurement

Kamal, I., Salehhon, N., Hashim, S., Musa, Y., Abdul Karim, M. K.

Physics and Technology in Medicine, 2020;1(2):20-26.
MyJurnal

The aimed of this study is to estimate the entrance surface dose (ESD) of routine chest X-ray (CXR) examination and to compare the direct and indirect measurement. This study also extended to relate with the patients body thickness and established lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of the examinations. A total of 101 CXR examinations in posteroanterior (PA) projections were selected
as subjects and data, such as patient habitus and scanning acquisition parameters were recorded. The mean ESD value obtained from the TLD-100 and the software calculation was 0.31 mGy and 0.17 mGy, respectively. The percentage deviation obtained ranged from 25.5% to 61.3%. In comparison with the national diagnostic reference level (DRL), the mean values of ESD obtained from this study were lower by a factor of 3. Furthermore, it was observed that the mean absorbed dose of the adrenals, kidneys, lungs, oesophagus, and heart walls were lower as compared to the ESD value. The examinations were only associated with very low risk of cancer incidence and mortality. Hence, the results of this study suggested a need for standardisations of the personnel training to perform X-ray examinations according to ALARA principles.
Enzyme production and profile by Aspergillus niger during solid substrate fermentation using palm kernel cake as substrate

Ong LG, Abd-Aziz S, Noraini S, Karim MI, Hassan MA

Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2004 8 12;118(1-3):73-9.
PMID: 15304740

The oil palm sector is one of the major plantation industries in Malaysia. Palm kernel cake is a byproduct of extracted palm kernel oil. Mostly palm kernel cake is wasted or is mixed with other nutrients and used as animal feed, especially for ruminant animals. Recently, palm kernel cake has been identified as an important ingredient for the formulation of animal feed, and it is also exported especially to Europe, South Korea, and Japan. It can barely be consumed by nonruminant (monogastric) animals owing to the high percentages of hemicellulose and cellulose contents. Palm kernel cake must undergo suitable pretreatment in order to decrease the percentage of hemicellulose and cellulose. One of the methods employed in this study is fermentation with microorganisms, particularly fungi, to partially degrade the hemicellulose and cellulose content. This work focused on the production of enzymes by Aspergillus niger and profiling using palm kernel cake as carbon source.
Evaluating Bacillus flexus as bioremediators for ammonia removal in shrimp culture water and wastewater and characterizing microbial communities in shrimp pond sludge

Jasmin MY, Isa NM, Kamarudin MS, Lim KC, Karim M

Braz J Microbiol, 2024 Jan 27.
PMID: 38280093 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01246-9

The accumulation of nitrogen compounds in shrimp farming water and effluent presents a major challenge. Ammonia is a form of nitrogen that limits shrimp growth due to its potential toxicity and effects on shrimp health and water quality. This study is aimed at identifying promising bioremediators from shrimp pond sludge to mitigate ammonia levels in both culture water and wastewater and at determining major bacterial communities in sludge using metagenomic analysis. A sludge sample was collected from a shrimp pond in Selangor, Malaysia, to isolate potential ammonia-removing bacteria. Out of 64 isolated strains, Bacillus flexus SS2 showed the highest growth in synthetic basal media (SBM) containing ammonium sulfate at a concentration of 70 mg/L as the sole nitrogen source. The strain was then incubated in SBM with varying pH levels and showed optimal growth at pH 6.5-7. After 24 h of incubation, B. flexus SS2 reduced the ammonia concentration from an initial concentration of 5 to 0.01 mg/L, indicating a 99.61% reduction rate, which was highest in SBM at pH 7. Moreover, the strain showed ammonia removal ability at concentrations ranging from 5 to 70 mg/L. Metagenomic analysis revealed that Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum in the sludge, followed by Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloraflexi, Firmicutes, and Campilobacterota. Bacillus flexus SS2 belongs to the Bacillota phylum and has the potential to serve as a bioremediator for removing ammonia from shrimp culture water and wastewater.
Feasibility study on the utilization of rubber latex effluent for producing bacterial biopolymers

Tang SN, Fakhru'l-Razi A, Hassan MA, Karim MI

Artif Cells Blood Substit Immobil Biotechnol, 1999 Sep-Nov;27(5-6):411-6.
PMID: 10595441

Rubber latex effluent is a polluting source that has a high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). It is estimated that about 100 million liters of effluent are discharged daily from rubber processing factories. Utilization of this effluent such as the use of a coupled system not only can reduce the cost of treatment but also yield a fermentation feedstock for the production of bioplastic. This study initially was carried out to increase the production of organic acids by anaerobic treatment of rubber latex effluent. It was found that through anaerobic treatment the concentration of organic acids did not increase. Consequently, separation of organic acids from rubber latex effluent by anion exchange resin was examined as a preliminary study of recovering acetic and propionic acids. However, the suspended solids (SS) content in the raw effluent was rather high which partially blocked the ion-exchange columns. Lime was used to remove the SS in the rubber latex effluent. After the lime precipitation process, organic acids were found to adsorb strongly onto the anion exchange resin. Less adsorption of organic acids onto the resin was observed before the lime precipitation. This was probably due to more sites being occupied by colloidal particles on the resin thus inhibiting the adsorption of organic acids. The initial concentration of organic acids in the raw effluent was 3.9 g/L. After ion exchange, the concentration of the organic acids increased to 27 g/L, which could be utilized for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). For PHA accumulation stage, concentrated rubber latex effluent obtained from ion exchange resins and synthetic acetic acid were used as the carbon source. Quantitative analyses from fed batch culture via HPLC showed that the accumulation of PHA in Alcaligenes eutrophus was maximum with a concentration of 1.182 g/L when cultivated on synthetic acetic acid, corresponding to a yield of 87% based on its cell dry weight. The dry cell weight increased from 0.71 to 1.67 g/L. On the other hand, using concentrated rubber latex effluent containing acetic and propionic acids resulted in reduced PHA content by dry weight (14%) but the dry cell weight increased from 0.49 to 1.30 g/L. The results clearly indicated that the cells grow well in rubber latex effluent but no PHA was accumulated. This could be due to the high concentration of propionic acid in culture broth or other factors such as heavy metals. Thus further work is required before rubber latex effluent can be utilized as a substrate for PHA production industrially.
Fermentation studies of stored cocoa beans

Abdul Samah O, Ibrahim N, Alimon H, Abdul Karim MI

World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 1993 Sep;9(5):603-4.
PMID: 24420212 DOI: 10.1007/BF00386306

Acetic and lactic acid bacteria on fermented cocoa beans were maximally 2.0×10(6) and 1.9×10(6) c.f.u./g wet wt, respectively. Acetic and lactic acids were detected on the second and fourth days of fermentation and were maximally 140 and 45 mg/10 g beans, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the sizes of the relevant microbial populations and the amounts of acids produced during fermentation.
Field evaluation of alphacypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Malaysia

Sulaiman S, Karim MA, Omar B, Omar S

J Am Mosq Control Assoc, 1995 Mar;11(1):54-8.
PMID: 7616191

Alphacypermethrin (Fendona) and lambda-cyhalothrin (Icon) were evaluated against sentinel bloodfed adults and 4th-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti in a housing estate in Malaysia. The impact of both pyrethroids on field populations of Ae. aegypti and Aedes albopictus were monitored weekly using oviposition trap samples. Both alphacypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin showed adulticidal and larvicidal effects.
Fish and Meat Are Often Withheld From the Diets of Infants 6 to 12 Months in Fish-Farming Households in Rural Bangladesh

Thorne-Lyman AL, Valpiani N, Akter R, Baten MA, Genschick S, Karim M, et al.

Food Nutr Bull, 2017 Sep;38(3):354-368.
PMID: 28618837 DOI: 10.1177/0379572117709417

BACKGROUND: Fish is a widely available animal-source food in Bangladesh and a rich source of nutrients, yet little is known about practices related to incorporating fish into the diets of infants and young children.
OBJECTIVE: Use dietary diversity data to explore consumption patterns of fish and high-quality food items within the household and examine factors associated with delayed introduction of fish to infants and young children.
METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 496 households with children <36 months participating in the Aquaculture for Income and Nutrition project in Bangladesh. Data collected included household characteristics, women's dietary diversity score, and minimum dietary diversity score along with data on Infant and Young Child Feeding practices.
RESULTS: Most children (63.4%) met the threshold for minimum dietary diversity. Despite having received extensive nutrition education related to including fish in complementary foods, only half of the caretakers introduced fish at 6 months and the mean age of introduction of small fish was 8.7 months. Meat and fish were not common in infant diets but increased with child age. Concerns about bones were a major barrier to incorporating fish into infant diets.
CONCLUSION: Given its nutrient profile and widespread availability in certain contexts, fish could be an underutilized opportunity to improve nutrition and health outcomes of infants and young children. Further research, including utilizing food processing technologies, is needed to develop appropriate responses to overcome these barriers.
How low back pain is managed-a mixed methods study in 32 countries. Part 2 of Low Back Pain in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Series

Sharma S, Pathak A, Parker R, Costa LOP, Ghai B, Igwesi-Chidobe C, et al.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 2024 Apr 11.
PMID: 38602844 DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2024.12406

BACKGROUND: The Lancet Series of Low Back Pain (LBP) highlighted the lack of LBP data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The study aimed to describe (1) what LBP care is currently delivered in LMICs, and (2) how that care is delivered. METHODS: An online mixed-methods study. A Consortium for LBP in LMICs (n=65) was developed with an expert panel of leading LBP researchers (>2 publications on LBP) and multidisciplinary clinicians and patient partners with five years of clinical/lived LBP experience in LMICs. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Two researchers independently analyzed qualitative data using deductive and inductive coding and developed a thematic framework. FINDINGS: Forty-seven (85%) of 55 invited panel members representing 32 LMICs completed the survey (38% women; 62% men). The panel included clinicians (34%), researchers (28%), educators (6%), and patient partners (4%). Pharmacotherapies and electrophysiological agents were the most used LBP treatments. The Thematic Framework comprised of eight themes: (1) Self-management is ubiquitous; (2) Medicines are the cornerstone; (3) Traditional therapies have a place; (4) Society plays an important role; (5) Imaging use is very common; (6) Reliance on passive approaches; (7) Social determinants influence LBP care pathway; and (8) Health systems are ill-prepared to address LBP burden. INTERPRETATION: LBP care in LMICs did not consistently align with the best available evidence. Findings will help research prioritization in LMICs and guide global LBP clinical guidelines. FUNDING: The lead author's Fellowship was supported by the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Influence of Symbiotic Probiont Strains on the Growth of Amphora and Chlorella and Its Potential Protections Against Vibrio spp. in Artemia

Rosland NA, Ikhsan N, Min CC, Yusoff FM, Karim M

Curr Microbiol, 2021 Nov;78(11):3901-3912.
PMID: 34522979 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02642-2

The emerging aquaculture industry is in need of non-antibiotic-based disease control approaches to minimize the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Bacterial infections mainly caused by Vibrio spp. have caused mass mortalities of fish especially during the larval stages. The objectives of this study were to verify the potential of symbiotic probiont strains, isolated from microalgae (Amphora, Chlorella, and Spirulina) for suppressing the growth of Vibrio spp. and at the same time ascertain their abilities to enhance microalgal biomass by mutualistic interactions through microalgae-bacteria symbiosis. In addition, in vivo studies on Artemia bioencapsulated with probiont strains (single strain and mix strains) and microalgae were evaluated. The selected potential probionts were identified as Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain A-1 (LFA-1), Bacillus sp. strain A-2 (BA-2), Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain Cl-3 (LFCl-3), and Bacillus pocheonensis strain S-2 (BPS-2) using 16s rRNA. The cell densities of Amphora culture supplemented with BA-2 and Chlorella culture supplemented with LFCl-3 were higher than those of the controls. Artemia bioencapsulated with mix strains (LFA-1 + BA-2 + LFCl-3 + BPS-2) and Amphora demonstrated the highest survival rate compared to the controls, after being challenged with V. harveyi (60 ± 4%) and V. parahaemolyticus (78 ± 2%). Our study postulated that BA-2 and LFCl-3 were found to be good promoting bacteria for microalgal growth and microalgae serve as a vector to transport probiotic into Artemia. Moreover, mixture of potential probionts is beneficial for Artemia supplementation in conferring protection to Artemia nauplii against pathogenic Vibrios.
Isolation of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli associated with diarrhoea in Malaysia containing plasmids showing homology with biotinylated Shiga-like toxin DNA gene probes

Son R, Ansary A, Rusul G, Karim MI

World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 1996 May;12(3):243-6.
PMID: 24415231 DOI: 10.1007/BF00360921

Three strains of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from patients with haemorrhagic colitis harboured plasmids ranging in size from 2.7 kb to 91.2 kb. Those plasmids ranging from 2.7 kb to 6.8 kb hybridized to Shiga-like toxin I and Shiga-like toxin II gene probes.
Kojic acid production by Aspergillus flavus using gelatinized and hydrolyzed sago starch as carbon sources

Rosfarizan M, Ariff AB, Hassan MA, Karim MI

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1998;43(5):459-64.
PMID: 9867479

Direct conversion of gelatinized sago starch into kojic acid by Aspergillus flavus strain having amylolytic enzymes was carried out at two different scales of submerged batch fermentation in a 250-mL shake flask and in a 50-L stirred-tank fermentor. For comparison, fermentations were also carried out using glucose and glucose hydrolyzate from enzymic hydrolysis of sago starch as carbon sources. During kojic acid fermentation of starch, starch was first hydrolyzed to glucose by the action of alpha-amylase and glucoamylase during active growth phase. The glucose remaining during the production phase (non-growing phase) was then converted to kojic acid. Kojic acid production (23.5 g/L) using 100 g/L sago starch in a shake flask was comparable to fermentation of glucose (31.5 g/L) and glucose hydrolyzate (27.9 g/L) but in the 50-L fermentor was greatly reduced due to non-optimal aeration conditions. Kojic acid production using glucose was higher in the 50-L fermentor than in the shake flask.
New method for distance-based close following safety indicator

Sharizli AA, Rahizar R, Karim MR, Saifizul AA

Traffic Inj Prev, 2015;16(2):190-5.
PMID: 24827899 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2014.921913

The increase in the number of fatalities caused by road accidents involving heavy vehicles every year has raised the level of concern and awareness on road safety in developing countries like Malaysia. Changes in the vehicle dynamic characteristics such as gross vehicle weight, travel speed, and vehicle classification will affect a heavy vehicle's braking performance and its ability to stop safely in emergency situations. As such, the aim of this study is to establish a more realistic new distance-based safety indicator called the minimum safe distance gap (MSDG), which incorporates vehicle classification (VC), speed, and gross vehicle weight (GVW).
Production of organic acids from kitchen wastes

Loh CW, Fakhru'l-Razi A, Hassan MA, Karim MI

Artif Cells Blood Substit Immobil Biotechnol, 1999 Sep-Nov;27(5-6):455-9.
PMID: 10595448

This study involves the production of short-chain organic acids from kitchen wastes as intermediates for the production of biodegradable plastics. Flasks, without mixing were used for the anaerobic conversion of the organic fraction of kitchen wastes into short-chain organic acids. The influence of pH, temperature and addition of sludge cake on the rate of organic acids production and yield were evaluated. Fermentations were carried out in an incubator at different temperatures controlled at 30 degrees C. 40 degrees C, 50 degrees C, 60 degrees C and uncontrolled at room temperature. The pH was also varied at pH 5, 6, 7, and uncontrolled pH. 1.0 M phosphate buffer was used for pH control, and 1.0 M HCl and 1.0 M NaOH were added when necessary. Sludge cake addition enhanced the rate of maximum acids production from 4 days to 1 day. The organic acids produced were maximum at pH 7 and 50 degrees C i.e., 39.84 g/l on the fourth day of fermentation with a yield of 0.87 g/g soluble COD consumed, and 0.84 g/g TVS. The main organic acid produced was lactic acid (65-85%), with small amounts of acetic (10-30%), propionic (5-10%), and butyric (5-20%) acids. The results of this study showed that kitchen wastes could be fermented to high concentration of organic acids, which could be used as substrates for the production of biodegradable plastics.
Production of xylose from Meranti wood sawdust by dilute acid hydrolysis

Rafiqul IS, Sakinah AM, Karim MR

Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2014 Sep;174(2):542-55.
PMID: 25082763 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-014-1059-z

Xylitol production by bioconversion of xylose can be economically interesting if the raw material can be recovered from a cheap lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). Meranti wood sawdust (MWS) is a renewable and low-cost LCB that can be used as a promising and economic source of xylose, a starting raw material for the manufacture of several specialty chemicals, especially xylitol. This study aimed to optimize the hydrolysis process of MWS and to determine the influence of temperature, H2SO4 concentration, and residence time on xylose release and on by-product formation (glucose, arabinose, acetic acid, furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and lignin degradation products (LDPs)). Batch hydrolysis was conducted under various operating conditions, and response surface methodology was adopted to achieve the highest xylose yield. Xylose production was highly affected by temperature, acid concentration, and residence time. The optimum temperature, acid concentration, and time were determined to be 124 °C, 3.26 %, and 80 min, respectively. Under these optimum conditions, xylose yield and selectivity were attained at 90.6 % and 4.05 g/g, respectively.
Quorum sensing is required for full virulence of Vibrio campbellii towards tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) larvae

Noor NM, Defoirdt T, Alipiah N, Karim M, Daud H, Natrah I

J Fish Dis, 2019 Apr;42(4):489-495.
PMID: 30742313 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.12946

The link between quorum sensing in Vibrio campbellii and its virulence towards tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) was investigated using V. campbellii wild type and quorum-sensing mutants with inactive quorum sensing or constitutively maximal quorum-sensing activity, and signal molecule synthase mutants. The results showed that wild-type V. campbellii is pathogenic to grouper larvae, causing more than 50% mortality after 4 days of challenge. Furthermore, the mortality of larvae challenged with the mutant with maximally active quorum sensing was significantly higher than that of larvae challenged with the wild type, whereas a higher survival was observed in the larvae challenged to the mutant with a completely inactive quorum-sensing system. Grouper larvae challenged with either the signal molecule synthase triple mutant, the harveyi autoinducer-1 (HAI-1) synthase mutant and the autoinducer-2 (AI-2) synthase mutant showed higher survival than larvae challenged with the wild type. In contrast, larvae challenged with the cholerae autoinducer-1 (CAI-1) synthase mutant showed high mortality. This indicates that HAI-1 and AI-2, but not CAI-1, are required for full virulence of V. campbellii towards grouper larvae. Our data suggest that quorum-sensing inhibition could be an effective strategy to control V. campbellii infections in tiger grouper.
Review on diagnosis and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in humans and animals

Uddin AHMM, Hossain D, Ahsan MI, Atikuzzaman M, Karim MR

Trop Biomed, 2021 Dec 01;38(4):511-539.
PMID: 35001919 DOI: 10.47665/tb.38.4.091

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoon which causes toxoplasmosis, an important zoonotic disease that is endemic worldwide. Common sources of T. gondii infection in humans are food or water contaminated with oocysts and raw or undercooked meat with cysts. In animals, common sources of infection include feed, water, or litter contaminated with oocysts. The diagnosis and molecular characterization of T. gondii infection in humans and animals is crucial due to public and veterinary health importance. Various traditional and serological methods have been used in clinical practice for toxoplasmosis diagnosis, but interpreting the results remains a challenge. Several molecular techniques have also been used for the detection and genetic characterization of T. gondii , but primarily in research settings. In this paper, we review the techniques that are currently used for the diagnosis and genetic characterization of T. gondii in humans and animals, along with their advantages and disadvantages. The techniques reviewed have laid the groundwork for the future development of more effective and precise detection and characterization of T. gondii . These advances will contribute to a better understanding of epidemiology, prevention and control of toxoplasmosis. Thus, this review would be of particular interest to clinical physicians, veterinarians and researchers.

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