Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 3427 in total

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  1. A direct detection of human papillomavirus 16 genomic DNA using gold nanoprobes
    Azizah N, Hashim U, Gopinath SCB, Nadzirah S
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2017 Jan;94(Pt A):571-575.
    PMID: 27771413 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.10.060
    Nanoparticles have been investigated as flagging tests for the sensitive DNA recognition that can be utilized as a part of field applications to defeat restrictions. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely utilized due to its optical property and capacity to get functionalized with a mixed bag of biomolecules. This study exhibits the utilization of AuNPs functionalized with single-stranded oligonucleotide (AuNP-oligo test) for fast the identification of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This test is displayed on interdigitated electrode sensor and supported by colorimetric assay. DNA conjugated AuNP has optical property that can be controlled for the applications in diagnostics. With its identification abilities, this methodology incorporates minimal effort, strong reagents and basic identification of HPV.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Single-Stranded/chemical synthesis; DNA, Single-Stranded/chemistry; DNA, Viral/blood*
  2. A distinct Y-STR haplotype for Amelogenin negative males characterized by a large Y(p)11.2 (DYS458-MSY1-AMEL-Y) deletion
    Chang YM, Perumal R, Keat PY, Yong RY, Kuehn DL, Burgoyne L
    Forensic Sci Int, 2007 Mar 2;166(2-3):115-20.
    PMID: 16765004
    The use of STR multiplexes with the incorporated gender marker Amelogenin is common practice in forensic DNA analysis. However, when a known male sample shows a dropout of the Amelogenin Y-allele, the STR system falsely genotypes it as a female. To date, our laboratory has observed 18 such cases: 12 from our Y-STR database and six from casework. A study on 980 male individuals in the Malaysian population using the AmpFlSTR Y-filer has revealed a distinct Y-chromosome haplotype associated with the Amelogenin nulls. Our results showed that whilst the Amelogenin nulls were noticeably absent among the Chinese, both the Indians and Malays exhibited such mutations at 3.2 and 0.6%, respectively. It was also found that the Amelogenin negative individuals predominantly belonged to the J2e lineage, suggesting the possibility of a common ancestor for at least some of these chromosomes. The null frequencies showed concordance with the data published in Chang et al. [Higher failures of Amelogenin sex test in an Indian population group, J. Forensic Sci. 48 (2003) 1309-1313] on a smaller Malaysian population of 338 males which used a Y-STR triplex. In the current study, apart from the absence of the Amelogenin Y-locus, a complete absence of the DYS458 locus in all the nulls was also observed. This study together with the 2003 study has indicated a similar deletion region exists on the Y(p)11.2 band in all the 18 Y-chromosomes. Using bioinformatics, this deletion has been mapped to a region of at least 1.13 Mb on the Y(p)11.2 encompassing the Amelogenin, MSY1 minisatellite and DYS458 locus. Further, the Y-filer haplotypes revealed an additional null at Y-GATA H4 in two of the Indian males presented here.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Fingerprinting
  3. Fulltext A draft genome sequence of the elusive giant squid, Architeuthis dux
    da Fonseca RR, Couto A, Machado AM, Brejova B, Albertin CB, Silva F, et al.
    Gigascience, 2020 Jan 01;9(1).
    PMID: 31942620 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giz152
    BACKGROUND: The giant squid (Architeuthis dux; Steenstrup, 1857) is an enigmatic giant mollusc with a circumglobal distribution in the deep ocean, except in the high Arctic and Antarctic waters. The elusiveness of the species makes it difficult to study. Thus, having a genome assembled for this deep-sea-dwelling species will allow several pending evolutionary questions to be unlocked.

    FINDINGS: We present a draft genome assembly that includes 200 Gb of Illumina reads, 4 Gb of Moleculo synthetic long reads, and 108 Gb of Chicago libraries, with a final size matching the estimated genome size of 2.7 Gb, and a scaffold N50 of 4.8 Mb. We also present an alternative assembly including 27 Gb raw reads generated using the Pacific Biosciences platform. In addition, we sequenced the proteome of the same individual and RNA from 3 different tissue types from 3 other species of squid (Onychoteuthis banksii, Dosidicus gigas, and Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis) to assist genome annotation. We annotated 33,406 protein-coding genes supported by evidence, and the genome completeness estimated by BUSCO reached 92%. Repetitive regions cover 49.17% of the genome.

    CONCLUSIONS: This annotated draft genome of A. dux provides a critical resource to investigate the unique traits of this species, including its gigantism and key adaptations to deep-sea environments.

    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Transposable Elements
  4. Fulltext A dual genetic alteration (mitochondrial and nuclear DNA): first case in Malaysia detected in glioblastoma multiforme
    Abdul Aziz Mohamed Yusoff, Wan Salihah Wan Abdullah, Alarmelu Nithya Ramanathan, Jafri Malin Abdullah, Zamzuri Idris
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(2):332-335.
    MyJurnal
    Although the precise etiology of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM, WHO grade IV) remains unknown, its progression
    is believed to be driven by the accumulation of multiple genetic alterations. Here, we report a case of a patient who
    developed GBM, and associated with dual alterations, particularly 4977-bp deletion in mtDNA (mtDNA4977) and
    p.Arg132His (R132H) mutation in IDH1. A 35-year old Malaysian woman patient who primary diagnosed with astrocytoma WHO grade I and subsequently after four years developed a GBM, was detected with a mtDNA4977. This
    deletion appears to be a sporadic mutation. Additionally, analysis of patient’s tumor tissue also found to harbor a heterozygous IDH1 R132H mutation. This represents the first case report of coexisting mtDNA4977 together with IDH1
    R132H mutation in a Malaysian patient of GBM. The findings of dual alterations could be of therapeutic benefit if
    these alterations were justified to be contributing to GBM growth and aggressiveness.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Mitochondrial
  5. Fulltext A duplex endpoint PCR assay for rapid detection and differentiation of Leptospira strains
    Benacer D, Zain SNM, Lewis JW, Khalid MKNM, Thong KL
    Rev Soc Bras Med Trop, 2017 Mar-Apr;50(2):239-242.
    PMID: 28562762 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0364-2016
    INTRODUCTION:: This study aimed to develop a duplex endpoint PCR assay for rapid detection and differentiation of Leptospira strains.

    METHODS:: Primers were designed to target the rrs (LG1/LG2) and ligB (LP1/LP2) genes to confirm the presence of the Leptospira genus and the pathogenic species, respectively.

    RESULTS:: The assay showed 100% specificity against 17 Leptospira strains with a limit of detection of 23.1pg/µl of leptospiral DNA and sensitivity of 103 leptospires/ml in both spiked urine and water.

    CONCLUSIONS:: Our duplex endpoint PCR assay is suitable for rapid early detection of Leptospira with high sensitivity and specificity.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Primers*
  6. A fluorescence quenching based gene assay for Escherichia coli O157:H7 using graphene quantum dots and gold nanoparticles
    Saad SM, Abdullah J, Rashid SA, Fen YW, Salam F, Yih LH
    Mikrochim Acta, 2019 11 19;186(12):804.
    PMID: 31745737 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-019-3913-8
    A fluorometric assay is described for highly sensitive quantification of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Reporter oligos were immobilized on graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and quencher oligos were immobilized on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Target DNA was co-hybridized with reporter oligos on the GQDs and quencher oligos on AuNPs. This triggers quenching of fluorescence (with excitation/emission peaks at 400 nm/530 nm). On introducing target into the system, fluorescence is quenched by up to 95% by 100 nM concentrations of target oligos having 20 bp. The response to the fliC gene of E. coli O157:H7 increases with the logarithm of the concentration in the range from 0.1 nM to 150 nM. The limit of detection is 1.1 ± 0.6 nM for n = 3. The selectivity and specificity of the assay was confirmed by evaluating the various oligos sequences and PCR product (fliC gene) amplified from genomic DNA of the food samples spiked with E. coli O157:H7. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of fluorometric assay for highly sensitive quantification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 based on fluorescence quenching gene assay for fliC gene of E. coli O157:H7.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Bacterial/analysis*; DNA, Bacterial/genetics
  7. A genetic Study of the Ghanaian Population Using 15 Autosomal STR Loci
    Kofi AE, Agyemang DA, Ghansah A, Awandare GA, Hakim HM, Khan HO, et al.
    Biochem Genet, 2023 Oct;61(5):1850-1866.
    PMID: 36869999 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10347-3
    Autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) population data collected from a well characterized population are needed to correctly assigning the weight of DNA profiles in the courtroom and widely used for ancestral analyses. In this study, allele frequencies for the 15 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci included in the AmpFlSTR® Identifiler® plus kit (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, VWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818, FGA) were obtained by genotyping 332 unrelated individuals of Ghanaian origin. Statistical tests on STR genotype data showed no significant departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The overall match probability, combined power of exclusion and combined power of discrimination for these loci were 1 in 3.85 × 1017, 0.99999893 and 0.99999998, respectively. Polymorphic information content (PIC) greater than 0.70 was observed for all loci except TH01 and D13S317. These statistical parameters confirm that this combination of loci is valuable for forensic identification and parentage analysis. Our results were also compared with those for 20 other human populations analyzed for the same set of markers. We observed that the Ghanaian population grouped with other African populations in two-dimensional principal coordinate (PCO) and a neighbor-joining (N-J) data mapping and placed closest to Nigerians. This observation reflects cultural similarities and geographical factors, coupled with the long history of migration and trading activities between Ghana and Nigeria. Our report provides what we believe to be the first published autosomal STR data for the general Ghanaian population using 15 loci genotyped using the AmpFlSTR® Identifiler® plus kit methodology. Our data show that the loci tested have sufficient power to be used reliably for DNA profiling in forensic casework and help to elucidate the genetic history of people living in the country.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Fingerprinting
  8. Fulltext A genetic comparison of two alleged subspecies of Philippine cynomolgus macaques
    Smith DG, Ng J, George D, Trask JS, Houghton P, Singh B, et al.
    Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 2014 Sep;155(1):136-48.
    PMID: 24979664 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22564
    Two subspecies of cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) are alleged to co-exist in the Philippines, M. f. philippensis in the north and M. f. fascicularis in the south. However, genetic differences between the cynomolgus macaques in the two regions have never been studied to document the propriety of their subspecies status. We genotyped samples of cynomolgus macaques from Batangas in southwestern Luzon and Zamboanga in southwestern Mindanao for 15 short tandem repeat (STR) loci and sequenced an 835 bp fragment of the mtDNA of these animals. The STR genotypes were compared with those of cynomolgus macaques from southern Sumatra, Singapore, Mauritius and Cambodia, and the mtDNA sequences of both Philippine populations were compared with those of cynomolgus macaques from southern Sumatra, Indonesia and Sarawak, Malaysia. We conducted STRUCTURE and PCA analyses based on the STRs and constructed a median joining network based on the mtDNA sequences. The Philippine population from Batangas exhibited much less genetic diversity and greater genetic divergence from all other populations, including the Philippine population from Zamboanga. Sequences from both Batangas and Zamboanga were most closely related to two different mtDNA haplotypes from Sarawak from which they are apparently derived. Those from Zamboanga were more recently derived than those from Batangas, consistent with their later arrival in the Philippines. However, clustering analyses do not support a sufficient genetic distinction of cynomolgus macaques from Batangas from other regional populations assigned to subspecies M. f. fascicularis to warrant the subspecies distinction M. f. philippensis.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics
  9. A genome level survey of Burkholderia pseudomallei immunome expressed during human infection
    Su YC, Wan KL, Mohamed R, Nathan S
    Microbes Infect., 2008 Oct;10(12-13):1335-45.
    PMID: 18761419 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2008.07.034
    Burkholderia pseudomallei is the etiological agent of melioidosis, a severe infectious disease of humans and animals. The role of the bacterium's proteins expressed in vivo during human melioidosis continues to remain an enigma. This study's aim was to identify B. pseudomallei target proteins that elicit the humoral immune response in infected humans. A small insert genomic expression library was constructed and immunoscreened to identify peptides that reacted exclusively with melioidosis patients' sera. Sero-positive clones expressing immunogenic peptides were sequenced and annotated, and shown to represent 109 proteins involved in bacterial cell envelope biogenesis, cell motility and secretion, transcription, amino acid, ion and protein metabolism, energy production, DNA repair and unknown hypothetical proteins. Western blot analysis of three randomly selected full-length immunogenic polypeptides with patients' sera verified the findings of the immunome screening. The patients' humoral immune response to the 109 proteins suggests the induction or significant upregulation of these proteins in vivo during human infection and thus may play a role in the pathogenesis of B. pseudomallei. Identification of B. pseudomallei immunogens has shed new light on the elucidation of the bacterium's pathogenesis mechanism and disease severity. These immunogens can be further evaluated as prophylactic and serodiagnostic candidates as well as drug targets.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sequence Analysis, DNA
  10. A genome-wide characterization of copy number variations in native populations of Peninsular Malaysia
    Fu R, Mokhtar SS, Phipps ME, Hoh BP, Xu S
    Eur J Hum Genet, 2018 06;26(6):886-897.
    PMID: 29476164 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-018-0120-8
    Copy number variations (CNVs) are genomic structural variations that result from the deletion or duplication of large genomic segments. The characterization of CNVs is largely underrepresented, particularly those of indigenous populations, such as the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia. In the present study, we first characterized the genome-wide CNVs of four major native populations from Peninsular Malaysia, including the Malays and three Orang Asli populations; namely, Proto-Malay, Senoi, and Negrito (collectively called PM). We subsequently assessed the distribution of CNVs across the four populations. The resulting global CNV map revealed 3102 CNVs, with an average of more than 100 CNVs per individual. We identified genes harboring CNVs that are highly differentiated between PM and global populations, indicating that these genes are predominantly enriched in immune responses and defense functions, including APOBEC3A_B, beta-defensin genes, and CCL3L1, followed by other biological functions, such as drug and toxin metabolism and responses to radiation, suggesting some attributions between CNV variations and adaptations of the PM groups to the local environmental conditions of tropical rainforests.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Copy Number Variations
  11. A genus- and species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction malaria detection assay for epidemiologic studies
    Singh B, Bobogare A, Cox-Singh J, Snounou G, Abdullah MS, Rahman HA
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1999 Apr;60(4):687-92.
    PMID: 10348249
    A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that uses Plasmodium genus-specific primers for the initial PCR (nest 1) amplification and either genus- or species-specific primers for the nest 2 amplifications was tested on laboratory and field samples. With in vitro cultured Plasmodium falciparum-infected blood samples, it was capable of detecting six parasites/microl of blood using DNA prepared from 25-microl blood spots on filter paper. The assay was evaluated on fingerprick blood samples collected on filter paper from 129 individuals living in a malaria-endemic area in Malaysia. Malaria prevalence by genus-specific nested PCR was 35.6% (46 of 129) compared with 28.7% (37 of 129) by microscopy. The nested PCR detected seven more malaria samples than microscopy in the first round of microscopic examination, malaria in three microscopically negative samples, six double infections identified as single infections by microscopy and one triple infection identified as a double infection by microscopy. The nested PCR assay described is a sensitive technique for collecting accurate malaria epidemiologic data. When coupled with simple blood spot sampling, it is particularly useful for screening communities in remote regions of the world.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Protozoan/analysis; DNA Primers
  12. A geographical traceability system for Merbau (Intsia palembanica Miq.), an important timber species from peninsular Malaysia
    Ng CH, Ng KKS, Lee SL, Tnah LH, Lee CT, Zakaria NF
    Forensic Sci Int Genet, 2020 01;44:102188.
    PMID: 31648150 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.102188
    To inform product users about the origin of timber, the implementation of a traceability system is necessary for the forestry industry. In this study, we developed a comprehensive genetic database for the important tropical timber species Merbau, Intsia palembanica, to trace its geographic origin within peninsular Malaysia. A total of 1373 individual trees representing 39 geographically distinct populations of I. palembanica were sampled throughout peninsular Malaysia. We analyzed the samples using a combination of four chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) markers and 14 short tandem repeat (STR) markers to establish both cpDNA haplotype and STR allele frequency databases. A haplotype map was generated through cpDNA sequencing for population identification, resulting in six unique haplotypes based on 10 informative intraspecifically variable sites. Subsequently, an STR allele frequency database was developed from 14 STRs allowing individual identification. Bayesian cluster analysis divided the individuals into two genetic clusters corresponding to the northern and southern regions of peninsular Malaysia. Tests of conservativeness showed that the databases were conservative after the adjustment of the θ values to 0.2000 and 0.2900 for the northern (f = 0.0163) and southern (f = 0.0285) regions, respectively. Using self-assignment tests, we observed that individuals were correctly assigned to populations at rates of 40.54-94.12% and to the identified regions at rates of 79.80-80.62%. Both the cpDNA and STR markers appear to be useful for tracking Merbau timber originating from peninsular Malaysia. The use of these forensic tools in addition to the existing paper-based timber tracking system will help to verify the legality of the origin of I. palembanica and to combat illegal logging issues associated with the species.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Fingerprinting; DNA, Chloroplast/genetics
  13. A high incidence of serum IgG antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus replication activator protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
    Mathew A, Cheng HM, Sam CK, Joab I, Prasad U, Cochet C
    Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1994 Jan;38(1):68-70.
    PMID: 8299121
    The BamHI Z EBV replication activator (ZEBRA) protein is involved in the switch from latency to productive cycle of Epstein-Barr virus. A recombinant ZEBRA protein was synthesized and assessed in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum IgG response in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. In 100 NPC serum samples that were positive for IgA to the EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA), 75% had IgG anti-ZEBRA antibodies. In contrast, only 3/83 (3.6%) serum samples from healthy donors and 2/50 (4%) from other cancers were positive for IgG to ZEBRA. Interestingly, in a selected group of 100 NPC sera negative for IgA to VCA, 25% contained IgG anti-ZEBRA antibodies. This suggests that the ELISA for IgG anti-ZEBRA may also identify earlier cases of NPC not detected by the conventional immunofluorescence test for IgA to VCA.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA-Binding Proteins/immunology*
  14. Fulltext A high molecular-mass Anoxybacillus sp. SK3-4 amylopullulanase: characterization and its relationship in carbohydrate utilization
    Kahar UM, Chan KG, Salleh MM, Hii SM, Goh KM
    Int J Mol Sci, 2013;14(6):11302-18.
    PMID: 23759984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms140611302
    An amylopullulanase of the thermophilic Anoxybacillus sp. SK3-4 (ApuASK) was purified to homogeneity and characterized. Though amylopullulanases larger than 200 kDa are rare, the molecular mass of purified ApuASK appears to be approximately 225 kDa, on both SDS-PAGE analyses and native-PAGE analyses. ApuASK was stable between pH 6.0 and pH 8.0 and exhibited optimal activity at pH 7.5. The optimal temperature for ApuASK enzyme activity was 60 °C, and it retained 54% of its total activity for 240 min at 65 °C. ApuASK reacts with pullulan, starch, glycogen, and dextrin, yielding glucose, maltose, and maltotriose. Interestingly, most of the previously described amylopullulanases are unable to produce glucose and maltose from these substrates. Thus, ApuASK is a novel, high molecular-mass amylopullulanase able to produce glucose, maltose, and maltotriose from pullulan and starch. Based on whole genome sequencing data, ApuASK appeared to be the largest protein present in Anoxybacillus sp. SK3-4. The α-amylase catalytic domain present in all of the amylase superfamily members is present in ApuASK, located between the cyclodextrin (CD)-pullulan-degrading N-terminus and the α-amylase catalytic C-terminus (amyC) domains. In addition, the existence of a S-layer homology (SLH) domain indicates that ApuASK might function as a cell-anchoring enzyme and be important for carbohydrate utilization in a streaming hot spring.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sequence Analysis, DNA
  15. Fulltext A higher sensitivity and efficiency of common primer multiplex PCR assay in identification of meat origin using NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 gene
    Hanapi UK, Desa MN, Ismail A, Mustafa S
    J Food Sci Technol, 2015 Jul;52(7):4166-75.
    PMID: 26139881 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-014-1459-7
    A Common Primer Multiplex PCR (CP-M-PCR) was developed to detect meat origin of four groups of animal (pig, ruminant, avian and rabbit). This method demonstrated higher sensitivity and efficiency than the conventional multiplex PCR. In this approach, a common forward primer was designed in the 5' end of a homologous region of mitochondrial NADH dehyrogenase subunit 4 (Nad 4) gene sequences of all the animal groups. Specific adapter reverse primers were designed by adding an adapter sequence at the 5' end. The same adapter sequence was used as the common adapter reverse primer. The primers generated specific fragments of 267, 370, 504, and 548 bp lengths for pig, ruminant, avian and rabbit meats, respectively. The use of adapter sequence at the 5' end of the common adapter reverse primers increased the efficiency of the amplification and the application of a common forward primer solved the complexity in multiplex PCR system. Bands of specific amplification can be detected in the PCR assays containing as low as 10(-6) μM of adapter reverse primer. This result indicated that the sensitivity was tremendously increased as compared to the conventional multiplex PCR (10(-3) μM). CP-M-PCR detection limit of the DNA samples was 0.1 ng for the four groups of meats. CP-M-PCR has greatly improved the sensitivity and efficiency of the PCR system for a more reliable and accurate outcome than conventional multiplex PCR system.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA
  16. Fulltext A highly sensitive, nested polymerase chain reaction based method using simple dna extraction to detect malaria sporozoites in mosquitos
    Vythilingam I, Nitiavathy K, Yi P, Bakotee B, Hugo B, Singh B, et al.
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1999 Dec;30(4):631-5.
    PMID: 10928352
    Dried Anopheles farauti mosquitos caught in Solomon Islands in 1990 were examined for malaria sporozoites by ELISA and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Only heads and thoraces were used. Plasmodium genus-specific nested PCR amplifications were carried out on all samples. Of the 402 pools of mosquitos that were processed, 30 were positive for malaria. Nest 1 products of positive samples were subjected to further PCR amplifications with species-specific primers for P. falciparum and P. vivax. Twenty pools were positive for P. vivax by PCR while only 7 were positive by ELISA. For P. falciparum 2 pools were positive by both ELISA and PCR, and one of these was a pool which was positive for P. vivax by PCR and ELISA. Thus the sensitivity of PCR for P. vivax was 100% while the specificity was 96.7%. For P. falciparum the sensitivity and specificity were 100%. The PCR technique is highly sensitive and can be used on dried mosquitos which makes it a valuable tool for determining sporozoite rates of mosquitos, even in remote areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Protozoan/analysis
  17. A human adenovirus species B subtype 21a associated with severe pneumonia
    Hage E, Huzly D, Ganzenmueller T, Beck R, Schulz TF, Heim A
    J Infect, 2014 Nov;69(5):490-9.
    PMID: 24975176 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2014.06.015
    Between 2005 and 2013 six severe pneumonia cases (all requiring mechanical ventilation, two fatal outcomes) caused by human adenovirus type 21 (HAdV-B21) were observed in Germany. So far, HAdV-B21 was mainly associated with non-severe upper and lower respiratory tract infections. However, a few highly virulent HAdV types, e.g. HAdV-B14p1, were previously associated with severe, fatal pneumonia. Complete genomic sequences of the German HAdV-B21 pneumonia isolates formed a single phylogenetic cluster with very high sequence identity (≥ 99.897%). Compared to the HAdV-B21 prototype (only 99.319% identity), all isolates had a unique 15 amino acid deletion and a 2 amino acid insertion in the RGD loop of the penton base which may affect binding to the secondary receptor on the host cells. Moreover, a recombinant E4 gene region derived of HAdV-B3 was identified by bootscan analysis. Thus, the highly virulent, pneumotropic HAdV-B21 was denominated as subtype 21a. Surprisingly, there was 99.963% identity with agent Y/SIBU97 (only 13.4 kb available in GenBank of the 35.4 kb genome) which was associated with 10 fatalities due to cardiopulmonary failure in Sarawak, Malaysia, in 1997. In conclusion, a HAdV-B21 subtype (21a) associated with severe pneumonia in Germany was phylogenetically linked to an adenovirus isolated in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Viral/genetics
  18. A label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor used a printed circuit board gold electrode (PCBGE) to detect SARS-CoV-2 without amplification
    Zambry NS, Awang MS, Beh KK, Hamzah HH, Bustami Y, Obande GA, et al.
    Lab Chip, 2023 Mar 14;23(6):1622-1636.
    PMID: 36786757 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc01159j
    The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) motivates continuous efforts to develop robust and accurate diagnostic tests to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Detection of viral nucleic acids provides the highest sensitivity and selectivity for diagnosing early and asymptomatic infection because the human immune system may not be active at this stage. Therefore, this work aims to develop a label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor for SARS-CoV-2 detection using a printed circuit board-based gold substrate (PCBGE). The developed sensor used the nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N) gene as a biomarker. The DNA sensor-based PCBGE was fabricated by self-assembling a thiolated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe onto an Au surface, which performed as the working electrode (WE). The Au surface was then treated with 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (MCH) before detecting the target N gene to produce a well-oriented arrangement of the immobilized ssDNA chains. The successful fabrication of the biosensor was characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The DNA biosensor performances were evaluated using a synthetic SARS-CoV-2 genome and 20 clinical RNA samples from healthy and infected individuals through EIS. The developed DNA biosensor can detect as low as 1 copy per μL of the N gene within 5 minutes with a LOD of 0.50 μM. Interestingly, the proposed DNA sensor could distinguish the expression of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 without any amplification technique. We believe that the proposed DNA sensor platform is a promising point-of-care (POC) device for COVID-19 viral infection since it offers a rapid detection time with a simple design and workflow detection system, as well as an affordable diagnostic assay.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA/chemistry; DNA, Single-Stranded
  19. A large focus of naturally acquired Plasmodium knowlesi infections in human beings
    Singh B, Kim Sung L, Matusop A, Radhakrishnan A, Shamsul SS, Cox-Singh J, et al.
    Lancet, 2004 Mar 27;363(9414):1017-24.
    PMID: 15051281
    About a fifth of malaria cases in 1999 for the Kapit division of Malaysian Borneo had routinely been identified by microscopy as Plasmodium malariae, although these infections appeared atypical and a nested PCR assay failed to identify P malariae DNA. We aimed to investigate whether such infections could be attributable to a variant form of P malariae or a newly emergent Plasmodium species.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Protozoan/isolation & purification
  20. A major methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone predominates in Malaysian hospitals
    Norazah A, Lim VK, Rohani MY, Alfizah H, Koh YT, Kamel AG
    Epidemiol Infect, 2003 Jun;130(3):407-11.
    PMID: 12825724
    This study was conducted to determine the molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Malaysian hospitals. A total of 264 MRSA isolates from eight hospitals were subjected to typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI restricted DNA. Antibiotic disk susceptibility testing was also carried out to determine their resistance patterns. Thirty-one PFGE pattern types were identified. Three major pattern types A, ZC and K were found with type A the predominant profile in c. 80% of strains and present in all hospitals. Unlike type A, other DNA pattern types were unique to the hospitals in which they were isolated. PFGE type A also consisted of strains that were multiply antibiotic resistant. The presence of a single predominant PFGE type in Malaysian hospitals is an important finding which suggests that inter-hospital spread of MRSA had occurred frequently and regularly.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA, Bacterial/genetics
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