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Fulltext Adaptive natural killer cell expression in response to cytomegalovirus infection in blood and solid cancer

Okpoluaefe S, Ismail IS, Mohamed R, Hassan N

Heliyon, 2024 Jun 15;10(11):e32622.
PMID: 38961938 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32622

Natural Killer (NK) cells are conventionally thought to be an indefinite part of innate immunity. However, in a specific subset of NK cells, recent data signify an extension of their "duties" in immune surveillance and response, having characteristics of adaptive immunity, in terms of persistence and cytotoxicity. These cells are known as the adaptive or memory-like NK cells, where human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection has been shown to drive the expansion of adaptive NKG2C+ NK cells. HCMV is a ubiquitous pathogen whose prevalence differs worldwide with respect to the socioeconomic status of countries. The adaptive NK cell subpopulation is often characterized by the upregulated expression of NKG2C, CD16, and CD2, and restricted expression of NKG2A, FCεRγ and killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR), although these phenotypes may differ in different disease groups. The reconfiguration of these receptor distributions has been linked to epigenetic factors. Hence, this review attempts to appraise literature reporting markers associated with adaptive or memory-like NK cells post-HCMV infection, in relation to solid cancers and hematological malignancies. Adaptive NK cells, isolated and subjected to ex vivo modifications, have the potential to enhance anti-tumor response which can be a promising strategy for adoptive immunotherapy.
Fulltext Smoking prevalence, exposure to secondhand smoke, and factors associated with smoking among medical, dental, and pharmacy students in a public university in Malaysia

Mohamed R, Naina-Mohamed I, Kumar J, Teh N

Tob Induc Dis, 2024;22.
PMID: 38973784 DOI: 10.18332/tid/185751

INTRODUCTION: Smoking among medical, dental, and pharmacy students is an issue in every university worldwide, which will impact future smoking cessation services as they are future healthcare providers. This study investigates the smoking prevalence, exposure to secondhand smoke, and factors associated with smoking among medical, dental, and pharmacy students at a public university in Malaysia.
METHODS: The self-administered online survey utilized in this cross-sectional study was derived from the Global Health Professions Students Survey (GHPSS), which involved medical, dental, and pharmacy students. A total of 328 participants completed a questionnaire from June to August 2022, with a response rate of 91.1%.
RESULTS: The overall smoking prevalence was 4.6% among the medical, dental, and pharmacy students who participated in this study; 46.7% of current smokers were exposed to secondhand smoke at home compared to 17.6% of non-smokers (p=0.011); and 66.7% of smokers were exposed to secondhand smoke in public compared to 40.3% of non-smokers (p=0.043). In all, 99.1% of respondents supported the smoking ban and 46.7% of current smokers supported the smoking ban in discos/bars/pubs, compared to 82.0% of non-smokers (p=0.002). Of the participants, 96.6% received lessons on the danger of tobacco, and 65.5% received smoking cessation training. Among factors associated with current smoking was gender; male students had a 19-fold higher likelihood of smoking than female students (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=19.25; 95% CI: 4.25-87.19, p<0.001). In addition, home exposure to secondhand smoke was four times more common for current smokers (OR=4.11; 95% CI: 1.43-11.79, p=0.009).
CONCLUSIONS: Although smoking prevalence was low among the students in this study, there was a higher percentage of them exposed to secondhand smoke at home and in public.
Fulltext Assessing the effects of partially substituting chicken breast meat with oyster mushroom stalk powder on the quality attributes of mushroom-chicken burgers

Mounir S, Mohamed R, Sunooj KV, El-Saidy S, Farid E

Sci Rep, 2025 Feb 05;15(1):4361.
PMID: 39910073 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-86127-3

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a partial substitution of chicken breast meat with oyster mushroom stalk powder on the quality attributes of mushroom-chicken burgers. Chicken breast meat was substituted with oyster mushroom stalk powder at different levels ranging from 2.5 to 10%, with an interval increase of 2.5%. The substitution level had a significant effect on the different characteristics studied. A decrease in both crude protein and crude lipid was observed as the substitution level increased from 2.5 to 10%. However, a contradictory trend was observed for crude fiber, ash, carbohydrates, antioxidant properties, water-binding capacity, and browning index. The cooking loss and shrinkage were reduced by about 81.6% and 72.6%, respectively, for the formulation prepared with 10% compared to the control sample. The formulation prepared with 2.5% showed the lowest hardness, chewiness, and shear force, which increased as the substitution level increased to 10%. The oyster mushroom stalk powder can be used at a level ranging from 2.5 to 5% to substitute chicken breast meat in the preparation of healthier and more functional chicken burgers.
Fulltext Determinants of dementia risk among older adults with probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia

Lipoeto NI, Vanoh D, Desmawati D, Ishak WRW, Mohamed R

BMC Public Health, 2025 Mar 25;25(1):1139.
PMID: 40133853 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-22065-z

BACKGROUND: Probable sarcopenia is a condition related to low muscle strength which increases the risk of sarcopenia. Both probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia increases the risk of dementia. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors associated with dementia among probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia older adults. It was hypothesized that comorbidities among probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia subjects may elevate the risk of dementia.
METHODOLOGY: This study involved 194 older adults with probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia aged 60 years and above. Sarcopenia was assessed using the Asian Working Group of Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019. Among the parameters investigated in this study were sociodemographic, medical history, anthropometry, body composition, physical fitness, subjective cognitive decline, depressive symptoms, cognitive function and functional status. Dementia risk was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool. Adjusted binary logistic regression was employed to identify the factors associated with dementia among probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia older adults.
RESULTS: Probable sarcopenia subjects with dementia were older (68.5(7.8) years old) as compared to those without dementia (66.0(6.0) years old). Among the probable sarcopenia, 66.1% of the subjects with dementia had hypertension, while 64.3% of the sarcopenia subjects had hypertension. Fat mass was significantly higher among dementia subjects with probable sarcopenia (33.0(6.5) %) as compared to non-dementia subjects (30.4(6.8) %). Multivariate analysis revealed that hypertension (OR: 4.049; 95% CI: 1.510; 10.855, p = 0.005) was the only factor associated with dementia risk among older adults with probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia.
CONCLUSION: Hypertension is the only factors associated with risk of dementia after adjusting for potential confounders among older adults with probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia. Good control of blood pressure is essential among sarcopenia patients for lowering risk of dementia. Well-designed clinical trials are essential to investigate optimizing blood pressure level to reduce risk of dementia among patients with sarcopenia and probable sarcopenia.
Fulltext Galerkin finite element study for mixed convection (TiO2-SiO2/water) hybrid-nanofluidic flow in a triangular aperture heated beneath

Redouane F, Jamshed W, Suriya Uma Devi S, Prakash M, Nisar KS, Nasir NAAM, et al.

Sci Rep, 2021 Nov 25;11(1):22905.
PMID: 34824297 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02216-z

Fluidity and thermal transport across the triangular aperture with lower lateral inlet and apply placed at the vertical outlet of the chamber which filled with efficient TiO2-SiO2/water hybrid nanofluid under the parametrical influence. Several parameters are tested like the numbers of Hartmann ([Formula: see text]), Richardson ([Formula: see text]), and Reynolds ([Formula: see text]) were critiqued through streamlines, isotherms, and Nusselt number ([Formula: see text]). Numerical model has to be developed and solved through the Galerkin finite element method (GFEM) by discretized with 13,569 triangular elements optimized through grid-independent analysis. The Hartmann number ([Formula: see text]), exerts minimal impact over the flow and thermal aspects while the other parameters significantly manipulate the physical nature of the flowing and thermal aspects behaviors.
Fulltext Solar energy optimization in solar-HVAC using Sutterby hybrid nanofluid with Smoluchowski temperature conditions: a solar thermal application

Jamshed W, Eid MR, Safdar R, Pasha AA, Mohamed Isa SSP, Adil M, et al.

Sci Rep, 2022 Jul 07;12(1):11484.
PMID: 35798787 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15685-7

In solar heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), communications are designed to create new 3D mathematical models that address the flow of rotating Sutterby hybrid nanofluids exposed to slippery and expandable seats. The heat transmission investigation included effects such as copper and graphene oxide nanoparticles, as well as thermal radiative fluxing. The activation energy effect was used to investigate mass transfer with fluid concentration. The boundary constraints utilized were Maxwell speed and Smoluchowksi temperature slippage. With the utilization of fitting changes, partial differential equations (PDEs) for impetus, energy, and concentricity can be decreased to ordinary differential equations (ODEs). To address dimensionless ODEs, MATLAB's Keller box numerical technique was employed. Graphene oxide Copper/engine oil (GO-Cu/EO) is taken into consideration to address the performance analysis of the current study. Physical attributes, for example, surface drag coefficient, heat move, and mass exchange are mathematically processed and shown as tables and figures when numerous diverse factors are varied. The temperature field is enhanced by an increase in the volume fraction of copper and graphene oxide nanoparticles, while the mass fraction field is enhanced by an increase in activation energy.
Fulltext Thermal cooling efficacy of a solar water pump using Oldroyd-B (aluminum alloy-titanium alloy/engine oil) hybrid nanofluid by applying new version for the model of Buongiorno

Shahzad F, Jamshed W, Eid MR, Safdar R, Putri Mohamed Isa SS, El Din SM, et al.

Sci Rep, 2022 Nov 17;12(1):19817.
PMID: 36396776 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24294-3

Solar radiation, which is emitted by the sun, is required to properly operate photovoltaic cells and solar water pumps (SWP). A parabolic trough surface collector (PTSC) installation model was created to investigate the efficacy of SWP. The thermal transfer performance in SWP is evaluated thru the presence of warmth radiation and heat cause besides viscid dissipation. This evaluation is performed by measuring the thermal transmission proportion of the selected warmth transmission liquid in the PTSC, known as a hybrid nano-fluid. Entropy analysis of Oldroyd-B hybrid nano-fluid via modified Buongiorno's model was also tested. The functions of regulating parameters are quantitatively observed by using the Keller-box approach in MATLAB coding. Short terms define various parameters for tables in velocity, shear pressure and temperature, gravity, and Nusselt numbers. In the condition of thermal radiation and thermal conductivity at room temperature, the competence of SWP is proven to be enhanced. Unlike basic nano-fluids, hybrid nano-fluids are an excellent source of heat transfer. Additionally, with at least 22.56% and 35.01% magnitude, the thermal efficiency of AA7075-Ti-6Al-4 V/EO is higher than AA7075-EO.
Fulltext Retraction Note: Thermal cooling efficacy of a solar water pump using Oldroyd-B (aluminum alloy-titanium alloy/engine oil) hybrid nanofluid by applying new version for the model of Buongiorno

Shahzad F, Jamshed W, Eid MR, Safdar R, Putri Mohamed Isa SS, El Din SM, et al.

Sci Rep, 2025 Jan 14;15(1):1919.
PMID: 39809820 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-85426-z
Fulltext Thermal growth in solar water pump using Prandtl-Eyring hybrid nanofluid: a solar energy application

Jamshed W, Nasir NAAM, Isa SSPM, Safdar R, Shahzad F, Nisar KS, et al.

Sci Rep, 2021 Sep 21;11(1):18704.
PMID: 34548554 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98103-8

Nowadays, with the advantages of nanotechnology and solar radiation, the research of Solar Water Pump (SWP) production has become a trend. In this article, Prandtl-Eyring hybrid nanofluid (P-EHNF) is chosen as a working fluid in the SWP model for the production of SWP in a parabolic trough surface collector (PTSC) is investigated for the case of numerous viscous dissipation, heat radiations, heat source, and the entropy generation analysis. By using a well-established numerical scheme the group of equations in terms of energy and momentum have been handled that is called the Keller-box method. The velocity, temperature, and shear stress are briefly explained and displayed in tables and figures. Nusselt number and surface drag coefficient are also being taken into reflection for illustrating the numerical results. The first finding is the improvement in SWP production is generated by amplification in thermal radiation and thermal conductivity variables. A single nanofluid and hybrid nanofluid is very crucial to provide us the efficient heat energy sources. Further, the thermal efficiency of MoS2-Cu/EO than Cu-EO is between 3.3 and 4.4% The second finding is the addition of entropy is due to the increasing level of radiative flow, nanoparticles size, and Prandtl-Eyring variable.
Fulltext A brief comparative examination of tangent hyperbolic hybrid nanofluid through a extending surface: numerical Keller-Box scheme

Jamshed W, Prakash M, Devi SSU, Ibrahim RW, Shahzad F, Nisar KS, et al.

Sci Rep, 2021 Dec 15;11(1):24032.
PMID: 34912014 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03392-8

A novel hybrid nanofluid was explored in order to find an efficient heat-transmitting fluid to replace standard fluids and revolutionary nanofluids. By using tangent hyperbolic hybrid combination nanoliquid with non-Newtonian ethylene glycol (EG) as a basis fluid and a copper (Cu) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) mixture, this work aims to investigate the viscoelastic elements of the thermal transferring process. Flow and thermal facts, such as a slippery extended surface with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), suction/injection, form factor, Joule heating, and thermal radiation effects, including changing thermal conductivity, were also integrated. The Keller-Box method was used to perform collective numerical computations of parametric analysis using governing equivalences. In the form of graphs and tables, the results of TiO2-Cu/EG hybrid nanofluid were compared to those of standard Cu/EG nanofluid in important critical physical circumstances. The entropy generation study was used to examine energy balance and usefulness for important physically impacting parameters. Detailed scrutiny on entropy development get assisted with Weissenberg number, magnetic parameter, fractional volumes, injection parameter, thermal radiation, variable thermal conductivity, Biot number, shape variation parameter, Reynolds and Brinkman number. Whereas the entropy gets resisted for slip and suction parameter. In this case, spotted entropy buildup with important parametric ranges could aid future optimization.
Fulltext Heat flow saturate of Ag/MgO-water hybrid nanofluid in heated trigonal enclosure with rotate cylindrical cavity by using Galerkin finite element

Redouane F, Jamshed W, Devi SSU, Prakash M, Nasir NAAM, Hammouch Z, et al.

Sci Rep, 2022 Feb 10;12(1):2302.
PMID: 35145142 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06134-6

MHD Natural convection, which is one of the principal types of convective heat transfer in numerous research of heat exchangers and geothermal energy systems, as well as nanofluids and hybrid nanofluids. This work focuses on the investigation of Natural convective heat transfer evaluation inside a porous triangular cavity filled with silver-magnesium oxide/water hybrid nanofluid [H2O/Ag-MgO]hnf under a consistent magnetic field. The laminar and incompressible nanofluid flow is taken to account while Darcy-Forchheimer model takes account of the advection inertia effect in the porous sheet. Controlled equations of the work have been approached nondimensional and resolved by Galerkin finite element technique. The numerical analyses were carried out by varying the Darcy, Hartmann, and Rayleigh numbers, porosity, and characteristics of solid volume fraction and flow fields. Further, the findings are reported in streamlines, isotherms and Nusselt numbers. For this work, the parametric impact may be categorized into two groups. One of them has an effect on the structural factors such as triangular form and scale on the physical characteristics of the important outputs such as fluidity and thermal transfer rates. The significant findings are the parameters like Rayleigh and slightly supported by Hartmann along with Darcy number, minimally assists by solid-particle size and rotating factor as clockwise assists the cooler flow at the center and anticlockwise direction assists the warmer flow. Clear raise in heat transporting rate can be obtained for increasing solid-particle size.
Fulltext Irreversibility analysis of hydromagnetic nanofluid flow past a horizontal surface via Koo-Kleinstreuer-Li (KKL) model

Hussain SM, Shahzad F, Katbar NM, Jamshed W, Eid MR, Kamel A, et al.

Heliyon, 2023 Jul;9(7):e17668.
PMID: 37483748 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17668

The goal of this research is to investigate the effects of Ohmic heating, heat generation, and viscous dissipative flow on magneto (MHD) boundary-layer heat transmission flowing of Jeffrey nanofluid across a stretchable surface using the Koo-Kleinstreuer-Li (KKL) model. Engine oil serves as the primary fluid and is suspended with copper oxide nanomolecules. The governing equations that regulate the flowing and heat transmission fields are partial-differential equations (PDEs) that are then converted to a model of non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) via similarity transformation. The resultant ODEs are numerically resolved using a Keller box technique via MATLAB software that is suggested. Diagrams and tables are used to express the effects of various normal liquids, nanomolecule sizes, magneto parameters, Prandtl, Deborah, and Eckert numbers on the velocity field and temperature field. The outcomes display that the copper oxide-engine oil nanofluid has a lower velocity, drag force, and Nusselt number than the plain liquid, although the introduction of nanoparticles raises the heat. The heat transference rate is reduced by Eckert number, size of nanomolecules, and magneto parameter rising. Whilst, Deborah number is shown to enhance both the drag-force factor and the heat transfer rate. Furthermore, the discoveries reported are advantageous to upgrading incandescent lighting bulbs, heating, and cooling equipment, filament-generating light, energy generation, multiple heating devices, and other similar devices.
Fulltext Retraction Note: A brief comparative examination of tangent hyperbolic hybrid nanofluid through a extending surface: numerical Keller-Box scheme

Jamshed W, Prakash M, Devi SSU, Ibrahim RW, Shahzad F, Nisar KS, et al.

Sci Rep, 2023 Apr 13;13(1):6099.
PMID: 37055498 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33083-5
Erratum to: Harvesting of microalgae biomass from the phycoremediation process of greywater

Atiku H, Mohamed R, Al-Gheethi AA, Wurochekke AA, Kassim AH

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2017 02;24(4):4220.
PMID: 27891563 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-8011-4
Fulltext Novel Genetic Variants of Hepatitis B Virus in Fulminant Hepatitis

Chook JB, Ngeow YF, Tee KK, Peh SC, Mohamed R

J Pathog, 2017;2017:1231204.
PMID: 29410920 DOI: 10.1155/2017/1231204

Fulminant hepatitis (FH) is a life-threatening liver disease characterised by intense immune attack and massive liver cell death. The common precore stop codon mutation of hepatitis B virus (HBV), A1896, is frequently associated with FH, but lacks specificity. This study attempts to uncover all possible viral nucleotides that are specifically associated with FH through a compiled sequence analysis of FH and non-FH cases from acute infection. We retrieved 67 FH and 280 acute non-FH cases of hepatitis B from GenBank and applied support vector machine (SVM) model to seek candidate nucleotides highly predictive of FH. Six best candidates with top predictive accuracy, 92.5%, were used to build a SVM model; they are C2129 (85.3%), T720 (83.0%), Y2131 (82.4%), T2013 (82.1%), K2048 (82.1%), and A2512 (82.1%). This model gave a high specificity (99.3%), positive predictive value (95.6%), and negative predictive value (92.1%), but only moderate sensitivity (64.2%). We successfully built a SVM model comprising six variants that are highly predictive and specific for FH: four in the core region and one each in the polymerase and the surface regions. These variants indicate that intracellular virion/core retention could play an important role in the progression to FH.
Fulltext Genome Size, Molecular Phylogeny, and Evolutionary History of the Tribe Aquilarieae (Thymelaeaceae), the Natural Source of Agarwood

Farah AH, Lee SY, Gao Z, Yao TL, Madon M, Mohamed R

Front Plant Sci, 2018;9:712.
PMID: 29896211 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00712

The tribe Aquilarieae of the family Thymelaeaceae consists of two genera, Aquilaria and Gyrinops, with a total of 30 species, distributed from northeast India, through southeast Asia and the south of China, to Papua New Guinea. They are an important botanical resource for fragrant agarwood, a prized product derived from injured or infected stems of these species. The aim of this study was to estimate the genome size of selected Aquilaria species and comprehend the evolutionary history of Aquilarieae speciation through molecular phylogeny. Five non-coding chloroplast DNA regions and a nuclear region were sequenced from 12 Aquilaria and three Gyrinops species. Phylogenetic trees constructed using combined chloroplast DNA sequences revealed relationships of the studied 15 members in Aquilarieae, while nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences showed a paraphyletic relationship between Aquilaria species from Indochina and Malesian. We exposed, for the first time, the estimated divergence time for Aquilarieae speciation, which was speculated to happen during the Miocene Epoch. The ancestral split and biogeographic pattern of studied species were discussed. Results showed no large variation in the 2C-values for the five Aquilaria species (1.35-2.23 pg). Further investigation into the genome size may provide additional information regarding ancestral traits and its evolution history.
Projections of the Healthcare Costs and Disease Burden due to Hepatitis C Infection under Different Treatment Policies in Malaysia, 2018-2040

McDonald SA, Azzeri A, Shabaruddin FH, Dahlui M, Tan SS, Kamarulzaman A, et al.

Appl Health Econ Health Policy, 2018 12;16(6):847-857.
PMID: 30145775 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-018-0425-3

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set ambitious goals to reduce the global disease burden associated with, and eventually eliminate, viral hepatitis.
OBJECTIVE: To assist with achieving these goals and to inform the development of a national strategic plan for Malaysia, we estimated the long-term burden incurred by the care and management of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We compared cumulative healthcare costs and disease burden under different treatment cascade scenarios.
METHODS: We attached direct costs for the management/care of chronically HCV-infected patients to a previously developed clinical disease progression model. Under assumptions regarding disease stage-specific proportions of model-predicted HCV patients within care, annual numbers of patients initiated on antiviral treatment and distribution of treatments over stage, we projected the healthcare costs and disease burden [in disability-adjusted life-years (DALY)] in 2018-2040 under four treatment scenarios: (A) no treatment/baseline; (B) pre-2018 standard of care (pegylated interferon/ribavirin); (C) gradual scale-up in direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment uptake that does not meet the WHO 2030 treatment uptake target; (D) scale-up in DAA treatment uptake that meets the WHO 2030 target.
RESULTS: Scenario D, while achieving the WHO 2030 target and averting 253,500 DALYs compared with the pre-2018 standard of care B, incurred the highest direct patient costs over the period 2018-2030: US$890 million (95% uncertainty interval 653-1271). When including screening programme costs, the total cost was estimated at US$952 million, which was 12% higher than the estimated total cost of scenario C.
CONCLUSIONS: The scale-up to meet the WHO 2030 target may be achievable with appropriately high governmental commitment to the expansion of HCV screening to bring sufficient undiagnosed chronically infected patients into the treatment pathway.
Fulltext Diversity and Characterization of Endophytic Fungi Isolated From the Tropical Mangrove Species, Rhizophora mucronata, and Identification of Potential Antagonists Against the Soil-Borne Fungus, Fusarium solani

Hamzah TNT, Lee SY, Hidayat A, Terhem R, Faridah-Hanum I, Mohamed R

Front Microbiol, 2018;9:1707.
PMID: 30090097 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01707

Rhizophora mucronata is an important ecosystem entity of the Malaysian mangrove forest. Since the species grows in a harsh environment, any organism that is isolated from this species would be of huge interest due to its potential in having novel bioactive compounds. In the present work, we isolated, identified and characterized, a total of 78 fungal isolates harboring inside the leaf tissues of R. mucronata. Molecular identification using the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribe spacer (ITS) sequences returned with high similarity matches to known sequences in the GenBank. Maximum likelihood analysis revealed the phylogenetic relationship of all isolates from this study. Most of the dominating fungal endophytes were from the genera Pestalotiopsis, followed by Alternaria and Cladosporium. Six isolates representing the genera Alternaria, Fusarium, Nigrospora, Pestalotiopsis, Phoma, and Xylaria, were further screened for their antagonism activities. Dual culture test assay revealed their inhibition percentages against the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium solani between 45-66%, and 0.8-23% when using non-volatile test assay. Of the six isolates, only Fusarium lateritium and Xylaria sp. showed antibacterial activities against the pathogenic bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, with the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) ranging from 0.5 to 2 mg/mL. The DPPH radical scavenging assay recorded a high level of antioxidant activity in Xylaria sp., 3-fold above that of F. lateritium. We demonstrate for the first time, two members belonging to the endophytic fungal community in the tropical mangrove species that have potential use as antagonists and antibacterial agents for future biotechnological applications.
A review of potential factors contributing to epidemic cholera in Yemen

Al-Gheethi A, Noman E, Jeremiah David B, Mohamed R, Abdullah AH, Nagapan S, et al.

J Water Health, 2018 Oct;16(5):667-680.
PMID: 30285950 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2018.113

The menace of cholera epidemic occurrence in Yemen was reported in early 2017. Recent reports revealed that an estimated 500,000 people are infected with cholera whereas 2,000 deaths have been reported in Yemen. Cholera is transmitted through contaminated water and food. Yemen is the least developed country among the Middle East countries in terms of wastewater and solid waste management. The population of Yemen is about 24.5 million and generates about 70-100 million m3 of sewage. An estimated 7% of the population has sewerage systems. It has been revealed that 31.2 million m3 of untreated sewage is used for irrigation purposes especially for vegetables and Khat trees. In addition, more than 70% of the population in Yemen has no potable water. They depend on water wells as a water source which are located close to sewage disposal sites. The present review focuses on the current status of water, wastewater as well as solid waste management in Yemen and their roles in the outbreak of cholera. Future prospects for waste management have been proposed.
Fulltext Inactivating pathogenic bacteria in greywater by biosynthesized Cu/Zn nanoparticles from secondary metabolite of Aspergillus iizukae; optimization, mechanism and techno economic analysis

Noman E, Al-Gheethi A, Talip BA, Mohamed R, Kassim AH

PLoS One, 2019;14(9):e0221522.
PMID: 31513594 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221522

The inactivation of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli (Gram negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive) seeded in greywater by bimetallic bio-nanoparticles was optimized by using response surface methodology (RSM). The bimetallic nanoparticles (Cu/Zn NPs) were synthesized in secondary metabolite of a novel fungal strain identified as Aspergillus iizukae EAN605 grown in pumpkin medium. Cu/Zn NPs were very effective for inhibiting growth of E. coli and S. aureus. The maximum inactivation was optimized with 0.028 mg mL-1 of Cu/Zn NPs, at pH 6 and after 60 min, at which the reduction of E. coli and S. aureus was 5.6 vs. 5.3 and 5.2 vs. 5.4 log reduction for actual and predicted values, respectively. The inactivation mechanism was described based on the analysis of untreated and treated bacterial cells by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) revealed a damage in the cell wall structure due to the effect of Cu/Zn NPs. Moreover, the Raman Spectroscopy showed that the Cu/Zn NPs led to degradation of carbohydrates and amino structures on the bacteria cell wall. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed that the destruction take place in the C-C bond of the functional groups available in the bacterial cell wall. The techno economic analysis revealed that the biosynthesis Cu/Zn NPs is economically feasible. These findings demonstrated that Cu/Zn NPs can effectively inhibit pathogenic bacteria in the greywater.

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