Displaying publications 161 - 173 of 173 in total

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  1. Stephen Ambu, Stacey Foong Yee Yong, Yvonne Ai Lian Lim, Mak Joon Wah, Donald Koh Fook Chen, Soo Shen Ooi, et al.
    MyJurnal
    Background: The public health issue of consuming groundwater is a major concern because people often extract groundwater directly from the aquifers either through wells or boreholes without treating it with any form of filtration system or chlorine disinfection. Based on the Malaysian National Drinking Water guidelines the current study was designed to provide a better understanding on the variable factors that are influencing the quality of well-water in an urbanised village in Malaysia. Well water quality assessment of heavy metals, chemicals, microbial and physical parameters were carried out for Sungai Buloh Village in the Klang Valley to ensure it was safe for human consumption.

    Materials and Methods: Water samples were collected from wells at four sites (Sites A,B,C,D), a river and a tap inside a house in Sungai Buloh village. Soil was sampled from the riverbed and area surrounding the wells. Samples were collected every two months over a one year duration from all sites. The water samples were processed and examined for viruses, coliforms and protozoa as well as for heavy metal contaminants.

    Results: The turbidity and colour ranged in the average of 0.57-0.13 Nephelometric Turbidity (NTU) and 4.16-5.00 Total Conjunctive Use (TCU) respectively for all sites except Site C. At Site C the turbidity level was 2.56 ± 1.38 NTU. The well-water was polluted with coliforms (1.2 to 2.4 x 103 CFU/100 ml) in all sites, E. coli (0.12 - 4 x 102 CFU/100 ml CFU/ 100 ml) and Cryptosporidium oocysts (0.4 cysts/100 ml). All the heavy metals and chemical parameters were within the Malaysian Guidelines’ limits except manganese. The average pH ranged from 5.44 - 6.62 and the temperature was 28 ºC.

    Conclusion: In summary, the well water at Sungai Buloh is considered unsafe for consumption due to pollution. Therefore the major thrust will be to provide better quality of drinking water to the residents of the village.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viruses
  2. Khoo, Ying Wei, Iftikhar, Yasir, Kong, Lih Ling, Ganesan Vadamalai
    MyJurnal
    Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd) from genus Apscaviroid, is one of the widely distributed viroids among the seven citrus viroids. It is comprised of three variants: Citrus viroid-Ia (CVd-Ia) (327 - 329 nucleotides), Citrus viroid-Ib (CVd-Ib) (315 - 319 nucleotides) and Citrus viroid-I-low sequence similarity (CVd-I-LSS) (325 - 330 nucleotides). Virulence of CBLVd totally expressed on citrus plants. Etrog citron (Citrus medica (L.)) coinfected with CBLVd, Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), Citrus viroid-III (CVd-III) and Citrus viroid-V (CVd-V) showed epinasty, leaf rolling, and stunting. CBLVd has been reported to reduce the canopy proportion and fruit production of citrus trees inserted on trifoliate orange rootstock. Moreover, citrus tree infected with singly CBLVd or in combinations with CEVd, Hop stunt viroid (CVd-II) and CVd-III induced dwarfing have been associated with poor development of the root system. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification and multiplex reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (MRT-PCR) amplification have been widely used to detect citrus viroids including CBLVd. As citrus viroids are emerging threats in citrus groves, therefore, this review covers the evolution, geographical distribution and epidemiology, economic impact and symptomatology, host range and transmission, detection, and management will be helpful in formulating the integrated management strategies for CBLVd.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Viruses
  3. Mat Jalaluddin NS, Othman RY, Harikrishna JA
    Crit Rev Biotechnol, 2018 Sep 09.
    PMID: 30198341 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2018.1496064
    It has only been about 20 years since the first Nobel Prize-winning work on RNA interference (RNAi) in Caenorhabditis elegans was published in the journal Nature. Fast forward to today, and the use of RNA molecules as gene-silencing elements in crops has helped scientists to unveil possible solutions to the global problems of agricultural losses due to pests, viruses, pathogens, and to other abiotic and biotic stresses. The recent proliferation of publications suggests that the technology has gained significant attention and received ample funding support. In this article, an attempt has been made to visualize recent trends in Research & Development (R&D) investment in this field by analyzing top cited scholarly articles, patent trends, and commercialization activity. The publication and citation analysis identified that the development of RNAi-based crops conferring resistance against viruses, fungi, and pests are at the forefront of RNAi research and that Chinese and US institutions are the leaders in this field. The patent landscape analysis for RNAi technology over all aspects related to RNAi-derived crops provides an overview of patenting activity from a geographical, organizational, and legal perspective. Such an exercise is pivotal to industry players and public institutions aiming at creating intellectual property that is commercially appealing. An upswing in commercial interests in this technology in recent years is reflected by a consistent number of patent filings in US, European, and Chinese patent offices, with multinational giant firms as the most prolific patent filers. The expanding RNAi commercialization landscape is supported by a series of strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and acquisitions created between agribusinesses, public research institutions, and startup companies. From key observations, we would like to highlight that such investments have very positive impacts on the development of RNAi technology. Nonetheless, the success of this technology is dependent on several factors, such as financial requirements, the complexity, and timeframe of the entire development process, as well as stringent regulations imposed by the relevant authorities. In most countries, RNAi-based transgenic crops are still considered as a genetically modified (GM) product, which necessitates the crops to undergo rigorous evaluation before approval is granted. Recent advancements in exogenous RNAi-derived biopesticides have provided a nontransgenic alternative to GM crops. However, challenges still remain in the form of technical hurdles and regulatory ambiguities surrounding this emerging technology. Its full potential remains to be realized.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viruses
  4. Ariff N, Abdullah A, Azmai MNA, Musa N, Zainathan SC
    Vet World, 2019 Aug;12(8):1273-1284.
    PMID: 31641308 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.1273-1284
    Background and Aim: Viral nervous necrosis (VNN) is a serious disease of several marine fish species. VNN causes 100% mortality in the larval stages, while lower losses have been reported in juvenile and adult fish. This study aimed to detect the occurrence of VNN while identifying its associated risk factors and the genotypes of its causative agent in a hybrid grouper hatchery in Malaysia.

    Materials and Methods: A batch of newly hatched hybrid grouper fry (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × Epinephelus lanceolatus) were followed from the larval stage to market size. Samples of the hybrid groupers, water, live feed, and artificial fish pellets were collected periodically from day 0 to 180 in the hybrid grouper hatchery. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested PCR amplifications were carried out on VNN-related sequences. The phylogenetic tree including the sampled causative agent of VNN was inferred from the coat protein genes from all known Betanodavirus species using Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA). Pearson's correlation coefficient values were calculated to determine the strength of the correlation between the presence of VNN in hybrid grouper samples and its associated risk factors.

    Results: A total of 113 out of 146 pooled and individual samples, including hybrid grouper, water, and artificial fish pellet samples, demonstrated positive results in tests for the presence of VNN-associated viruses. The clinical signs of infection observed in the samples included darkened skin, deformation of the backbone, abdominal distension, skin lesions, and fin erosion. VNN was present throughout the life stages of the hybrid groupers, with the first detection occurring at day 10. VNN-associated risk factors included water temperature, dissolved oxygen content, salinity, ammonia level, fish size (adults more at risk than younger stages), and life stage (age). Detection of VNN-associated viruses in water samples demonstrated evidence of horizontal transmission of the disease. All the nucleotide sequences found in this study had high nucleotide identities of 88% to 100% to each other, striped jack nervous necrosis virus (SJNNV), and the reassortant strain red-spotted grouper NNV/SJNNV (RGNNV/SJNNV) isolate 430.2004 (GenBank accession number JN189932.1) (n=26). The phylogenetic analysis showed that quasispecies was present in each VNN-causing virus-positive sample, which differed based on the type of sample and life stage.

    Conclusion: This study was the first to confirm the existence of a reassortant strain (RGNNV/SJNNV) in hybrid groupers from Malaysia and Southeast Asia. However, the association between the mode of transmission and the risk factors of this virus needs to be investigated further to understand the evolution and potential new host species of the reassortant strain.

    Matched MeSH terms: Satellite Viruses
  5. De S, Selvan VT, Tan J, Soe HHK, Sahoo S, Sahoo R
    PMID: 31867395 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_379_19
    BACKGROUND: Cancer cervix is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), oncogenic virus and has vaccines and screening as its preventive measures. This study analyzes the change in awareness and attitudes of nonmedical students toward the condition following the use of an educational module.

    METHODOLOGY: The study design was quasi-experimental. The interprofessional (IP) team implemented an educational module and analyzed the difference in awareness of young individuals toward the cancer cervix. A pretest and posttest written questionnaire, customized for both genders, was administered with the intervention of the educational module in between. The module consisted of a short educational presentation along with a group activity. A follow-up survey was also done after 2 months to check the attrition of awareness. The statistical analysis was done using MacNemar test using SPSS 12 IBM software and significance of differences were determined.

    RESULTS: There was a significant improvement of knowledge and awareness on linkage between HPV and cervical cancer (P < 0.001). There was also significant change with regard to attitudes toward cervical cancer vaccination (P = 0.004). The knowledge of HPV linkage to the malignancy was maintained after 2 months of gap. The subjects also wished for more future awareness program.

    CONCLUSIONS: There is improved awareness in the dental and foundation in science students, and this improved awareness will ensure favorable attitudes toward cervical cancer vaccines or will attend regular screening programs. Awareness program must be held at regular intervals at different locations to enhance the knowledge dissemination of this common yet preventable genital malignancy of females. The IP collaboration and practices will help in reducing the disease burden of the society in future.

    Matched MeSH terms: Oncogenic Viruses
  6. Green SK, Tsai WS, Shih SL, Black LL, Rezaian A, Rashid MH, et al.
    Plant Dis, 2001 Dec;85(12):1286.
    PMID: 30831796 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS.2001.85.12.1286A
    Production of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos has been severely affected by yellow leaf curl disease. Tomato leaf samples were collected from symptomatic tomato plants from farmers' fields in the five countries from 1997 to 1999. DNA was extracted from all samples, four from Vietnam, two each from Malaysia, Laos, and Myanmar, and seven from Bangladesh. Virus DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the begomovirus-specific degenerate primer pair PAL1v 1978/PAR1c 715(1), which amplifies the top part of DNA A. All samples gave the expected 1.4-kb PCR product. The PCR product of one sample per country was cloned and sequenced. Based on the sequences of the 1.4-kb DNA products amplified by the first primer pair, specific primers were designed to complete each of the DNA A sequences. Computer-assisted sequence comparisons were performed with begomovirus sequences available in the laboratory at the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center, Shanhua, Tainan, and in the GenBank sequence database. The five DNA species resembled DNA A of begomoviruses. For the detection of DNA B two degenerate primer pairs were used, DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/DNABLV2 (DNABLC1: 5'-GTVAATGGRGTDCACTTCTG-3', DNABLC2: 5'-RGTDCACTT CTGYARGATGC-3', DNABLV2: 5'-GAGTAGTAGTGBAKGTTGCA-3'), which were specifically designed to amplify DNA B of Asian tomato geminiviruses. Only the virus associated with yellow leaf curl of tomato in Bangladesh was found to contain a DNA B component, which was detected with the DNABLC1/DNABLV2 primer pair. The DNA A sequence derived from the virus associated with tomato yellow leaf curl from Myanmar (GenBank Accession No. AF206674) showed highest sequence identity (94%) with tomato yellow leaf curl virus from Thailand (GenBank Accession No. X63015), suggesting that it is a closely related strain of this virus. The other four viruses were distinct begomoviruses, because their sequences shared less than 90% identity with known begomoviruses of tomato or other crops. The sequence derived from the virus associated with tomato yellow leaf curl from Vietnam (GenBank Accession No. AF264063) showed highest sequence identity (82%) with the virus associated with chili leaf curl from Malaysia (GenBank Accession No. AF414287), whereas the virus associated with yellow leaf curl symptoms in tomato in Bangladesh (GenBank Accession No. AF188481) had the highest sequence identity (88%) with a tobacco geminivirus from Yunnan, China (GenBank Accession No. AF240675). The sequence derived from the virus associated with tomato yellow leaf curl from Laos (GenBank Accession No. AF195782) had the highest sequence identity (88%) with the tomato begomovirus from Malaysia (GenBank Accession No. AF327436). This report provides further evidence of the great genetic diversity of tomato-infecting begomoviruses in Asia. Reference: M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses
  7. Abdul-Mutalib, N.A., Syafinaz, A.N., Sakai, K., Shirai, Y.
    MyJurnal
    Foodborne disease has been associated with microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. Most commonly, the outbreaks take place due to the ingestion of pathogenic bacteria like Salmonella Typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholera, Campylobacter jejuni, and Listeria monocytogenes. The disease usually happens as a result of toxin secretion of the microorganisms in the intestinal tract of the infected person. Usually, the level of hygiene in the food premises reflect the quality of the food item, hence restaurant or stall with poor sanitary condition is said to be the contributor to food poisoning outbreak. In Malaysia, food poisoning cases are not rare because the hot and humid climate of this country is very suitable for the growth of the foodborne bacteria. The government is also implementing strict rules to ensure workers and owners of food premises prioritize the cleanliness of their working area. Training programme for food handlers can also help them to implement hygiene as a routine in a daily basis. A lot of studies have been done to reduce foodborne diseases. The results can give information about the types of microorganisms, and other components that affect their growth. The result is crucial to determine how the spread of foodborne bacteria can be controlled safely and the outbreak can be reduced.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viruses
  8. Van Ta T, Nguyen QN, Truong VL, Tran TT, Nguyen HP, Vuong LD
    Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Sep;26(5):151-157.
    PMID: 31728128 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.5.15
    Neuroendocrine cervical cancer is a rare subtype of cervical cancer with a highly aggressive malignancy. This study was conducted to analyse the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and molecular abnormalities in Vietnamese neuroendocrine carcinomas of the uterine cervix. HPV genotyping and p53 mutations were examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based direct sequencing. Mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS), neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) and v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) were identified using commercial kits. Four high-risk HPV genotypes were identified in 26 (86.7%) out of a total of 30 tumours. The prevalence of HPV 16, 18, 31 and 45 was 20.0%, 50.0%, 20.0% and 36.7%, respectively. Overexpression of p16INK4a was observed in 93.3% of cases and was significantly correlated with high-risk HPV infections. Furthermore, p53 and NRAS mutations were detected in five (16.7%) and one (3.3%) cases, respectively, whereas no EGFR, KRAS or BRAF mutations were observed. These results demonstrate that high-risk HPV infection may be an important oncogenic factor for the development and progression of cervical neuroendocrine carcinoma.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sarcoma Viruses, Murine
  9. Hafidh RR, Abdulamir AS, Abu Bakar F, Sekawi Z, Jahansheri F, Jalilian FA
    PMID: 26062546 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-015-0688-2
    New sources for discovering novel antiviral agents are desperately needed. The current antiviral products are both expensive and not very effective.
    Matched MeSH terms: Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/drug effects*
  10. Imai S, Okumoto M, Iwai M, Haga S, Mori N, Miyashita N, et al.
    J Virol, 1994 May;68(5):3437-42.
    PMID: 8151805
    Several groups of wild mice (Mus musculus) were captured from eight different locations in Asia and bred for several generations in a facility free of any laboratory strains of mice carrying mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). The distribution of endogenous MMTV proviral sequences in the liver tissues of these mice was investigated by using Southern blot hybridizations. Four categories of mice were identified. Mice originating from Bogor, Indonesia (Cas-Bgr); He-mei, Taiwan (Cas-Hmi/1); and Malaysia (Cas-Mal) were found to carry an endogenous MMTV provirus consisting of the env, gag-pol, and long terminal repeat sequences. Mice captured from Kojuri, Republic of Korea (Sub-Kjr); Nagoya, Japan (Mol-nag); and three Chinese provinces, Shanghai (Sub-Shh), Beijing (Sub-Bjn), and Jiayuguang (Sub-Jyg/1), appeared to carry defective proviruses. Some mice originating from He-mei (Cas-Hmi/2) and Jiayuguang (Sub-Jyg/2) were found to be completely free of endogenous MMTV. Interestingly, however, the Sub-Jyg/2 mice, after several generations of inbreeding, were found, unlike all of the other subspecies that we examined in the present study, to develop mammary tumors at a high incidence (80 to 90%) with a short period of latency. Electron microscopic examination of the mammary glands and mammary tumors of these mice revealed the presence of numerous intracytoplasmic A, immature, budding, and mature B particles. Furthermore, the mammary tumors were found to contain MMTV proviral sequences. It seems, therefore, that Sub-Jyg/2 mice carry an exogenous MMTV which contributes to their developing mammary tumors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Defective Viruses/genetics
  11. Faheem, Kumar BK, Sekhar KVGC, Kunjiappan S, Jamalis J, Balaña-Fouce R, et al.
    Mini Rev Med Chem, 2021;21(4):398-425.
    PMID: 33001013 DOI: 10.2174/1389557520666201001130114
    β-Carboline, a naturally occurring indole alkaloid, holds a momentous spot in the field of medicinal chemistry due to its myriad of pharmacological actions like anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, antimalarial, neuropharmacological, anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic among others. β-Carbolines exhibit their pharmacological activity via diverse mechanisms. This review provides a recent update (2015-2020) on the anti-infective potential of natural and synthetic β-carboline analogs focusing on its antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimalarial, antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal properties. In cases where enough details are available, a note on its mechanism of action is also added.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viruses/drug effects
  12. Tsai WS, Shih SL, Green SK, Jan FJ
    Plant Dis, 2007 Jul;91(7):907.
    PMID: 30780410 DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-91-7-0907A
    Whitefly-transmitted, cucurbit-infecting begomoviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) have been detected on cucurbit crops in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam. Pumpkin plants showing leaf curling, blistering, and yellowing symptoms were observed in the AVRDC fields (Tainan, Taiwan) during 2001 and in nearby farmers' fields during 2005. Two samples from symptomatic plants were collected in 2001 and six collected in 2005. Viral DNAs were extracted (2), and the PCR, with previously described primers, was used to detect the presence of begomoviral DNA-A (4), DNA-B (3), and associated satellite DNA (1). Begomoviral DNA-A was detected in one of the 2001 samples and in all 2005 samples. The PCR-amplified 1.5 kb viral DNA-A from one positive sample each from the 2001 and 2005 collections was cloned and sequenced. On the basis of the 1.5-kb DNA-A sequences, specific primers were designed to completely sequence the DNA-A component. The overlap between fragments obtained using primer walking ranged from 43 to 119 bp with 100% nt identities. The complete DNA-A sequences were determined for the two isolates as 2,734 bp (2001) (GenBank Accession No. DQ866135) and 2,733 bp (2005) (GenBank Accession No. EF199774). Sequence comparisons and analyses were performed using the DNAMAN Sequence Analysis Software (Lynnon Corporation, Vaudreuil, Quebec, Canada). The DNA-A of the begomovirus isolates each contained the conserved nanosequence-TAATATTAC and six open reading frames, including two in the virus sense and four in the complementary sense. On the basis of a 99% shared nucleotide sequence identity, they are considered isolates of the same species. BLASTn analysis and a comparison of the sequence with others available in the GenBank database ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ) indicated that the Taiwan virus shared its highest nt identity (more than 95%) with the Squash leaf curl Philippines virus (GenBank Accession No. AB085793). Virus-associated satellite DNA was not found in any of the samples. DNA-B was found in both samples, providing further evidence that the virus was the same as the bipartite Squash leaf curl Philippines virus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Squash leaf curl Philippines virus in Taiwan. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Virology 312:106, 2003. (2) R. L. Gilbertson et al. J. Gen. Virol. 72:2843, 1991. (3) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.
    Matched MeSH terms: Satellite Viruses
  13. Ch'ng WC, Abd-Aziz N, Ong MH, Stanbridge EJ, Shafee N
    Cell Oncol (Dordr), 2015 Aug;38(4):279-88.
    PMID: 25930675 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-015-0229-5
    Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an oncolytic virus that is known to have a higher preference to cancer cells than to normal cells. It has been proposed that this higher preference may be due to defects in the interferon (IFN) responses of cancer cells. The exact mechanism underlying this process, however, remains to be resolved. In the present study, we examined the antiviral response towards NDV infection of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cells. ccRCC is associated with mutations of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene VHL, whose protein product is important for eliciting cellular responses to changes in oxygen levels. The most common first line treatment strategy of ccRCC includes IFN. Unfortunately, most ccRCC cases are diagnosed at a late stage and often are resistant to IFN-based therapies. Alternative treatment approaches, including virotherapy using oncolytic viruses, are currently being investigated. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanistic pathways underlying the response of ccRCC cells to oncolytic NDV infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Oncolytic Viruses/physiology
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