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  1. Genetic polymorphism in domain I of the apical membrane antigen-1 among Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia
    Fong MY, Wong SS, Silva JR, Lau YL
    Acta Trop, 2015 Dec;152:145-150.
    PMID: 26384455 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.09.009
    The simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is now recognized as a species that can cause human malaria. The first report of large scale human knowlesi malaria was in 2004 in Malaysia Borneo. Since then, hundreds of human knowlesi malaria cases have been reported in Southeast Asia. The present study investigates the genetic polymorphism of P. knowlesi DI domain of the apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA-1), a protein considered as a promising vaccine candidate for malaria. The DI domain of AMA-1 gene of P. knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia was amplified by PCR, cloned into Escherichia coli, then sequenced and analysed. Ninety-seven DI domain sequences were obtained. Comparison at the nucleotide level against P. knowlesi strain H as reference sequence showed 21 synonymous and 25 nonsynonymous mutations. Nonetheless, nucleotide sequence analysis revealed low genetic diversity of the DI domain, and it was under purifying (negative) selection. At the amino acid level, 26 different haplotypes were identified and 2 were predominant haplotypes (H1, H2) with high frequencies. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 26 haplotypes could be clustered into 2 distinct groups (I and II). Members of the groups were basically derived from haplotypes H1 and H2, respectively.
  2. Fulltext Expression and Evaluation of Recombinant Plasmodium knowlesi Merozoite Surface Protein-3 (MSP-3) for Detection of Human Malaria
    De Silva JR, Lau YL, Fong MY
    PLoS One, 2016;11(7):e0158998.
    PMID: 27391270 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158998
    Malaria remains a major health threat in many parts of the globe and causes high mortality and morbidity with 214 million cases of malaria occurring globally in 2015. Recent studies have outlined potential diagnostic markers and vaccine candidates one of which is the merozoite surface protein (MSP)-3. In this study, novel recombinant Plasmodium knowlesi MSP-3 was cloned, expressed and purified in an Escherichia coli system. Subsequently, the recombinant protein was evaluated for its sensitivity and specificity. The recombinant pkMSP-3 protein reacted with sera from patients with P. knowlesi infection in both Western blot (61%) and ELISA (100%). Specificity-wise, pkMSP-3 did not react with healthy donor sera in either assay and only reacted with a few non-malarial parasitic patient sera in the ELISA assay (3 of 49). In conclusion, sensitivity and specificity of pkMSP-3 was found to be high in the ELISA and Western Blot assay and thus utilising both assays in tandem would provide the best sero-diagnostic result for P. knowlesi infection.
  3. Fulltext Diagnostic tools in childhood malaria
    Amir A, Cheong FW, De Silva JR, Lau YL
    Parasit Vectors, 2018 01 23;11(1):53.
    PMID: 29361963 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2617-y
    Every year, millions of people are burdened with malaria. An estimated 429,000 casualties were reported in 2015, with the majority made up of children under five years old. Early and accurate diagnosis of malaria is of paramount importance to ensure appropriate administration of treatment. This minimizes the risk of parasite resistance development, reduces drug wastage and unnecessary adverse reaction to antimalarial drugs. Malaria diagnostic tools have expanded beyond the conventional microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood films. Contemporary and innovative techniques have emerged, mainly the rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and other molecular diagnostic methods such as PCR, qPCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Even microscopic diagnosis has gone through a paradigm shift with the development of new techniques such as the quantitative buffy coat (QBC) method and the Partec rapid malaria test. This review explores the different diagnostic tools available for childhood malaria, each with their characteristic strengths and limitations. These tools play an important role in making an accurate malaria diagnosis to ensure that the use of anti-malaria are rationalized and that presumptive diagnosis would only be a thing of the past.
  4. Fulltext Genetic clustering and polymorphism of the merozoite surface protein-3 of Plasmodium knowlesi clinical isolates from Peninsular Malaysia
    De Silva JR, Lau YL, Fong MY
    Parasit Vectors, 2017 01 03;10(1):2.
    PMID: 28049516 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1935-1
    BACKGROUND: The simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi has been reported to cause significant numbers of human infection in South East Asia. Its merozoite surface protein-3 (MSP3) is a protein that belongs to a multi-gene family of proteins first found in Plasmodium falciparum. Several studies have evaluated the potential of P. falciparum MSP3 as a potential vaccine candidate. However, to date no detailed studies have been carried out on P. knowlesi MSP3 gene (pkmsp3). The present study investigates the genetic diversity, and haplotypes groups of pkmsp3 in P. knowlesi clinical samples from Peninsular Malaysia.

    METHODS: Blood samples were collected from P. knowlesi malaria patients within a period of 4 years (2008-2012). The pkmsp3 gene of the isolates was amplified via PCR, and subsequently cloned and sequenced. The full length pkmsp3 sequence was divided into Domain A and Domain B. Natural selection, genetic diversity, and haplotypes of pkmsp3 were analysed using MEGA6 and DnaSP ver. 5.10.00 programmes.

    RESULTS: From 23 samples, 48 pkmsp3 sequences were successfully obtained. At the nucleotide level, 101 synonymous and 238 non-synonymous mutations were observed. Tests of neutrality were not significant for the full length, Domain A or Domain B sequences. However, the dN/dS ratio of Domain B indicates purifying selection for this domain. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed 42 different haplotypes. Neighbour Joining phylogenetic tree and haplotype network analyses revealed that the haplotypes clustered into two distinct groups.

    CONCLUSIONS: A moderate level of genetic diversity was observed in the pkmsp3 and only the C-terminal region (Domain B) appeared to be under purifying selection. The separation of the pkmsp3 into two haplotype groups provides further evidence of the existence of two distinct P. knowlesi types or lineages. Future studies should investigate the diversity of pkmsp3 among P. knowlesi isolates in North Borneo, where large numbers of human knowlesi malaria infection still occur.

  5. Fulltext Genotyping of the Duffy blood group among Plasmodium knowlesi-infected patients in Malaysia
    De Silva JR, Lau YL, Fong MY
    PLoS One, 2014;9(9):e108951.
    PMID: 25268233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108951
    The Duffy blood group is of major interest in clinical medicine as it plays an important role in Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infection. In the present study, the distribution of Duffy blood group genotypes and allelic frequencies among P. knowlesi infected patients as well as healthy individuals in Peninsular Malaysia were determined. The blood group of 60 healthy blood donors and 51 P. knowlesi malaria patients were genotyped using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (ASP-PCR). The data was analyzed using Fisher's exact test in order to assess the significance of the variables. Our results show a high proportion of the FY*A/FY*A genotype (>85% for both groups) and a high frequency of the FY*A allele (>90% for both groups). The FY*A/FY*A genotype was the most predominant genotype in both infected and healthy blood samples. The genotype frequency did not differ significantly between the donor blood and the malaria patient groups. Also, there was no significant correlation between susceptibility to P. knowlesi infection with any Duffy blood genotype.
  6. Investigative study on the role of the Toxo 5699 gene in the Toxoplasma gondii lytic cycle using the CRISPR/Cas9 system
    De Silva JR, Ching XT, Lau YL
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Jun 01;37(2):324-332.
    PMID: 33612802
    The focus of the current study was to disrupt the Toxo 5699 gene via CRISPR/Cas9 to evaluate the effects of gene disruption on the parasite lytic cycle. In the present work, a single plasmid expressing both the guide RNA and Cas9 nuclease together with a selectable marker of human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) was introduced into Toxoplasma gondii. Targeted disruption of the Toxo 5699 gene was carried out via the CRISPR/Cas9 system and confirmed by PCR, sequencing, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Disrupted and nondisrupted control parasites were allowed to invade HS27 cell monolayers and plaques were counted. The average number of plaques from three replicates per group was obtained between the disrupted and non-disrupted T. gondii RH strain and was compared using a onetailed t-test. It was observed that there was a significant decrease in number and size of plaque formation in the Toxo 5699 gene disrupted parasite line. This is an indication that the Toxo 5699 gene may play a role in the lytic cycle of the parasite, particularly during the replication phase and thus would be a novel target for disruption or silencing. The Toxo 5699 gene presented in the current work is an important part of the T. gondii lytic cycle, therefore meriting further inquiry into its potential as a target for further genetic-silencing or disruption studies.
  7. Fulltext Distribution of the Duffy genotypes in Malaysian Borneo and its relation to Plasmodium knowlesi malaria susceptibility
    de Silva JR, Amir A, Lau YL, Ooi CH, Fong MY
    PLoS One, 2019;14(9):e0222681.
    PMID: 31536563 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222681
    The Duffy blood group plays a key role in Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax invasion into human erythrocytes. The geographical distribution of the Duffy alleles differs between regions with the FY*A allele having high frequencies in many Asian populations, the FY*B allele is found predominately in European populations and the FY*Bes allele found predominantly in African regions. A previous study in Peninsular Malaysia indicated high homogeneity of the dominant FY*A/FY*A genotype. However, the distribution of the Duffy genotypes in Malaysian Borneo is currently unknown. In the present study, the distribution of Duffy blood group genotypes and allelic frequencies among P. knowlesi infected patients as well as healthy individuals in Malaysian Borneo were determined. A total of 79 P. knowlesi patient blood samples and 76 healthy donor samples were genotyped using allele specific polymerase chain reaction (ASP-PCR). Subsequently a P. knowlesi invasion assay was carried out on FY*AB/ FY*A and FY*A/ FY*A Duffy genotype blood to investigate if either genotype conferred increased susceptibility to P. knowlesi invasion. Our results show almost equal distribution between the homozygous FY*A/FY*A and heterozygous FY*A/FY*B genotypes. This is in stark contrast to the Duffy distribution in Peninsular Malaysia and the surrounding Southeast Asian region which is dominantly FY*A/FY*A. The mean percent invasion of FY*A/FY*A and FY*A/FY*B blood was not significantly different indicating that neither blood group confers increased susceptibility to P. knowlesi invasion.
  8. Fulltext Plasmodium knowlesi malaria: current research perspectives
    Amir A, Cheong FW, de Silva JR, Liew JWK, Lau YL
    Infect Drug Resist, 2018;11:1145-1155.
    PMID: 30127631 DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S148664
    Originally known to cause simian malaria, Plasmodium knowlesi is now known as the fifth human malaria species. Since the publishing of a report that largely focused on human knowlesi cases in Sarawak in 2004, many more human cases have been reported in nearly all of the countries in Southeast Asia and in travelers returning from these countries. The zoonotic nature of this infection hinders malaria elimination efforts. In order to grasp the current perspective of knowlesi malaria, this literature review explores the different aspects of the disease including risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and molecular and functional studies. Current studies do not provide sufficient data for an effective control program. Therefore, future direction for knowlesi research is highlighted here with a final aim of controlling, if not eliminating, the parasite.
  9. Experimental Study on Plasmodium knowlesi Normocyte Binding Protein Xa Region II (PkNBPXaII) for Erythrocyte Binding
    Wong KC, Lai MY, De Silva JR, Cheong FW, Fong MY, Lau YL
    Trop Biomed, 2021 Jun 01;38(2):143-148.
    PMID: 34172703 DOI: 10.47665/tb.38.2.051
    Normocyte binding protein Xa (NBPXa) has been implied to play a significant role in parasite invasion of human erythrocytes. Previous phylogenetic studies have reported the existence of three types of NBPXa for Plasmodium knowlesi (PkNBPXa). PkNBPXa region II (PkNBPXaII) of type 1, type 2 and type 3 were expressed on mammalian cell surface and interacted with human and macaque (Macaca fascicularis) erythrocytes. The binding activities of PkNBPXaII towards human and macaque erythrocytes were evaluated using erythrocyte-binding assay (EBA). Three parameters were evaluated to achieve the optimal protein expression of PkNBPXaII and erythrocyte binding activity in EBA: types of mammalian cells, post transfection time and erythrocyte incubation time. COS-7, HEK-293, and CHO-K1 cells showed successful expression of PkNBPXaII, despite the protein expression is weak compared to the positive control. COS-7 was used in EBA. All three types of PkNBPXaII showed rosette formation with macaque erythrocytes but not with human erythrocytes. Future studies to enhance the PkNBPXaII expression on surface of mammalian cells is indeed needed in order to elucidate the specific role of PkNBPXaII in erythrocytes invasion.
  10. Improved Aedes/dengue field surveillance using Gravid Oviposition Sticky trap and dengue NS1 tests: Epidemiological, entomological outcomes and community acceptance
    Liew JWK, Selvarajoo S, Phang WK, Mah Hassan M, Redzuan MS, Selva Kumar S, et al.
    Acta Trop, 2021 Apr;216:105829.
    PMID: 33465350 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105829
    The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility and outcomes of using Gravid Oviposition Sticky (GOS) trap and dengue NS1 antigen tests for indoor and outdoor dengue/Aedes surveillance in the field. A one-year community-based study was carried out at Sungai Buloh Hospital Quarters, Selangor, Malaysia. GOS traps were first placed outdoors in three apartment blocks (Anggerik, Bunga Raya and Mawar). Beginning 29th week of the study, indoor traps were set in two apartment units on every floor in Anggerik. All female Aedes mosquitoes caught were tested for the presence of dengue NS1 antigen. Dengue seroprevalence and knowledge, attitude and practices on dengue prevention of the community and their reception to the surveillance approach were also assessed. Dengue-positive mosquitoes were detected at least 1 week before a dengue onset. More mosquitoes were caught indoors than outdoors in block Anggerik, but the total number of mosquitoes caught in all 3 blocks were similar. There was a significant difference in distribution of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus between the 3 blocks. 66.1% and 3.4% of the community were positive for dengue IgG and IgM, respectively. Most respondents think that this surveillance method is Good (89%) and support its use nationwide. Dengue case ratio in the study apartment blocks decreased from year 2018 to 2019. This study demonstrated the practicality of performing proactive dengue/Aedes surveillance inside apartment units using the GOS traps. This surveillance method can be performed with immediate result output in the field.
  11. Natural Plasmodium infection in wild macaques of three states in peninsular Malaysia
    Amir A, Shahari S, Liew JWK, de Silva JR, Khan MB, Lai MY, et al.
    Acta Trop, 2020 Nov;211:105596.
    PMID: 32589995 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105596
    Zoonotic cases of Plasmodium knowlesi account for most malaria cases in Malaysia, and humans infected with P. cynomolgi, another parasite of macaques have recently been reported in Sarawak. To date the epidemiology of malaria in its natural Macaca reservoir hosts remains little investigated. In this study we surveyed the prevalence of simian malaria in wild macaques of three states in Peninsular Malaysia, namely Pahang, Perak and Johor using blood samples from 103 wild macaques (collected by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia) subjected to microscopic examination and nested PCR targeting the Plasmodium small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. As expected, PCR analysis yielded significantly higher prevalence (64/103) as compared to microscopic examination (27/103). No relationship between the age and/or sex of the macaques with the parasitaemia and the Plasmodium species infecting the macaques could be identified. Wild macaques in Pahang had the highest prevalence of Plasmodium parasites (89.7%), followed by those of Perak (69.2%) and Johor (28.9%). Plasmodium inui and P. cynomolgi were the two most prevalent species infecting the macaques from all three states. Half of the macaques (33/64) harboured two or more Plasmodium species. These data provide a baseline survey, which should be extended by further longitudinal investigations that should be associated with studies on the bionomics of the anopheline vectors. This information will allow an accurate evaluation of the risk of zoonotic transmission to humans, and to elaborate effective strategies to control simian malaria.
  12. Case report: recurrence of Plasmodium vivax malaria due to defective cytochrome P450 2D6 function in Pos Lenjang, Pahang, Malaysia
    Mat Salleh NH, Rahman MFA, Samsusah S, De Silva JR, Ng DC, Ghozali AH, et al.
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2020 Sep 01;114(9):700-703.
    PMID: 32511702 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa042
    Five children in Pos Lenjang, Pahang, Malaysia were PCR-positive for vivax malaria and were admitted to the hospital from 5 to 26 July 2019. One of the patients experienced three episodes of recurrence of vivax malaria. Microsatellite analysis showed that reinfection is unlikely. Drug resistance analysis indicated that Riamet (artemether-lumefantrine) is effective. Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) testing showed that this patient has defective CYP2D6 function. Primaquine failure to clear the Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites may be the cause of recurring infections in this patient. This report highlights the need for the development of liver-stage curative antimalarials that do not require metabolism by the CYP2D6 enzyme.
  13. Fulltext Importance of Proactive Malaria Case Surveillance and Management in Malaysia
    Liew JWK, Mahpot RB, Dzul S, Abdul Razak HAB, Ahmad Shah Azizi NAB, Kamarudin MB, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2018 06;98(6):1709-1713.
    PMID: 29877176 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-1010
    Although Plasmodium vivax infections in Malaysia are usually imported, a significant autochthonous outbreak of vivax malaria was detected in a remote indigenous (Orang Asli) settlement located in northern peninsular Malaysia. Between November 2016 and April 2017, 164 cases of P. vivax infection were detected. Although 83.5% of the vivax cases were identified through passive case detection and contact screening during the first 7 weeks, subsequent mass blood screening (combination of rapid diagnostic tests, blood films, and polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) of the entire settlement (N = 3,757) revealed another 27 P. vivax infections, 19 of which were asymptomatic. The mapped data from this active case detection program was used to direct control efforts resulting in the successful control of the outbreak in this region. This report highlights the importance of proactive case surveillance and timely management of malaria control in Malaysia as it nears malaria elimination.
  14. Fulltext Whole genome sequencing of amplified Plasmodium knowlesi DNA from unprocessed blood reveals genetic exchange events between Malaysian Peninsular and Borneo subpopulations
    Benavente ED, Gomes AR, De Silva JR, Grigg M, Walker H, Barber BE, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2019 07 08;9(1):9873.
    PMID: 31285495 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46398-z
    The zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi parasite is the most common cause of human malaria in Malaysia. Genetic analysis has shown that the parasites are divided into three subpopulations according to their geographic origin (Peninsular or Borneo) and, in Borneo, their macaque host (Macaca fascicularis or M. nemestrina). Whilst evidence suggests that genetic exchange events have occurred between the two Borneo subpopulations, the picture is unclear in less studied Peninsular strains. One difficulty is that P. knowlesi infected individuals tend to present with low parasitaemia leading to samples with insufficient DNA for whole genome sequencing. Here, using a parasite selective whole genome amplification approach on unprocessed blood samples, we were able to analyse recent genomes sourced from both Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. The analysis provides evidence that recombination events are present in the Peninsular Malaysia parasite subpopulation, which have acquired fragments of the M. nemestrina associated subpopulation genotype, including the DBPβ and NBPXa erythrocyte invasion genes. The NBPXb invasion gene has also been exchanged within the macaque host-associated subpopulations of Malaysian Borneo. Our work provides strong evidence that exchange events are far more ubiquitous than expected and should be taken into consideration when studying the highly complex P. knowlesi population structure.
  15. The Psychological Science Accelerator's COVID-19 rapid-response dataset
    Buchanan EM, Lewis SC, Paris B, Forscher PS, Pavlacic JM, Beshears JE, et al.
    Sci Data, 2023 Feb 11;10(1):87.
    PMID: 36774440 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01811-7
    In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psychological Science Accelerator coordinated three large-scale psychological studies to examine the effects of loss-gain framing, cognitive reappraisals, and autonomy framing manipulations on behavioral intentions and affective measures. The data collected (April to October 2020) included specific measures for each experimental study, a general questionnaire examining health prevention behaviors and COVID-19 experience, geographical and cultural context characterization, and demographic information for each participant. Each participant started the study with the same general questions and then was randomized to complete either one longer experiment or two shorter experiments. Data were provided by 73,223 participants with varying completion rates. Participants completed the survey from 111 geopolitical regions in 44 unique languages/dialects. The anonymized dataset described here is provided in both raw and processed formats to facilitate re-use and further analyses. The dataset offers secondary analytic opportunities to explore coping, framing, and self-determination across a diverse, global sample obtained at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be merged with other time-sampled or geographic data.
  16. Fulltext Author Correction: A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic
    Wang K, Goldenberg A, Dorison CA, Miller JK, Uusberg A, Lerner JS, et al.
    Nat Hum Behav, 2022 Sep;6(9):1318-1319.
    PMID: 36002766 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01441-4
  17. Fulltext A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic
    Wang K, Goldenberg A, Dorison CA, Miller JK, Uusberg A, Lerner JS, et al.
    Nat Hum Behav, 2021 Aug;5(8):1089-1110.
    PMID: 34341554 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01173-x
    The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on 12 May 2020. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4878591.v1.
  18. Fulltext In COVID-19 Health Messaging, Loss Framing Increases Anxiety with Little-to-No Concomitant Benefits: Experimental Evidence from 84 Countries
    Dorison CA, Lerner JS, Heller BH, Rothman AJ, Kawachi II, Wang K, et al.
    Affect Sci, 2022 Sep;3(3):577-602.
    PMID: 36185503 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-022-00128-3
    The COVID-19 pandemic (and its aftermath) highlights a critical need to communicate health information effectively to the global public. Given that subtle differences in information framing can have meaningful effects on behavior, behavioral science research highlights a pressing question: Is it more effective to frame COVID-19 health messages in terms of potential losses (e.g., "If you do not practice these steps, you can endanger yourself and others") or potential gains (e.g., "If you practice these steps, you can protect yourself and others")? Collecting data in 48 languages from 15,929 participants in 84 countries, we experimentally tested the effects of message framing on COVID-19-related judgments, intentions, and feelings. Loss- (vs. gain-) framed messages increased self-reported anxiety among participants cross-nationally with little-to-no impact on policy attitudes, behavioral intentions, or information seeking relevant to pandemic risks. These results were consistent across 84 countries, three variations of the message framing wording, and 560 data processing and analytic choices. Thus, results provide an empirical answer to a global communication question and highlight the emotional toll of loss-framed messages. Critically, this work demonstrates the importance of considering unintended affective consequences when evaluating nudge-style interventions.
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