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  1. Fulltext Molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic analysis of Dengue virus type-1 and 2 isolated in Malaysia
    Chew MH, Rahman MM, Hussin S
    Pak J Med Sci, 2015;31(3):615-20.
    PMID: 26150855 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.313.6340
    Detection of different serotypes of dengue virus and provide information on origin, distribution and genotype of the virus.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses
  2. Isolation and Quantification of Mimivirus-Like and Marseillevirus-Like Viruses from Soil Samples in An Aboriginal (Orang asli) Village in Peninsular Malaysia
    Tan YF, Lim CY, Chong CW, Lim PKC, Yap IKS, Leong PP, et al.
    Intervirology, 2018;61(2):92-95.
    PMID: 30121676 DOI: 10.1159/000491602
    BACKGROUND: The giant amoebal viruses of Mimivirus and Marseillevirus are large DNA viruses and have been documented in water, soil, and sewage samples. The trend of discovering these giant amoebal viruses has been increasing throughout Asia with Japan, India, and Saudi Arabia being the latest countries to document the presence of these viruses. To date, there have been no reports of large amoebal viruses being isolated in South East Asia.

    OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to discover these viruses from soil samples in an aboriginal village (Serendah village) in Peninsular -Malaysia.

    METHOD AND RESULTS: We successfully detected and isolated both Mimivirus-like and Marseillevirus-like viruses using Acanthamoeba castellanii. Phylogeny analysis identified them as Mimivirus and Marseillevirus, respectively.

    CONCLUSION: The ubiquitous nature of both Mimivirus and Marseillevirus is further confirmed in our study as they are detected in higher quantity in soil that is near to water vicinities in an aboriginal village in Peninsular Malaysia. However, this study is limited by our inability to investigate the impact of Mimivirus and Marseillevirus on the aboriginal villagers. More studies on the potential impact of these viruses on human health, especially on the aborigines, are warranted.

    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses/classification*; DNA Viruses/genetics*; DNA Viruses/isolation & purification
  3. Sistem minigenom virus Penyakit Newcastle (NDV) AF2240 sebagai sistem pengekspresan gen sel mamalia
    SHAHRUL HISHAM ZAINAL ARIFFIN, ROSLINA SHAMSUDIN, NURUL ATIKAH AHMAD, ZULKIFLIE ZAMROD
    Sains Malaysiana, 2012;41:423-430.
    Sistem minigenom telah digunakan untuk mengkaji replikasi dan transkripsi virus RNA tidak bersegmen. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk membina sistem minigenom bagi virus NDV strain tempatan, AF2240 serta bagi mengkaji mekanisme transkripsi dan replikasi virus ini. Bagi tujuan ini lima plasmid digunakan iaitu pMGNDV, pCITENP, pCITEP, pTriEX-T7, dan pGEML. Kesemua plasmid diekstrak secara berskala besar dan dimendakkan menggunakan polietilina glikol. Hasil ekstrak ini digunakan untuk transfeksi ke dalam sel. Translasi in vitro dilakukan dengan menggunakan pCITENP, pCITEP, dan pTriEX-T7 untuk memastikan kesemua konstruk ini berfungsi. Hasil pemblotan western menunjukkan protein bersaiz ~100 kDa (T7), ~53 kDa (NP), ~53 dan 55 kDa (P) berjaya diekspreskan. Protein CAT diperoleh apabila plasmid yang mengekodkan minigenom NDV ditransfeksi bersama plasmid yang mengekodkan protein nukleokapsid (NP), fosfoprotein (P) dan subunit besar polimerase (L) ke dalam sel BHK-21. Dianggarkan 55 pg protein CAT berjaya diperoleh menggunakan kit CAT ELISA. Hasil pemblotan western turut menunjukkan protein CAT bersaiz 25 kDa dihasilkan. Kesimpulannnya, system minigenom ini berupaya untuk berfungsi dan mampu mengekspreskan gen asing di dalam sel mamalia BHK-21.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses
  4. Histopathology and cytopathology of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in cultured Penaeus monodon from peninsular Malaysia with emphasis on pathogenesis and the mechanism of white spot formation
    Wang YG, Hassan MD, Shariff M, Zamri SM, Chen X
    Dis Aquat Organ, 1999 Dec 22;39(1):1-11.
    PMID: 11407399
    Since 1994, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has been detected in cultured shrimp Penaeus monodon in Peninsular Malaysia. The gross signs, target organs and histo-cytopathology for the viral infection were studied and it was found to infect most organs and tissues including oocytes, but not hepatopancreatocytes and epithelial cells of the midgut, which were regarded as refractory tissues. Based on a time-sequence of ultrastructural cytopathology, 4 cytopathic profiles and 6 phases of viral morphogenesis were described. The virions were elliptical to short rods with trilamilar envelopes that measured 305 +/- 30 x 127 +/- 11 nm. Viral nucleosomes were often present singly in infected nuclei and were associated with the early stages of viral replication. The structure of WSSV pathognomonic white, cuticular lesions was examined at the microscopic and ultrastructural levels and the mechanism of their formation appeared to be related to the disruption of exudate transfer from epithelial cells to the cuticle via cuticular pore canals.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses/pathogenicity*; DNA Viruses/ultrastructure
  5. Fulltext A mini-review on the effects of COVID-19 on younger individuals
    Manivannan M, Jogalekar MP, Kavitha MS, Maran BAV, Gangadaran P
    Exp Biol Med (Maywood), 2021 02;246(3):293-297.
    PMID: 33210552 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220975118
    Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has uprooted our lives like never before since its onset in the late December 2019. The world has seen mounting infections and deaths over the past few months despite the unprecedented measures countries are implementing, such as lockdowns, social distancing, mask-wearing, and banning gatherings in large groups. Interestingly, young individuals seem less likely to be impacted by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for COVID-19. While the rate of transmission, symptom presentation, and fatality is lower in children than people from other age groups, they have been disproportionately affected by strict lockdown measures needed to curb viral spread. In this review, we describe the association between patient age and COVID-19, epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, psychological effects associated with lockdowns and school closures, and possible mechanisms underlying lower transmission rate of COVID-19 in children.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses
  6. DNA fragmentation, an indicator of apoptosis, in cultured black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon infected with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV)
    Sahtout AH, Hassan MD, Shariff M
    Dis Aquat Organ, 2001 Mar 9;44(2):155-9.
    PMID: 11324818
    Fifty black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon from commercial cultivation ponds in Malaysia were examined by Tdt-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) fluorescence assay and agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA extracts for evidence of DNA fragmentation as an indicator of apoptosis. From these specimens, 30 were grossly normal and 20 showed gross signs of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. Of the 30 grossly normal shrimp, 5 specimens were found to be positive for WSSV infection by normal histology and by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. All of the specimens showing gross signs of WSSV infection were positive for WSSV by normal histology, while 5 were positive by nested PCR only (indicating light infections) and 15 were positive by 1-step PCR (indicating heavy infections). Typical histological signs of WSSV infection included nuclear hypertrophy, chromatin condensation and margination. None of the 25 grossly normal shrimp negative for WSSV by 1-step PCR showed any signs of DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay or agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA extracts. The 10 specimens that gave PCR-positive results for WSSV by nested PCR only (i.e., 5 grossly normal shrimp and 5 grossly positive for WSSV) gave mean counts of 16 +/- 8% TUNEL-positive cells, while the 25 specimens PCR positive by 1-step PCR gave mean counts of 40 +/- 7% TUNEL-positive cells. Thus, the number of TUNEL positive cells present in tissues increased with increasing severity of infection, as determined by gross signs of white spots on the cuticle, the number of intranuclear inclusions in histological sections, and results from single and nested PCR assays. DNA extracts of PCR-positive specimens tested by agarose gel electrophoresis showed indications of DNA fragmentation either as smears or as 200 bp ladders. Given that DNA fragmentation is generally considered to be a hallmark of apoptosis, the results suggested that apoptosis might be implicated in shrimp death caused by WSSV.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses/physiology*
  7. Detection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) of shrimp by means of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to an envelope protein (28 kDa)
    Liu W, Wang YT, Tian DS, Yin ZC, Kwang J
    Dis Aquat Organ, 2002 Apr 24;49(1):11-8.
    PMID: 12093036
    The vp28 gene encoding an envelope protein (28 kDa) of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was amplified from WSSV-infected tiger shrimp that originated from Malaysia. Recombinant VP28 protein (r-28) was expressed in Escherichia coli and used as an antigen for preparation of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Three murine MAbs (6F6, 6H4 and 9C10) that were screened by r-28 antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were also able to recognize viral VP28 protein as well as r-28 on Western blot. Three non-overlapping epitopes of VP28 protein were determined using the MAbs in competitive ELISA; thus, an antigen-capture ELISA (Ac-ELISA) was developed by virtue of these MAbs. Ac-ELISA can differentiate WSSV-infected shrimp from uninfected shrimp and was further confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. Approximately 400 pg of purified WSSV sample and 20 pg of r-28 could be detected by Ac-ELISA, which is comparable in sensitivity to PCR assay but more sensitive than Western blot in the detection of purified virus. Hemolymph and tissue homogenate samples collected from a shrimp farm in Malaysia during December 2000 and July 2001 were also detected by Ac-ELISA and PCR with corroborating results.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses/genetics; DNA Viruses/immunology; DNA Viruses/isolation & purification*
  8. Fulltext Serological evidence and experimental infection of cynomolgus macaques with pteropine orthoreovirus reveal monkeys as potential hosts for transmission to humans
    Tan CW, Wittwer K, Lim XF, Uehara A, Mani S, Wang LF, et al.
    Emerg Microbes Infect, 2019;8(1):787-795.
    PMID: 31132935 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1621668
    Pteropine orthoreoviruses (PRV) are emerging bat-borne viruses with proven zoonotic transmission. We recently demonstrated human exposure to PRV in Singapore, which together with previous reports from Malaysia and Vietnam suggest that human infection of PRV may occur periodically in the region. This raises the question whether bats are the only sources of human infection. In this study, we screened 517 cynomolgus macaques caught in Singapore for evidence of exposure to PRV3M (also known as Melaka virus), which was first isolated from human patients in Melaka, Malaysia. We found that 67 serum samples were PRV3M positive by ELISA and 34 were also positive by virus neutralization assay. To investigate whether monkeys could act as hosts for PRV transmission, we experimentally infected cynomolgus macaques with PRV3M and housed these animals with uninfected monkeys. Although no clinical signs of infection were observed in infected animals, viral RNA was detected in nasal and rectal swabs and all infected macaques seroconverted. Additionally, one of the uninfected animals seroconverted, implying active shedding and transmission of PRV3M. We provide evidence that PRV exposure in the macaque population in Singapore occurs at a relatively high prevalence and this study suggests that cynomolgus macaques may be an intermediate or reservoir host for PRVs.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses
  9. Fulltext Ivermectin: Potential Role as Repurposed Drug for COVID-19
    Dixit A, Yadav R, Singh AV
    Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Jul;27(4):154-158.
    PMID: 32863755 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.4.15
    Severe acute respiratory illness caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), officially named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in late December 2019 is an extremely communicable disease. World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic as it has spread to at least 200 countries in a short span of time. Being a new disease there is lack of information about pathogenesis and proliferation pathways of this new coronavirus. Currently there is no effective treatment for coronavirus infection; major effort is to develop vaccine against the virus and development of therapeutic drugs for the disease. The development of genome-based vaccine and therapeutic antibodies require thorough testing for safety and will be available after some time. In the meanwhile, the available practical approach is to repurpose existing therapeutic agents, with proven safety record as a rapid response measure for the current pandemic. Here we discuss the presently used repurposed drugs for COVID-19 and the potential for ivermectin (IVM) to be used as a therapeutic option in COVID-19.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses
  10. Fulltext Role of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Management of Viral Pneumonia
    Xi S, Li Y, Yue L, Gong Y, Qian L, Liang T, et al.
    Front Pharmacol, 2020;11:582322.
    PMID: 33192523 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.582322
    Viral pneumonia is one kind of acute respiratory tract infection caused by the virus. There have been many outbreaks of viral pneumonia with high contagiousness and mortality both in China and abroad, such as the great influenza in 1918, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus in 2003, the Influenza A (H1N1) virus in 2009, and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012 and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019. These outbreaks and/or pandemic have significant impact on human life, social behaviors, and economic development. Moreover, no specific drug has been developed for these viruses. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in the treatment of viral pneumonia during these outbreaks especially in SARS and SARS-CoV-2 because studies suggest that TCM formulations may target several aspects of the disease and may have lesser side effects than manufactured pharmaceuticals. In recent years, a lot of clinicians and researchers have made a series of in-depth explorations and investigations on the treatment of viral pneumonia with TCM, which have understood TCM therapeutic mechanisms more specifically and clearly. But critical analysis of this research in addition to further studies are needed to assess the potential of TCM in the treatment of viral pneumonia.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses
  11. A new bacterial white spot syndrome (BWSS) in cultured tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon and its comparison with white spot syndrome (WSS) caused by virus
    Wang YG, Lee KL, Najiah M, Shariff M, Hassan MD
    Dis Aquat Organ, 2000 May 25;41(1):9-18.
    PMID: 10907134
    This paper describes a new bacterial white spot syndrome (BWSS) in cultured tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. The affected shrimp showed white spots similar to those caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), but the shrimp remained active and grew normally without significant mortalities. The study revealed no evidence of WSSV infection using electron microscopy, histopathology and nested polymerase chain reaction. Electron microscopy indicated bacteria associated with white spot formation, and with degeneration and discoloration of the cuticle as a result of erosion of the epicuticle and underlying cuticular layers. Grossly the white spots in BWSS and WSS look similar but showed different profiles under wet mount microscopy. The bacterial white spots were lichen-like, having perforated centers unlike the melanized dots in WSSV-induced white spots. Bacteriological examination showed that the dominant isolate in the lesions was Bacillus subtilis. The occurrence of BWSS may be associated with the regular use of probiotics containing B. subtilis in shrimp ponds. The externally induced white spot lesions were localized at the integumental tissues, i.e., cuticle and epidermis, and connective tissues. Damage to the deeper tissues was limited. The BWS lesions are non-fatal in the absence of other complications and are usually shed through molting.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses
  12. Fulltext Nucleic Acid-Based Diagnostic Tests for the Detection SARS-CoV-2: An Update
    Yu CY, Chan KG, Yean CY, Ang GY
    Diagnostics (Basel), 2021 Jan 01;11(1).
    PMID: 33401392 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11010053
    The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began as a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China before spreading to over 200 countries and territories on six continents in less than six months. Despite rigorous global containment and quarantine efforts to limit the transmission of the virus, COVID-19 cases and deaths have continued to increase, leaving devastating impacts on the lives of many with far-reaching effects on the global society, economy and healthcare system. With over 43 million cases and 1.1 million deaths recorded worldwide, accurate and rapid diagnosis continues to be a cornerstone of pandemic control. In this review, we aim to present an objective overview of the latest nucleic acid-based diagnostic tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 that have been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under emergency use authorization (EUA) as of 31 October 2020. We systematically summarize and compare the principles, technologies, protocols and performance characteristics of amplification- and sequencing-based tests that have become alternatives to the CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel. We highlight the notable features of the tests including authorized settings, along with the advantages and disadvantages of the tests. We conclude with a brief discussion on the current challenges and future perspectives of COVID-19 diagnostics.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA Viruses
  13. Molecular Characterization of Begomoviruses Associated with Leafcurl Diseases of Tomato in Bangladesh, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam
    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
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