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Prospects of plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIlI & D) in the biomaterials field in Malaysia and south East Asia

Mohamed MH

Med J Malaysia, 2004 May;59 Suppl B:19-20.
PMID: 15468798

One of the emerging technologies in the area of plasma processing is plasma immersion ion implantation (PSII). The paper addresses the merits offered by the PSII technique especially in the area of biomaterial processing. Worldwide development status as well as the drive towards commercial applications is elaborated in an attempt to draw the attention to the importance of the process for Malaysia as well as south East Asia.

Matched MeSH terms: Ions/metabolism*
Effects of heavy metals on bacterial growth parameters in degradation of phenol by an Antarctic bacterial consortium

Tengku-Mazuki TA, Darham S, Convey P, Shaharuddin NA, Zulkharnain A, Khalil KA, et al.

Braz J Microbiol, 2024 Mar;55(1):629-637.
PMID: 38110706 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01215-8

Antarctica has often been perceived as a pristine continent until the recent few decades as pollutants have been observed accruing in the Antarctic environment. Irresponsible human activities such as accidental oil spills, waste incineration and sewage disposal are among the primary anthropogenic sources of heavy metal contaminants in Antarctica. Natural sources including animal excrement, volcanism and geological weathering also contribute to the increase of heavy metals in the ecosystem. A microbial growth model is presented for the growth of a bacterial cell consortium used in the biodegradation of phenol in media containing different metal ions, namely arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), aluminium (Al), nickel (Ni), silver (Ag), lead (Pb) and cobalt (Co). Bacterial growth was inhibited by these ions in the rank order of Al

Matched MeSH terms: Ions/metabolism
Effect of ion pair on thermostability of F1 protease: integration of computational and experimental approaches

Rahman RN, Muhd Noor ND, Ibrahim NA, Salleh AB, Basri M

J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2012 Jan;22(1):34-45.
PMID: 22297217

A thermophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus F1 produces an extremely thermostable serine protease. The F1 protease sequence was used to predict its three-dimensional (3D) structure to provide better insights into the relationship between the protein structure and biological function and to identify opportunities for protein engineering. The final model was evaluated to ensure its accuracy using three independent methods: Procheck, Verify3D, and Errat. The predicted 3D structure of F1 protease was compared with the crystal structure of serine proteases from mesophilic bacteria and archaea, and led to the identification of features that were related to protein stabilization. Higher thermostability correlated with an increased number of residues that were involved in ion pairs or networks of ion pairs. Therefore, the mutants W200R and D58S were designed using site-directed mutagenesis to investigate F1 protease stability. The effects of addition and disruption of ion pair networks on the activity and various stabilities of mutant F1 proteases were compared with those of the wild-type F1 protease.

Matched MeSH terms: Ions/metabolism
Fulltext Novel insights into the potential role of ion transport in sensory perception in Acanthamoeba

Siddiqui R, Roberts SK, Ong TYY, Mungroo MR, Anwar A, Khan NA

Parasit Vectors, 2019 Nov 14;12(1):538.
PMID: 31727139 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3785-0

BACKGROUND: Acanthamoeba is well known to produce a blinding keratitis and serious brain infection known as encephalitis. Effective treatment is problematic, and can continue up to a year, and even then, recurrence can ensue. Partly, this is due to the capability of vegetative amoebae to convert into resistant cysts. Cysts can persist in an inactive form for decades while retaining their pathogenicity. It is not clear how Acanthamoeba cysts monitor environmental changes, and determine favourable conditions leading to their emergence as viable trophozoites.
METHODS: The role of ion transporters in the encystation and excystation of Acanthamoeba remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of sodium, potassium and calcium ion transporters as well as proton pump inhibitors on A. castellanii encystation and excystation and their effects on trophozoites.
RESULTS: Remarkably 3',4'-dichlorobenzamil hydrochloride a sodium-calcium exchange inhibitor, completely abolished excystation of Acanthamoeba. Furthermore, lanthanum oxide and stevioside hydrate, both potassium transport inhibitors, resulted in the partial inhibition of Acanthamoeba excystation. Conversely, none of the ion transport inhibitors affected encystation or had any effects on Acanthamoeba trophozoites viability.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that ion transporters are involved in sensory perception of A. castellanii suggesting their value as potential therapeutic targets to block cellular differentiation that presents a significant challenge in the successful prognosis of Acanthamoeba infections.

Matched MeSH terms: Ions/metabolism*