The emergence of genetic mutations in chromosomal genes and the transmissible plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene may have helped in the spread of colistin resistance among various Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) isolates and other different bacteria. In this study, the prevalence of mutated colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates was studied globally using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. A systematic search was conducted in databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar. The pooled prevalence of mutated colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae isolates was analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software (CMA). A total of 50 articles were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of mutated colistin resistance in K. pneumoniae was estimated at 75.4% (95% CI = 67.2–82.1) at high heterogeneity (I2 = 81.742%, p-value < 0.001). Meanwhile, the results of the subgroup analysis demonstrated the highest prevalence in Saudi Arabia with 97.9% (95% CI = 74.1–99.9%) and Egypt, with 4.5% (95% CI = 0.6–26.1%), had the lowest. The majority of mutations could be observed in the mgrB gene (88%), pmrB gene (54%) and phoQ gene (44%). The current study showed a high prevalence of the mutation of colistin resistance genes in K. pneumoniae. Therefore, it is recommended that regular monitoring be performed to control the spread of colistin resistance.
Detectable neonatal Nav1.5 (nNav1.5) expression in tumour breast tissue positive for lymph node metastasis and triple-negative subtype serves as a valid tumour-associated antigen to target and prevent breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Therapeutic antibodies against tumour antigens have become the predominant class of new drugs in cancer therapy because of their fewer adverse effects and high specificity.This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic and anti-metastatic potential of the two newly obtained anti-nNav1.5 antibodies, polyclonal anti-nNav1.5 (pAb-nNav1.5) and monoclonal anti-nNav1.5 (mAb-nNav1.5), on breast cancer invasion and metastasis.MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells were used as in vitro models to study the effect of pAb-nNav1.5 (59.2 µg/ml) and mAb-nNav1.5 (10 µg/ml) (24 hours treatment) on cell invasion. 4T1-induced mammary tumours in BALB/c female mice were used as an in vivo model to study the effect of a single dose of intravenous pAb-nNav1.5 (1 mg/ml) and mAb-nNav1.5 (1 mg/ml) on the occurrence of metastasis. Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining were conducted to assess the effect of antibody treatment on nNav1.5 mRNA and protein expression, respectively. The animals' body weight, organs, lesions, and tumour mass were also measured and compared.pAb-nNav1.5 and mAb-nNav1.5 treatments effectively suppressed the invasion of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells in the 3D spheroid invasion assay. Both antibodies significantly reduced nNav1.5 gene and protein expression in these cell lines. Treatment with pAb-nNav1.5 and mAb-nNav1.5 successfully reduced mammary tumour tissue size and mass and prevented lesions in vital organs of the mammary tumour animal model whilst maintaining the animal's healthy weight. mRNA expression of nNav1.5 in mammary tumour tissues was only reduced by mAb-nNav1.5.Overall, this work verifies the uniqueness of targeting nNav1.5 in breast cancer invasion and metastasis prevention, but more importantly, humanised versions of mAb-nNav1.5 may be valuable passive immunotherapeutic agents to target nNav1.5 in breast cancer.
We describe here the draft genome sequence and basic characteristics of Escherichia coli isolate INF13/18/A, which was isolated from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Hospital. This isolate was identified as an extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli strain harboring the antimicrobial resistance genes TEM, CTX-M-1, and CTX-M-9.
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) that has developed resistance to many antimicrobials poses a serious challenge to public health. Hence, this study aimed to systematically determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in S. Typhi isolated from the environment and humans as well as to ascertain the spread of the selected AMR genes in S. Typhi. This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, and the study protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). A total of 2353 studies were retrieved from three databases, of which 42 studies fulfilled the selection criteria. The pooled prevalence of AMR S. Typhi (using a random-effect model) was estimated at 84.8% (95% CI; 77.3–90.2), with high heterogeneity (I2: 95.35%, p-value < 0.001). The high estimated prevalence indicates that control methods should be improved immediately to prevent the spread of AMR among S. Typhi internationally.
Natural resources especially plants give great opportunities for alternative treatment of many diseases. The interests in herbal or plant medicines have been increasing in recent years due to their efficacy and cost-effectiveness (Ekor, 2014). Piper betle L. or known as ‘Sireh’ in Malaysia has been useful in treating various conditions including wound injuries, conjunctivitis, constipation, bronchitis, and asthma (Hossain et al, 2017). Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the phytochemical compounds present in Piper betle L. methanolic extraction using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) analyses. First, the leaves of the plant were grounded into powder and consecutively soaked in methanol for 15 days. The mixture was then filtered and converted to concentrate using rotary evaporator before been subjected to analyses. GCMS and LCMS have identified 10 and 26 compounds respectively. ‘Phenols’ was identified as a major component of the extract in both analyses. Additional compounds such as ‘Cassiaside’, ‘Samarcandin’ and ‘Sesamoside’ were identified by LCMS. The results exhibited compounds with medicinal properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. This study has discovered the presence of phytocomponents with therapeutic importance, which can further be studied and be used in future treatments.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a worldwide health anxiety. The rapid dispersion of the infection globally results in unparalleled economic, social, and health impacts. The pathogen that causes COVID-19 is known as a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A fast and low-cost diagnosis method for COVID-19 disease can play an important role in controlling its proliferation. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a quick, non-destructive, non-invasive, and inexpensive technique for profiling the chemical and physical structures of a wide range of samples. Furthermore, the NIRS has the advantage of incorporating the internet of things (IoT) application for the effective control and treatment of the disease. In recent years, a significant advancement in instrumentation and spectral analysis methods has resulted in a remarkable impact on the NIRS applications, especially in the medical discipline. To date, NIRS has been applied as a technique for detecting various viruses including zika (ZIKV), chikungunya (CHIKV), influenza, hepatitis C, dengue (DENV), and human immunodeficiency (HIV). This review aims to outline some historical and contemporary applications of NIRS in virology and its merit as a novel diagnostic technique for SARS-CoV-2.
Livestock is a group of domesticated animal that is reared in an agricultural setting. It usually served as a source of income for most peoples in Malaysia. However, the productions of this livestock especially goats have been decreasing due to the occurrence of gastrointestinal helminths infection. The aim of this study was to identify the presence and species of gastrointestinal helminths from 120 fecal samples collected directly from the rectum of goats from a farm located in Kuantan, Pahang. Firstly, the physical observation was evaluated on all goats. Then, their fecal sample was examined within 96 hours using Formal-ether Sedimentation method for the morphological characteristics identification of gastrointestinal helminthic species under the microscope. This study has identified the majority of goats with a good physical condition, that they have no sign of blood loss and have appropriate body frame. However, the microscopic identification has revealed 89 from the total samples positive with gastrointestinal helminths species while 76 of the positive showed presence of mixed species. The species found were Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., Trichuris ovis, Oesophagostomum spp., Ostertagia spp., and Strongyloides papillosus. This high infection of gastrointestinal helminths observed in goats is related to an impaired immune system, poor farm management, and uncontrolled anthelmintic treatment. The presence of various species of gastrointestinal helminths within a goat is an important cause of morbidity and loss of production. Therefore, this study suggested the need for an effective system of management, diagnosis and appropriate treatment that can reduce the risk of infection and increase the productivity of the animals. Â Â
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