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  1. Fulltext A Host-Vector System for the Expression of a Thermostable Bacterial Lipase in a Locally Isolated Meyerozyma guilliermondii SMB
    Salleh AB, Baharuddin SM, Rahman RNZRA, Leow TC, Basri M, Oslan SN
    Microorganisms, 2020 Nov 06;8(11).
    PMID: 33171893 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111738
    Screening for a new yeast as an alternative host is expected to solve the limitations in the present yeast expression system. A yeast sample which was isolated from the traditional food starter 'ragi' from Malaysia was identified to contain Meyerozyma guilliermondii strain SMB. This yeast-like fungus strain SMB was characterized to assess its suitability as an expression host. Lipase activity was absent in this host (when assayed at 30 °C and 70 °C) and Hygromycin B (50 μg/mL) was found to be its best selection marker. Then, the hyg gene (Hygromycin B) was used to replace the sh ble gene (Zeocin) expression cassette in a Komagataella phaffii expression vector (designated as pFLDhα). A gene encoding the mature thermostable lipase from Bacillus sp. L2 was cloned into pFLDhα, followed by transformation into strain SMB. The optimal expression of L2 lipase was achieved using YPTM (Yeast Extract-Peptone-Tryptic-Methanol) medium after 48 h with 0.5% (v/v) methanol induction, which was 3 times faster than another K. phaffii expression system. In conclusion, a new host-vector system was established as a platform to express L2 lipase under the regulation of PFLD1. It could also be promising to express other recombinant proteins without inducers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins; Recombinant Proteins
  2. Focal Segmental Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis: A Histological Variant of Denys-Drash Syndrome
    Karmila AB, Yap YC, Appadurai M, Oh L, Fazarina M, Abd Ghani F, et al.
    Fetal Pediatr Pathol, 2021 Apr;40(2):113-120.
    PMID: 31707902 DOI: 10.1080/15513815.2019.1686788
    Introduction: Denys-Drash Syndrome (DDS) consists of a triad of pseudohermaphroditism, Wilms'tumor and nephropathy. This condition may manifest as a complete triad or in an incomplete form; with either one or a combination of the above features. The characteristic glomerular abnormality in DDS is diffuse mesangial sclerosis (DMS).Case report: We report two cases of DDS with focal membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). Both of our cases were males with ambiguous genitalia. They had a similar heterozygous germline mutation in exon 9 of WT1, c.1180C>T, p.R394W; a known mutation hotspot for DDS. Case 1 had nephropathy at the age of 4 years and Case 2 at 2.5 years with different rates of progression to end-stage renal failure. Conclusion: Our findings, in combination with other reports, illustrate the clinicopathological heterogeneity of DDS. There are no universal recommendations for optimal management of patients with DDS due to the inability to accurately predict affected individuals' progress.
    Matched MeSH terms: WT1 Proteins/genetics
  3. Structural and functional studies of a 50 kDa antigenic protein from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi
    Choong YS, Lim TS, Chew AL, Aziah I, Ismail A
    J Mol Graph Model, 2011 Apr;29(6):834-42.
    PMID: 21371926 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2011.01.008
    The high typhoid incidence rate in developing and under-developed countries emphasizes the need for a rapid, affordable and accessible diagnostic test for effective therapy and disease management. TYPHIDOT®, a rapid dot enzyme immunoassay test for typhoid, was developed from the discovery of a ∼50 kDa protein specific for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. However, the structure of this antigen remains unknown till today. Studies on the structure of this antigen are important to elucidate its function, which will in turn increase the efficiency of the development and improvement of the typhoid detection test. This paper described the predictive structure and function of the antigenically specific protein. The homology modeling approach was employed to construct the three-dimensional structure of the antigen. The built structure possesses the features of TolC-like outer membrane protein. Molecular docking simulation was also performed to further probe the functionality of the antigen. Docking results showed that hexamminecobalt, Co(NH(3))(6)(3+), as an inhibitor of TolC protein, formed favorable hydrogen bonds with D368 and D371 of the antigen. The single point (D368A, D371A) and double point (D368A and D371A) mutations of the antigen showed a decrease (single point mutation) and loss (double point mutations) of binding affinity towards hexamminecobalt. The architecture features of the built model and the docking simulation reinforced and supported that this antigen is indeed the variant of outer membrane protein, TolC. As channel proteins are important for the virulence and survival of bacteria, therefore this ∼50 kDa channel protein is a good specific target for typhoid detection test.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry*; Membrane Proteins/genetics; Membrane Proteins/metabolism; Membrane Proteins/chemistry
  4. Local acclimatisation-driven differential gene and protein expression patterns of Hsp70 in Acropora muricata: Implications for coral tolerance to bleaching
    Louis YD, Bhagooli R, Seveso D, Maggioni D, Galli P, Vai M, et al.
    Mol Ecol, 2020 11;29(22):4382-4394.
    PMID: 32967057 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15642
    Corals show spatial acclimatisation to local environment conditions. However, the various cellular mechanisms involved in local acclimatisation and variable bleaching patterns in corals remain to be thoroughly understood. In this study, the modulation of a protein implicated in cellular heat stress tolerance, the heat shock protein 70, was compared at both gene (hsp70) and protein (Hsp70) expression level in bleaching tolerant near-coast Acropora muricata colonies and bleaching susceptible reef colonies, in the lagoon of Belle Mare (Mauritius). The relative Hsp70 levels varied significantly between colonies from the two different locations, colonies having different health conditions and the year of collection. Before the bleaching event of 2016, near-coast colonies had higher basal levels of both Hsp70 gene and protein compared to reef colonies. During the bleaching event, the near-coast colonies did not bleach and had significantly higher relative levels of both Hsp70 gene and protein compared to bleached reef colonies. No significant genetic differentiation between the two studied coral populations was observed and all the colonies analysed were associated with Symbiodiniaceae of the genus Symbiodinium (Clade A) irrespective of location and sampling period. These findings provide further evidence of the involvement of Hsp70 in conferring bleaching tolerance to corals. Moreover, the consistent expression differences of Hsp70 gene and protein between the near-coast and reef coral populations in a natural setting indicate that the modulation of this Hsp is involved in local acclimatisation of corals to their environments.
    Matched MeSH terms: HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics
  5. Plant Bioactive Peptides: Current Status and Prospects Towards Use on Human Health
    Chai TT, Ee KY, Kumar DT, Manan FA, Wong FC
    Protein Pept Lett, 2021;28(6):623-642.
    PMID: 33319654 DOI: 10.2174/0929866527999201211195936
    Large numbers of bioactive peptides with potential applications in protecting against human diseases have been identified from plant sources. In this review, we summarized recent progress in the research of plant-derived bioactive peptides, encompassing their production, biological effects, and mechanisms. This review focuses on antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and anticancer peptides, giving special attention to evidence derived from cellular and animal models. Studies investigating peptides with known sequences and well-characterized peptidic fractions or protein hydrolysates will be discussed. The use of molecular docking tools to elucidate inter-molecular interactions between bioactive peptides and target proteins is highlighted. In conclusion, the accumulating evidence from in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies to date supports the envisioned applications of plant peptides as natural antioxidants as well as health-promoting agents. Notwithstanding, much work is still required before the envisioned applications of plant peptides can be realized. To this end, future researches for addressing current gaps were proposed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Proteins*
  6. Fulltext Genetic diversity of circumsporozoite protein in Plasmodium knowlesi isolates from Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia
    Chong ETJ, Neoh JWF, Lau TY, Lim YA, Chai HC, Chua KH, et al.
    Malar J, 2020 Oct 22;19(1):377.
    PMID: 33092594 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03451-x
    BACKGROUND: Understanding the genetic diversity of candidate genes for malaria vaccines such as circumsporozoite protein (csp) may enhance the development of vaccines for treating Plasmodium knowlesi. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate the genetic diversity of non-repeat regions of csp in P. knowlesi from Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia.

    METHODS: A total of 46 csp genes were subjected to polymerase chain reaction amplification. The genes were obtained from P. knowlesi isolates collected from different divisions of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, and Peninsular Malaysia. The targeted gene fragments were cloned into a commercial vector and sequenced, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed while incorporating 168 csp sequences retrieved from the GenBank database. The genetic diversity and natural evolution of the csp sequences were analysed using MEGA6 and DnaSP ver. 5.10.01. A genealogical network of the csp haplotypes was generated using NETWORK ver. 4.6.1.3.

    RESULTS: The phylogenetic analysis revealed indistinguishable clusters of P. knowlesi isolates across different geographic regions, including Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Nucleotide analysis showed that the csp non-repeat regions of zoonotic P. knowlesi isolates obtained in this study underwent purifying selection with population expansion, which was supported by extensive haplotype sharing observed between humans and macaques. Novel variations were observed in the C-terminal non-repeat region of csp.

    CONCLUSIONS: The csp non-repeat regions are relatively conserved and there is no distinct cluster of P. knowlesi isolates from Malaysian Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Distinctive variation data obtained in the C-terminal non-repeat region of csp could be beneficial for the design and development of vaccines to treat P. knowlesi.

    Matched MeSH terms: Protozoan Proteins/genetics*
  7. Functional evaluation of a recombinant fungal immunomodulatory protein from L. rhinocerus produced in P. pastoris and E. coli host expression systems
    Ejike UC, Chan CJ, Lim CSY, Lim RLH
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2021 Apr;105(7):2799-2813.
    PMID: 33763709 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11225-x
    Fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs) are bioactive proteins with immunomodulatory properties. We previously reported the heterologous production in Escherichia coli of FIP-Lrh from Tiger milk mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus) with potent cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines. However, protein produced in E. coli lacks post-translational modifications and may be contaminated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin. Therefore, in this study, yFIP-Lrh produced in Pichia pastoris was functionally compared with eFIP-Lrh produced in E. coli. Expression construct of FIP-Lrh cDNA in pPICZα was generated, transformed into P. pastoris X-33 and Mut+ transformants were verified by colony PCR. Induction with 0.5% or 1% methanol resulted in a secreted 13.6 kDa yFIP-Lrh which was subsequently purified and verified using LCMS/MS analysis. Size exclusion chromatography confirmed eFIP-Lrh as a homodimer whereas the larger size of yFIP-Lrh may indicate post-translational modification despite negative for glycoproteins staining. At lower concentration (4-8 μg/mL), yFIP-Lrh induced significantly higher Th1 (IFN-γ, TNF-α) and Th2 (IL-6, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) cytokines production in mice splenocytes, whereas 16 μg/mL eFIP-Lrh induced significantly higher pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10), possibly due to higher residual LPS endotoxin (0.082 EU/mL) in eFIP-Lrh compared to negligible level in yFIP-Lrh (0.001 EU/mL). Furthermore, yFIP-Lrh showed higher cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 and HeLa cancer cells. Since both recombinant proteins of FIP-Lrh have the same peptide sequence, besides glycosylation, other post-translational modifications in yFIP-Lrh may account for its enhanced immunomodulatory and anti-proliferative activities. In conclusion, P. pastoris is preferred over E. coli for production of a functionally active yFIP-Lrh devoid of endotoxin contamination. KEY POINTS: • FIP-Lrh can induced production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines by mouse splenocytes. • Higher cytotoxic effect on cancer cells observed for yeast compared to E. coli produced FIP-Lrh. • P. pastoris allows production of an endotoxin-free and functionally active recombinant FIP-Lrh.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Proteins/genetics
  8. Prognostic prospect of soluble programmed cell death ligand-1 in cancer management
    Khairil Anwar NA, Mohd Nazri MN, Murtadha AH, Mohd Adzemi ER, Balakrishnan V, Mustaffa KMF, et al.
    Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai), 2021 Jul 28;53(8):961-978.
    PMID: 34180502 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmab077
    Aggressive tissue biopsy is commonly unavoidable in the management of most suspected tumor cases to conclusively verify the presence of cancerous cells through histological assessment. The extracted tissue is also immunostained for detection of antigens (tissue tumor markers) of potential prognostic or therapeutic importance to assist in treatment decision. Although liquid biopsies can be a powerful tool for monitoring treatment response, they are still excluded from standard cancer diagnostics, and their utility is still being debated in the scientific community. With a myriad of soluble tissue tumor markers now being discovered, liquid biopsies could completely change the current paradigms of cancer management. Recently, soluble programmed cell death ligand-1 (sPD-L1), which is found in the peripheral blood, i.e. serum and plasma, has shown potential as a pre-therapeutic predictive marker as well as a prognostic biomarker to monitor treatment efficacy. Thus, this review focuses on the emergence of sPD-L1 and promising technologies for its detection in order to support liquid biopsies for future cancer management.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism*
  9. Near esophoria is associated with high myopia
    Chung KM, Chong E
    Clin Exp Optom, 2002 12 11;83(2):71-75.
    PMID: 12472457
    BACKGROUND: A retrospective study was undertaken to examine the hypothesis that esophoria is associated with higher amounts of myopia. METHODS: One hundred and forty-four subjects were selected from the files of optometry clinics at the Department of Optometry, National University of Malaysia, from the years 1995 to 1998 inclusive. These subjects were matched in terms of age group, sex, race and near phoria group. Near phorias were determined by Maddox wing technique and were classified into three groups: more than six prism dioptres exophoria, zero to six prism dioptres exophoria and any esophorias. RESULTS: One way analysis of variance revealed that there were significant differences in mean myopias between the three phoria groups (ANOVA, F(2,141) = 5.34, p < 0.01). Further analysis with the Student-Newman-Keuls test showed that the amount of myopia is significantly higher in the esophoric group than in the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis that near esophoria is associated with high myopia. This study suggests that near phoria might be an important factor in myopia development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Nerve Tissue Proteins; RNA-Binding Proteins
  10. Fulltext Doxycycline Interferes with Zika Virus Serine Protease and Inhibits Virus Replication in Human Skin Fibroblasts
    Chong Teoh T, J Al-Harbi S, Abdulrahman AY, Rothan HA
    Molecules, 2021 Jul 16;26(14).
    PMID: 34299596 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26144321
    Zika virus (ZIKV) represents a re-emerging threat to global health due to its association with congenital birth defects. ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease is crucial for virus replication by cleaving viral polyprotein at various junctions to release viral proteins and cause cytotoxic effects in ZIKV-infected cells. This study characterized the inhibitory effects of doxycycline against ZIKV NS2B-NS3 protease and viral replication in human skin cells. The in silico data showed that doxycycline binds to the active site of ZIKV protease at a low docking energy (-7.8 Kcal/mol) via four hydrogen bonds with the protease residues TYR1130, SER1135, GLY1151, and ASP83. Doxycycline efficiently inhibited viral NS2B-NS3 protease at average human temperature (37 °C) and human temperature with a high fever during virus infection (40 °C). Interestingly, doxycycline showed a higher inhibitory effect at 40 °C (IC50 = 5.3 µM) compared to 37 °C (9.9 µM). The virus replication was considerably reduced by increasing the concentration of doxycycline. An approximately 50% reduction in virus replication was observed at 20 µM of doxycycline. Treatment with 20 µM of doxycycline reduced the cytopathic effects (CPE), and the 40 µM of doxycycline almost eliminated the CPE of human skin cells. This study showed that doxycycline binds to the ZIKV protease and inhibits its catalytic activity at a low micro-molecular concentration range. Treatment of human skin fibroblast with doxycycline eliminated ZIKV infection and protected the cells against the cytopathic effects of the infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Viral Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*; Viral Proteins/metabolism; Viral Proteins/chemistry; Viral Nonstructural Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*; Viral Nonstructural Proteins/metabolism; Viral Nonstructural Proteins/chemistry
  11. A preliminary proteomic study of permethrin resistant and susceptible Aedes aegypti (L.)
    Rosilawati R, Nabila R, Siti Futri Farahininajua F, Nazni WA, Lee HL
    Trop Biomed, 2019 Dec 01;36(4):855-865.
    PMID: 33597458
    The mechanism of insecticide resistance is traditionally attributed to detoxification enzymes, target site alteration, decreased penetration of insecticides and behavioural resistance. Other form of mechanisms, such as the role of protein(s) in resistance is unknown. In the present study, the protein profiling of both IMR-PSS strain (permethrin-selected) and IMR-LS strain (laboratory-susceptible) 24 hours post exposure period to permethrin was carried out via 1D-gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/ MS). The bands which appeared in the gel of 1D-electrophoresis revealed an abundance of proteins. The band pattern of both strains looked macroscopically alike and differed only in band intensity. However, LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that the IMR-PSS strain produced extra 388 peptides that were not found in the IMR-LS strain, indicating that IMR-PSS strain reacted differently from IMR-LS strain as a result of persistent exposure to permethrin. Since the complex banding patterns of 1D-gel electrophoresis were difficult to interpret the significance of the protein difference between IMR-PSS and IMR-LS strain, hence LC-MS/MS analysis is ideally suited for better protein resolution and thus will allow more in-depth comparison of the complex pattern. The findings here provide the first preliminary evidence that insecticide resistance in mosquito induces up regulation of proteins that may be protective to mosquitoes against insecticide and proteins could be another mechanism that contributes to development of resistance.
    Matched MeSH terms: Insect Proteins/genetics
  12. 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.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Proteins/genetics; Recombinant Proteins/immunology; Recombinant Proteins/chemistry; Protozoan Proteins/genetics; Protozoan Proteins/immunology*; Protozoan Proteins/chemistry
  13. Fulltext Reconstructing directed gene regulatory network by only gene expression data
    Zhang L, Feng XK, Ng YK, Li SC
    BMC Genomics, 2016 Aug 18;17 Suppl 4:430.
    PMID: 27556418 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2791-2
    BACKGROUND: Accurately identifying gene regulatory network is an important task in understanding in vivo biological activities. The inference of such networks is often accomplished through the use of gene expression data. Many methods have been developed to evaluate gene expression dependencies between transcription factor and its target genes, and some methods also eliminate transitive interactions. The regulatory (or edge) direction is undetermined if the target gene is also a transcription factor. Some methods predict the regulatory directions in the gene regulatory networks by locating the eQTL single nucleotide polymorphism, or by observing the gene expression changes when knocking out/down the candidate transcript factors; regrettably, these additional data are usually unavailable, especially for the samples deriving from human tissues.

    RESULTS: In this study, we propose the Context Based Dependency Network (CBDN), a method that is able to infer gene regulatory networks with the regulatory directions from gene expression data only. To determine the regulatory direction, CBDN computes the influence of source to target by evaluating the magnitude changes of expression dependencies between the target gene and the others with conditioning on the source gene. CBDN extends the data processing inequality by involving the dependency direction to distinguish between direct and transitive relationship between genes. We also define two types of important regulators which can influence a majority of the genes in the network directly or indirectly. CBDN can detect both of these two types of important regulators by averaging the influence functions of candidate regulator to the other genes. In our experiments with simulated and real data, even with the regulatory direction taken into account, CBDN outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches for inferring gene regulatory network. CBDN identifies the important regulators in the predicted network: 1. TYROBP influences a batch of genes that are related to Alzheimer's disease; 2. ZNF329 and RB1 significantly regulate those 'mesenchymal' gene expression signature genes for brain tumors.

    CONCLUSION: By merely leveraging gene expression data, CBDN can efficiently infer the existence of gene-gene interactions as well as their regulatory directions. The constructed networks are helpful in the identification of important regulators for complex diseases.

    Matched MeSH terms: DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics*; Membrane Proteins/genetics*; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics*; Retinoblastoma Binding Proteins/genetics*
  14. A Comparative Analysis of Protein Stabilizing Potential of Honey and Simulated Honey Sugar Cocktail
    Wong YH, Kadir HA, Tayyab S
    Protein Pept Lett, 2016;23(10):898-904.
    PMID: 27586182
    Urea and thermal denaturations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied in the absence and the presence of honey or simulated honey sugar cocktail (SHSC) using far-UV CD and ANS fluorescence spectroscopy. Presence of 20% (w/v) honey or SHSC in the incubation mixture shifted the urea transition curve towards higher urea concentrations, being higher in the presence of honey and transformed the two-step, three-state transition into a single-step, two-state transition. A comparison of the far-UV CD and the ANS fluorescence spectra of 4.6 M urea-denatured BSA (U-BSA) in the absence and the presence of 20% (w/v) honey or SHSC suggested greater stabilizing potential of honey than SHSC, as U-BSA maintained native like conformation in the presence of 20% (w/v) honey. Furthermore, thermal transition curves of BSA were also shifted towards higher temperature range in the presence of 20% (w/v) SHSC and honey, showing greater shift in the presence of honey. The far-UV CD spectra of the heat-denatured BSA also showed greater stabilization in the presence of honey. Taken together all these results suggested greater protein stabilizing potential of honey than SHSC against chemical and thermal denaturations of BSA.
    Matched MeSH terms: Proteins/chemistry*
  15. Complete genome sequencing revealed novel genetic contexts of the mcr-1 gene in Escherichia coli strains
    Yu CY, Ang GY, Chong TM, Chin PS, Ngeow YF, Yin WF, et al.
    J Antimicrob Chemother, 2017 04 01;72(4):1253-1255.
    PMID: 28031273 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkw541
    Matched MeSH terms: Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics*
  16. Fulltext Sitting anthropometrics groupings of school children from grades 1 to 5
    Hanani Yuhaniz, Asnawi Seraila, Suhaimi Muhammed, Abdul Hamid Saleh
    Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2016;16(10):0-0.
    MyJurnal
    This study on anthropometrics of Primary School children from grade 1 to 5 in Peninsular Malaysia involves 2310 students aged seven to eleven years old. The objectives were to analyze the differentiation of anthropometrics between children of grades 1 to 5 and grouping them to suitable levels in which they are appropriate to propose chair dimensions. A multi-stage sampling method was used, and rural and urban areas were also included in providing anthropometric database that represents the whole Peninsular Malaysia population. There were six dimensions measured in this study, which are sitting shoulder, sitting subscapular height, sitting elbow height, hip width, buttock-popliteal length and popliteal height. All the measurements were chosen to represent dimensions needed to construct ergonomic school chair. From the results, ANOVA showed p-values of
    Matched MeSH terms: Nerve Tissue Proteins; RNA-Binding Proteins
  17. Fulltext Screening and Expression of a Silicon Transporter Gene (Lsi1) in Wild-Type Indica Rice Cultivars
    Sahebi M, Hanafi MM, Rafii MY, Azizi P, Abiri R, Kalhori N, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2017;2017:9064129.
    PMID: 28191468 DOI: 10.1155/2017/9064129
    Silicon (Si) is one of the most prevalent elements in the soil. It is beneficial for plant growth and development, and it contributes to plant defense against different stresses. The Lsi1 gene encodes a Si transporter that was identified in a mutant Japonica rice variety. This gene was not identified in fourteen Malaysian rice varieties during screening. Then, a mutant version of Lsi1 was substituted for the native version in the three most common Malaysian rice varieties, MR219, MR220, and MR276, to evaluate the function of the transgene. Real-time PCR was used to explore the differential expression of Lsi1 in the three transgenic rice varieties. Silicon concentrations in the roots and leaves of transgenic plants were significantly higher than in wild-type plants. Transgenic varieties showed significant increases in the activities of the enzymes SOD, POD, APX, and CAT; photosynthesis; and chlorophyll content; however, the highest chlorophyll A and B levels were observed in transgenic MR276. Transgenic varieties have shown a stronger root and leaf structure, as well as hairier roots, compared to the wild-type plants. This suggests that Lsi1 plays a key role in rice, increasing the absorption and accumulation of Si, then alters antioxidant activities, and improves morphological properties.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Proteins/genetics*; Plant Proteins/metabolism; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics*; Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
  18. Fulltext Morphometric and morphological study of mental foramen in the Malaysian population: anatomy and forensic implications
    Aspalilah Alias, AbdelNasser Ibrahim, Siti Noorain Abu Bakar, Mohamed Swarhib Shafie, Faridah Mohd Nor, Srijit Das
    International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2017;16(2):47-53.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: The mental foramen is present on either side of the body of the mandible bone. This foramen
    transmits mental vessels and nerves. In forensic anthropology, mental foramen may be important for
    differentiating sex, estimating age and identifying various races based on morphology. The main aim of the
    present study was to determine the position, shape and diameter of the mental foramen according to sex,
    age and race by postmortem computed tomography in the Malaysian population.

    Materials and Methods: A total of 79 dentulous patients (48 males, 31 females) from 3 age groups (18-30 years, 31– 50 years, 51-74
    years) were selected for this study, and ten parameters were observed for each mandible. The parameters
    were divided into two morphological and eight morphometric parameters. The morphometric parameters
    were measured by using Osirix MD Software 3D Volume Rendering.

    Results: Results showed that mandibular
    body length and height were significantly greater in males than in females by independent t-test. (p< 0.05).
    However, the mandibular body height was found to decrease significantly with age in both sexes by one-way
    Anova. It was observed that the shape of mental foramen was 45.6% oval and 54.4% rounded. About 44.3% of
    them were in line with the longitudinal axis of the second premolar tooth.

    Conclusion: It was concluded that
    mental foramen may be used for identification purposes, particularly for sex, age and race determination.
    Matched MeSH terms: Nerve Tissue Proteins; RNA-Binding Proteins
  19. Harvesting of the Microalga Nannochloropsis sp. by Bioflocculation with Mung Bean Protein Extract
    Kandasamy G, Shaleh SRM
    Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2017 Jun;182(2):586-597.
    PMID: 27957653 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-016-2346-7
    Harvesting microalgae from medium is a major challenge due to their small size and low concentrations. In an attempt to find a cost-effective and eco-friendly harvesting technique, mung bean (Vigna radiata) protein extract (MBPE) was used for flocculation of Nannochloropsis sp. The effects of parameters such as pH, flocculant dose, algae concentration, and mixing time were used to study the flocculation efficiency (FE) of MBPE. Optimum parameters of MBPE dosage of 20 mL L(-1) and a mixing rate of 300 rpm for 6 min achieved a FE of >92% after 2 h of settling time. MBPE-aggregated microlga flocs were characterized by microscopy. Zeta potential values decreased with increasing flocculant dose, and the values obtained were -6.93 ± 0.60, -5.36 ± 0.64, and -4.44 ± 0.22 for doses of 10, 20, and 30 mL L(-1), respectively. In conclusion, MBPE flocculants used in this study are safe, nontoxic, and pollution free, so they could be used for an effective, convenient, and rapid harvesting of microalgae in an eco-friendly approach. These methods are sustainable and could be applied in industrial scale for aquaculture nutrition.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Proteins/chemistry*
  20. Fulltext Flexural and morphological properties of newly developed glass ionomer cement (GIC) with the incorporation of 3-acetylcoumarin
    Azlisham, N.A.F., Abdul Rahman, F.S., Mohamad, D.
    Malaysian Journal of Microscopy, 2015;11(1):11-15.
    MyJurnal
    The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of incorporation of 3- acetylcoumarin (3-AC), an antibacterial agent, on the mechanical and surface morphology of glass ionomer cement (GIC). A conventional GIC, Fuji II LC, was used as a control. 3-AC was incorporated into GIC during its manipulation at percentage of 2% and 5% (wt/wt). Flexural strength of the specimens were analysed using Shimadzu AGX-Plus while morphological evaluation of the specimens were observed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Oneway analysis (ANOVA) with post-hoc Bonferroni multiple-range test was used to determine the significant differences among the groups. Statistically, the incorporation of 2% (wt/wt) of 3-AC into GIC showed a significantly lower flexural strength (p
    Matched MeSH terms: Nerve Tissue Proteins; RNA-Binding Proteins
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