Taznim Mohidin - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Taznim Mohidin
<p>List of primers used in RT-qPCR assays.</p
<p>(a) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours. One hundr... more <p>(a) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours. One hundred nanograms of poly I:C was transfected into the A549-PB1 cells using X-tremeGENE transfection method or added directly into the culture media without transfection (mock) for six hours. The expression of <i>IFNβ</i>, <i>IFIT2</i>, <i>IL6</i> and <i>TNFα</i> were measured with RT-qPCR. (b) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours. Twenty micromolar of PAMer-Cy3 was transfected into the A549-PB1 cells for twelve hours using X-tremeGENE transfection method. The signal of PAMer-Cy3 was measured using FACS. Error bars represent the variation range of duplicate experiments. Student’s t-test: *, p < 0.05.</p
<p>(a) Chemical structures and chemical names of 525A, 526A, 527A and 528A. (b) A549-PB1 ce... more <p>(a) Chemical structures and chemical names of 525A, 526A, 527A and 528A. (b) A549-PB1 cells were seeded in a 96-well plate and pre-treated with various concentrations of the four compounds (525A, 526A, 527A and 528A) for two days. Cells viability was measured with a MTT assay. Error bars represent the variation range of triplicate experiments. (c) A549-PB1 cells were seeded in a 96-well plate and pre-treated with the four compounds at 50 μM for four hours followed by PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for eighteen hours. Fluorescence microscopy images were taken using an Olympus IX73 inverted microscope at 200x final magnification and photographed using an Olympus DP73 digital camera with Cellsens standard software.</p
<p>A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected ... more <p>A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected to PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for twelve hours. The expression of <i>IFNβ</i>, <i>IFIT2</i>, <i>IP10</i> and <i>IL6</i> was measured with RT-qPCR (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170352#pone.0170352.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>). Error bars represent the variation range of duplicate experiments. Student’s t-test: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.</p
<p>(a) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjec... more <p>(a) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected to PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for the indicated time points. The expression of M1, NS1, PR8-NP and eGFP from both IAV negative-strand vRNA and positive-strand mRNA was measured with RT-qPCR (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170352#pone.0170352.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>). Error bars represent the variation range of duplicate experiments. (b) A549-PB1 cells were treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected to PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for twelve hours. The whole cell extracts were collected and subjected to immunoblotting with antibodies against NP and actin. (c) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected to PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 0.75 for eighteen hours. Cells were washed and fixed with 0.1% formaldehyde before titering with FACS. (d) A549-PB1 cells were infected with the harvested supernatant in Fig 2c and subjected to a viral titering assay using FACS. NT: non-treated sample. (e) The left panel shows the percentage of GFP-positive cells upon primary IAV infection in A549-PB1 cells while the right panel shows the viral titering of secondary IAV infection from the harvested viral supernatant. Error bars represent the variation range of duplicate experiments. IP: infectious viral particle. Student’s t-test: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.</p
<p>The A549-PB1 cells were treated with various concentrations of 526A as indicated for fou... more <p>The A549-PB1 cells were treated with various concentrations of 526A as indicated for four hours followed by PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for twelve hours. Whole cell extracts were prepared and immunoblotted with antibodies against PARP, p-IRF3 and p-STAT1.</p
Planta Medica, 2022
Two iboga-vobasine bisindoles, 16′-decarbomethoxyvoacamine (1) and its 19,20-dihydro derivative, ... more Two iboga-vobasine bisindoles, 16′-decarbomethoxyvoacamine (1) and its 19,20-dihydro derivative, 16′-decarbomethoxydihydrovoacamine (2) from Tabernaemontana corymbosa exhibited potent cytotoxicity against the human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells in our previous studies. Bisindoles 1 and 2 selectively inhibited the growth of HT-29 cells without significant cytotoxicity to normal human colon fibroblasts CCD-18Co. Treatment with bisindoles 1 and 2 suppressed the formation of HT-29 colonies via G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and induction of mitochondrial apoptosis. Owing to its higher antiproliferative activity, bisindole 2 was chosen for the subsequent studies. Bisindole 2 inhibited the formation of HT-29 spheroids (tumor-like cell aggregates) in 3D experiments in a dose-dependent manner, while an in vitro tubulin polymerization assay and molecular docking analysis showed that bisindole 2 is a microtubule-stabilizing agent which is predicted to bind at the β-tubulin subunit at the tax...
Table S1. Genes involved in chitin degradation identified from RAST analysis. (DOCX 18 kb)
Reports of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2021
Background: Rebaudioside A is one of the major diterpene glycosides found in Stevia had been repo... more Background: Rebaudioside A is one of the major diterpene glycosides found in Stevia had been reported to possess anti-hyperlipidemic effects. In this study, we explore the potential cholesterol-regulating mechanisms of Rebaudioside A in the human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line in comparison with simvastatin. Methods: Cells were incubated with Rebaudioside A at several concentrations (0-10 µM) to determine the cytotoxicity by the MTT assay. Cells were treated with selected dosage (1 and 5 µM) in further experiments. Total cellular lipid was extracted by Bligh and Dyer method and subjected to quantitative colorimetric assay. To illustrate the effect of Rebaudioside A on cellular lipid droplets and low-density lipoprotein receptors, treated cells were subjected to immunofluorescence microscopy. Finally, we investigated the expression of experimental gene patterns of cells in response to treatment. Results: In this study, cytotoxicity of Rebaudioside A was determined at 27.72 µM. Treatment of cells with a higher concentration of Rebaudioside A promotes better hepatocellular cholesterol internalization and ameliorates cholesterol-regulating genes such as HMGCR, LDLR, and ACAT2. Conclusions: In conclusion, our data demonstrated that Rebaudioside A is capable to regulate cholesterol levels in HepG2 cells. Hence, we proposed that Rebaudioside A offers a potential alternative to statins for atherosclerosis therapy.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous tumor-causing virus which infects more than 90% of the w... more Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous tumor-causing virus which infects more than 90% of the world population asymptomatically. Recent studies suggest that LMP-1, -2A and -2B cooperate in the tumorigenesis of EBV-associated epithelial cancers such as nasopharygeal carcinoma, oral and gastric cancer. In this study, LMPs were expressed in the HEK293T cell line to reveal their oncogenic mechanism via investigation on their involvement in the regulation of the cell cycle and genes that are involved. LMPs were expressed in HEK293T in single and co-expression manner. The transcription of cell cycle arrest genes were examined via real-time PCR. Cell cycle progression was examined via flow cytometry. 143-3s and Reprimo were upregulated in all LMP-1 expressing cells. Moreover, cell cycle arrest at G2/M progression was detected in all LMP-1 expressing cells. Therefore, we conclude that LMP-1 may induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M progression via upregulation of 14-3-3s and Reprimo. 2012 Acad...
Sustainability, 2021
The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up t... more The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up to 50% comprising of raw material are discarded without treatment. Economic development and rising living standards have increased the quantity and complexity of waste generated resulting in environmental, health and economic issues. This calls for a greener waste management system such as valorization or recovery of waste into products. For successful implementation, social acceptance is an essential component with involvement of all local stakeholders including community to learn and understand the process and objective of the implementation. The agricultural waste product manufacturing industry is expected to increase with the growing demand for organic food. Thus, proper livestock and crop waste management is vital for environmental protection. It will be essential to successfully convert waste into a sustainable product that is reusable and circulated in the system in line with the g...
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2021
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a native plant to Paraguay. The extracts have been used as a famous ... more Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a native plant to Paraguay. The extracts have been used as a famous sweetening agent, and the bioactive components derived from stevia possess a broad spectrum of therapeutical potential for various illnesses. Among its medicinal benefits are anti-hypertensive, anti-tumorigenic, anti-diabetic, and anti-hyperlipidemia. Statins (3-hydro-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor) are a class of drugs used to treat atherosclerosis. Statins are explicitly targeting the HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the rate-limiting step of cholesterol biosynthesis. Despite being widely used in regulating plasma cholesterol levels, the adverse effects of the drug are a significant concern among clinicians and patients. Hence, steviol glycosides derived from stevia have been proposed as an alternative in replacing statins. Diterpene glycosides from stevia, such as stevioside and rebaudioside A have been evaluated for their efficacy in alleviating cholesterol levels. These glycosides are a potential candidate in treating and preventing atherosclerosis provoked by circulating lipid retention in the sub-endothelial lining of the artery. The present review is an effort to integrate the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, involvement of lipid droplets biogenesis and its associated proteins in atherogenesis, current approaches to treat atherosclerosis, and pharmacological potential of stevia in treating the disease.
Tropical Biomedicine, 2020
The incidence of leptospirosis seems to be on the rise and could be an alarming indirect indicati... more The incidence of leptospirosis seems to be on the rise and could be an alarming indirect indication of a global re-emergence. It is a potential public health threat when dogs are speculated to be involved in the transmission of leptospirosis through possible subclinical harbouring of Leptospira spp. and subsequent shedding into the environment. This study aimed to detect anti-leptospiral antibodies among dogs and their handlers using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Blood samples from 266 apparently healthy dogs and 194 dog handlers were collected at four working dog organisations and four dog shelters. Serum samples were tested using MAT against 20 leptospiral serovars with a cutoff titre >1:100 (dog) and >1:50 (dog handlers). Seventy dogs (70/266; 26.3%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae, Ballum, Bataviae and Javanica (titres ranged: 1:100-1:800). Sixty-seven dog handlers (67/194; 34.5%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Malaysia (titres ranged: 1:50-1:200). Dogs were seropositive due to exposure, vaccination or active infection. Seropositive dog handlers could indicate exposure or active infection. This shows the potential of dogs in maintaining and spreading the infection in Malaysia. Due to the occupational risk as a result of frequent contact with dogs and exposure to contaminated environments, dog handlers should be made aware of the presence of this zoonotic disease.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
This study determined the potential risk factors that may contribute to seropositivity among dogs... more This study determined the potential risk factors that may contribute to seropositivity among dogs and dog handlers from working dog and dog shelter institutions. Data was collected from dogs (n = 266) and dog handlers (n = 161) using a standardised guided questionnaire. Serum obtained from the dogs and dog handlers was tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). A logistic regression analysis was used to predict leptospiral seropositivity of dogs and dog handlers based on potential risk factors. A total of 22.2% of dogs and 21.7% of dog handlers were seropositive. The significant predictors for the dogs’ seropositivity were presence of rats (OR = 4.61 (95% CI: 1.05, 20.33), p = 0.043) and shared common area (OR = 5.12 (95% CI: 1.94, 13.46), p = 0.001) within the organisation. Significant predictor for dog handler seropositivity was contact time with the dogs of more than six hours/day (OR = 3.28 (95% CI: 1.28, 8.40), p = 0.013) after controlling for the effect of other ri...
RNA Biology, 2018
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large class of endogenously expressed non-coding RNAs formed by co... more Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large class of endogenously expressed non-coding RNAs formed by covalently closed loops through back-splicing. High throughput sequencing technologies have identified thousands of circRNAs with high sequence conservation and cell type specific expression in eukaryotes. CircRNAs play multiple important roles in cellular physiology functioning as miRNA sponges, transcriptional regulators, RBP binding molecules, templates for protein translation, and immune regulators. In a clinical context, circRNAs expression is correlated with patient's clinicopathological features in cancers including breast, liver, gastric, colorectal, and lung cancer. Additionally, distinct properties of circRNAs, such as high stability, exonuclease resistance, and existence in body fluids, show promising role for circRNAs as molecular biomarkers for tumor diagnosis, non-invasive monitoring, prognosis, and therapeutic intervention. Therefore, it is critical to further understand the molecular mechanism underlying circRNAs interaction in tumors and the recent progress of this RNA species in cancer development. In this review, we provide a detailed description of biological functions, molecular role of circRNAs in different cancers, and its potential role as biomarkers in a clinical context.
Standards in genomic sciences, 2017
Arthrobacter alpinus R3.8 is a psychrotolerant bacterial strain isolated from a soil sample obtai... more Arthrobacter alpinus R3.8 is a psychrotolerant bacterial strain isolated from a soil sample obtained at Rothera Point, Adelaide Island, close to the Antarctic Peninsula. Strain R3.8 was sequenced in order to help discover potential cold active enzymes with biotechnological applications. Genome analysis identified various cold adaptation genes including some coding for anti-freeze proteins and cold-shock proteins, genes involved in bioremediation of xenobiotic compounds including naphthalene, and genes with chitinolytic and N-acetylglucosamine utilization properties and also plant-growth-influencing properties. In this genome report, we present a complete genome sequence of A. alpinus strain R3.8 and its annotation data, which will facilitate exploitation of potential novel cold-active enzymes.
Journal of biotechnology, Jan 20, 2017
The type strain Planococcus donghaensis JH1(T) is a psychrotolerant and halotolerant bacterium wi... more The type strain Planococcus donghaensis JH1(T) is a psychrotolerant and halotolerant bacterium with starch-degrading ability. Here, we determine the carbon utilization profile of P. donghaensis JH1(T) and report the first complete genome of the strain. This study revealed the strain's ability to utilize pectin and d-galacturonic acid, and identified genes responsible for degradation of the polysaccharides. The genomic information provided may serve as a fundamental resource for full exploration of the biotechnological potential of P. donghaensis JH1(T).
<p>List of primers used in RT-qPCR assays.</p
<p>(a) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours. One hundr... more <p>(a) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours. One hundred nanograms of poly I:C was transfected into the A549-PB1 cells using X-tremeGENE transfection method or added directly into the culture media without transfection (mock) for six hours. The expression of <i>IFNβ</i>, <i>IFIT2</i>, <i>IL6</i> and <i>TNFα</i> were measured with RT-qPCR. (b) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours. Twenty micromolar of PAMer-Cy3 was transfected into the A549-PB1 cells for twelve hours using X-tremeGENE transfection method. The signal of PAMer-Cy3 was measured using FACS. Error bars represent the variation range of duplicate experiments. Student’s t-test: *, p < 0.05.</p
<p>(a) Chemical structures and chemical names of 525A, 526A, 527A and 528A. (b) A549-PB1 ce... more <p>(a) Chemical structures and chemical names of 525A, 526A, 527A and 528A. (b) A549-PB1 cells were seeded in a 96-well plate and pre-treated with various concentrations of the four compounds (525A, 526A, 527A and 528A) for two days. Cells viability was measured with a MTT assay. Error bars represent the variation range of triplicate experiments. (c) A549-PB1 cells were seeded in a 96-well plate and pre-treated with the four compounds at 50 μM for four hours followed by PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for eighteen hours. Fluorescence microscopy images were taken using an Olympus IX73 inverted microscope at 200x final magnification and photographed using an Olympus DP73 digital camera with Cellsens standard software.</p
<p>A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected ... more <p>A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected to PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for twelve hours. The expression of <i>IFNβ</i>, <i>IFIT2</i>, <i>IP10</i> and <i>IL6</i> was measured with RT-qPCR (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170352#pone.0170352.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>). Error bars represent the variation range of duplicate experiments. Student’s t-test: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.</p
<p>(a) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjec... more <p>(a) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected to PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for the indicated time points. The expression of M1, NS1, PR8-NP and eGFP from both IAV negative-strand vRNA and positive-strand mRNA was measured with RT-qPCR (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0170352#pone.0170352.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>). Error bars represent the variation range of duplicate experiments. (b) A549-PB1 cells were treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected to PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for twelve hours. The whole cell extracts were collected and subjected to immunoblotting with antibodies against NP and actin. (c) A549-PB1 cells were pre-treated with or without 75 μM 526A for four hours and subjected to PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 0.75 for eighteen hours. Cells were washed and fixed with 0.1% formaldehyde before titering with FACS. (d) A549-PB1 cells were infected with the harvested supernatant in Fig 2c and subjected to a viral titering assay using FACS. NT: non-treated sample. (e) The left panel shows the percentage of GFP-positive cells upon primary IAV infection in A549-PB1 cells while the right panel shows the viral titering of secondary IAV infection from the harvested viral supernatant. Error bars represent the variation range of duplicate experiments. IP: infectious viral particle. Student’s t-test: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.</p
<p>The A549-PB1 cells were treated with various concentrations of 526A as indicated for fou... more <p>The A549-PB1 cells were treated with various concentrations of 526A as indicated for four hours followed by PR8-PB1flank-eGFP IAV infection at an MOI of 1.0 for twelve hours. Whole cell extracts were prepared and immunoblotted with antibodies against PARP, p-IRF3 and p-STAT1.</p
Planta Medica, 2022
Two iboga-vobasine bisindoles, 16′-decarbomethoxyvoacamine (1) and its 19,20-dihydro derivative, ... more Two iboga-vobasine bisindoles, 16′-decarbomethoxyvoacamine (1) and its 19,20-dihydro derivative, 16′-decarbomethoxydihydrovoacamine (2) from Tabernaemontana corymbosa exhibited potent cytotoxicity against the human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells in our previous studies. Bisindoles 1 and 2 selectively inhibited the growth of HT-29 cells without significant cytotoxicity to normal human colon fibroblasts CCD-18Co. Treatment with bisindoles 1 and 2 suppressed the formation of HT-29 colonies via G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and induction of mitochondrial apoptosis. Owing to its higher antiproliferative activity, bisindole 2 was chosen for the subsequent studies. Bisindole 2 inhibited the formation of HT-29 spheroids (tumor-like cell aggregates) in 3D experiments in a dose-dependent manner, while an in vitro tubulin polymerization assay and molecular docking analysis showed that bisindole 2 is a microtubule-stabilizing agent which is predicted to bind at the β-tubulin subunit at the tax...
Table S1. Genes involved in chitin degradation identified from RAST analysis. (DOCX 18 kb)
Reports of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2021
Background: Rebaudioside A is one of the major diterpene glycosides found in Stevia had been repo... more Background: Rebaudioside A is one of the major diterpene glycosides found in Stevia had been reported to possess anti-hyperlipidemic effects. In this study, we explore the potential cholesterol-regulating mechanisms of Rebaudioside A in the human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line in comparison with simvastatin. Methods: Cells were incubated with Rebaudioside A at several concentrations (0-10 µM) to determine the cytotoxicity by the MTT assay. Cells were treated with selected dosage (1 and 5 µM) in further experiments. Total cellular lipid was extracted by Bligh and Dyer method and subjected to quantitative colorimetric assay. To illustrate the effect of Rebaudioside A on cellular lipid droplets and low-density lipoprotein receptors, treated cells were subjected to immunofluorescence microscopy. Finally, we investigated the expression of experimental gene patterns of cells in response to treatment. Results: In this study, cytotoxicity of Rebaudioside A was determined at 27.72 µM. Treatment of cells with a higher concentration of Rebaudioside A promotes better hepatocellular cholesterol internalization and ameliorates cholesterol-regulating genes such as HMGCR, LDLR, and ACAT2. Conclusions: In conclusion, our data demonstrated that Rebaudioside A is capable to regulate cholesterol levels in HepG2 cells. Hence, we proposed that Rebaudioside A offers a potential alternative to statins for atherosclerosis therapy.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous tumor-causing virus which infects more than 90% of the w... more Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous tumor-causing virus which infects more than 90% of the world population asymptomatically. Recent studies suggest that LMP-1, -2A and -2B cooperate in the tumorigenesis of EBV-associated epithelial cancers such as nasopharygeal carcinoma, oral and gastric cancer. In this study, LMPs were expressed in the HEK293T cell line to reveal their oncogenic mechanism via investigation on their involvement in the regulation of the cell cycle and genes that are involved. LMPs were expressed in HEK293T in single and co-expression manner. The transcription of cell cycle arrest genes were examined via real-time PCR. Cell cycle progression was examined via flow cytometry. 143-3s and Reprimo were upregulated in all LMP-1 expressing cells. Moreover, cell cycle arrest at G2/M progression was detected in all LMP-1 expressing cells. Therefore, we conclude that LMP-1 may induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M progression via upregulation of 14-3-3s and Reprimo. 2012 Acad...
Sustainability, 2021
The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up t... more The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up to 50% comprising of raw material are discarded without treatment. Economic development and rising living standards have increased the quantity and complexity of waste generated resulting in environmental, health and economic issues. This calls for a greener waste management system such as valorization or recovery of waste into products. For successful implementation, social acceptance is an essential component with involvement of all local stakeholders including community to learn and understand the process and objective of the implementation. The agricultural waste product manufacturing industry is expected to increase with the growing demand for organic food. Thus, proper livestock and crop waste management is vital for environmental protection. It will be essential to successfully convert waste into a sustainable product that is reusable and circulated in the system in line with the g...
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 2021
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a native plant to Paraguay. The extracts have been used as a famous ... more Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a native plant to Paraguay. The extracts have been used as a famous sweetening agent, and the bioactive components derived from stevia possess a broad spectrum of therapeutical potential for various illnesses. Among its medicinal benefits are anti-hypertensive, anti-tumorigenic, anti-diabetic, and anti-hyperlipidemia. Statins (3-hydro-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor) are a class of drugs used to treat atherosclerosis. Statins are explicitly targeting the HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the rate-limiting step of cholesterol biosynthesis. Despite being widely used in regulating plasma cholesterol levels, the adverse effects of the drug are a significant concern among clinicians and patients. Hence, steviol glycosides derived from stevia have been proposed as an alternative in replacing statins. Diterpene glycosides from stevia, such as stevioside and rebaudioside A have been evaluated for their efficacy in alleviating cholesterol levels. These glycosides are a potential candidate in treating and preventing atherosclerosis provoked by circulating lipid retention in the sub-endothelial lining of the artery. The present review is an effort to integrate the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, involvement of lipid droplets biogenesis and its associated proteins in atherogenesis, current approaches to treat atherosclerosis, and pharmacological potential of stevia in treating the disease.
Tropical Biomedicine, 2020
The incidence of leptospirosis seems to be on the rise and could be an alarming indirect indicati... more The incidence of leptospirosis seems to be on the rise and could be an alarming indirect indication of a global re-emergence. It is a potential public health threat when dogs are speculated to be involved in the transmission of leptospirosis through possible subclinical harbouring of Leptospira spp. and subsequent shedding into the environment. This study aimed to detect anti-leptospiral antibodies among dogs and their handlers using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Blood samples from 266 apparently healthy dogs and 194 dog handlers were collected at four working dog organisations and four dog shelters. Serum samples were tested using MAT against 20 leptospiral serovars with a cutoff titre >1:100 (dog) and >1:50 (dog handlers). Seventy dogs (70/266; 26.3%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae, Ballum, Bataviae and Javanica (titres ranged: 1:100-1:800). Sixty-seven dog handlers (67/194; 34.5%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Malaysia (titres ranged: 1:50-1:200). Dogs were seropositive due to exposure, vaccination or active infection. Seropositive dog handlers could indicate exposure or active infection. This shows the potential of dogs in maintaining and spreading the infection in Malaysia. Due to the occupational risk as a result of frequent contact with dogs and exposure to contaminated environments, dog handlers should be made aware of the presence of this zoonotic disease.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
This study determined the potential risk factors that may contribute to seropositivity among dogs... more This study determined the potential risk factors that may contribute to seropositivity among dogs and dog handlers from working dog and dog shelter institutions. Data was collected from dogs (n = 266) and dog handlers (n = 161) using a standardised guided questionnaire. Serum obtained from the dogs and dog handlers was tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). A logistic regression analysis was used to predict leptospiral seropositivity of dogs and dog handlers based on potential risk factors. A total of 22.2% of dogs and 21.7% of dog handlers were seropositive. The significant predictors for the dogs’ seropositivity were presence of rats (OR = 4.61 (95% CI: 1.05, 20.33), p = 0.043) and shared common area (OR = 5.12 (95% CI: 1.94, 13.46), p = 0.001) within the organisation. Significant predictor for dog handler seropositivity was contact time with the dogs of more than six hours/day (OR = 3.28 (95% CI: 1.28, 8.40), p = 0.013) after controlling for the effect of other ri...
RNA Biology, 2018
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large class of endogenously expressed non-coding RNAs formed by co... more Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a large class of endogenously expressed non-coding RNAs formed by covalently closed loops through back-splicing. High throughput sequencing technologies have identified thousands of circRNAs with high sequence conservation and cell type specific expression in eukaryotes. CircRNAs play multiple important roles in cellular physiology functioning as miRNA sponges, transcriptional regulators, RBP binding molecules, templates for protein translation, and immune regulators. In a clinical context, circRNAs expression is correlated with patient's clinicopathological features in cancers including breast, liver, gastric, colorectal, and lung cancer. Additionally, distinct properties of circRNAs, such as high stability, exonuclease resistance, and existence in body fluids, show promising role for circRNAs as molecular biomarkers for tumor diagnosis, non-invasive monitoring, prognosis, and therapeutic intervention. Therefore, it is critical to further understand the molecular mechanism underlying circRNAs interaction in tumors and the recent progress of this RNA species in cancer development. In this review, we provide a detailed description of biological functions, molecular role of circRNAs in different cancers, and its potential role as biomarkers in a clinical context.
Standards in genomic sciences, 2017
Arthrobacter alpinus R3.8 is a psychrotolerant bacterial strain isolated from a soil sample obtai... more Arthrobacter alpinus R3.8 is a psychrotolerant bacterial strain isolated from a soil sample obtained at Rothera Point, Adelaide Island, close to the Antarctic Peninsula. Strain R3.8 was sequenced in order to help discover potential cold active enzymes with biotechnological applications. Genome analysis identified various cold adaptation genes including some coding for anti-freeze proteins and cold-shock proteins, genes involved in bioremediation of xenobiotic compounds including naphthalene, and genes with chitinolytic and N-acetylglucosamine utilization properties and also plant-growth-influencing properties. In this genome report, we present a complete genome sequence of A. alpinus strain R3.8 and its annotation data, which will facilitate exploitation of potential novel cold-active enzymes.
Journal of biotechnology, Jan 20, 2017
The type strain Planococcus donghaensis JH1(T) is a psychrotolerant and halotolerant bacterium wi... more The type strain Planococcus donghaensis JH1(T) is a psychrotolerant and halotolerant bacterium with starch-degrading ability. Here, we determine the carbon utilization profile of P. donghaensis JH1(T) and report the first complete genome of the strain. This study revealed the strain's ability to utilize pectin and d-galacturonic acid, and identified genes responsible for degradation of the polysaccharides. The genomic information provided may serve as a fundamental resource for full exploration of the biotechnological potential of P. donghaensis JH1(T).