Borneo International Journal of Biotechnology (BIJB)

Influence of ultrasound on Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél. (Grey Oyster Mushroom) – Protective Effects Against Metabolic Syndrome in Rats Fed with a High-fat Diet

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

The Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel. (Grey Oyster mushroom) is one of the most widely consumed mushroom species worldwide, and it possesses various medicinal properties. The application of ultrasound resulted in P. pulmonarius extracts with improved bioactivities both in cellular and animal models. However, no studies have investigated the preventive effects of ultrasound extract of P. pulmonarius in animal models. In this study, Wistar-Kyoto rats were pre-treated with the ultrasound extract of P. pulmonarius at high (500 mg/kg bw) and low (200 mg/kg bw) doses for 15 days. The rats were subsequently fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for another 15 days. Rats pre-treated with P. pulmonarius extract from a high-dose ultrasound showed lower levels of serum cholesterol (1.50 mmol/L), triglyceride (0.60 mmol/L), and LDL (0.29 mmol/L). These rats also had lower oxidative stress, with MDA levels of only 10.81 µg/mg protein. The ultrasound extract of P. pulmonarius also exhibited anti-hyperglycaemic effects, whereby rats had lower blood glucose levels. Rats pre-treated with the ultrasound extract of P. pulmonarius also had inhibited inflammatory biomarkers CREB1 (2.85 pmol/mL), NF-κB2 (0.81 ng/mL), and STAT3 (0.48 ng/mL), proving the anti-inflammatory activity of the ultrasound extract. This study is the first to show the ability of P. pulmonarius extract prepared using ultrasound to prevent developing metabolic syndrome such as hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation in rats fed with HFD.

Hydrocarbon-Degrading Fungi Isolated from Oil-Contaminated Sites in Northern Peninsular Malaysia

Nurshafiqah Jasme, Nabila Nasir, Ahmad Ramli Mohd Yahya, Nur Asshifa Md Noh — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Improper waste management from automobile workshops has contributed markedly to environmental contamination. Areas within the vicinity of these workshops are exposed to high amounts of waste engine oils and other hydrocarbon wastes. Bioremediation may provide a practical solution due to better cost-effectiveness and high probability of total mineralisation without causing secondary pollution. Thus, this study aims to isolate, characterise and identify fungi that can utilize and degrade hydrocarbon. The research was conducted by collecting soil and water samples from the oil-contaminated sites including workshops, households and a sewage treatment plant in the Northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. Hydrocarbon-degrading ability was screened by growing fungi on selective agar containing waste engine oil (hydrocarbon) as the sole carbon source. The fungal colonies that grow on the selective agar were streaked and subcultured onto potato dextrose agar until pure isolates were obtained. Further screening by 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) assay was carried out to confirm the ability of all fungal isolates to utilise hydrocarbon. The isolated fungi were identified based on morphological characterisation and microscopic observation. Four fungal isolates from an oil-polluted environment were identified as Aspergillus sydowii USM-FH1, Aspergillus westerdijkiae USM-FH3, Curvularia lunata USM-FH6 and Chaetomium globusum USM-FH8. These fungal isolates showed good potential to be applied in the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites.

Amplification of Genes Associated with Saxitoxin Biosynthesis in Bacteria Associated with Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum Using Primers Designed from Other Saxitoxin-Producing Organisms

Sylvia Yahumin, Grace Joy Wei Lie Chin , Kenneth Francis Rodrigues — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum, the primary producer of saxitoxin (STX) in tropical water, poses a palpable threat to public health and safety. Seafood and aquaculture products contaminated with lethal concentrations of the principal neurotoxin, saxitoxin, have been implicated in mortality and morbidity. Previous research revealed that the relationship between bacteria and algae may contribute directly or indirectly to the synthesis of saxitoxin. This study investigates the potential relationship between the dinoflagellate and its associated bacteria; hence the initial step is to determine whether the genes responsible for the STX production in P. bahamense can be found in the associated bacteria. A total of six bacterial species associated with P. bahamense were successfully identified in a previous study. The presence of the sxt genes in the associated bacterial genome was determined using primers that have previously been utilized in other saxitoxin-producing species, such as in dinoflagellates (Alexandrium fundyense) and cyanobacteria (Anabaena and Aphanizomenon gracile). This study showed that the utilized primers were unsuitable as the primers produced non-specific amplification in the bacterial genome. We suggest that specific primers targeting the sxt homolog genes in bacterial species should be designed to obtain the desired genes from the associated bacteria in a future study.

Seroprevalence of Dengue Antibodies among Healthy Blood Donors from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo: Blood Safety in Dengue-Endemic Communities

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Dengue virus (DENV) infection which is an emerging and resurging mosquito-borne infection is a major public health concern in many countries in the tropics and subtropics. It is the most common arbovirus infection globally, and its incidence has increased dramatically in recent decades. Despite several reported transfusion-transmitted cases, the impact of dengue infection on the safety of the blood supply is still controversial. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of dengue infection among healthy blood donors from Sabah, Malaysia, an area in Southeast Asia that is endemic to the four serotypes of the dengue virus. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 364 eligible blood donors from the Sabah Women and Children Hospital in Sabah State. Serum samples were examined for the presence of dengue-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Overall, approximately one-third (36.5%, 133/364) of the participants tested positive for dengue anti-IgG. The prevalence of dengue anti-IgG significantly increased with age, with the lowest prevalence (30.5%) among young adults aged 18 – 26 years and the highest prevalence (73.3%) among those aged 56 – 65 years (χ² = 10.984; P = 0.027). Likewise, the prevalence was higher among male blood donors

(38.9%) compared to female donors (31.3%); however, the difference was not statistically significant (χ² = 0.295; P = 0.267). The high prevalence of dengue IgG seropositivity among healthy blood donors reflects the high endemicity of dengue disease in this region of Malaysia. The findings suggest the need for blood screening for DENV infection by blood donation services in Malaysia to improve transfusion safety, which is of paramount importance for the recipient.

Total Phenolic, Flavonoid Content, Antioxidant Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Donax grandis (Miq.)Ridl.

Senty Vun-Sang, Caysandra Audrey Michelle Elwon , Mohammad Iqbal — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Numerous studies have provided evidence supporting the significant role of oxidative stress in the development and progression of various diseases. The significance of the capacity of antioxidant status to recuperate from specific diseases has been demonstrated to be crucial for enhancing human health. Donax grandis, a plant species belonging to the Marantaceae family, is used by the indigenous population of Sabah to treat a range of ailments. This study aimed to chemically analyse the aqueous extract of D. grandis for the presence of bioactive compounds. The analysis revealed the detection of tannins, saponins, and flavonoids within the extract. Quantification of phenolics and flavonoids was conducted to determine their overall content. In-vitro antioxidant activity was investigated using a 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging method, employing a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The phenolic compound concentration was 34.34 ± 1.37 mg/g gallic acid equivalent, while the flavonoid content was 3.93 ± 0.12 mg/g catechin equivalent. The IC₅₀ value of D. grandis in the DPPH assay was determined to be 303.68 ± 0.4 μg/ml. The findings have revealed significant phytochemical properties found in D. grandis, which are anticipated to have therapeutic potential in managing diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Can Multiplex SYBR Green Real-Time PCR Assay Serve as a Detection and Quantification Method Comparable to the TaqMan Method for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis?

Helyatul Rasmah Mahali, Nur Athirah Yusof — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

The reopening of schools, business, and social sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a current increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and clusters all over the globe. While the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, the reopening and resumption of all economic sectors are essential to recovering the world economy. Health experts all over the world have determined that the real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method is the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19 infections due to the test’s high sensitivity and specificity. During the past 3 years when WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 using a robust RT-qPCR assay is still considerably expensive, especially for low and middle-income countries. Therefore, numerous studies have reported optimized SYBR green methods which are more economical than the qPCR probe assay. Continuous diagnostic testing is vital to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. However, there is a question as to whether SYBR Green may serve as an excellent detection and quantification method for molecular diagnosis to perform SARS-CoV-2 screening. This review summarizes the numerous studies using SYBR Green RT-PCR to detect SARS-CoV-2. The reliability of SYBR Green qPCR assays for determining gene expression based on their performance is justified and the quality is comparable to the TaqMan method.

Pathogenicity and diagnostic methods of human cytomegalovirus

Eric Tzyy Jiann Chong, Aziera Farhanah Adihidayah Suardi, Ping-Chin Lee — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta-herpesvirus capable of establishing lifelong infection in humans. It is primarily transmitted through bodily fluids like blood, urine, and saliva. In healthy individuals, primary HCMV infections are often asymptomatic but can lead to persistent or latent infections. However, immunocompromised individuals such as organ transplant recipients and those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, are at risk of severe and potentially fatal illnesses resulting from HCMV pathogenicity. Consequently, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of HCMV’s pathogenicity and diagnostic methods, particularly for detecting the presence of HCMV in individuals with compromised immune systems. This review aims to address these aspects and provide insights to assist relevant authorities in designing effective interventions and managing HCMV-related illnesses.

Bacterial Consortium-Mediated Hydrocarbon Degradation of Waste Engine Oils

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

The automotive and industrial activities are considered one of the important sources of pollution with the increasing amount of WEO released to the environment. One of the ways to solve this problem is through bioremediation. It is, however, challenging since used engine oil contains complex hydrocarbon compounds and is toxic towards the environment and living organisms. Biodegradation by single species bacterium is limited to a small range of hydrocarbon compounds. Hence, a better strategy is to use a synergistic action of different microbial members in a consortium. Different waste engine oils from the motorcycle workshop (MW), urban vehicle workshop (UVW), and heavy vehicle workshop (HVW) were tested for degradation by a bacterial consortium culture. A two-level factorial design experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different WEO and nitrogen concentrations towards the growth of the bacterial culture and hydrocarbon degradation in shake flask fermentation. The bacterial consortium culture grown in mineral salts medium (MSM) supplemented with MW (Viscosity, 82 mPa.s) was shown to exhibit the highest biomass with 0.37 (OD₆₀₀) with 8% (v/v) WEO and 5 g/L nitrogen from ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl). Pareto chart of biomass with WEO and nitrogen concentration showed a positive effect for MW and UVW, while a negative effect for HVW which was presumed due to the toxicity, higher complexity of hydrocarbon composition and higher viscosity of WEO from heavy vehicles. Subsequently, GC-MS analysis indicated the degradation of various polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and BTEX compounds such as naphthalene, benzene, and toluene in the three WEO samples. Assessment of cell hydrophobicity of the culture grown on all three WEO exhibited high cell hydrophobicity, with HVW showing the highest cell hydrophobicity of 81%. This suggests that the bacterial culture altered cell hydrophobicity to facilitate hydrocarbon uptake.

Antifungal Potential of Yellow Bur Head Limnocharis flava (Buchenau, 1868) Against Pathogenic Oomycete, Lagenidium thermophilum

Clarence Jidih, Elliecpearl Jasca Joning , Mohammad Tamrin Mohamad Lal — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

Fungal infection by marine oomycetes is the main problem that hinders crustacean
production. Therefore, a study to find an alternative fungal treatment that is safer than
chemical treatment is currently needed. One of the potential sources of antifungal
properties is macrophytes. Limnocharis flava, known as yellow bur head, was found
to have antimicrobial properties. Thus, this research was conducted to determine
the potential of L. flava extract as an antifungal agent against the marine oomycetes Lagenidium thermophilum IPMB 1801. In this study, ethanol and methanol solvents were used to extract L. flava. The results showed that the methanol extraction yield of L. flava
is higher (7.03 g, 35.16%) compared to ethanol extract (3.26 g, 16.26%). The antifungal screening test was conducted using the disc diffusion method. Ethanol and methanol extract of L. flava had antifungal activities against the hyphal growth of L. thermophilum.
Continuation from the screening test, the minimum inhibitory concentration for both ethanol and methanol extracts was determined to be at 100 mg/ml respectively. These findings suggest that L. flava has the potential to become an antifungal treatment for
the control of fungal infections in the crustacean industry.

The Effects of Magnesium, Zinc and Calcium Ions on Endotoxin-Plasmid DNA Interaction at Various Cation Concentrations, pH Values and Incubation Times

Elvina Clarie Dullah, Nur Syahadatain Abdul Razak, Clarence M. Ongkudon — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0800

In plasmid DNA (pDNA) production from Gram-negative bacteria, endotoxin has been known as the major contaminant. The separation becomes difficult due to its ability to form a stable complex with pDNA apart from sharing common properties like surface charge, molecular size, temperature, and pH stability. This study focused on the analysis of the zeta potential values of endotoxin, the theoretical number of cations bound per molecule of endotoxin as well as the binding tendency of cations towards endotoxin in the presence of pDNA. These analyses were conducted under various experimental conditions such as types of divalent metal cation, cation concentration, pH and incubation time. The analysis of zeta potential at different cation concentrations and pH values showed that Mg²⁺ had the most significant effect on endotoxin surface charge. The zeta potential of endotoxin was reduced by a magnitude of 43.55 mV, from −43.53 mV to 0.02 mV in the presence of 2.0 M Mg²⁺, and a magnitude of 44.12 mV, from −43.53 mV to 0.59 mV at the lowest pH level. However, in the analysis of the theoretical number of cations bound per molecule of endotoxin, Zn²⁺ showed the highest number (0.6) compared to Ca²⁺(0.12) and Mg²⁺ (0.05). The tendency of Zn²⁺ to preferentially bind with endotoxins forming a larger aggregated structure was also evident in the DNA gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopic analysis. The manuscript highlights the significance of cations in the binding and aggregation of endotoxins, which ultimately improves the recovery of pDNA and affects its subsequent downstream processing.

Biodegradability Properties of Polyurethane Film Made from Eucalyptus pellita Wood Polyol

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0800

The properties of polyurethane (PU) film are greatly influenced not only by the raw materials but also by the compatibility of polyol and isocyanate. This paper aimed to evaluate the effect of the isocyanate index (NCO/OH ratio) on the biodegradability properties of Eucalyptus pellita PU film. E. pellita wood polyol and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) were mixed at different NCO/OH ratios (1.8 – 3.0). The PU film was produced through the one-shot method. The effect of the NCO/OH ratio on the biodegradability properties of PU film was evaluated. The rate of biodegradation of PU film by soil burial test decreases proportionally to the NCO/OH ratio. The biodegradation rate is the highest (14.02%) when the NCO/OH ratio is the lowest (1.8). The results of water solubility showed that PU films with low NCO/OH ratios are easily soluble in water. The band associated with the ester compound was detected at nearly 1,060 cm⁻¹. Based on the findings of this study, increasing the NCO/OH ratio made the PU film from E. pellita less degradable. Therefore, lowering the NCO/OH ratio is an ideal option to produce films with better biodegradability.