Pathogen genomic surveillance status among lower resource settings in Asia.

Asia remains vulnerable to new and emerging infectious diseases. Understanding how to improve next generation sequencing (NGS) use in pathogen surveillance is an urgent priority for regional health security. Here we developed a pathogen genomic surveillance assessment framework to assess capacity in low-resource settings in South and Southeast Asia.

Cross-sectional study of influenza trends and costs in Malaysia between 2016 and 2018.

Background And Objectives: While influenza circulates year-round in Malaysia, research data on its incidence is scarce. Yet, this information is vital to the improvement of public health through evidence-based policies. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine the trends and financial costs of influenza.

The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Malaysia: 7 August to 11 October 2020.

Background: From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic until mid-October 2020, Malaysia recorded ~15,000 confirmed cases. But there could be undiagnosed cases due mainly to asymptomatic infections. Seroprevalence studies can better quantify underlying infection from SARS-CoV-2 by identifying humoral antibodies against the virus.

Resurgence of Dengue Virus Serotype 4 in Malaysia: A Comprehensive Clinicodemographic and Genomic Analysis.

Dengue virus serotype 4 (DENV-4) has been the rarest circulating serotype in Malaysia, resulting in it being an understudied area. A recent observation from institutional surveillance data indicated a rapid increase in DENV-4-infected cases. The present study aimed to investigate the resurgence of DENV-4 in relation to the demographic, clinical and genomic profiles of 75 retrospective dengue samples.

Vero CCL-81 and Calu-3 Cell Lines as Alternative Hosts for Isolation and Propagation of SARS-CoV-2 Isolated in Malaysia.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been identified as the etiologic agent for the pneumonia outbreak that started in early December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. To date, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused almost 6 million deaths worldwide. The ability to propagate the virus into a customizable volume will enable better research on COVID-19 therapy, vaccine development, and many others.

Prospective Roles of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) in COVID-19: Prognosis, Therapeutic and Management.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became a worldwide concern at the beginning of 2020 and has affected millions. Several previous studies revealed the impact of the imbalanced innate immune response on the progression of COVID-19 and its disease outcomes. High levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukins are produced readily by innate immune cells to fight Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections.

SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in Malaysia: displacement of B.1.617.2 with AY lineages as the dominant Delta variants and the introduction of Omicron during the fourth epidemic wave.

Objectives: This study reported SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing results from June 2021 to January 2022 from seven genome sequencing centers in Malaysia as part of the national surveillance program.

Methods: COVID-19 samples that tested positive by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and with cycle threshold values <30 were obtained throughout Malaysia. Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 complete genomes was performed using Illumina, Oxford Nanopore, or Ion Torrent platforms.

Clinical testing on SARS-CoV-2 swab samples using reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP).

Background: High cost of commercial RNA extraction kits limits the testing efficiency of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we developed a simple nucleic acid extraction method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 directly from nasopharyngeal swab samples.

Methods: A pH sensitive dye was used as the end point detection method.

Colorimetric detection of SARS-CoV-2 by uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP).

Objectives: Preventing reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) carryover contamination could be solved by adding deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) and uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) into the reaction master mix.

Methods: RNA was extracted from nasopharyngeal swab samples by a simple RNA extraction method.

Results: Testing of 77 samples demonstrated 91.

RNA purification-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP).

Background: Current diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection relies on RNA purification prior to amplification. Typical extraction methods limit the processing speed and turnaround time for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing.

Methods: Here, we applied reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification directly onto human clinical swabs samples to amplify the RNA from SARS-CoV-2 swab samples after processing with chelating resin.

Two extraction-free reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assays for detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Background: Current assays for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rely on time consuming, costly and laboratory based methods for virus isolation, purification and removing inhibitors. To address this limitation, we propose a simple method for testing RNA from nasopharyngeal swab samples that bypasses the RNA purification step.

Methods: In the current project, we have described two extraction-free reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by using E gene and RdRp gene as the targets.

Immunomodulatory Activities of L. Leaf Juice in a Non-Lethal, Symptomatic Dengue Mouse Model.

The role of L. leaf juice in immune dysregulation caused by dengue virus infection remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory activities of the freeze-dried leaf juice (FCPLJ) on AG129 mice infected with a clinical DENV-2 (DMOF015) isolate.

COVID-19 screening test by using random oropharyngeal saliva.

An optimal clinical specimen for accurate detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by minimizing the usage of consumables and reduce hazard exposure to healthcare workers is an urgent priority. The diagnostic performance of SARS-CoV-2 detection between healthcare worker-collected nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal (NP + OP) swabs and patient performed self-collected random saliva was assessed. Paired NP + OP swabs and random saliva were collected and processed within 48 h of specimen collection from two cohort studies which recruited 562 asymptomatic adult candidates.

Anti-viral activity of culinary and medicinal mushroom extracts against dengue virus serotype 2: an in-vitro study.

Background: Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that has become a major public health concern worldwide. Presently, there is no specific vaccine or treatment available for dengue viral infection.

Methods: Lignosus rhinocerotis, Pleurotus giganteus, Hericium erinaceus, Schizophyllum commune and Ganoderma lucidium were selected for evaluation of their in-vitro anti-dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) activities.

Preliminary study on the expression of endothelial cell biology related genes in the liver of dengue virus infected mice treated with Carica papaya leaf juice.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to profile and identify the endothelial cell biology related genes that are affected by dengue virus infection in the liver tissue of AG129 mice, with and without Carica papaya leaf juice treatment.

Results: The dengue fever mouse model was established by intraperitoneal inoculation of dengue virus, New Guinea C strain at 2 × 10 PFU. Daily oral administration of 1000 mg/kg freeze-dried C.

Zika virus infection in Malaysia: an epidemiological, clinical and virological analysis.

Background: A major outbreak of the Zika virus (ZIKV) has been reported in Brazil in 2015. Since then, it spread further to other countries in the Americas and resulted in declaration of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by World Health Organization. In 2016, Singapore reported its first minor ZIKV epidemic.

Effect of freeze-dried Carica papaya leaf juice on inflammatory cytokines production during dengue virus infection in AG129 mice.

Background: Carica papaya leaves have been used for traditional treatment of dengue fever and have been reported to exhibit an immunomodulatory activity by affecting the level of cytokine production in vitro and in vivo. Due to the lack of adequate in vivo evidence in dengue disease model, the present study was initiated to screen and identify the cytokines affected by freeze-dried C. papaya leaf juice (FCPLJ) treatment in AG129 mice infected with DEN-2 dengue virus.