Search

Abstract Bats are extraordinary mammals. They have evolved to consume various dietary sources, such as insects, fruits, nectar, blood, and meat. This diversity has generated considerable interest in the scientific community, resulting in efforts to leverage bats as model organisms to study the correlation between diet and gut microbiome community. Although such studies now commonly use Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), similar studies are early in their development in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia, which harbours an incredibly diverse bat fauna. This study provides pioneering NGS metabarcoding information on Bornean bats. By using a high-throughput Nanopore-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing method, Bacillota, Pseudomonadota, and Campylobacterota were found in insectivorous bats and phytophagous bats. Both insectivorous and phytophagous groups harboured no dominant taxon (D = 0.076; D = 0.085). A comparative analysis of gut bacteria functional groups identified eight major groups in both phytophagous and insectivorous bats, with fermentation being the predominant group. The correlation network analysis revealed a negative correlation between the ‘good bacteria’ Lactobacillus and various pathogenic bacteria genera, such as Salmonella (-0.4124) and Yersinia (-0.4654), demonstrating its prebiotic characteristics. This study broadens our understanding of the bat gut microbiome from various diets, with emphasis on new data from Borneo.

Abstract Pathogens significantly influence natural and agricultural ecosystems, playing a crucial role in the regulation of species populations and maintaining biodiversity. Entomopathogenic fungi (EF), particularly within the Hypocreales order, exemplify understudied pathogens that infect insects and other arthropods globally. Despite their ecological importance, comprehensive data on EF host specificity and geographical distribution are lacking. To address this, we present EntomoFun 1.0, an open-access database centralizing global records of EF–insect associations in Hypocreales. This database includes 1,791 records detailing EF species, insect host taxa, countries of occurrence, life stages of hosts, and information sources. EntomoFun 1.0 is constructed based on 600 literature sources, as well as herbarium specimens of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. This database is intended to test hypotheses, identify knowledge gaps, and stimulate future research. Contents of the EntomoFun 1.0 database are visualized with a global map, taxonomic chart, bipartite community network, and graphs.

Background: Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy (VBIEP) affects between 15% and 25% of all pregnancies worldwide and it portends life-threatening gynaecological emergencies. One of the core functions of an emergency medicine physician is to recognise critical illness and institute high-quality emergency care. This study aimed to describe the demographics, clinical presentation, management and outcomes of patients with VBIEP presenting to the emergency department (ED). Methods: Retrospective descriptive data were collected on all patients presenting to the ED of General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital (GJGMRH) with VBIEP between 01 January 2022 and 30 April 2022. Results: The most affected group comprised multiparous women, in the first trimester of pregnancy between the ages of 25 and 29 year. Among HIV-positive participants majority (40.9%) were aged 35–39 years of age. Majority (87%) of patients had received no prior antenatal care. Incomplete miscarriage was the most (46.1%) common diagnosis made in the ED. Most (61.7%) patients from the ED required admission to the hospital for further care. Conclusion: This study showed that multiparous women in their first trimester of pregnancy are at highest risk of VBIEP. It also highlighted early antenatal care and early use of point-of-care ultrasound may prevent and improve outcomes with VBIEP. Incomplete miscarriage was the commonest cause. A standardised management protocol for these patients should be developed, however larger studies must be conducted to validate this. Contribution: This study contributes to the limited literature on VBIEP in low to middle-income countries and the findings may influence the department of health’s allocation of resources to this condition.

Orchids are a diverse and widespread family of flowering plants, with over 25,000 known species and more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars. Orchids are characterised by their often showy and highly specialised flowers and have unique and intricate floral. Orchids are known to be highly dependent on their mycorrhizal fungi for nutrient uptake, especially during the early stages of their development. Orchid seeds lack the endosperm present in most other seeds, which means they cannot germinate without a source of nutrition. The relationship between orchids and mycorrhiza is known as orchid mycorrhizae or orchid mycorrhiza. In orchid mycorrhiza, the orchid plant forms a mutualistic relationship with certain species of fungi that are able to penetrate the orchid’s roots and colonise its tissues to provides the orchid with essential nutrients. Orchid mycorrhizal fungi are often highly specific, meaning that they can only form partnerships with certain orchid species, and vice versa. The importance of mycorrhizal fungi in the orchid life cycle is crucial from both evolutionary and ecological standpoints. Therefore, it is essential to acquire a thorough comprehension of this relationship and develop methodologies for isolating, identifying, and preserving significant fungal strains that are associated with different orchid species. In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in research concentration on mycorrhizal interactions in orchids. However, certain inquiries remain unresolved pertaining to the fungal communities associated with orchids as well as the divergences notices across different species and geographical locales. The present paper provides a through, and extensive analysis of the fungal life associated with orchids. This article presents a succinct overview of the molecular techniques utilised by researchers globally to isolate and identify peloton-forming fungi in both temperate terrestrial and tropical orchids. The review begins by proving a concise introduction to the background material regarding the wide range of fungal species that are linked with orchids. It then proceeds to explores the topic of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) and orchid non-mycorrhizal fungi (ONF). The subsequent analysis explores the crucial function that orchid mycorrhizal fungi play in the processes of seed germination and development. Moreover, the study elaborates on the methodologies utilised for isolating fungi, extracting fungal DNA, selecting primers, amplifying DNA and subsequent analysis sequence data. This article considers several molecular identification approaches that are used in studying orchid endophytic mycorrhizal. Using molecular approaches, orchid mycorrhizal can be further explored and identified.

Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cSCC) is a common and potentially fatal type of skin cancer that poses a significant threat to public health and has a high prevalence rate. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin surface increases the risk of cSCC, especially in those with genetic syndromes like xerodermapigmentosum and epidermolysis bullosa. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathogenesis of cSCC is critical for developing personalized treatment approaches that are effective in cSCC. This article provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge of cSCC pathogenesis, emphasizing dysregulated signaling pathways and the significance of molecular profiling. Several limitations and challenges associated with conventional therapies, however, are identified, stressing the need for novel therapeutic strategies. The article further discusses molecular targets and therapeutic approaches, i.e., epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, hedgehog pathway inhibitors, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors, as well as emerging molecular targets and therapeutic agents. The manuscript explores resistance mechanisms to molecularly targeted therapies and proposes methods to overcome them, including combination strategies, rational design, and optimization. The clinical implications and patient outcomes of molecular-targeted treatments are assessed, including response rates and survival outcomes. The management of adverse events and toxicities in molecular-targeted therapies is crucial and requires careful monitoring and control. The paper further discusses future directions for therapeutic advancement and research in this area, as well as the difficulties and constraints associated with conventional therapies.

Host-defense peptides (HDPs) such as human beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2) and cathelicidin (LL37) are essential components of innate immune response against tuberculosis (TB) infection, which could also be assessed for diagnostic potential in spectrum of TB infection. We assessed mRNA and circulating levels of HDPs in pulmonary TB (PTB) patients and their household contacts (HHCs). hBD-2 and LL37 were found to be significantly higher in both PTB and HHCs suggestive of bacterial exposure which was further corroborated by higher levels of HDPs in mantoux positive HHCs (latent TB). Higher levels of HDPs in HHCs may suggest protective host response against infection as indicated by inverse relation of LL37 with disease severity in PTB. Both peptides demonstrated high levels of sensitivity and specificity, although hBD-2 proved to be a better HDP for distinguishing LTBI from active TB at a cutoff of 3904 pg/ml. However, follow-up studies are required to validate these findings.

BackgroundThis study unveils the intricate functional association between cyclic di-3’,5’-adenylic acid (c-di-AMP) signaling, cellular bioenergetics, and the regulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profile in Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram-negative obligate anaerobe considered as a keystone pathogen involved in the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis. Previous research has identified variations in P. gingivalis LPS profile as a major virulence factor, yet the underlying mechanism of its modulation has remained elusive.MethodsWe employed a comprehensive methodological approach, combining two mutants exhibiting varying levels of c-di-AMP compared to the wild type, alongside an optimized analytical methodology that combines conventional mass spectrometry techniques with a novel approach known as FLATn.ResultsWe demonstrate that c-di-AMP acts as a metabolic nexus, connecting bioenergetic status to nuanced shifts in fatty acid and glycosyl profiles within P. gingivalis LPS. Notably, the predicted regulator gene cdaR, serving as a potent regulator of c-di-AMP synthesis, was found essential for producing N-acetylgalactosamine and an unidentified glycolipid class associated with the LPS profile.ConclusionThe multifaceted roles of c-di-AMP in bacterial physiology are underscored, emphasizing its significance in orchestrating adaptive responses to stimuli. Furthermore, our findings illuminate the significance of LPS variations and c-di-AMP signaling in determining the biological activities and immunostimulatory potential of P. gingivalis LPS, promoting a pathoadaptive strategy. The study expands the understanding of c-di-AMP pathways in Gram-negative species, laying a foundation for future investigations into the mechanisms governing variations in LPS structure at the molecular level and their implications for host-pathogen interactions.

Introduction: Magnesium deficiency is a common disorder, but easily ignored as compared to other electrolyte abnormalities. Other studies are showing varied prevalence and increased association with morbidity and mortality. Aims & Objectives: The aim of our study is to find out the prevalence of hypomagnesemia among the critically ill medical patients and to correlate the serum magnesium levels with the mortality and morbidity outcome considering the length of ICU stay, duration of ventilatory support, APACHE 2 score, SOFA score, primary medical conditions in critically ill patients in medical ICU. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted in Medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. After the approval from Institutional ethical committee patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit with age more than 12 years and admitted for more than 2 days were included in the study after obtaining written informed consent. Laboratory tests and radiological investigations were done. APACHE 2(acute physiology and chronic health evaluation) score, SOFA score, total ICU stay, hospital stay, need of mechanical ventilation, duration of ventilatory assistance and associated medical conditions like diabetes, sepsis and electrolyte abnormalities were followed up to assess the relation with mortality and morbidity. Results: Among total of 170 critically ill medical patients were included in the study, prevalence of hypomagnesemia was 56.8 %. The morbidity was higher in hypomagnesaemic patients (48.5% vs 23.4%), longer ICU stay (6.96 ± 3.85 vs 5.12 ± 1.31) and need of mechanical ventilation was also more (68.9% vs 40.4 % p value < 0.003). Sepsis and maximum SOFA score indicate being the predominant underlying factor for hypomagnesemia. Even though association was there between mortality and hypomagnesemia, mortality has not correlated significantly [beta -0.041, t -0.473, 95 % CI -0.219 and 0.138]. Conclusion: Hypomagnesemia is more prevalent among the critically ill medical patients. Hypomagnesemia was also associated with increased mortality, longer ICU stay, higher APACHE 2 score, SOFA score, frequent ventilatory support and significant electrolyte abnormalities also.

Bats are extraordinary mammals. They have evolved to consume various dietary sources, such as insects, fruits, nectar, blood, and meat. This diversity has generated considerable interest in the scientific community, resulting in efforts to leverage bats as model organisms to study the correlation between diet and gut microbiome community. Although such studies now commonly use Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), similar studies are early in their development in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia, which harbours an incredibly diverse bat fauna. This study provides pioneering NGS metabarcoding information on Bornean bats. By using a high-throughput Nanopore-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing method, Bacillota, Pseudomonadota, and Campylobacterota were found in insectivorous bats and phytophagous bats. Both insectivorous and phytophagous groups harboured no dominant taxon (D = 0.076; D = 0.085). A comparative analysis of gut bacteria functional groups identified eight major groups in both phytophagous and insectivorous bats, with fermentation being the predominant group. The correlation network analysis revealed a negative correlation between the 'good bacteria' Lactobacillus and various pathogenic bacteria genera, such as Salmonella (-0.4124) and Yersinia (-0.4654), demonstrating its prebiotic characteristics. This study broadens our understanding of the bat gut microbiome from various diets, with emphasis on new data from Borneo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durian (Durio zibethinus) brings in princely revenue for the fruit economy in Southeast Asia, ushering the current trend of clearing forests for durian plantations. Despite the thorny fruit’s popularity and increasing bat-durian papers, not many associate their vital plant-pollinator relationship. This unfamiliarity has led to the persisting negative connotations of bats as agricultural pests and worse, a disease carrier amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic. This review focuses on the bat-durian relationship comprising botanical insights and pollination ecology in relevance to the wider pteropodid-plant interactions. The majority of the studies compiled have concluded that bats are the most effective pollinator for durian than insects. Six fruit bat species (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) have been recorded pollinating durian flowers, with several other pteropodid species speculated to pollinate durian, including in non-native countries. Lastly, we address the research gaps for the bat-durian relationship, which can also be applied to other chiropterophilous plants.

Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoparticles were synthesized using 40 mL of lemon juice extract as a reducing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various analytical techniques, including UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results confirmed the successful synthesis of GO and rGO nanoparticles with varied sizes and shapes. The synthesized nanoparticles were tested for their antimicrobial activity against a range of bacterial and fungal strains, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillus flavus. Multiple concentrations of GO and rGO nanoparticles were tested, and it was observed that 100 µg·mL−1 of both GO and rGO showed the highest inhibitory effect against bacterial and produced zones of inhibition of 17.66 mm, 18.67 mm, and 17.88 for E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and 20.33, 22.45, and 21.34 mm for C. albicans, F. oxysporum, and A. flavus. Comparatively, GO performed well as compared to rGO regarding antimicrobial activity. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against various bacterial and fungal strains and have the potential to be developed as novel antimicrobial agents.

Pathogens significantly influence natural and agricultural ecosystems, playing a crucial role in the regulation of species populations and maintaining biodiversity. Entomopathogenic fungi (EF), particularly within the Hypocreales order, exemplify understudied pathogens that infect insects and other arthropods globally. Despite their ecological importance, comprehensive data on EF host specificity and geographical distribution are lacking. To address this, we present EntomoFun 1.0, an open-access database centralizing global records of EF–insect associations in Hypocreales. This database includes 1,791 records detailing EF species, insect host taxa, countries of occurrence, life stages of hosts, and information sources. EntomoFun 1.0 is constructed based on 600 literature sources, as well as herbarium specimens of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. This database is intended to test hypotheses, identify knowledge gaps, and stimulate future research. Contents of the EntomoFun 1.0 database are visualized with a global map, taxonomic chart, bipartite community network, and graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Southern Africa is a biodiversity hotspot rich in endemic plants and lichen‐forming fungi. However, species‐level data about lichen photobionts in this region are minimal. We focused on Trebouxia (Chlorophyta), the most common lichen photobiont, to understand how southern African species fit into the global biodiversity of this genus and are distributed across biomes and mycobiont partners. Methods: We sequenced Trebouxia nuclear ribosomal ITS and rbcL of 139 lichen thalli from diverse biomes in South Africa and Namibia. Global Trebouxia phylogenies incorporating these new data were inferred with a maximum likelihood approach. Trebouxia biodiversity, biogeography, and mycobiont–photobiont associations were assessed in phylogenetic and ecological network frameworks. Results: An estimated 43 putative Trebouxia species were found across the region, including seven potentially endemic species. Only five clades represent formally described species: T. arboricola s.l. (A13), T. cf. cretacea (A01), T. incrustata (A06), T. lynniae (A39), and T. maresiae (A46). Potential endemic species were not significantly associated with the Greater Cape Floristic Region or desert. Trebouxia species occurred frequently across multiple biomes. Annual precipitation, but not precipitation seasonality, was significant in explaining variation in Trebouxia communities. Consistent with other studies of lichen photobionts, the Trebouxia–mycobiont network had an anti‐nested structure. Conclusions: Depending on the metric used, ca. 20–30% of global Trebouxia biodiversity occurs in southern Africa, including many species yet to be described. With a classification scheme for Trebouxia now well established, tree‐based approaches are preferable over "barcode gap" methods for delimiting new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Spinal anesthesia was a commonly used technique in anesthetic practice for lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries. To prolong the duration of bupivacaine spinal anesthesia adjuvants like α2 agonists and opioids have been used intrathecally. Clonidine and dexmedetomidine have also been found to prolong the duration of spinal anesthesia when given intravenous. Dexmedetomidine was more suitable adjuvant to spinal anesthesia compared to clonidine as it has more sedative and analgesic effects due to more selective α2A receptor agonist activity. Dexmedetomidine has been shown to prolong the duration of analgesia of spinal anaesthesia in various studies. Here we compare the two doses of Dexmedetomidine in prolonging the duration of analgesia. Material and methods. 60 American Society of Anaesthesiologists(ASA) physical status I/II patients scheduled for elective lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries under spinal anesthesia were randomized into two groups of 30 each. Immediately after subarachnoid block with 3.5ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine, Group A patients received a loading dose of 0.5µg/kg of dexmedetomidine intravenously in 100ml NS over 10 mins whereas Group B received 1.0µg/kg of dexmedetomidine intravenously in 100ml NS over 10 mins. Results. Time for rescue analgesic were higher in Group B compared to Group A which was statistically significant but clinically the extra duration was insignificant. Time for two segment regression and duration of motor blockade was significantly prolonged in Group B. Requirement of Mephentermine was comparable in both the groups. There was no excessive sedation in both the groups. Conclusion. Dexmedetomidine administered as isolated loading dose of 0.5 µg/kg IV immediately after spinal anaesthesia was clinically equi-efficacious in prolonging the duration of analgesia of spinal anaesthesia compared to a larger dose of 1.0 µg/kg. The side effect profile, hemodynamic stability, sedation levels, need for vasopressors and atropine were comparable in both groups.

Scorodocarpus borneensis (Baill.) Becc. is attracting increased attention as a potential commercial medicinal plant product in Southeast Asia. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the taxonomy, habitat, distribution, medicinal uses, natural products, pharmacology, toxicology, and potential utilization of S. borneesis in the pharmaceutical/nutraceutical/functional cosmetic industries. All data in this review were compiled from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, ChemSpider, PubChem, and a library search from 1866 to 2022. A total of 33 natural products have been identified, of which 11 were organosulfur compounds. The main organosulfur compound in the seeds is bis-(methylthiomethyl)disulfide, which inhibited the growth of a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi, T-lymphoblastic leukemia cells, as well as platelet aggregation. Organic extracts evoked anti-microbial, cytotoxic, anti-free radical, and termiticidal effects. S. borneensis and its natural products have important and potentially patentable pharmacological properties. In particular, the seeds have the potential to be used as a source of food preservatives, antiseptics, or termiticides. However, there is a need to establish acute and chronic toxicity, to examine in vivo pharmacological effects and to perform clinical studies.

Abstract Modern leather industries are focused on producing high quality leather products for sustaining the market competitiveness. However, various leather defects are introduced during various stages of manufacturing process such as material handling, tanning and dyeing. Manual inspection of leather surfaces is subjective and inconsistent in nature; hence machine vision systems have been widely adopted for the automated inspection of leather defects. It is necessary develop suitable image processing algorithms for localize leather defects such as folding marks, growth marks, grain off, loose grain, and pinhole due to the ambiguous texture pattern and tiny nature in the localized regions of the leather. This paper presents deep learning neural network-based approach for automatic localization and classification of leather defects using a machine vision system. In this work, popular convolutional neural networks are trained using leather images of different leather defects and a class activation mapping technique is followed to locate the region of interest for the class of leather defect. Convolution neural networks such as Google net, Squeeze-net, RestNet are found to provide better accuracy of classification as compared with the state-of-the-art neural network architectures and the results are presented. Graphical Abstract

Logging and forest conversion are occurring at alarming rates in tropical forests. These disturbances alter soil microbial community structure and functions. While direct links between changes in soil properties, such as pH and microbial community structure are well established, the indirect effects of logging and forest conversion on soil microbial community structure and functions are poorly understood. We used a space-for-time substitution to investigate the changes in soil microbial diversity and functions across a forest recovery gradient in the tropical montane forests of northern Borneo. We used surface (top 5 cm) soil to assess soil physicochemical and microbial (next-generation DNA sequencing) properties, and standardized litterbags (Tea Bag Index) to assess litter decomposition and stabilization. Our results show that bacterial and fungal diversity increases with recovery time and reaches pre-disturbance levels between 60- and 80-years post-disturbance. Litter decomposition rate constants increased linearly with increasing bacterial and fungal diversity. Litter stabilization also increased linearly with fungal diversity, but was highest at intermediate levels of bacterial diversity. Our results provide insights on the effects of forest logging and conversion on soils and highlight the tight coupling between soil microbial diversity and soil functions in tropical montane forests.

The study revisits the taxonomic classification and ecological distribution of Panus velutinus and Panus similis, formerly known as Lentinus velutinus and Lentinus similis, respectively. A total of 45 samples were collected from five distinct conservation areas in Sabah, Malaysia. Detailed morphological analyses and DNA sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region were employed to reassess species identity and distribution. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the distinct species status of P. velutinus and P. similis, with both species forming separate, well-supported clades (bootstrap support ≥ 70%; posterior probability ≥ 0.9). Notable morphological differences were observed, particularly in basidiospore size, pileus texture, and gleocystidia measurements. Panus velutinus exhibited larger basidiospores (6.5-7 x 3-4 µm) and broader ecological adaptability compared to P. similis (4.5-6 x 2-3 µm), which displayed a more restricted distribution. These findings enhance the taxonomic understanding of these species and highlight the importance of integrating molecular and morphological data to clarify species boundaries within the genus Panus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cantharellus cuticulatus, first described by E.J.H. Corner in 1966, is an edible mushroom distinguished by its vibrant yellow-orange cap, lamellae-like hymenium and the absence of clamp connections. This study reveals a significant shift in its distribution from the high-altitude regions of Mount Kinabalu to lowland areas, raising interesting questions about its habitat preferences and associated host plants. The research was conducted between 2021 and 2023, involving comprehensive macro- and micro-morphological analyses, as well as molecular identification techniques. After a hiatus of over half a century without any new records in Sabah, the study has successfully collected three Cantharellus cuticulatus specimens from three different districts in Sabah. To date, this species has only been documented in Peninsular Malaysia and Northern Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal studies are scant within this region of Borneo, and the potential effects of anthropogenic disturbance on fungal communities in Sabahan caves have not been explored. This study involved opportunistic sampling of guano, speleothems, and cavern water from four caves in Sabah, Malaysia, categorised according to the level of anthropogenic activity. The dilution method was used for fungal isolation and abundance calculations. Morphological identification of axenic cultures was conducted, and DNA barcoding of the ITS region of cryptic species corroborated identification. A total of 170 axenic cultures were attained, composed of 69 morphological taxonomic units (MTUs), 33 genera, ten orders, and two divisions -- Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Fifty-seven of the 69 MTUs were identified to the species level. The genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were particularly prevalent, with a combined total of 86 isolations (50.6%). Notably, twelve species were documented for the first time in cave ecosystems of Sabah. The average fungal abundance across all substrates and fungal taxa occurrence was found to be higher in samples found in active caves. A significant difference in relative abundance was observed between active and non-active cave conditions. Beta regression modelling indicated that anthropogenic activity is a significant factor influencing the composition of cave fungal communities. While anthropogenic activity seems to affect cave mycobiomes, especially by selecting for ubiquitous fungi, it is likely not the sole influencing determinant of their composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignosus hainanensis was discovered in the Hainan Island, China, a decade ago, marking the only known occurrence of this species worldwide. This study provides the first report of Lignosus hainanensis from the Kadamaian Forest in Sabah (Northern Borneo), Malaysia, including detailed macro- and micromorphological descriptions, supported by molecular analyses. The morphological characteristics of the Malaysian collection was matched with the description of Lignosus hainanensis from the Hainan Island, China. Despite similarities in basidiocarps, Malaysian L. hainanensis showed similar hymenophore and basidiospore in terms of size, but with slightly different basidiospore shapes. Phylogenetic analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region strongly supported the phylogenetic placement of the Malaysian collection alongside the Chinese collections. This study confirmed the occurrence of Lignosus hainanensis in Sabah, Malaysia, marking its first recorded presence in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review identifies terpenes isolated from the medicinal Angiosperms of Asia and the Pacific with antibacterial and/or antifungal activities and analyses their distribution, molecular mass, solubility, and modes of action. All data in this review were compiled from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, ChemSpider, PubChem, and library searches from 1968 to 2022. About 300 antibacterial and/or antifungal terpenes were identified during this period. Terpenes with a MIC ≤ 2 µg/mL are mostly amphiphilic and active against Gram-positive bacteria, with a molecular mass ranging from about 150 to 550 g/mol, and a polar surface area around 20 Ų. Carvacrol, celastrol, cuminol, dysoxyhainic acid I, ent-1β,14β-diacetoxy-7α-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one, ergosterol-5,8-endoperoxide, geranylgeraniol, gossypol, 16α-hydroxy-cleroda-3,13 (14)Z-diene-15,16-olide, 7-hydroxycadalene, 17-hydroxyjolkinolide B, (20R)-3β-hydroxy-24,25,26,27-tetranor-5α cycloartan-23,21-olide, mansonone F, (+)-6,6′-methoxygossypol, polygodial, pristimerin, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol are chemical frameworks that could be candidates for the further development of lead antibacterial or antifungal drugs.

Auricularia cornea, or wood ear mushroom (WEM), is an edible macrofungus that is popular as a delicacy and for various biological activities. This study aims to determine the nutrient composition, in vitro antioxidant activities and the effect on postprandial blood glucose in human subjects after consuming instant noodles incorporated with 5% WEM powder. The proximate composition of WEM powder was 9.76% moisture, 2.40% ash, 7.52% protein, 0.15% fat, 37.96% crude fibre, 42.21% carbohydrate, and a total dietary fibre was 69.43%. Meanwhile, the proximate composition of 5% WEM noodles was 10.21% moisture, 2.87% ash, 11.37% protein, 0.16% fat, 5.68% crude fibre and 68.96% carbohydrates, while the total dietary fibre was 13.30%. The mineral content of WEM powder in decreasing order: potassium > calcium > magnesium > sodium > iron > zinc > manganese > copper > selenium > chromium. The incorporation of 5% WEM powder significantly (p < 0.05) reduced carbohydrates and increased the ash, crude fibre and total dietary fibre, antioxidant activities and total phenolic content of the instant noodles. Furthermore, the incorporation of 5% WEM significantly increased potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc content. The addition of WEM powder reduced the postprandial glycaemic response and produced a moderate glycaemic index (GI). In conclusion, the incorporation with WEM powder could be an effective way of developing nutritious and low GI instant noodles, thus, improving nutrient intake and human health.

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus species) is a popular and widely cultivated edible mushroom that can be found worldwide, including in Malaysia. However, its local production is unable to fulfil the market demand, partly due to the limited availability of rubber wood sawdust (RWS) as the conventional cultivation substrate. Furthermore, the palm oil industry in Malaysia generates large volumes of organic by-products that have caused environmental concerns. Therefore, the potential utilisation of oil palm waste-based substrates in order to develop a substitute RWS for Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom production is evaluated in this study, based on their agronomic performance and nutritional properties. Empty fruit bunches (EFBs), oil palm fronds (OPFs), and oil palm trunks (OPTs) were used to formulate the substrates. The control used was 100% RWS. Generally, 100% EFB showed a better agronomic performance, and mushroom growth was 1.9 times faster compared to the control, with a comparable mushroom yield. The crude protein and beta glucan content of mushrooms grown on oil palm by-product-formulated substrates were significantly higher than those grown using the control. Additionally, the number of fruiting bodies, crude protein, and beta glucan content of the mushrooms were positively correlated with potassium in the substrate. Therefore, 100% EFB could be used as a potential substitute for RWS for the cultivation and production of P. ostreatus.

Microbes such as the White Spot Syndrome Virus account for severe losses in the shrimp farming industry globally. This review examines the literature on the mangrove plants of Asia and the Pacific with antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral activities. All of the available data published on this subject were collected from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, ChemSpider, PubChem, and a library search from 1968 to 2022. Out of about 286 plant species, 119 exhibited antimicrobial effects, and a total of 114 antimicrobial natural products have been identified including 12 with MIC values below 1 µg/mL. Most of these plants are medicinal. The mangrove plants of Asia and the Pacific yield secondary metabolites with the potential to mitigate infectious diseases in shrimp aquaculture.

Purpose: Virological surveillance was conducted in to determine the presence of bat CoVs in the bat population in Wind Cave Nature Reserve, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Methods & Materials: Partial RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene sequences of 11 bat-CoV positive guano collected in Wind Cave Nature Reserve was analysed. Five pellets of fresh guano from insectivorous bats were collected on plastic tarp and pooled in 500uL of ice-cold viral transport medium. The 440-bp gene was amplified using family-wide hemi-nested RT-PCR for phylogenetic analysis. Amplicon sequences were analysed using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool software (BLAST) to determine their corresponding species. Sequence alignment was carried out without primer sequence and phylogenetic tree with Maximum Likelihood bootstrap-Bayesian inference value (MLb/PPv) support. Results: The positive rate was 47.6% (10/21) with the distribution of 60% (n=6/10) and 40% (n=4/10) Alpha and Beta-coronaviruses respectively. BatCoVs identified in this study formed four novel monophyletic clades referred to as Borneo Alpha-1 and -2, and Borneo Beta-1 and -2. Borneo Alpha-1 and -2 viruses diverged to form a monophyletic clade with Decacovirus-1 and Decacovirus-2 respectively (83.0-85.1% and 80.7-81.0% nucleotide identity) with batCoV found in Sabah (NCBI Accession# KX284940). Borneo Beta-1 viruses are also closely related to BatCoV found in Sabah (KX284939) (86.5-87.5% nt identity), forming a monophyletic group with Sarbecovirus. Meanwhile, Borneo Beta-2 are closer to BatCoVs in Loas (MN312609) (89.7-90.4% nt identity), forming a monophyletic clade with Hibecovirus. It is worthy to note that viruses found in the Sarbecovirus subgenus such as SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 attributed to two zooneses with Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over the past two decades. However, Borneo Beta-1 viruses are distant to the RaTG13 (MN996532) (69.1-697% nt identity), the proposed progenitor of the pandemic SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: The study has discovered both novel alpha and beta bat-coronaviruses in 40% of the guano sampled in Wind Cave Nature Reserve, Sarawak, East Malaysia based on the phylogeny of the partial RdRp gene sequence. The batCoVs are phylogenetically grouped into four clades via phylogeny confirms the presence of Borneo Beta-1 clade being monophyletic to the epidemic Sarbecoviruses.

Background: N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of non-acetaminopheninduced acute liver failure. NAC has anti-inflammatory, inotropic, and vasodilatory properties. It has also shown to improve microcirculation and oxygen delivery in cases of liver failure. Rodenticide poisoning affects many vital organs in the body including liver thereby causing acute liver failure with a high mortality rate. Our study aimed to examine the clinical parameters of rodenticide poisoning patients and compare the severity of liver failure and the outcome after NAC treatment. Methods: From 2019 to 2021, a prospective study was conducted at Trichy SRM Hospital and Research Centre, Tamilnadu on patients who had a history of ingesting rat killer paste(RKP), a potent rodenticide. Patients who presented with RKP poisoning were administered NAC irrespective of the duration of poison intake, as an initial loading dose of 150 mg/kg infused in 200ml of 5% dextrose over 1 hour, followed by 50 mg/kg in 500ml of 5% dextrose over the next 4 hours, and then 100 mg/kg in 1000ml of 5% dextrose over the next 16 hours. The presence of liver injury or bleeding diathesis was assessed clinically and biochemically. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square test to compare the groups. Results: Among the 57 patients who were treated with NAC, 16 expired and 41 recovered. Development of Jaundice(p=0.02), hepatitis(p=0.028) and hypotension had highly significant (p < 0.01) correlation with the delay in time of presentation to the ICU which marks the time of NAC administration. Mortality was observed in these set of patients who had increased serum transaminases, bilirubin and prolonged PT & aPTT. Conclusion: In this study, patients who received NAC earlier had a higher percentage of complete recovery. Earlier administration use of NAC has prevented the emergence of negative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and the major threat it poses to the environment and human lives is the major challenge the world faces today. To overcome this challenge, it is recommended that future automobiles have zero carbon exhaust emissions. Even though battery electric vehicles reduce carbon emissions relative to combustion engines, a carbon footprint still remains in the overall ecosystem unless the battery is powered by renewable energy sources. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an alternate source for automotive mobility which, similar to battery electric vehicles, has zero carbon emissions from its exhaust pipe. Moreover, the typical system level efficiency of a PEMFC is higher than an equivalent internal combustion powertrain. This review article covers the background history, working principles, challenges and applications of PEMFCs for automotive transportation and power generation in industries. Since the performance of a PEMFC is greatly influenced by the design of the anode and cathode flow channels, an in-depth review has been carried out on different types of flow channel designs. This review reveals the importance of flow channel design with respect to uniform gas (reactant) distribution, membrane proton conductivity, water flooding and thermal management. An exhaustive study has been carried out on different types of flow channels, such as parallel, serpentine, interdigitated and bio-inspired, with respect to their performance and applications.