Impact of COVID-19 on dengue: a twofold challenge to public health in Sabah, Malaysia.

Introduction: The dengue epidemic poses a significant public health challenge in Malaysia, and the concurrent presence of dengue and SARS-CoV-2 infections has further strained its healthcare system. Sabah, the second largest state in Malaysia, located in the northern part of Borneo Island, has been particularly hard-hit by both dengue and SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. This study aims to analyze the status of dengue infections in Sabah over the past decade and understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dengue virus transmission.

16S rRNA metagenomics data on the bacterial communities in Poring Hot Spring, Sabah, Malaysia.

Hot springs are known to harbor potentially unique microorganisms due to the extreme temperatures in which they thrive and their biotechnologically important enzymes that are active at high temperature, which are beneficial for various industries. Sabah, Malaysia, houses several hot springs, yet knowledge of their microbiological diversity remains limited. Here, the raw sequence data of bacterial communities in a hot spring through metagenomic analysis are revealed.

Timeline of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Sabah, Malaysia: Tracking the Molecular Evolution.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented public health challenge in Malaysia. The impact of COVID-19 varies between countries, including geographically divided states within a country. The deadly transmission of COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll in Sabah, Malaysia's third most populous state, contributing nearly 10% to the recorded national death toll as of 31 December 2022.

Heat Shock Protein Response to Stress in Poultry: A Review.

Compared to other animal species, production has dramatically increased in the poultry sector. However, in intensive production systems, poultry are subjected to stress conditions that may compromise their well-being. Much like other living organisms, poultry respond to various stressors by synthesising a group of evolutionarily conserved polypeptides named heat shock proteins (HSPs) to maintain homeostasis.

Effects of Thermal Manipulation on mRNA Regulation of Response Genes Regarding Improvement of Thermotolerance Adaptation in Chickens during Embryogenesis.

The phenomenon of increasing heat stress (HS) among animals is of particular significance when it is seen in economically significant industries, such as poultry. Due to the identification of the physiological, molecular, and genetic roots of HS responses in chickens, a substantial number of studies have focused on reducing the effects of HS in poultry through environmental management, dietary manipulation, and genetic alterations. Temperature manipulation (TM) during embryogenesis has been claimed to increase the thermal tolerance and well-being of chickens without affecting their capacity for future growth.

Immunomodulatory Strategies for Parapoxvirus: Current Status and Future Approaches for the Development of Vaccines against Orf Virus Infection.

Orf virus (ORFV), the prototype species of the parapoxvirus genus, is the causative agent of contagious ecthyma, an extremely devastating skin disease of sheep, goats, and humans that causes enormous economic losses in livestock production. ORFV is known for its ability to repeatedly infect both previously infected and vaccinated sheep due to several immunomodulatory genes encoded by the virus that temporarily suppress host immunity. Therefore, the development of novel, safe and effective vaccines against ORFV infection is an important priority.

Contagious ecthyma: how serious is the disease worldwide?

Contagious ecthyma (CE) is an infectious disease of small ruminants caused by a parapoxvirus of family Poxviridae subfamily Chordopoxvirinae. The disease is obviously distinguished by an establishment of scabby lesions and ulcerative formation on less hairy areas including muzzle, ears, nostril, and sometimes on genitalia. The disease is endemic in sheep and goats.

Immediately early 2 (IE-2) and DNA polymerase SiRNA as virus-specific antiviral against novel transplacental cytomegalovirus strain ALL-03 in vitro.

Objective: This study investigated the suitability of siRNA targeting specific genes that cause inhibition of virus replication in vitro especially for the virus that capable of crossing placenta and we employed a novel transplacental rat cytomegalovirus that mimics infection in human.

Methods: Six unique siRNAs with three each targeting different regions of IE2 (ie2a, ie2b and ie2c) and DNA polymerase (dpa, dpb and dpc) were prepared and tested for antiviral activities. The efficacy as an antiviral was determined in in-vitro by measuring TCID50 virus titer, severity of virus-induced cytopathic effect (CPE), intracellular viral genome loads by droplet digital PCR, the degree of apoptosis in siRNA-treated cells and relative expression of viral mRNA in infected Rat Embryo Fibroblast (REF) cells.

Multiple gene targeting siRNAs for down regulation of Immediate Early-2 (Ie2) and DNA polymerase genes mediated inhibition of novel rat Cytomegalovirus (strain All-03).

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe complications in congenitally infected newborns and non-immunocompetent individuals. Developing an effective vaccine is a major public health priority and current drugs are fronting resistance and side effects on recipients. In the present study, with the aim of exploring new strategies to counteract CMV replication, several anti-CMV siRNAs targeting IE2 and DNA polymerase gene regions were characterized and used as in combinations for antiviral therapy.

Identification of strain diversity and phylogenetic analysis based on two major essential proteins of Orf viruses isolated from several clinical cases reported in Malaysia.

There is a little information on the characterization of Orf virus strains that are endemic in Malaysia. The relationship between the severity of disease and the molecular genetic profile of Orf virus strains has not been fully elucidated. This study documented the first confirmed report of contagious ecthyma causing by Orf virus in goats from a selected state of eastern peninsular Malaysia.

An association of Orf virus infection among sheep and goats with herd health programme in Terengganu state, eastern region of the peninsular Malaysia.

Background: Orf virus causes a scabby skin lesions which decreases productivity in small ruminants. The unknown status of this disease in the eastern region of Peninsular Malaysia warrants a study to determine sero-prevalence of orf with regards to farmers' compliance level towards the Herd Health Program (HHP) programme.

Results: Out of 504 animals, 115 were positive for Orf-virus antibodies.

The application of naked DNA plasmid (DrZP3) and recombinant adenovirus (Ad-rZP3) in rat animal model to determine comparative efficacy of ZP3-Immunocontraceptive vaccines.

The common physical and chemical methods for controlling rat pest are less than satisfactory and inhumane. Immunocontraception approach has been considered more humane and it can be accomplished by inducing the relevant host immune response that block further development of reproductive gametes. ZP3 proteins are known to play very important role during sperm-ovum fertilization.

Dermatopathology of Orf Virus (Malaysian Isolates) in Mice Experimentally Inoculated at Different Sites with and without Dexamethasone Administration.

Orf is a clinical manifestation of parapoxvirus infection often fatal in goats and sheep especially when they are under stress or influenced by unfavorable environment. This study investigated the pathogenicity of two Orf virus isolates (ORFV UPM1/14 and UPM2/14) and host response in mouse model by using different inoculation sites with/without prior exposure to dexamethasone. Treatments with dexamethasone served as an immunosuppressant that may mimic stress situation in affected animals.

The re-emerging of orf virus infection: A call for surveillance, vaccination and effective control measures.

Orf disease is known to be enzootic among small ruminants in Asia, Africa, and some other parts of the world. The disease caused by orf virus is highly contagious among small ruminant species. Unfortunately, it has been neglected for decades because of the general belief that it only causes a self-limiting disease.

Identification and comparison of RCMV ALL 03 open reading frame (ORF) among several different strains of cytomegalovirus worldwide.

Background: Rat cytomegalovirus ALL-03 (Malaysian strain) which was isolated from a placenta and uterus of a house rat, Rattus rattus diardii has the ability to cross the placenta and infecting the fetus. To further elucidate the pathogenesis of the Malaysian strain of Rat Cytomegalovirus ALL-03 (RCMV ALL-03), detailed analysis on the viral genome sequence is crucial.

Methods: Genome sequencing of RCMV ALL-03 was carried out in order to identify the open reading frame (ORF), homology comparison of ORF with other strains of CMV, phylogenetic analysis, classifying ORF with its corresponding conserved genes, and determination of functional proteins and grouping of gene families in order to obtain fundamental knowledge of the genome.

Isolation and phylogenetic analysis of caprine Orf virus in Malaysia.

Orf virus is a DNA virus that causes contiguous ecthyma in goat and sheep. Infection of animals with this virus cause high mortality in young animals resulting in huge economic losses. In this study, we investigated an outbreak of Orf in a goat farm in Malaysia.

Complete Genome Sequence of Rat Cytomegalovirus Strain ALL-03 (Malaysian Strain).

The complete genome sequence of the ALL-03 strain of rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV) has been determined. The RCMV genome has a length of 197,958 bp and is arranged as a single unique sequence flanked by 504-bp terminal direct repeats. This strain is closely related to the English strain of RCMV in terms of genetic arrangement but differs slightly in size.