Evaluation of Microplastics Ingested by Sea Cucumber Holothuria Scabra from Pulau Jambongan, Sabah.

Microplastics (MPs) are tiny plastic pieces having a diameter of less than 5 mm. They can arise from larger plastic debris that degrades over time, synthetic fibres from clothing, microbeads in personal care items and even larger plastic debris. Sea cucumbers are marine creatures vital to the ocean's ecosystem as they assist in maintaining a clean seabed and recycle nutrients.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Sunda stink-badger () from the island of Borneo.

Background: The Mephitidae is a family of skunks and stink-badgers that includes 12 extant species in four genera, namely, , and . is the only genus within Mephitidae found outside the American continent, with its distribution limited to the islands of Borneo, Indonesia and Philippines. There are two extant species of , and Currently, complete mitogenomes are unavailable for either species Here, we present the characterization of the first complete mitogenome for the Sunda stink-badger () from the island of Borneo.

typing in a Malaysian cohort: implications of abacavir hypersensitivity in people living with HIV.

Abacavir (ABC) in combination with other antiretroviral drugs, is used to treat people living with HIV (PLWH). However, it is linked to a fatal hypersensitivity reaction in susceptible individuals, and is strongly associated with the allele. A total of 152 patients, 50 PLWH and 102 HIV-1 negative patients, were assessed for the allele through a sequence-specific primer PCR.

Plastomes of L. and Comparative Analysis with Other Species.

The two varieties of mangosteen ( L.) cultivated in Malaysia are known as Manggis and Mesta. The latter is preferred for its flavor, texture, and seedlessness.

Increased Prevalence and New Evidence of Multi-Species Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) Infection in the Sea Turtles of Mabul Island, Borneo.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating tumor disease affecting all species of sea turtles globally. The most probable etiological agent for FP is the chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5). A 2015-2016 field survey of the sea turtles at Mabul Island, Sabah, Malaysia, found three green turtles () with FP tumors.

Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination intention among university students: A cross-sectional study in Malaysia.

Vaccination is crucial in controlling the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that triggered the pandemic, but herd immunity can only work with high vaccination coverage in the population. This study aims to measure the COVID-19 knowledge level and determine the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination intention among university students in Malaysia. A cross-sectional online survey was carried out with 1,274 Malaysian university students in July 2021.

Improvements to the Rapid Detection of the Marine Pathogenic Bacterium, Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) in Combination with SYBR Green.

The common methods that are presently used to identify include microscopic examination and biochemical, immunological and PCR-based assays. These methods require technical expertise, and can be time-consuming. A rapid method is required for the high-throughput screening of large number of samples.

Heterologous Expression and Catalytic Properties of Codon-Optimized Small-Sized Bromelain from MD2 Pineapple.

Bromelain is a unique enzyme-based bioactive complex containing a mixture of cysteine proteases specifically found in the stems and fruits of pineapple () with a wide range of applications. MD2 pineapple harbors a gene encoding a small bromelain cysteine protease with the size of about 19 kDa, which might possess unique properties compared to the other cysteine protease bromelain. This study aims to determine the expressibility and catalytic properties of small-sized (19 kDa) bromelain from MD2 pineapple (MD2-SBro).

Mitochondrial genome of Garcinia mangostana L. variety Mesta.

Fruits of Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen) are rich in nutrients with xanthones found in the pericarp having great pharmaceutical potential. Mangosteen variety Mesta is only found in Malaysia, which tastes sweeter than the common Manggis variety in Southeast Asia.

Draft genome sequence data of a clinical isolate SHH039 from a patient with cholecystitis from a tertiary care hospital in Sabah, Malaysia.

An strain SHH039 was isolated from a 68 year old man who was hospitalised with cholecystitis. The genomic sequence of this isolate which had a size of 2,990,081 bp and 2,663 proteins with functional assignments is presented here. Analysis of the genome revealed with multiple antibiotic resistance genes which may be associated with acute cholecystitis.

First Evidence of Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) Infection in Green Turtles () from Sabah, Borneo.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) of sea turtles is characterised by cutaneous tumours and is associated with Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), an alphaherpesvirus from the family Herpesviridae. Here, we provide the first evidence of ChHV5-associated FP in endangered Green turtles () from Sabah, which is located at the northern region of Malaysian Borneo. The aims of our study were firstly, to determine the presence of ChHV5 in both tumour exhibiting and tumour-free turtles using molecular techniques and secondly, to determine the phylogeography of ChHV5 in Sabah.

Whole genome sequence data of WCH4, a human pathogenic strain from Sabah, Malaysia.

is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacillus which is commonly found in soil. It can cause mild diarrhoea upon infection but can progress, although rarely, to fatal multi-organ failure and death. Here we report the whole genome sequence data of WCH4 strain, a pathogenic strain that was obtained from a 78 year old male patient suffering from an eye infection.

Soluble Expression and Catalytic Properties of Codon-Optimized Recombinant Bromelain from MD2 Pineapple in Escherichia coli.

Bromelain, a member of cysteine proteases, is found abundantly in pineapple (Ananas comosus), and it has a myriad of versatile applications. However, attempts to produce recombinant bromelain for commercialization purposes are challenging due to its expressibility and solubility. This study aims to express recombinant fruit bromelain from MD2 pineapple (MD2Bro; accession no: OAY85858.

No Evidence of Coronaviruses or Other Potentially Zoonotic Viruses in Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) Entering the Wildlife Trade via Malaysia.

The legal and illegal trade in wildlife for food, medicine and other products is a globally significant threat to biodiversity that is also responsible for the emergence of pathogens that threaten human and livestock health and our global economy. Trade in wildlife likely played a role in the origin of COVID-19, and viruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2 have been identified in bats and pangolins, both traded widely. To investigate the possible role of pangolins as a source of potential zoonoses, we collected throat and rectal swabs from 334 Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) confiscated in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah between August 2009 and March 2019.

Whole genome sequencing data of a clinical strain EGR748 from Sabah, Malaysia.

is a gram positive facultatively anaerobic bacteria that is typically found in mammalian intestinal tracts. It is generally not considered pathogenic to humans and is rarely reported. Here, we present the draft genome sequence data of strain EGR748 isolated from a human clinical sample, and sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq 4000 system.

Shared Signature of Recent Positive Selection on the TSBP1-BTNL2-HLA-DRA Genes in Five Native Populations from North Borneo.

North Borneo (NB) is home to more than 40 native populations. These natives are believed to have undergone local adaptation in response to environmental challenges such as the mosquito-abundant tropical rainforest. We attempted to trace the footprints of natural selection from the genomic data of NB native populations using a panel of ∼2.

Morphological Variability Identification of Mango ( L.) Harvested from Different Location and Tree Age.

is one of the main signatures of Perlis with regards to its delightful taste, pleasant aroma and expensive price. authenticity and productivity had become the remarks among the farmers, entrepreneurs, consumers and plant breeders due to the existence of morphological characteristics variation among the fruits and high production cost. Assessment of morphological characteristics of natural population and different tree ages may represent a possible source of important characteristics for development and breeding purposes of .

Analysis of five deep-sequenced trio-genomes of the Peninsular Malaysia Orang Asli and North Borneo populations.

Background: Recent advances in genomic technologies have facilitated genome-wide investigation of human genetic variations. However, most efforts have focused on the major populations, yet trio genomes of indigenous populations from Southeast Asia have been under-investigated.

Results: We analyzed the whole-genome deep sequencing data (~ 30×) of five native trios from Peninsular Malaysia and North Borneo, and characterized the genomic variants, including single nucleotide variants (SNVs), small insertions and deletions (indels) and copy number variants (CNVs).

Concurrent juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia with thalassemia in a case with infection from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

A 3-year-old male child was presented with worsening abdominal pain, abdominal distension, lethargy, pallor and hepatosplenomegaly. The patient had multiple outpatient visits in the past and was treated with oral antibiotics, oral anthelmintic agents, albeit with minimal benefit. The patient also had non-neutropenic pyrexia spikes and oral ulcers.

Draft genome sequence of the basidiomycetous fungus strain RS1.

Members of the genus , which belong to the wood-degrading basidiomycetes, possess the ability to synthesize an array of industrially potent enzymes and metabolites. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of the species strain RS1, which is the first to represent its genus. The genome was sequenced using Illumina's 2 × 150 bp paired-end Nextera protocol.

Extensive sharing of mitochondrial COI and CYB haplotypes among reef-building staghorn corals (Acropora spp.) in Sabah, North Borneo.

This study is aimed at establishing a baseline on the genetic diversity of the Acropora corals of Sabah, North Borneo based on variations in the partial COI and CYB nucleotide sequences. Comparison across 50 shallow-water Acropora morphospecies indicated that the low substitution rates in the two genes were due to negative selection and that rate heterogeneity between them was asymmetric. CYB appeared to have evolved faster than COI in the Acropora as indicated by differences in the rate of pairwise genetic distance, degrees of transition bias (T/T), synonymous-to-nonsynonymous rate ratio (d/d), and substitution patterns at the three codon positions.

Genomic structure of the native inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia and North Borneo suggests complex human population history in Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia (SEA) is enriched with a complex history of peopling. Malaysia, which is located at the crossroads of SEA, has been recognized as one of the hubs for early human migration. To unravel the genomic complexity of the native inhabitants of Malaysia, we sequenced 12 samples from 3 indigenous populations from Peninsular Malaysia and 4 native populations from North Borneo to a high coverage of 28-37×.

Homogeneous Nature of Malaysian Marine Fish Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Perciformes; Serranidae): Evidence Based on Molecular Markers, Morphology and Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis.

Taxonomic confusion exists within the genus Epinephelus due to the lack of morphological specializations and the overwhelming number of species reported in several studies. The homogenous nature of the morphology has created confusion in the Malaysian Marine fish species Epinephelus fuscoguttatus and Epinephelus hexagonatus. In this study, the partial DNA sequence of the 16S gene and mitochondrial nucleotide sequences of two gene regions, Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I and III were used to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between them.