495 results match your criteria: "Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM)[Affiliation]"

FOXO3a is a transcription factor involved in cell growth inhibition and apoptosis. FOXO3a is localized in the cytoplasm in cancer cells, and its nuclear translocation by small molecules is expected to prevent cancer cell growth. In this study, we screened a fungal broth library in HeLa cells using fluorescently labeled FOXO3a and an AI-based imaging system.

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Understanding the role of TNFR2 signaling in the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer.

J Exp Clin Cancer Res

November 2024

Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu , Kelantan, 16150, Malaysia.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among women. It is characterized by a high level of heterogeneity that emerges from the interaction of several cellular and soluble components in the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as cytokines, tumor cells and tumor-associated immune cells. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 2 (TNFR2) appears to play a significant role in microenvironmental regulation, tumor progression, immune evasion, drug resistance, and metastasis of many types of cancer, including BC.

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Aptamers have emerged as prominent ligands in clinical diagnostics because they provide various advantages over antibodies, such as quicker generation time, reduced manufacturing costs, minimal batch-to-batch variability, greater modifiability, and improved thermal stability. In the present study, we isolated and characterized DNA aptamers that can specifically bind to the hemolysin E (HlyE) antigen of Salmonella Typhi for future development of typhoid diagnostic tests. The DNA aptamers against Salmonella Typhi HlyE were isolated using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), and their binding affinity and specificity were assessed utilizing enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay (ELONA).

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Identification of significant hub genes and pathways associated with metastatic breast cancer and tolerogenic dendritic cell via bioinformatics analysis.

Comput Biol Med

January 2025

Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is a severe and often fatal form of breast cancer linked to over 90% of cancer deaths, with the role of tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) in its rapid progression still unclear.
  • The study uses bioinformatics to analyze gene expression data from MBC and tolDCs, identifying 529 upregulated and 367 downregulated common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that are connected to the disease.
  • Among the 23 hub genes identified, 5 (3 upregulated: ISG15, OAS2, RSAD2; 2 downregulated: eEF2, PPARG) are significant for their correlation to MBC and may serve as potential therapeutic
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First reported cases of Borrelia and dengue co-infection: A case series.

Trop Biomed

September 2024

Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Article Synopsis
  • Dengue fever is a common illness in tropical countries, often diagnosed in patients with acute fever, while Borrelia is linked to infections like Lyme disease and relapsing fever.
  • This report presents the first case series of patients co-infected with dengue and Borrelia in Malaysia, highlighting that all three had typical dengue symptoms but no severe complications.
  • Despite detecting Borrelia DNA in their blood, the patients did not show signs of skin lesions or insect bites, and they responded well to treatment with intravenous fluids, being discharged after a few days.
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Roles of probiotics against HPV through the gut-vaginal axis.

Int J Gynaecol Obstet

November 2024

Bioprocess Technology, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus, whose persistent infection is the main reason for invasive cervical cancer (ICC), which is the fourth most common type of cancer in women, with more than 500 000 new cases every year. After infection, various alterations occur in the host, facilitating the virus's evasion of immune system clearance and promoting its proliferation. Oral probiotic consumption can influence the whole body's immunity, inflammatory reflection, neural, endocrine humoral, metabolic pathways and other organs by adjusting the components of gut microbiota (GM).

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The rising levels of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the poor medical effects of the commercially available antidiabetic drugs necessitate the development of potent analogs to treat this multifactorial metabolic disorder. It has been demonstrated that targeting two or more biochemical targets associated with the onset and progression of diabetes along with oxidative stress and/or cancer could be a significant strategy for treating complications related to this metabolic disorder. The 3,5-dibromo-4,6-dimethoxychalcones (-) and the corresponding flavone derivatives (-) were synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic (NMR, HR-MS and FT-IR) techniques.

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Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate a technique of using photoplethysmography (PPG) for detecting elevated blood glucose in individuals.

Method: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study in which 500 healthy volunteers were recruited at a tertiary hospital in Singapore from October 2021 to February 2023. Capillary glucose was measured concurrently with PPG signals acquired using the wrist-worn Actxa Tracker (Spark + Series 2) and the In-Ear Prototype model SVT, which were worn for a duration of 8 min.

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Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a significant global public health concern in Malaysia. It is a potentially life-threatening liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can lead to long-term complications such as cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. In managing CHB, nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) have become the preferred treatment due to their ability to suppress viral replication and prevent disease progression.

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Increased expression and activity of the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway suppresses the activation of cytotoxic T cells, which is vital in anti-tumour defence, allowing tumours to rise, expand and progress. Current strategies using antibodies to target PD-1/PD-L1 have been very effective in cancer therapeutics and companion diagnostics. Aptamers are a new class of molecules that offer an alternative to antibodies.

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Isolation and characterization of ssDNA aptamers against BipD antigen of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Anal Biochem

December 2024

Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia. Electronic address:

Background: Melioidosis is difficult to diagnose due to its wide range of clinical symptoms. The culture method is time-consuming and less sensitive, emphasizing the importance of rapid and accurate diagnostic tests for melioidosis. Burkholderia invasion protein D (BipD) of Burkholderia pseudomallei is a potential diagnostic biomarker.

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Diagnosis of extraintestinal microsporidiosis is always hampered due to non-specific symptoms and difficulty in diagnosis. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic utility of blood and faecal-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect microsporidiosis in immunocompromised patients. A total of 42 immunocompromised patients consisting of HIV-infected and chemotherapy-treated patients were enrolled.

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Current development of Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) in diagnostics: a review.

Mol Biol Rep

August 2024

Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

The ability of the immune system to fight against pathogens relies on the intricate collaboration between antibodies and Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs). These receptors are a group of transmembrane glycoprotein molecules, which can specifically detect and bind to the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules. They are distributed on a diverse array of immune cells, forming a strong defence system to eliminate invading threats.

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serovar Typhi (. Typhi) causes typhoid fever, a systemic infection that affects millions of people worldwide. .

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Objectives: The rise in Carbapenem-resistant (CRE) is perturbing. To curb the menace of CRE, a comprehensive understanding of its prevalence and epidemiology is crucial. As varying reports abound, the true prevalence of CRE in Nigeria remains unknown.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Accurate diagnosis of strongyloidiasis is essential for effective treatment, and a review of 52 studies highlights the various diagnostic assays used in Southeast Asia over the past 30 years.
  • - Many common parasitological methods are found to be insensitive, resulting in an underestimation of Strongyloides infection rates in the region; it’s recommended to use a combination of techniques for better detection.
  • - Newer diagnostics like urine ELISAs and rapid lateral flow tests are emerging, indicating that improving and standardizing these tests can help better estimate infection rates and enhance control measures.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The study aimed to investigate serum levels of soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1) in breast cancer patients, specifically focusing on Asian (Malay) women, and its correlation with various clinical characteristics.
  • - Blood samples were collected from 92 malignant and 16 benign breast cancer patients, as well as 23 healthy controls, revealing that sPD-L1 levels were significantly higher in the cancer groups compared to healthy individuals.
  • - The findings indicated that sPD-L1 levels were linked to factors like age at menarche, ethnicity, birth control usage, and HER2 status, highlighting the need for further research on sPD-L1's role in breast cancer diagnosis and progression.
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Electrochemical biosensors for the detection of protozoan parasite: a scoping review.

Pathog Glob Health

September 2024

Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia.

Article Synopsis
  • Scientists want to find faster and better ways to detect tiny germs called protozoan parasites that can make people sick.
  • Electrochemical biosensors are special tools that could do this job well because they're quick, easy to use, and portable.
  • A study looked at many recent articles and found that while these sensors are promising, more research is needed to make sure they work accurately for detecting these parasites.
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Irrespective of medical technology improvements, cancer ranks among the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Although numerous cures and treatments exist, creating alternative cancer therapies with fewer adverse side effects is vital. Since ancient times, plant bioactive compounds have already been used as a remedy to heal cancer.

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A portable label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor for rapid detection of Typhi.

Anal Methods

August 2024

Collaborative Microelectronic Design Excellence Center (CEDEC), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Sains@USM, Level 1, Block C, No. 10 Persiaran Bukit Jambul, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

A highly accurate, rapid, portable, and robust platform for detecting serovar Typhi ( Typhi) is crucial for early-stage diagnosis of typhoid to avert and control the outbreaks of this pathogen, which threaten global public health. This study presents a proof-of-concept for our developed label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor system for Typhi detection, which employs a printed circuit board gold electrode (PCBGE), integrated with a portable potentiostat reader. Initially, the functionalized DNA biosensor and target detection were characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods using a benchtop potentiostat.

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Antibacterial Effects of Various Types of Bee Products in Malaysia: A Systematic Review.

Malays J Med Sci

June 2024

Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Antibiotics are widely used to treat bacterial infections. The effectiveness of antibiotics is very important, but unfortunately, prolonged exposure leads to the development of antibiotic resistance in some bacteria. Hence, using natural products as antibacterial agents is an attractive alternative, given that they have been used as traditional medicine since the existence of humanity.

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Background: The techniques for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) require lengthy and complex experimental procedures and expensive instruments that may only be available in some laboratories. Thus, a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based lateral flow assay (LFA) was developed as a point-of-care test (POCT) diagnostic tool for genotyping. In this study, single nucleotide variation (E101K) in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene leading to familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) was chosen as a model.

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Pathogenic bacteria employ virulence factors (VF) to establish infection and cause disease in their host. Yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces pombe, are useful model organisms to study the functions of bacterial VFs and their interaction with targeted cellular processes because yeast processes and organelle structures are highly conserved and similar to higher eukaryotes. In this review, we describe the principles and applications of the yeast model for the identification and functional characterisation of bacterial VFs to investigate bacterial pathogenesis.

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IL-23 is a double-subunit cytokine that plays an important role in shaping the immune response. IL-23 was found to be associated with several autoinflammatory diseases by generating sustained inflammatory loops that lead to tissue damage. Antibody neutralization of IL-23 was proven to be effective in ameliorating associated diseases.

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