Sabrina Sukardi

Analysis of Salmonella Agona and Salmonella Weltevreden in Malaysia by PCR fingerprinting and antibiotic resistance profiling.

Forty-eight strains of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona and 33 strains of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Weltevreden were characterized by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting using 3 different arbitrary primer, Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ERIC-PCR) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. By using RAPD, 81 strains (44 strains of S. Agona and 33 strains of S. Weltevreden) can be clustered into 14 groups and 6 single isolates whereas ERIC-PCR produced 7 clusters and 3 single isolates. Thirteen antimicrobial agents were used and all the isolates were resistant to erythromycin and showed Multiple Antimicrobial Resistance indexes, ranging from 0.08 to 0.62. Poultry still remain as the common reservoir for multi-drug-resistant Salmonella. On the other hand, vegetables contaminated with S. Weltevreden showed a gain in antimicrobial resistance. Besides that, consistent antibiograms were observed from S. Weltevreden isolated at Kajang wet market on 2000/08/02.

Detection of PLC-ζ from testis of Rattus argentiventer(rice-field rat) using RT-PCR and qRT-PCR

Rattus argentiventer (Rice Field Rat) is responsible for destruction of paddy. The mammal is known for its rapid reproductive potential which can be a target for biological control of this species. Phospholipase C-zeta (PLC ζ) is a specific enzyme found in sperm of mammals responsible for triggering calcium oscillations leading to egg activation during fertilization. It facilitates the first step of egg activation causing egg division and subsequent development into an embryo. The method used in this study was to identify PLC gene fragments from the testis of Rattus argentiventer using two-step Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and quantified with Real Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Following that, sequencing of PLC was performed. The identified sequence was then keyed in into the BLAST portal in NCBI (National Centre of Bioinformatics) for comparison with a standard PLC sequence from Rattus norvegicus for sequence alignment. The result showed that PLCζ was present in Rattus argentiventer and qRTPCR could quantify the amount of PLCζ available.As such this would give additional information of detection and quantification techniques for rapid identification and detection of PLCζ to be carried out in the approach of controlling the rapid growth of Rattus argentiventer population.

The response of immunoreactive nerve fibres in osteoarthritis to orally administered Zingiber officinale extract

Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger is a well known natural remedy that has long been used by people in many parts of the world as food additive and traditional medicine. Knowing the anti-inflammatory action of Z. officinale, it has become the most popular herbal medication for rheumatic diseases. The current work was undertaken to evaluate the effect of this extract on the efferent and afferent components of the peripheral nervous system, since this system had been shown to contribute to the inflammatory process which in turn will cause a severe joint damage in arthritis. Chemical lesioning of these fibres showed a decrease in the inflammatory response in arthritis [2], and oral administration of SP antagonist or dorsal rhizotomy markedly reduces the severity of inflammation in animal models [1]. This improved the cure from arthritis. Therefore, the respond of PGP 9.5-, SP-, CGRP- and NPY- immunoreactivity in experimentally-induced osteoarthritis with supplementation of Z. officinale extract was studied. Changes after the treatment were statistically evaluated by innervations of the synovial membrane. There was significant improvement in PGP 9.5-, SP-, CGRP- and NPY- immunoreactivity in the synovial membrane of treated animals compared with that for controls. Results of this study suggest oral administration of Z. officinale extracts can be a good alternative treatment for osteoarthritis. References: [1] Kane, D. et al. (2005) Ann. Rheum. Dis. 64(2): 325–327. [2] Nissalo, S. et al. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 966(1): 384–399.