Objective: The aim of this article was to review published research articles on leptospirosis, in particular the recent incidence of leptospirosis in Malaysia and the currently available diagnostic methods for the detection of leptospirosis. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar and Google Search databases were searched using the key words Leptospira and leptospirosis. A total of seventy-six references were reviewed including sixty-seven research articles, three annual reports from Ministry of Health and six online newspaper articles. This review includes the following five sub-headings: introduction, leptospirosis transmission, leptospirosis incidents, laboratory diagnosis of leptospirosis and treatment and prevention of leptospirosis. Results: An increase in incidents of leptospirosis cases has been seen in recent years in Malaysia. The recent floods have contributed to the rise in the number of reported cases. Current diagnostic approaches such as dark field microscopy, microscopic agglutination test (MAT), Polymerase chain reaction and serological tests are inadequate as the organism is a slow grower. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to develop newer techniques for rapid detection of leptospirosis. The combination of PCR and ELISA are suggested for rapid and accurate diagnosis of leptospirosis. Studies on the mechanism of pathogenesis of Leptospira are needed for the development of vaccines that are safe for human use.

Background: Synthetic biology is emerging as a viable alternative for the production of recombinant antigens for diagnostic applications. It offers a safe alternative for the synthesis of antigenic principles derived from organisms that pose a high biological risk. Methods: Here, we describe an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the synthetic recombinant LipL32 (rLipL32) protein expressed in Escherichia coli for the detection of Leptospira-specific antibodies in human serum samples. The rLipL32-based ELISA was compared with a microscopic agglutination test (MAT), which is currently used as the gold standard for the diagnosis of leptospirosis. Results: Our results showed that all the MAT-positive serum samples were positive for Leptospira-specific IgG in an ELISA, while 65% (n = 13) of these samples were also positive for Leptospira-specific IgM. In the MAT-negative serum samples, 80% and 55% of the samples were detected as negative by an ELISA for Leptospira-specific IgM and IgG, respectively. Conclusion: An ELISA using the synthetic rLipL32 antigen was able to distinguish Leptospira-specific IgM (sensitivity 65% and specificity 80%) and IgG (sensitivity 100% and specificity 55%) in human serum samples and has the potential to serve as a rapid diagnostic test for leptospirosis.

Aims: Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum is one of the principal causal agents of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the coastal waters of Sabah, Malaysia. Seafood and aquaculture products tainted with lethal concentrations of the principal neurotoxin, saxitoxin, have been implicated in mortality and morbidity. The bacteria-algae association may play a key role in paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) production during a toxic bloom event. The production of PST during a harmful bloom is unclear and research on the bacterial diversity associated with Sabah P. bahamense is scarce. The present study examined the cultivable bacteria diversity associated with P. bahamense through 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequence analysis. Methodology and results: The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene sequence was amplified and used to identify bacterial populations associated with P. bahamense var. compressum. A total of 62 isolates were successfully isolated, belonging to three different phyla, which were Proteobacteria; 55 (89%), Bacteroidetes; 6 (10%) and Actinobacteria; 1 (1%). Out of 55 Proteobacteria, 27 isolates were gamma-Proteobacteria (Marinobacter salsuginis) and 28 of the isolates were alpha-Proteobacteria; Mameliella atlantica (13), Roseibium denhamense (10) and Roseibium hamelinense (5). The remaining bacteria isolates from the phyla Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were identified as Muricauda lutimaris (6) and Micrococcus luteus (1), respectively. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The analysis of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene revealed multiple bacterial taxa associated with the toxic P. bahamense var. compressum bloom. The findings of the present work will pave the way for further studies aimed at isolating and characterizing genes involved in the saxitoxin biosynthesis in the associated bacteria.
Bacteria--metabolism ; Genes, rRNA

Aims: The former Mamut Copper Mine, acid mine drainage site represents an anthropogenic altered landscape characterized by its acidic topsoil which is contaminated primarily with copper. Even though the mining operation was ceased at 1999, the bacterial diversity in this area has never been investigated. This study was conducted to ascertain the bacterial diversity of this abandoned copper mine and correlate it to the copper concentration in the soil. Methodology and results: Soil samples were collected from 7 sites near the mine pit and the vicinity. Soil samples were assessed for soil copper elemental concentration using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and bacteria were isolated via serial dilution followed by culture on nutrient agar plates. Phylogenetic analysis was done based on the full-length sequences of 16S rRNA gene. Twenty-four phylotypes were obtained from the 7 locations which originated from the phyla Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. The results of the study indicated that site 2 (6.030223°; 116.658030°), located in between the mine pit and the mine factory with a copper concentration of 88.96 ppm, possessed the most diverse bacterial community with a Shannon diversity index (H) of 1.68, evenness (EH) of 0.94 and richness (S) of 6. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Current study revealed that there was a positive correlation between the copper concentration and the H index and the richness, but this was not reflected in the evenness. This is the first report of bacterial diversity from the former Mamut Copper Mine site. The data provided a valuable insight for the future monitoring of the bacterial community in this ecologically important niche.
Soil Microbiology

Aims: Bacillus thuringiensis Y1 is a copper-tolerant bacterium that can serve as a model for the elucidation of the mechanism of energy metabolism under simulated copper stress. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of simulated copper stress on the genes associated with the biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PAH) and the metabolism of polyphosphates (PP). Methodology and results : The gene expression study involved the growth of the bacterium in nutrient broth supplemented with two concentrations of copper sulphate (0.4 mM and 0.8 mM), followed by RNA extraction and quantification of four and 11 genes associated with the metabolism of polyphosphate (PP) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PAHs) respectively, using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Three genes associated with polyphosphate metabolism, which are polyphosphate kinase (ppk), exopolyphosphatase (ppx) and NAD kinase (ppnk), were all shown to be upregulated by both 0.4 mM and 0.8 mM copper, except for the 5’-nucleotidase (surE) gene that was downregulated under the second treatment. Among the 11 genes associated with the metabolism of polyhydroxyalkanoates, only the 3-ketoacyl-CoA-thiolase (phaA) gene was upregulated in both treatments and highly expressed in the second treatment; the majority were downregulated and repressed. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The study demonstrated that copper induces the metabolism of polyphosphates in B. thuringiensis Y1 that serve as an alternative source of energy under copper stress. This model can be extended to the study of other species of Bacillus under environmental stress.

Aims: The study aims to investigate the bacterial community profiles on the surface of red algae (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and persistent bacteria that can adapt to long-term cultivation in a closed circulation system. Methodology and results: Kappaphycus alvarezii explants were cultured in a controlled laboratory setting for 30 days to investigate related bacterial adaptability to controlled culture conditions. Bacterial isolates associated with seedlings were subjected to 16S rDNA amplification and sequencing, followed by the construction of a phylogenetic tree using MEGA X software. The results show distinct microbial composition between the first and 30th days. The derived phylogenetic tree features three dominant phyla: Proteobacteria (Vibrio and Thalassospira), Pseudomonadota (Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, Grimontia, Ruegeria, Phaebacter and Bacterioplanes) and Firmicutes (Bacillus). A comparative examination of these two bacterial groups (day 1 and day 30) reveals evidence of persistent marine bacteria, such as the genera Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, Phaaebacter and Bacterioplanes, that successfully adapt to long-term cultivation within closed circulation systems. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of bacterial ecology in the controlled red algae cultivation environment and also provide valuable insights into the optimization of an ideal closed cultivation system for sustainable K. alvarezii production, benefiting the seaweed industry.