1.Cross-reactivity of Malaysian rat cytomegalovirus strains with its human counterpart
Camalxaman, S.N., ; Zeenathul, N.A.* ; Quah, Y.W. ; Loh, H.S. ; Zuridah, H. ; Sheikh-Omar, A.R. ; Mohd-Azmi, M.L.
Tropical Biomedicine 2011;28(3):661-667
This study probes into the prospect of cross-reactivity of HCMV with RCMV which
has not been acknowledged to date. We describe the uncovering of a protein with an estimated
size of between 61-68 kDa from local RCMV strains which reacted with HCMV positive sera.
Our findings are a first disclosure of a plausible immunological cross-reactivity between
RCMV with its human counterpart which grounds substantial interest implying existence of
conserved determinants between rat and human CMV polypeptides. The cross-reactive protein
most likely represents an enveloped glycoprotein, though the precise identification and its
degree of similarity needs to be evidently defined and further elucidated in forthcoming
experiments.
2.Aedes albopictus in urban and forested areas of Malaysia: A study of mitochondrial sequence variation using the CO1 marker
Adilah-Amrannudin, N ; Hamsidi, M ; Ismail, N.-A ; Dom, N.C ; Ismail, R ; Ahmad, A.H ; Mastuki, M.F ; Yusoff, F.H.M, F.H.M ; Adam, N.F.M ; Camalxaman, S.N
Tropical Biomedicine 2018;35(3):639-652
This study explores the use of a long fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome
oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) marker to elucidate the genetic diversity of Aedes albopictus sampled
from urban and forested regions in Peninsular and East Malaysia. A total of 36 samples were
collected from 5 localities from which its genetic variability was analysed. 33 distinct mtDNA
haplotypes were identified following the amplification and sequencing of the concatenated
CO1 gene. The analysed region of the CO1 gene identified substantial levels of genetic
diversity among mosquitoes in urban populations and revealed unique genealogical
relationships between local isolates as revealed in the haplotype network. This study highlights
the reliability of the long CO1 fragment to identify genetic divergence of Aedes albopictus
which can be utilized in forthcoming studies.