1.Influence of Nitrogen Source for Streptomyces SUK 02 Growth and its Antifungal Activity
Noraziah Mohamad Zin ; Marlini Othman
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2012;10(1):35-39
Endophytic bacteria has the potential to produce antibiotics and other secondary metabolites. The production of secondary metabolites can be enhanced through the optimization of its nutrient content such as the nitrogen source. In this study, the content of nitrogen sources such as ammonium sulphate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate have been modified and incorporated in the International Streptomyces Project Medium 4 broth media to optimize the growth of Streptomyces SUK 02. The extraction was carried out using ethyl acetate and the antifungal activity was assayed using agar diffusion method. The test fungus used was Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium solani. The results showed that the maximum weight percentage (w/v) of crude extract was obtained when sodium nitrate was used (3.30%), followed by ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (2.24%), ammonium sulfate (1.46%) and potassium nitrate (1.20%). Antifungal activity was obtained from the extracts that contained ammonium sulfat. The percentage of inhibition of this extract against Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium solani was 33.0-35.0% and 17.4-30.0%, respectively. Nevertheless, the MIC value against Aspergillus fumigatus was 1.5 mg/ml In conclusion, natrium nitrat was a suitable nitrogen source for optimum growth of Streptomyces SUK 02 whereas the presence of ammonium sulfat was good to increase the antifungal activity.
2.Commercial Herbal Slimming Products: Evaluation of Heavy Metals and Microorganism Contamination at Different Batch Production
Nur Faizah Abu Bakar ; Noraziah Mohamad Zin ; Tuan Siti Mastazliha Long Tuan Kechik ; Jacinta Santhanam
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2017;15(1):7-17
Herbal-based slimming products which are consumed orally may be contaminated with heavy metals as well as microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the safety level of these slimming products by determining heavy metals and microbial contamination in different batch production. Six different brands of herbal-based slimming products (A, B, C, G, H and I) with three different batch productions (1, 2 and 3) were investigated (n =18). Five heavy metals Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper and Zinc were determined using an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The presence of microorganisms was determined by total aerobic count and the bacteria were identified. The samples’ moisture content was determined by calculating the percentage of water loss after drying process. All batches of samples A and B had high content of zinc, over the permissible level of 5ppm while, 6 samples contained Chromium above the permissible level (1.5 ppm). All 3 batches of sample A presented with the highest total daily intake of heavy metals. Bacteria were present in all the samples tested with the highest numbers in samples G, H and A followed by B, I and C. The highest number of fungi was found in product A while product I was free from fungal contamination. Aspergillus spp. was the predominant fungus present in the samples. There was a weak correlation between moisture content and bacteria (r = 0.087) and fungal (r = 0.253) presence in the samples. As some herbal slimming products contain heavy metals as well as microorganisms, consumers need to be more vigilant and discerning when selecting products to be consumed.
Metals, Heavy
3.Clonal distribution and possible microevolution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in a teaching hospital in Malaysia
Tan Ee Xin ; Neoh Hui-min ; Hussin Salasawati ; Zin Mohamad Noraziah
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2013;(3):224-228
Objective: To genotypically characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from medical and surgical wards in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) in 2009. Methods: MRSA strains were collected and molecularly typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results:PFGE typing on 180 MRSA isolated in UKMMC identified 5 pulsotypes (A-E) and 6 singletons, where pulsotypes B and C were suspected to be divergent clones originating from a single ancestor. This study also showed that most MRSA strains were isolated from swab (119 isolates), followed by blood (22 isolates), tracheal aspirate (11 isolates) and sputum (10 isolates). On the other hand, urine and bone isolates were less, which were 4 and 1 isolates, respectively. The distribution of different pulsotypes of MRSA among wards suggested that MRSA was communicated in surgical and medical wards in UKMMC, with pulsotype B MRSA as the dominant strain. Besides, it was found that most deceased patients were infected by pulsotype B MRSA, however, no particular pulsotype could be associated with patient age, underlying disease, or ward of admittance. Conclusions: Five pulsotypes of MRSA and 6 singletons were identified, with pulsotype B MRSA as the endemic strains circulating in these wards, which is useful in establishment of preventive measures against MRSA transmission.
4.Clonal distribution and possible microevolution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in a teaching hospital in Malaysia.
Xin Ee TAN ; Hui-Min NEOH ; Salasawati HUSSIN ; Noraziah Mohamad ZIN
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2013;3(3):224-228
OBJECTIVETo genotypically characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from medical and surgical wards in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) in 2009.
METHODSMRSA strains were collected and molecularly typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).
RESULTSPFGE typing on 180 MRSA isolated in UKMMC identified 5 pulsotypes (A-E) and 6 singletons, where pulsotypes B and C were suspected to be divergent clones originating from a single ancestor. This study also showed that most MRSA strains were isolated from swab (119 isolates), followed by blood (22 isolates), tracheal aspirate (11 isolates) and sputum (10 isolates). On the other hand, urine and bone isolates were less, which were 4 and 1 isolates, respectively. The distribution of different pulsotypes of MRSA among wards suggested that MRSA was communicated in surgical and medical wards in UKMMC, with pulsotype B MRSA as the dominant strain. Besides, it was found that most deceased patients were infected by pulsotype B MRSA, however, no particular pulsotype could be associated with patient age, underlying disease, or ward of admittance.
CONCLUSIONSFive pulsotypes of MRSA and 6 singletons were identified, with pulsotype B MRSA as the endemic strains circulating in these wards, which is useful in establishment of preventive measures against MRSA transmission.
Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hospitals ; Malaysia ; epidemiology ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Staphylococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology
5.Bioactive compounds fractionated from endophyte Streptomyces SUK 08 with promising ex-vivo antimalarial activity
Zin Mohamad NORAZIAH ; Remali JUWAIRIAH ; Nasrom Nazir MOHD ; Ishak Akmar SHAFARIATUL ; Baba Shukri MOHD ; Jalil JURIYATI
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2017;7(12):1062-1066
Objective:To determine ex vivo antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity of endophytic Streptomyces SUK 08 as well as the main core structure fractionated from its crude extract.Methods:The activities of SUK 08 crude extract were evaluated by using the Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase assay and synchronization test against rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei,instead of human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum.The cytotoxicity of the crude extract was determined by MTT assay.The crude extract was analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry.Results:The ethyl acetate crude extract showed very promising antimalarial activity with IC50 of 1.25 mg/mL.The synchronization tests showed that ethyl acetate extraction could inhibit all stages of the Plasmodium life cycle,but it was most effective at the Plasmodium ring stage.On the basis of a MTT assay on Chang Liver cells,ethyl acetate and ethanol demonstrated IC50 values of > 1.0 mg/mL.The IC50 of parasitemia at 5% and 30% for this extract was lower than chloroquine.Thin-layer chromatography,with 1∶9ratio of ethyl acetate:hexane,was used to isolate several distinct compounds.Based on gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry analysis,three core structures were identiffed as cyclohexane,butyl propyl ester,and 2,3-heptanedione.Structurally,these compounds were similar to currently available antimalarial drugs.Conclusions:The results suggest that compounds isolated from Streptomyces SUK 08 are viable antimalarial drug candidates that require further investigations.
6.The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori primary resistance towards antibiotics using an Epsilometer-test method
Noraziah Mohamad Zin ; Alfizah Hanafiah ; Mohd Badrin Hanizam Abdul Rahim ; Muhamad Mazlan Kamaruddin ; Nur Faizah Abu Bakar
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2018;14(6):596-600
Abstract
An epsilometer-test method was used to determine MIC values of several antibiotics against 29 Helicobacter pylori isolated from gastric antrum of dyspepsia patients. Isolates with resistance towards antibiotics were 6.9% -65.5% but these were tetracycline-sensitive. Eight isolates showed multi-resistance towards two antimicrobial agents. The high resistance strains towards metronidazole is alarming.
7.Effects of combination of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid from Streptomyces kebangsaanensis with amphotericin B on clinical Fusarium solani species
Nor Afifa Mazlan ; Jacinta Santhanam ; Noraziah Mohamad Zin ; Carolina Santiago
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2020;16(5):432-437
Aim:
A novel endophyte, Streptomyces kebangsaanensis was isolated from the stem of a Malaysian ethnomedicinal
plant, Portulaca oleracea in 2013. Studies on S. kebangsaanensis crude extract showed that it had antifungal activities
and further work led to isolation of a novel compound, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA). This study investigated the
combinatorial effect of PCA isolated from S. kebangsaanensis with amphotericin B on the growth of four clinical
Fusarium solani isolates.
Methodology and results:
Disk diffusion assay showed that the crude extract of S. kebangsaaneesis inhibited growth
of all four F. solani isolates. Whereas, the compound PCA from this extract inhibited two of the tested F. solani isolates,
UZ541/12, and UZ667/13 at minimum inhibitory concentration of 18.00 µg/mL Combinations of this compound with
amphotericin B, reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration of amphotericin B for these two isolates from 8 to 0.13
µg/mL and 4 to 0.03 µg/mL respectively. Analysis of fractional inhibitory concentration index showed that a borderline
synergism is present between the compound and amphotericin B.
Conclusion, significance and impact of the study
These results indicate PCA may be useful in improving actions of
available drugs against antimicrobial resistant microorganisms.
Streptomyces
8. Bioactive compounds fractionated from endophyte Streptomyces SUK 08 with promising ex-vivo antimalarial activity
Noraziah Mohamad ZIN ; Juwairiah REMALI ; Mohd Nazir NASROM ; Shafariatul Akmar ISHAK ; Mohd Shukri BABA ; Juriyati JALIL
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2017;7(12):1062-1066
Objective To determine ex vivo antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity of endophytic Streptomyces SUK 08 as well as the main core structure fractionated from its crude extract. Methods The activities of SUK 08 crude extract were evaluated by using the Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase assay and synchronization test against rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, instead of human malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum. The cytotoxicity of the crude extract was determined by MTT assay. The crude extract was analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry. Results The ethyl acetate crude extract showed very promising antimalarial activity with IC