1.The chemical, heavy metal and microbial quality of well water in an urbanised village in the Klang Valley
Stephen Ambu ; Stacey Foong Yee Yong ; Yvonne Ai Lian Lim ; Mak Joon Wah ; Donald Koh Fook Chen, Soo Shen Ooi, Sau Peng Lee, Ti Myen Tan ; Mei Yen Goh ; Danapridha Nyanachendram
International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education 2014;8(3):28-44
Background:
The public health issue of consuming
groundwater is a major concern because people often
extract groundwater directly from the aquifers either
through wells or boreholes without treating it with
any form of filtration system or chlorine disinfection.
Based on the Malaysian National Drinking Water
guidelines the current study was designed to provide a
better understanding on the variable factors that are
influencing the quality of well-water in an urbanised
village in Malaysia. Well water quality assessment
of heavy metals, chemicals, microbial and physical
parameters were carried out for Sungai Buloh Village
in the Klang Valley to ensure it was safe for human
consumption.
Materials and Methods:
Water samples were collected
from wells at four sites (Sites A,B,C,D), a river and a
tap inside a house in Sungai Buloh village. Soil was
sampled from the riverbed and area surrounding the
wells. Samples were collected every two months over
a one year duration from all sites. The water samples
were processed and examined for viruses, coliforms and
protozoa as well as for heavy metal contaminants.
Results:
The turbidity and colour ranged in the average of 0.57-0.13 Nephelometric Turbidity (NTU) and 4.16-
5.00 Total Conjunctive Use (TCU) respectively for all
sites except Site C. At Site C the turbidity level was
2.56 ± 1.38 NTU. The well-water was polluted with
coliforms (1.2 to 2.4 x 10
3
CFU/100 ml) in all sites,
E. coli
(0.12 - 4 x 10
2
CFU/100 ml CFU/ 100 ml) and
Cryptosporidium
oocysts (0.4 cysts/100 ml). All the
heavy metals and chemical parameters were within the
Malaysian Guidelines’ limits except manganese. The
average pH ranged from 5.44 - 6.62 and the temperature
was 28 ºC.
Conclusion:
In summary, the well water at Sungai
Buloh is considered unsafe for consumption due to
pollution. Therefore the major thrust will be to provide
better quality of drinking water to the residents of the village.
2.The host-targeting compound peruvoside has a broad-spectrum antiviral activity against positive-sense RNA viruses.
Kan Xing WU ; Thinesshwary YOGARAJAH ; Marcus Wing Choy LOE ; Parveen KAUR ; Regina Ching Hua LEE ; Chee Keng MOK ; Yi Hao WONG ; Patchara PHUEKTES ; Li Sze YEO ; Vincent T K CHOW ; Yong Wah TAN ; Justin Jang Hann CHU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2023;13(5):2039-2055
Positive-sense RNA viruses modify intracellular calcium stores, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus (Golgi) to generate membranous replication organelles known as viral factories. Viral factories provide a conducive and substantial enclave for essential virus replication via concentrating necessary cellular factors and viral proteins in proximity. Here, we identified the vital role of a broad-spectrum antiviral, peruvoside in limiting the formation of viral factories. Mechanistically, we revealed the pleiotropic cellular effect of Src and PLC kinase signaling via cyclin-dependent kinase 1 signaling leads to Golgi-specific brefeldin A-resistance guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (GBF1) phosphorylation and Golgi vesiculation by peruvoside treatment. The ramification of GBF1 phosphorylation fosters GBF1 deprivation consequentially activating downstream antiviral signaling by dampening viral factories formation. Further investigation showed signaling of ERK1/2 pathway via cyclin-dependent kinase 1 activation leading to GBF1 phosphorylation at Threonine 1337 (T1337). We also showed 100% of protection in peruvoside-treated mouse model with a significant reduction in viral titre and without measurable cytotoxicity in serum. These findings highlight the importance of dissecting the broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutics mechanism and pave the way for consideration of peruvoside, host-directed antivirals for positive-sense RNA virus-mediated disease, in the interim where no vaccine is available.