Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping is important for treatment and epidemiological purposes. The objective was to determine HCV genotype and their associations with certain risk factors at University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Methods: A total of 89 samples were collected from December 2009 to January 2011. Demographic data of patients were collected from medical record. Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) was performed and sixty-four samples yielded positive for HCV. Sequencing was performed and analyzed based on sequence information in GenBank. Statistical analysis were done using SPSS version 15. Results: HCV genotype 3 (73%) was the most frequent genotype, followed by genotype 1(27%). The distribution of HCV genotype/ subtype was as follows: 3a (64.8%), 1a (13.5%), 1 (10.8%), 3 (8.1%) and 1b (2.7%). Conclusions: HCV subtypes 3a, 1a, and 1b were identified in patients at UKMMC, Malaysia with subtype 3a being the most prevalent. No significant association was found between HCV genotypes and patients' demographic data.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping is important for treatment and epidemiological purposes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of AmpliSens® HCV-1/2/3-FRT kit in comparison to sequencing method for genotyping. Methods: A total of 17 samples collected from December 2009 to January 2011 were analyzed. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed, followed by sequencing technique. Results were analyzed based on sequence information in GenBank. A second genotyping method (AmpliSens® HCV-1/2/3-FRT) was done, which differentiates HCV genotypes by means of real-time hybridization-fluorescence detection. Results: From 17 samples, four were untypeable by AmpliSens® HCV-1/2/3-FRT. Eleven of 13 (84.6%) results showed concordant genotypes. A specimen that was determined as genotype 3a by sequencing was genotype 1 by the AmpliSens® HCV-1/2/3-FRT. Another specimen that was genotype 1 by sequencing was identified as genotype 3 by AmpliSens® HCV-1/2/3-FRT. Conclusion: HCV genotyping with AmpliSens® HCV-1/2/3-FRT using real-time PCR method provides a much simpler and more feasible workflow with shorter time compared to sequencing method. There was good concordance compared to sequencing method. However, more evaluation studies would be required to show statistical significance, and to troubleshoot discordant results. AmpliSens® HCV-1/2/3-FRT does differentiate between genotype but not until subtype level.

Objective: Influenza is considered as an emerging disease until today. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalent genotypes of Influenza A virus in Malaysia. Methods: Influenza A virus was identified from respiratory specimens by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Phylogenetic analysis of the identified isolates was performed and genotypes were detected. Results: A total number of 505 throat swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates were examined by rRT-PCR at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) in which 65(12.87%) were positive for influenza A. The identified isolates were successfully genotyped by phylogenetic analysis. The identified influenza A genotypes were: H1N1 (42), H3N2 (20) and H5N1 (3). Conclusion: The findings indicated that 3 genotypes were circulating in Malaysia during 2011 in which H1N1 was the predominant. Results added new genotype (H5N1) identification record in Malaysia that may be added in data base of WHO and CDC.

Objective: Respiratory infections represent a major public health problem worldwide. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of respiratory syncytial and influenza virus infections and analyzed in respect to demography and clinical perspective. Methods: The specimens were processed by cell culture and immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (rRT-PCR) for detection of respiratory viruses. Results: Out of 505 specimens 189 (37.8%) were positive, in which RSV was positive in 124(24.8%) cases and influenza A was positive in 65(13%) cases. Positive cases for influenza virus A and RSV were analyzed based on demography: age, gender, ethnicity and clinical symptoms. There were no significant differences among gender, ethnicity and clinical symptoms in both RSV and influenza A virus infections. It was observed that children below 3 years of ages were more prone to RSV infections. On the contrary, influenza virus A infected all age groups of humans. Conclusion: RSV infects mostly child below 3 years of age and influenza virus infects all age group. No specificity of RSV and influenza infection in relation to demography.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of cell culture, immunoflourescence Assay (IFA) and real time polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) in relation to diagnosis of influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Methods: Total 2781 specimens of throat swabs and nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from patients suspected of respiratory viruses’ infections from January 2009 to December 2011 at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre(UKMMC).The specimens were processed by cell culture and immunoflurescence assay (IFA) and (rRT-PCR). Results: Thirty three (1.19%) specimens were positive for influenza virus A and 42 (1.51%) were positive for RSV by cell culture and IFA. On the other hand, rRT-PCR was able to identify 189 of 505 (37.43%) specimens in which 65 were influenza A virus and 124 were RSV. Sensitivity of rRT-PCR was 100% for both influenza A virus and RSV and specificity was 88% and 77% for influenza A virus and RSV, respectively. Conclusion: rRT-PCR diagnosed respiratory viruses in shorter time with a high level of sensitivity in comparison to conventional assays - cell culture and IFA. These advantages help in managing patients by saving cost and hospitalization stay.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of acute respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. Phylogenetic analysis for RSV in Malaysia has not been reported before. We investigated the genetic features of RSV in respiratory specimens from March to August 2011 with molecular methods. From a total of 130 throat swab and nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens, 54 (41.5%) were positive with RSV, identified by in-house real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay. Thirty-four out of 54 (63.0%) RSV positive patients were children below two years old and two (1.4%) were adults. Phylogenetic analysis showed 39 isolates were genotype GA5, 13 genotypes GA2, one genotype GA1 and one genotype GA7. The findings indicated four genotypes of RSV circulating in the country and the predominant genotype is GA5.

This investigation reports the tolerance and biodegradation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers (BTEX) by a heavy metal-adapted environmental bacterial consortium, known as consortium culture (CC). Higher tolerance was observed with benzene (IC50 value up to 191.25 mg/L), followed by toluene (IC50 = 139.67 mg/L), xylene (IC50 = 97.04 mg/L) and ethylbenzene (IC50 =96.99 mg/L). Significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the specific growth rate (?), however was observed as the concentrations of each individual BTEX were increased from 10 mg/L to 500 mg/L. Growth of CC was completely inhibited at 250 mg/L ethylbenzene and 500 mg/L xylene. Toxicity followed the trend: BT>X>E.