BUKU ABSTRAK - Universiti Putra Malaysia

An Effective Approach to Prevent Spread of Novel MRSA Clones with Known
Epidemic and Pathogenic Potential
Dr. Mariana Nor Shamsudin
Ehsanollah Ghaznavi-Rad, Vasanthakumari Neela, Zamberi Sekawi, Mohammad Nazri Aziz, Rukman Awang
Hamat, Chong Pei Pei, Norlijah Othman and Hamed Ghasemzadeh-Moghaddam
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia,43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8947 2138; mariana@medic.upm.edu.my
Molecular elucidation is of highly importance in MRSA epidemiology since phenotypic approach cannot
reveal accurate strain identity and can mislead MRSA infection management. In the current study, it was revealed
through molecular typing that a virulent and highly transmissible MRSA clone is replacing most other clones.
Molecular approach enabled the detection of a novel clone, penetrating the Malaysian scenario, specifically
and accurately, revealing the epidemic and pathogenic traits. Clinical isolates (n = 389) of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) recovered from patients between October 2007 to September 2008 at the
major public hospital of the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was studied. The clonal relatedness of MRSA isolates
was determined on the basis of spa sequencing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), staphylococcal cassette
chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, and virulence gene profiling. The majority (92.5%) of the isolates belonged
to ST-239, spa type t037, and possessed the type III or IIIA SCCmec. We report the first identification of ACME
arcA gene-positive ST-239. Apart from this predominant clone, six (1.5%) isolates of ST-22, with two related spa
types (t032 and t4184) and a singleton (t3213), carrying type IVh SCCmec, were detected for the first time in
Asia. A limited number of community-acquired (CA) MRSA strains were also detected. These included ST-188/
t189 (2.1%), ST-1/t127 (2.3%), and ST-7/t091 (1%). Panton-Valentin leukocidin (PVL) was detected in all ST-1
and ST-188 strains and in 0.7% of the ST-239 isolates. Virulence genes seg and sei were seen only among ST-22
isolates. In conclusion, the genetic basis of analysis performed in this study accurately identifies all the clones
that cannot be specified through the conventional phenotypic analysis. Current results revealed the predominance
of ST-239-SCCmec III/IIIA and the penetration of ST-22 with different virulence gene profiles. The emergence in
Malaysia of novel clones of known epidemic and pathogenic potential should be taken seriously.
Keywords: Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, molecular characterisation, virulence profile
The Effects of Mitragynine from Mitragyna speciosa Korth Leaves on Working
Memory in Mice
Dr. Mohamad Taufik Hidayat Baharuldin
Mohamad Aris Mohd. Moklas, Sharida Fakurazi, Evhy Apryani and Farah Idayu Nasir
Sports Academy, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8947 1139; taufik@medic.upm.edu.my
Mitragyna speciosa Korth from Rubiaceae family is a tropical plant indigenous to Southeast Asia particularly
in Thailand, Peninsular of Malaysia and Indonesia. The leaves have been used by natives for their opium-like
effect and cocaine-like stimulant ability to combat fatigue and enhance tolerance to hard work. However there is
no scientific information about the effect of mitragynine on the cognitive performances. This study is designed to
examine the working memory effects of mitragynine which is extracted from Mitragyna speciosa mature leaves.
The cognitive effect was studied using object location task and the motor activity in open-field test. Mitragynine
5, 10 and 15 mg/kg and were administered by intraperitoneal (IP) for 28 consecutive days and evaluated on
day 28 after the last dose treatment. Scopolamine was used as the control positive drug. In this study, there
are prominent effects on horizontal locomotor activity which was observed. Mitragynine significantly reduced
locomotor activity in open-field test compared with vehicle. In object location task mitragynine (5, 10 and 15 mg/
kg) did not showed any significances discrimination between the object that had changed position than the object
that had remained in a constant position. Our results suggest that chronic administration of mitragynine can alter
the cognitive behavioural function in mice.
Keywords: Mitragynine, working memory, mitragyna speciosa, object location task, psychostimulant plants
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