Article
Environmental Sciences
Kazuya Nishina, Lulie Melling, Sakae Toyoda, Masayuki Itoh, Kotaro Terajima, Joseph W. B. Waili, Guan X. Wong, Frankie Kiew, Edward B. Aeries, Ryuichi Hirata, Yoshiyuki Takahashi, Takashi Onodera
Summary: Oil palm plantations in peat-swamp areas in Sarawak, Malaysia, have a unique water management system that may lead to indirect emissions of N2O. Spatial monitoring showed that the drainage water in the palm oil plantations had over-saturated concentrations of dissolved N2O, suggesting that it may be a source of N2O emissions to the atmosphere. Isotopic analysis revealed that denitrification was the major source of N2O, followed by N2O reduction processes in the drainage water. A significant proportion of the N2O produced in the peat and drainage was reduced to N2 before being released into the atmosphere.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Martha J. Ledger, Chris D. Evans, David J. Large, Stephanie Evers, Chloe Brown, A. Jonay Jovani-Sancho, Nathan Callaghan, Christopher H. Vane, Chris Marshall, Abirami Baskaran, Jing Ye Gan, Andrew Sowter, Keith Morrison, Sofie Sjogersten
Summary: Tropical peatland condition is deteriorating in Southeast Asia due to land conversion, leading to peat decomposition, subsidence, and forest fires. This study aimed to determine the relationship between peatland surface motion and peat condition in North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest in Malaysia. Results showed that fire-affected scrubland sites had the greatest subsidence, while smallholder oil palm sites had the lowest water table levels. Peat condition and surface oscillation magnitude were significantly different between different classes of peat condition.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rosiane Andrade da Costa, Isadora Emanoela Pereira Costa Andrade, Otavio Henrique Bezerra Pinto, Beatriz Blenda Pinheiro de Souza, Debora Luiza Albano Fulgencio, Marise Leite Mendonca, Adriane Silva Kurokawa, Daniel Barros Ortega, Lucas Silva Carvalho, Ricardo Henrique Kruger, Marcelo Henrique Soller Ramada, Cristine Chaves Barreto
Summary: A study identified a novel variant of antimicrobial peptides, tridecaptin G1 and G2, produced by Paenibacillus elgii AC13. These variants exhibited antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and fungi.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yazid Imran, Lulie Melling, Guan Xhuan Wong, Ryusuke Hatano, Takashi Inoue, Edward Baran Aeries, Kah Joo Goh, Darrien Yau Seng Mah
Summary: This study determined the long-term dynamics of peat surface fluctuation in an undrained peat swamp forest, finding a positive linear relationship between peat surface level and water table depth, and that the presence of vacant zones in the peat profile may affect surface fluctuation.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nur Azima Busman, Lulie Melling, Kah Joo Goh, Yazid Imran, Faustina E. Sangok, Akira Watanabe
Summary: Information on temporal and spatial variations in soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from tropical peat forests is essential to predict the influence of climate change and estimate the effects of land use on global warming and the carbon (C) cycle. Measurement of soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes, as well as analysis of soil physicochemical properties and environmental variables, were conducted in three major forest types in Malaysia for eight years. The results showed that there were variations in soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes between different forest sites, and the variations were influenced by factors such as groundwater level, soil properties, and temperature.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Young Eun Du, Eun Seo Bae, Yeonjung Lim, Jang-Cheon Cho, Sang-Jip Nam, Jongheon Shin, Sang Kook Lee, Seung-Il Nam, Dong-Chan Oh
Summary: Two new secondary metabolites, svalbamides A and B, isolated from a culture extract of Paenibacillus sp. SVB7, showed potential as chemopreventive agents by inducing quinone reductase activity in Hepa1c1c7 murine hepatoma cells.
Article
Geography, Physical
Dennis M. Njagi, Joyanto Routh, Daniel Olago, Kasun Gayantha
Summary: The multi-proxy records from the Kapsabet peat deposit in western Kenya provide insights into late Holocene climate changes and vegetation evolution, with distinct stages of climatic conditions and their impacts revealed through various proxies.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Azlan Abas, Mohd Noor Ramdan Mohd Faudzi, Abd Hair Awang, Iskandar Zainuddin Rela, Mohamad Arfan Johari, Mohammad Effendi Marzuki, Adri Musa
Summary: The study aimed to analyze the fertility status of peat soil in palm oil cultivation areas and the water quality level, showing that fertilization can enhance peat soil fertility, while meeting water quality standards helps avoid pollution and crop damage.
FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yu-Hsiang Yu, Chia-Min Wu, Wei-Jung Chen, Kuo-Feng Hua, Je-Ruei Liu, Yeong-Hsiang Cheng
Summary: The study evaluated the potential of Bacillus licheniformis-fermented products and their derived antimicrobial lipopeptide surfactin in preventing coccidiosis in broilers. Results showed that both BLFP and surfactin exhibited anti-coccidial activity in vitro and in vivo.
Article
Microbiology
Xinghong Zhao, Oscar P. Kuipers
Summary: The study demonstrates that a peptide compound named brevicidineB with a single substitution in the amino acid sequence has a broader antimicrobial spectrum, showing activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. By disrupting bacterial cell membranes and proton motive force, brevicidine and brevicidineB exert their antimicrobial activity.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Hongyan Yang, Lan Wang, Fei Pan, Libo Yuan, Heng Du, Pei Zhang, Kui Lu
Summary: In this study, a self-assembling lipopeptide C12-CL5 was developed by modifying the structure of the antimicrobial peptide CL5. The C12-CL5 showed potent activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with good thermal stability, excellent salt tolerance, and strong and rapid killing kinetics. The study also revealed the antimicrobial mechanism of C12-CL5, providing insights and basis for the development of potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides in the food industry.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nobchonnee Nim, John Morris, Perapong Tekasakul, Racha Dejchanchaiwong
Summary: Peatland fires are a major contributor to atmospheric particles. New diagnostic ratios for identifying forest fire sources were proposed for fine and ultrafine particles. During the fire period, peat forest burning emissions were identified as the main source of fine and ultrafine particles.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Tanatorn Chantavorakit, Chollachai Klaysubun, Kannika Duangmal
Summary: A novel actinomycete, Streptomyces acididurans sp. nov., was isolated from a soil sample collected from a peat swamp forest in Thailand, showing unique morphological, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic characteristics. This strain represents a new species within the genus Streptomyces, with the proposed name based on genotypic and phenotypic data.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Emily Daze, Eunji ByunnAff, Sarah A. Finkelstein
Summary: Wetlands that develop peat are important soil carbon pools globally. Swamp soils, which are a type of wetland, exhibit variability in carbon densities and accretion rates. This study conducted a case study in Greenock Swamp, Ontario, Canada to examine carbon accumulation in two different forest stands: the Acer-Fraxinus swamp and the Thuja occidentalis swamp. The results showed that while the Acer-Fraxinus swamp had lower carbon stocks, it extended over a large area and contained important pools of recalcitrant organic matter, some of which were thousands of years old.
Article
Agronomy
Hasimah Mos, Mohd Haniff Harun, Nur Maisarah Jantan, Zulkifli Hashim, Anis Suriani Ibrahim, Yusri Yusup
Summary: The drainage and cultivation of peatlands lead to carbon loss and increased CO2 emissions. This study measured CO2 emissions from a vegetation-free peat swamp area using different measurement techniques. Significant variations in CO2 emissions were observed, but the study provides valuable information on the soil heterotrophic respiration of deep peat in Sarawak.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Calvin Bok Sun Goh, Clariss Hui Peng Goh, Li Wen Wong, Wai Teng Cheng, Catherine Mary Yule, Kuan Shion Ong, Sui Mae Lee, Pooria Pasbakhsh, Joash Ban Lee Tan
Summary: The study utilized a 3D-printed iChip to cultivate bacteria from a tropical peat swamp in situ, finding that epoxy resin plates were optimal for sampling conditions. Compared to culturing bacteria directly on TSA, the 3D-printed iChip presented a low-cost tool for isolating bacterial genera that may not grow on media directly in vitro.
Review
Immunology
Francis Yew Fu Tieng, Learn-Han Lee, Nurul-Syakima Ab Mutalib
Summary: Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful technique that allows for the investigation of a single cell's transcriptome and has significant implications for understanding cancer and the immune system. In this review, the authors summarize the current utilization of scRNA-seq in colorectal cancer (CRC) research and its potential in the development of precision immunotherapy for CRC.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joanna Xuan Hui Goh, Loh Teng-Hern Tan, Jodi Woan-Fei Law, Kooi-Yeong Khaw, Nurul-Syakima Ab Mutalib, Ya-Wen He, Bey-Hing Goh, Kok-Gan Chan, Learn-Han Lee, Vengadesh Letchumanan
Summary: The increasing prevalence of carbapenem resistance is a growing concern, and it has been discovered that environmental microbial populations could be indirectly contributing to this resistance. This study aims to explore the carbapenem resistance profile of Vibrio species in various settings and identify the transmission pathways for carbapenem resistance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Samiah Hamad Al-Mijalli, Nidal Naceiri Mrabti, Hayat Ouassou, Ryan A. Sheikh, Hamza Assaggaf, Saad Bakrim, Emad M. Abdallah, Mohammed Merae Alshahrani, Ahmed Abdullah Al Awadh, Learn-Han Lee, Yusra AlDhaheri, Amirhossein Sahebkar, Gokhan Zengin, Ammar A. Attar, Abdelhakim Bouyahya, Hanae Naceiri Mrabti
Summary: The investigatory study aimed to determine the chemical composition and biological effects of Origanum compactum essential oils from two Moroccan regions. The study revealed variations in chemical constituents and significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities in the essential oils from different regions.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Hui-Yuan Chong, Loh Teng-Hern Tan, Jodi Woan-Fei Law, Kar-Wai Hong, Vanassa Ratnasingam, Nurul-Syakima Ab Mutalib, Learn-Han Lee, Vengadesh Letchumanan
Summary: Early-life gut microbiota has a significant impact on health and disease risk later in life. Infant feeding methods, such as breastfeeding or formula feeding, influence the colonization and composition of the gut microbiome. Human milk contains diverse microbial populations, nutrients, and bioactive components that promote infant growth and immunological development. Formula milk is often supplemented with prebiotics or probiotics to simulate the effects of breastfeeding and encourage the formation of a healthy gut microbiome.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jun-Ming Lim, Vengadesh Letchumanan, Loh Teng-Hern Tan, Kar-Wai Hong, Sunny-Hei Wong, Nurul-Syakima Ab Mutalib, Learn-Han Lee, Jodi Woan-Fei Law
Summary: The ketogenic diet has been utilized since the 1920s as an effective treatment for epilepsy and other neurological diseases. It is now being explored for its potential impact on the gut microbiome, which is believed to play a role in these diseases. The current information suggests that the ketogenic diet can alter the gut microbiome and improve disease symptoms.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bingpeng Lin, Hooi Leng Ser, Lijing Wang, Jiang Li, Kok-Gan Chan, Learn-Han Lee, Loh Teng-Hern Tan
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of MMP12 in various oral diseases, including periodontitis, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, orthodontic tooth movement, and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Studies have shown the association of MMP12 expression with the pathogenesis of these oral diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Dinyadarshini Johnson, Vengadesh Letchumanan, Chern Choong Thum, Sivakumar Thurairajasingam, Learn-Han Lee
Summary: Probiotics have the potential to improve human health and are a lucrative industry. They may be a customizable treatment for depression, offering a precision psychiatry-based approach. The use of probiotics for depression is supported by the microbiota-gut-brain axis mechanisms. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains are the most widely studied and commercially available probiotics for major depressive disorder (MDD).
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Nasreddine El Omari, Saad Bakrim, Asaad Khalid, Mohammed Albratty, Ashraf N. Abdalla, Learn-Han Lee, Khang Wen Goh, Long Chiau Ming, Abdelhakim Bouyahya
Summary: Cancer progression is influenced by epigenetic events, with histone modification playing a key role in gene expression. Belinostat, a pan-HDAC inhibitor, has shown effectiveness in the treatment of T-cell lymphoma and solid malignancies. By indirectly promoting acetylated histone accumulation and restoring normal gene expressions, belinostat exhibits potential anti-cancer therapeutic effects through various pathways. Additionally, it has been found to increase p21WAF1, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor involved in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Investigative trials have supported belinostat's potential as a valuable anti-cancer drug.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Wei-Shan Ang, Jodi Woan-Fei Law, Vengadesh Letchumanan, Kar Wai Hong, Sunny Hei Wong, Nurul Syakima Ab Mutalib, Kok-Gan Chan, Learn-Han Lee, Loh Teng-Hern Tan
Summary: A new probiotic, Christensenella minuta, was discovered in 2012 from healthy human stool. It is a subdominant commensal bacterium with highly heritable properties and has mutual interactions with other heritable microbiomes. Its relative abundance is positively correlated with the lean host phenotype. Various studies have shown its potential in managing metabolic diseases such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Editorial Material
Nutrition & Dietetics
Learn-Han Lee, Bey-Hing Goh, Piyameth Dilokthornsakul, Surasak Saokaew
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yassine Mourabit, Souad El Hajjaji, Douae Taha, Bouabid Badaoui, Meryem El Yadini, Marius Emil Rusu, Learn-Han Lee, Abdelhakim Bouyahya, Ilhame Bourais
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic composition and evaluate the biological properties of Rosa canina L. fruits. The study found that Rosa canina fruits are rich in phenolic compounds and have potential antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant stress properties.
BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Samiah Hamad Al-Mijalli, Naoufal El Hachlafi, Emad M. Abdallah, Mohamed Jeddi, Hamza Assaggaf, Ahmed Qasem, Sulaiman Mohammed Alnasser, Ammar Attar, Mommen Adnan Naem, Learn-Han Lee, Abdelhakim Bouyahya, Hanae Naceiri Mrabti
Summary: In this study, the chemical constituents and antibacterial mechanism of action of Syzygium aromaticum essential oils extracted from leaves (CEOL) and floral buds (CEOB) were investigated. The results showed that eugenol was the major component in both CEOL and CEOB. The essential oils exhibited potent antibacterial activity against various bacteria, with low minimum inhibitory concentrations and bactericidal nature. They also affected the cell membrane permeability and cell integrity, leading to disruption of bacterial growth and viability. Additionally, CEOB showed stronger antimicrobial effects and anti-biofilm activity, suggesting its potential use as a natural alternative in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ying Cui, Kai Song, Zi-Jing Jin, Learn-Han Lee, Chitti Thawai, Ya-Wen He
Summary: This study found that minimum medium favored the synthesis of biocontrol strain Pseudomonas PA1201's antimicrobial secondary metabolite, pyoluteorin (Plt). Fructose, mannitol, and glycerol promoted Plt biosynthesis, with fructose being the most effective carbon source. Fructose acted through activation of the pltLABCDEFG (pltL) operon, while glucose or succinic acid antagonized fructose-dependent synthesis of Plt.
SYNTHETIC AND SYSTEMS BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Abdelhakim Bouyahya, Aicha El Allam, Sara Aboulaghras, Saad Bakrim, Naoual El Menyiy, Mohammed Merae Alshahrani, Ahmed Abdullah Al Awadh, Taoufiq Benali, Learn-Han Lee, Nasreddine El Omari, Khang Wen Goh, Long Chiau Ming, Mohammad S. Mubarak
Summary: This review provides an overview of the recent developments in the mTOR signaling pathway and its molecular involvement in various human cancer types, as well as the research progress of different mTOR inhibitors and their rational combinations with immunotherapies.