RESEARCH

Current Research Year 2004

 

Addressing National Needs/ Issues (on-going: 2002-2005)

IRPA PRIORITISED RESEARCH   Antibiotic Resistance Research Programme •  10 projects : 3 (IMR), 4 (UM), 2 (USM) and 1 (VRI) •  Addressing the issues of epidemiology, antibiotic use in animal, clinical pattern and mechanism of resistance

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Virological markers in HCC

MOH R&D GRANT & OTHERS

Incidence & molecular epidemiology of J.E in Malaysia

Seroepidemiology of mumps, measles and rubella

Phenotypic and molecular characterisation of pathogenic leptospira and epidemiology of leptospirosis in Malaysia (IRPA)

Virological & clinical prognostic factor of enterovirus causing HFMD (MOH)

 

Innovation, development & basic science (on-going: 2002-2005)

Maggots therapy for wound treatment (IRPA)

• Maggot Therapy in First Patient in Lumut Navy Hospital in May 2003

Intractable wound due to diabetes

Sterile maggots on filter paper

Application of maggots

Bandaging wound after application of larvae

Appearance of fresh tissue after 1 week. Patient discharged on 3rd week after 3 treatments.

ACAROLOGY & ALLERGENS

Preparation & standardisation of extracts of local species of cockroaches for diagnosis of allergies

•  IRPA funding •  6 skin prick test solutions have been standardised • Positive skin test rates among rhinitis patients against the 6 species ranged between 31.3% to 56.2% .

Distribution of mites, weevil & their allergen level in rice & its raw processed products

•  Funded by Malaysian Toray Science Foundation •  To determine distribution of mites and weevils in rice & rice products • Higher contamination rate from commercial sources (31.3%) compared to individual houses (25%). • Rice from farmers showed lowest contamination (4%).

MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY

Development of new technique to detect dengue virus in mosquito

•  Funded by WHO/TDR • Specific outcomes - Specific proteins associated with dengue - Antibodies against these proteins - Development of ELISA format to detect the protein in mosquitoes •  30% progress, 2 specific proteins found so far.

Development of comprehensive rapid test for insecticide resistance

•  IRPA funded •  Expected outcomes - Rapid detection kit for use in the field •  80% progress, kit has been tested in the field and found to be useful

Cytotoxicity activities of Malaysian isolates of Bacillus thuriengiensis

•  Funded by Toray foundation & IMU •  Expected outcomes •  25% progress • Several isolates exhibited high in-vitro cytotoxicity to leukaemic and cervical cancer cell lines. •  One showing 84% cytotoxicity against leukaemic cell line without affecting normal cells.

MALARIA IMMUNOLOGY & PROTECTION STUDIES

Synthetic malaria protein and T-cell response – measuring cellular immune response (IMR-Nagasaki Tropical Disease Institute collaboration)

•  Screening for malaria parasite protein fragments that can stimulate T-cell response (measured by interferon gamma production)

•  20 different protein fragments were tested against T-cells harvested from 22 volunteers from malaria endemic area.

•  9 protein fragments produced strong T-cell response.

 

IDRC: Responding to specific requests (2003-2004)

EIA project for Tenaga Nasional in Hulu Trengganu

Operational research related to National Filariasis Elimination Programme: Effect of interrupted mass treatment on transmission

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies

•  One request from TNB to EIA (health) for their Hulu Trengganu Dam Project

•  Assess impact on soil transmitted helminths (STH) and vector-, food- and water-borne diseases

•  Despite good overall safe water supply coverage (88.1%) and proper sewage system (91.4%), soil, food and water-borne diseases are still prevalent.

•  Infection rates range:-

– STH: 0-55.2%

–Amoebiasis: 0-35.3%

– Giardiasis: 0-17.6%

 

Effect of interrupted mass treatment on disease transmission

•  Global Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Strategy: Annual mass treatment with DEC for 5 consecutive years. •  1992-1994: 2 sites in Gerik treated for 2 years to compare single and standard DEC dose. •  Treatment was not continued •  After 8 years (2003), microfilaria (Mf) prevalence rose from 6.8% to 9.8%, Mf density from 0.89 ± 4.16 to 4.03 ± 77 per 60 uL blood. •  Supports rationale for the 5-years mass treatment

 

IDRC: International collaboration-exporting expertise (2000-2004)

IMR role as WHO Regional Centre for Training & Research in Tropical Diseases and Nutrition

Funding through WPRO Small (USD20,000) Research Grant for Inter-Countries Collaborative Research

Epidemiology of malaria and vector distribution in Lao PDR (Sekong & Attepeau Provinces).

Better understanding of malaria epidemiology in southern provinces: malaria transmission throughout the year – wet & dry seasons

Published for the first time evidence of An. dirus as principle vector in Lao PDR

Significant input towards improved malaria control approach & strategies

Staining methods for rapid identification of malaria parasites •  Field stain for new simian parasite species

TORCHES ( ( To xoplasmosis, R ubella, C ytomegalovirus, He rpes, S yphillis) group of diseases

• implementation of the national rubella immunisation programme

Nosocomial infection research

• produced useful guidelines to minimise hospital infections in the country

Serology diagnosis for melioidosis and legionellosis

• Development of an in-house test methods based on immunoflourescent antibody techniques to provide services for the public and private hospitals

Rapid detection of oxidases for the detection of insecticide resistance

• Rapid test kit for detection of pirethroid poisoning

Production process for a Malaysian isolate of Bacillus sphaericus

• Environmental friendly mosquitocidal biological agent

Rapid detection of insensitive acetylcholinesterase for the detection of insecticide resistance

• Rapid test kit for detection of resistance caused by organophosphate and carbamate

Detection of acetylcholinesterase in human oral fluid (saliva)

• The first method for the detection of acetylcholinesterase in human saliva in insecticide poisoning and neurological disorders

Insecticide-impregnated emulsion paint

• Elmusion paint formulation impregnated with pyrethroid and deltamethrine to be used against insects and as a vector control agent

Study on Aedes mosquito larvae in dengue infection

• Development of MOSBAC to destroy Aedes mosquito larvae using a combination of a chemical agent and Bacillus thuringiensis strain H14 (Bti)

 

FUTURE RESEARCH

26 projects in 4 major Research programmes:

• Vector-borne diseases & their vector

- 13 projects

• STD & HIV

- 4 projects

• Zoonotic infection and the environment

- 3 projects

• New technologies & innovation

- 6 projects

Funding: estimated RM15.25 million over 8-10 years

• IRPA

• MOH

• International bodies

Tick-Borne Diseases Research Programme

•  Sporadic studies: tick-borne diseases are endemic, significant public health problem •  Increasing urbanisation, commercial farming, eco-tourism increasing the risk •  Limited current information on magnitude of problem, vectors & risk of transmission. •  No control activities & surveillance (notification to VBDCP) is limited by problem of diagnosis •  Potential niche area of research excellence & commercialisation, particular diagnostic test kits •  IMR is the lead agency, 12 projects by IMR, UM, MACRES, UKM, Sarawak Health Dept & UNIMAS •  IRPA-PR: Concept approved

•  IMR/UM/UKM/UNIMAS/MACRES/Sarawak Hlth Dept

•  Preparedness for emerging and reemerging diseases

•  IRPA-PR: Brief proposal approved

Mosquito Genome Project

•  To completely sequence the genome of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus , vectors of dengue

•  Collaborators: Celeron Co.

•  Expected outcomes:

- Complete genomes of both mosquitoes

- Design of novel control methods based on genomes of these species

Transgenic mosquito project

•  Development of transgenic mosquitoes refractory to transmission of diseases

•  Collaborators: CDC Fort Collins, USA

•  Expected outcomes:

- Production of transgenic strains of mosquito vectors

- Release of transgenic vectors to replace field populations

- Interruption of disease transmission

 

Research of Units

Acarology Unit

Bacteriology Unit

Entomology Unit

Parasitology Unit

Virology Unit