Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis of Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Isolates in Myanmar

Aung, Wah Wah,Ei, Phyu Win,Nyunt, Wint Wint,Swe, Thyn Lei,Lwin, Thandar,Htwe, Mi Mi,Kim, Kyung Jun,Lee, Jong Seok,Kim, Chang Ki,Cho, Sang Nae,Song, Sun Dae,Chang, Chulhun L. The Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine 2015 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.35 No.5

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most serious health problems in Myanmar. Because TB drug resistance is associated with genetic mutation(s) relevant to responses to each drug, genotypic methods for detecting these mutations have been proposed to overcome the limitations of classic phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST). We explored the current estimates of drug-resistant TB and evaluated the usefulness of genotypic DST in Myanmar.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>We determined the drug susceptibility of <I>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</I> isolated from sputum smear-positive patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary TB at two main TB centers in Myanmar during 2013 by using conventional phenotypic DST and the GenoType MTBDR<I>plus</I> assay (Hain Lifescience, Germany). Discrepant results were confirmed by sequencing the genes relevant to each type of resistance (<I>rpoB</I> for rifampicin; <I>katG</I> and <I>inhA</I> for isoniazid).</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Of 191 isolates, phenotypic DST showed that 27.7% (n=53) were resistant to at least one first-line drug and 20.9% (n=40) were resistant to two or more, including 18.3% (n=35) multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) strains. Monoresistant strains accounted for 6.8% (n=13) of the samples. Genotypic assay of 189 isolates showed 17.5% (n=33) MDR-TB and 5.3% (n=10) isoniazid-monoresistant strains. Genotypic susceptibility results were 99.5% (n=188) concordant and agreed almost perfectly with phenotypic DST (kappa=0.99; 95% confidence interval 0.96-1.01).</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>The results highlight the burden of TB drug resistance and prove the usefulness of the genotypic DST in Myanmar.</P>

Optimization of efficient protocorm-like body (PLB) formation of Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium hybrids

Soe, Khaing Wah,Myint, Khin Thida,Naing, Aung Htay,Kim, Chang Kil 경북대학교 농업생명과학대학 2014 Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences Vol.32 No.4

Optimization of the protocorm-like body (PLB) formation of Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium hybrids was performed by determining the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and different parts and division sizes of the PLB. For both genera, the base part was the best for the proliferation of PLBs, yielding the highest number of PLBs on a PGR-free medium for Phalaenopsis and medium containing 0.1μM NAA and 10.0μM BAP for Dendrobium. As regards the division size, four-division sections resulted in a higher PLB formation efficiency for Phalaenopsis, while two-division sections produced a higher PLB formation efficiency for Dendrobium. It is expected that these findings will be applicable to efficient PLB formation of other Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium orchids.

Optimization of efficient protocorm-like body (PLB) formation of Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium hybrids

Soe, Khaing Wah,Myint, Khin Thida,Naing, Aung Htay,Kim, Chang Kil Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology 2014 慶北大農學誌 Vol.32 No.4

Optimization of the protocorm-like body (PLB) formation of Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium hybrids was performed by determining the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and different parts and division sizes of the PLB. For both genera, the base part was the best for the proliferation of PLBs, yielding the highest number of PLBs on a PGR-free medium for Phalaenopsis and medium containing $0.1{\mu}M$ NAA and $10.0{\mu}M$ BAP for Dendrobium. As regards the division size, four-division sections resulted in a higher PLB formation efficiency for Phalaenopsis, while two-division sections produced a higher PLB formation efficiency for Dendrobium. It is expected that these findings will be applicable to efficient PLB formation of other Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium orchids.

Molecular Strain Typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a Review of Frequently Used Methods

Phyu Win Ei,Wah Wah Aung,이종석,최고은,장철훈 대한의학회 2016 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.31 No.11

Tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains one of the most serious global health problems. Molecular typing of M. tuberculosis has been used for various epidemiologic purposes as well as for clinical management. Currently, many techniques are available to type M. tuberculosis. Choosing the most appropriate technique in accordance with the existing laboratory conditions and the specific features of the geographic region is important. Insertion sequence IS6110-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis is considered the gold standard for the molecular epidemiologic investigations of tuberculosis. However, other polymerase chain reaction-based methods such as spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping), which detects 43 spacer sequence-interspersing direct repeats (DRs) in the genomic DR region; mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units–variable number tandem repeats, (MIRU-VNTR), which determines the number and size of tandem repetitive DNA sequences; repetitive-sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR), which provides high-throughput genotypic fingerprinting of multiple Mycobacterium species; and the recently developed genome-based whole genome sequencing methods demonstrate similar discriminatory power and greater convenience. This review focuses on techniques frequently used for the molecular typing of M. tuberculosis and discusses their general aspects and applications.

미얀마의 말라리아, 결핵 및 간염의 표준 진단법 및 치료법 현황

한은택,이종석,정재훈,장철훈,미야트 투트 뉴느트,Wah Wah Aung,Yi Yi Kyaw,Kyaw Zin Thant 대한진단검사의학회 2017 Laboratory Medicine Online Vol.7 No.3

Malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis are common and notorious infectious diseases in Myanmar. Despite intensive efforts to control these diseases, their prevalence remains high. For malaria, which is a vector-borne disease, a remarkable success in the reduction of new cases has been achieved. However, the annual number of tuberculosis cases has increased over the last few decades, and the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis infection has been high in Myanmar and other nearby countries. Early detection and prompt treatment are crucial to control these diseases. We have devoted our research efforts to understanding the status of these infectious diseases and working towards their eventual elimination for the last four years with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency. In the modern era, an infection that develops in one geographical area can spread globally because national borders do not effectively limit disease transmission. Our efforts to understand the status of infectious diseases in Myanmar will benefit not only Myanmar but also neighboring countries such as Korea. 말라리아, 결핵, 간염은 미얀마의 중요한 감염 질환으로, 퇴치를 위한 노력에도 불구하고 여전히 심각한 상황이다. 곤충 매개 질환의 하나인 말라리아는 관리 목표치에 도달하여 관리가 잘 이루어지고 있음을 보여주고 있다. 하지만 결핵은 과거 수십년간 오히려 증가하고 있으며, 만성 바이러스성 간염은 주변 국가들에 비해 여전히 높은 수준이다. 이들 감염 질환을 통제하는데 중요한 방법은 조기 진단과 치료이다. 저자들은 최근 4년간 KOICA의 지원으로 미얀마의 주요 감염병의 실태를 파악하고, 감염병 퇴치를 위한 노력을 기울여 왔다. 지금은 이동 수단의 발달로 인해 감염병의 전파에서 국경의 한계가 없어졌기에, 세계 어느 곳에서의 감염도 다른 지역의 사람들에게 끼치는 영향이 크다. 비록 우리나라에서 멀리 떨어진 곳이기는 하나, 미얀마의 감염병 퇴치 노력이 우리나라와 전 세계의 인류 보건 향상에 중요한 영향을 끼칠 것으로 생각한다.

Core promoter mutation of nucleotides A1762T and G1764A of hepatitis B virus increases core promoter transactivation by hepatocyte nuclear factor 1

Seong Mi So,Hwang Hyeon Jeong,Jang Eun Ah,Jang Jeong Ah,Aung Wah Wah,Kyaw Yi Yi,Cheong JaeHun 한국미생물학회 2022 The journal of microbiology Vol.60 No.10

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection highly increases the risk for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The clinical manifestation of HBV infection is determined by the mutual interplay of the viral genotype, host genetic factors, mode of transmission, adaptive mutations, and environmental factors. Core promoter activation plays a critical role in the pre-genomic RNA transcription of HBV for HBV replication. The mutations of core promoter have been implicated in HCC development. We had obtained HBV genes from Myanmar HBV infectants and identified gene variations at the core promoter region. For measuring the relative transactivation activity on core promoter, we prepared the core-promoter reporter construct. Both of A1762T and G1764A mutation were consistently found in the HBV genes with hepatocellular carcinoma. The A1762T/G1764A mutation was corresponding to K130M/V131I of HBx protein. We prepared the core promoter- luciferase reporter construct containing the double A1762T/G1764A mutation and the K130M/V131I HBx protein expression construct. The A1762T/G1764A mutation highly was responsive to core promoter transactivation by HBx, regardless of HBx mutation. The A1762T/G1764A mutation newly created hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1) responsive element. Ectopic expression of HNF1 largely increased the HBV core promoter containing A1762T/G1764A mutation. In addition, hepatic rich fatty acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid, increased K130M/V131I HBx level by core promoter activation. These results provide biological properties and clinical significance of specific HBV core promoter mutants related with HCC development.