Factors Associated with Sexual Intercourse, Condom-Use, and Perceived Peer Behaviors Among Adolescents in Malaysia: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study

High-risk sexual behavior among young adults is concerning to clinicians, public health practitioners and policy makers because it is associated with unintended health outcomes including transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy.This paper analyzes how knowledge of HIV, experience with dating behavior, and perception of peer behavior factors are associated with having sexual intercourse and use of condoms among adolescent students in Malaysia. National data from school-age adolescents who completed the Malaysian HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Attitude and Practice survey were used. Chi-square analysis and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Having sexual intercourse was associated with urbaneness (p<0.001); correctly answered all UNGASS indicator (p=0.011); and perception of peer behavior having had sex (p=0.001). Condom use among those who had sexual experience was associated with males (p=0.013), believing condoms prevent HIV and STIs (p<0.002), and having friends who report having had sex (p=0.034).Equitable and effective sexual education program must be developed to promote the health of adolescents. Practical education about how condoms may prevent the transmission of STIs and HIV should be promoted

Microbial succession and the functional potential during the fermentation of Chinese soy sauce brine

The quality of traditional Chinese soy sauce is determined by microbial communities and their inter-related metabolic roles in the fermentation tank. In this study, traditional Chinese soy sauce brine samples were obtained periodically to monitor the transitions of the microbial population and functional properties during the 6 months of fermentation process. Whole genome shotgun method revealed that the fermentation brine was dominated by the bacterial genus Weissella and later dominated by the fungal genus Candida. Metabolic reconstruction of the metagenome sequences demonstrated a characteristic profile of heterotrophic fermentation of proteins and carbohydrates. This was supported by the detection of ethanol with stable decrease of pH values. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that explores the temporal changes in microbial successions over a period of 6 months, through metagenome shotgun sequencing in traditional Chinese soy sauce fermentation and the biological processes therein

Microbiome of traditional Chinese soy sauce fermentation brine / Joanita binti Sulaiman

The traditional Chinese soya sauce quality is determined by the corresponding metabolic behaviour of microbial population in the fermentation tank. In this study, the microbiome changes and functional capabilities throughout the traditional Chinese soya sauce brine fermentation process in a period of six months were investigated. Samples were obtained from soya sauce fermentation tank recurrently during the six months of the fermentation process. The metagenomes were analyzed using whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing via next generation sequencing (NGS) on MiSeq (Illumina) platform. Alignment of the sequence reads with 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes revealed that soya sauce microbiome was predominated by members of the bacterial genus Weissella in the early stages and later succeeded by members of the fungal genus Candida at the end of the fermentation process. Upon analysis of the metabolic reconstructions displayed genetic potential with the majority of the genes were responsible for carbohydrate and energy metabolism besides the production of acid amino metabolism. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) classification scheme using MetaGenome Analyzer (MEGAN) demonstrated a typical profile of heterotrophic fermentation of proteins and carbohydrates in which collaborated with the biochemical adjustments. This study provides new findings and insight of temporal changes in microbial successions over the six months of soya sauce brine fermentation and the biological processes within

Quorum Sensing Activity of Enterobacter asburiae Isolated from Lettuce Leaves

Bacterial communication or quorum sensing (QS) is achieved via sensing of QS signaling molecules consisting of oligopeptides in Gram-positive bacteria and N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL) in most Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, Enterobacteriaceae isolates from Batavia lettuce were screened for AHL production. Enterobacter asburiae, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was found to produce short chain AHLs. High resolution triple quadrupole liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis of the E. asburiae spent supernatant confirmed the production of N-butanoyl homoserine lactone (C4-HSL) and N–hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C6-HSL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of AHL production by E. asburiae

Quorum Sensing Activity of Enterobacter asburiae Isolated from Lettuce Leaves

Bacterial communication or quorum sensing (QS) is achieved via sensing of QS signaling molecules consisting of oligopeptides in Gram-positive bacteria and N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHL) in most Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, Enterobacteriaceae isolates from Batavia lettuce were screened for AHL production. Enterobacter asburiae, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was found to produce short chain AHLs. High resolution triple quadrupole liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis of the E. asburiae spent supernatant confirmed the production of N-butanoyl homoserine lactone (C4-HSL) and N–hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C6-HSL). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of AHL production by E. asburiae

Rhodotorula Mucilaginosa, a Quorum Quenching Yeast Exhibiting Lactonase Activity Isolated from a Tropical Shoreline

Two microbial isolates from a Malaysian shoreline were found to be capable of degrading N-acylhomoserine lactones. Both Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry and 18S rDNA phylogenetic analyses confirmed that these isolates are Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Quorum quenching activities were detected by a series of bioassays and rapid resolution liquid chromatography analysis. The isolates were able to degrade various quorum sensing molecules namely N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL), N-(3-oxo-hexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C6-HSL) and N-(3-hydroxyhexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-hydroxy-C6-HSL). Using a relactonisation assay to verify the quorum quenching mechanism, it is confirmed that Rh. mucilaginosa degrades the quorum sensing molecules via lactonase activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documentation of the fact that Rh. mucilaginosa has activity against a broad range of AHLs namely C6-HSL, 3-oxo-C6-HSL and 3-hydroxy-C6-HSL