Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item Validation and calibration of a novel GEM biosensor for specific detection of Cd2+, Zn2+, and Pb2(BioMed Central, 2023) Herath, H.M.L.P.B.; de Silva, W.R.M.; Dassanayake, R.S.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Jayasingha, J.R.P.; Gayashan, M.K.; Afonso, L.O.B.; de Silva, K.M.N.BACKGROUND In this study, we designed a novel genetic circuit sensitive to Cd2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ by mimicking the CadA/CadR operon system mediated heavy metal homeostasis mechanism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The regular DNA motifs on natural operon were reconfgured and coupled with the enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (eGFP) reporter to develop a novel basic NOT type logic gate CadA/CadR-eGFP to respond metal ions mentioned above. A Genetically Engineered Microbial (GEM)-based biosensor (E.coli-BL21:pJET1.2-CadA/CadR-eGFP) was developed by cloning the chemically synthesised CadA/CadR-eGFP gene circuit into pJET1.2-plasmid and transforming into Escherichia coli (E. coli)-BL21 bacterial cells. RESULTS The GEM-based biosensor cells indicated the reporter gene expression in the presence of Cd2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ either singly or in combination. Further, the same biosensor cells calibrated for fuorescent intensity against heavy metal concentration generated linear graphs for Cd2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+ with the R2 values of 0.9809, 0.9761 and 0.9758, respectively as compared to non-specifc metals, Fe3+ (0.0373), AsO4 3− (0.3825) and Ni2+ (0.8498) making our biosensor suitable for the detection of low concentration of the former metal ions in the range of 1–6 ppb. Furthermore, the GEM based biosensor cells were growing naturally within the concentration range of heavy metals, at 37 °C and optimum pH=7.0 in the medium, resembling the characteristics of wildtype E.coli. CONCLUSION Finally, the novel GEM based biosensor cells developed in this study can be applied for detection of targeted heavy metals in low concentration ranges (1–6 ppb) at normal bacterial physiological conditions.Item Assessment of developmental and reproductive fitness of dengue-resistant transgenic Aedes aegypti and Improvement of fitness using antibiotics(Hindawi Pub. Co., 2021) Ramyasoma, H.P.B.K.D.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Hapugoda, M.; Dassanayake, R.S.BACKGROUND: Genetic modification offers opportunities to introduce artificially created molecular defence mechanisms to vector mosquitoes to counter diseases causing pathogens such as the dengue virus, malaria parasite, and Zika virus. RNA interference is such a molecular defence mechanism that could be used for this purpose to block the transmission of pathogens among human and animal populations. In our previous study, we engineered a dengue-resistant transgenic Ae. aegypti using RNAi to turn off the expression of dengue virus serotype genomes to reduce virus transmission, requiring assessment of the fitness of this mosquito with respect to its wild counterpart in the laboratory and semifield conditions. METHOD: Developmental and reproductive fitness parameters of TM and WM have assessed under the Arthropod Containment Level 2 conditions, and the antibiotic treatment assays were conducted using co-trimoxazole, amoxicillin, and doxycycline to assess the developmental and reproductive fitness parameters. RESULTS: A significant reduction of developmental and reproductive fitness parameters was observed in transgenic mosquito compared to wild mosquitoes. However, it was seen in laboratory-scale studies that the fitness of this mosquito has improved significantly in the presence of antibiotics such as co-trimoxazole, amoxicillin, and doxycycline in their feed. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that the transgenic mosquito produced had a reduction of the fitness parameters and it may lead to a subsequent reduction of transgenic vector density over the generations in field applications. However, antibiotics of co-trimoxazole, amoxicillin, and doxycycline have shown the improvement of fitness parameters indicating the usefulness in field release of transgenic mosquitoes.Item Multiple dengue virus serotypes resistant transgenic Aedes aegypti fitness evaluated under laboratory conditions.(Landes Bioscience, 2020) Ramyasoma, H.P.B.K.D.; Dassanayake, R.S.; Hapugoda, M.; Capurro, M.L.; Silva Gunawardene, Y.I.N.ABSTRACT:Dengue viruses (DENV) are the wildest transmitted arbovirus members of the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. Dengue viruses are composed of four serotypes, DENV1, 2, 3, and 4, and these viruses can cause dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, when infecting humans. RNA interference (RNAi) is a self-defence mechanism, which can be used to prevent invasions of RNA viruses to the host. Genetically engineering a host with an RNAi molecule that targets a single virus serotype may develop escape mutants, and can cause unusual dominance over other serotypes. Therefore, the simultaneous targeting of multiple serotypes is necessary to block DENV transmission. Here, we report the development of transgenic Aedes aegypti based on a bioinformatically designed multiple miRshRNA (microRNA-based shRNA) DNA sequence under the control of a blood-meal induced promoter, Carboxypeptidase A, to induce RNAi for DENV in Aedes aegypti, and demonstrate the expression of a synthetic multiple shRNA polycistronic cluster having RNA interference sequences to target DENV genomes. The transgenic mosquitoes have lower rates of infection, dissemination, and transmission for DENV2 and DENV4 compared to wild mosquitoes, with a significant reduction of dengue copy number and antigen levels in the midgut. These levels of DENV were low enough to make transgenic mosquitoes stop the DENV transmission from infected host to a susceptible host and refractory to DENV2 and DENV4 infection. Such multiple resistance in Ae. aegypti has not been documented previously. Laboratory fitness measurement of transgenic Ae. aegypti showed results comparable to other reported transgenic mosquitoes. KEYWORDS: RNA interference; aedes aegypti; dengue disease; multiple miRshRNA; piggyBacItem Evaluation of the effects of Aedes vector indices and climatic factors on dengueincidence in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2019) Wijegunawardana, N.D.A.D.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Chandrasena, T.G.A.N.; Dassanayake, R.S.; Udayanga, N.W.B.A.L.; Abeyewickreme, W.Constant monitoring of Aedes vector indices such as Aedes mosquito abundance and ovitrap data is important for the control of dengue epidemics. Therefore, the current study attempted to evaluate the effect of larval and climatic factors on the incidence of dengue outbreaks in the Gampaha district. Based on the distribution of previously reported dengue cases, 34 households in Narangodapaluwa PHI area, Ragama, Sri Lanka, were selected randomly, and entomological surveillance was done fortnightly using adult mosquito catches and larval surveillance techniques for a period of two years. Further, weekly ovitrap surveillance was conducted for one year, by maintaining four ovitraps in a single house, two indoors and two outdoors at ground and at a height of 1.5-2 m. Based on the findings, larval indices, namely, Breteau index (BI), House index (HI), and Container index (CI), were calculated, along with the Ovitrap index (OI). The study area was positive for Ae. albopictus with an adult capturing range of 1~15/34 households. BI initially remained < 3%, which subsequently decreased up to 0. No significant difference in OI was found between the ovitraps placed at ground level and at a height of 1.5-2m (p>0.05), 95% level of confidence. The OI varied from 56.9% to 94.7% during the study period of 12 months, indicating two peaks at the monsoons. Statistics of one-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference in the monthly OI during the study period (p≤0.001) with two peaks representing the monsoonal rainfall patterns. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that the association between dengue cases and larval indices (BI, CI, HI, and OI) and meteorological parameters was not significant (p<0.05). Migration of mosquitoes and patients could be considered as possible factors affecting the absence of a significant relationship.Item Functional analysis of a novel parasitic nematode-specific protein of Setaria digitata larvae in Culex quinquefasciatus by siRNA mediated RNA interference(BioMed Central, 2018) Somarathne, M.B.C.L.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Chandrasekharan, N.V.; Ellepola, A.N.B.; Dassanayake, R.S.BACKGROUND: Functional analysis of animal parasitic nematode genes is often quite challenging due to the unavailability of standardised in vitro culture conditions and lack of adequate tools to manipulate these genes. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the suitability of Culex quinquefasciatus, as an in vivo culture platform for Setaria digitata larvae and RNA interference (RNAi), as a post-transcriptional gene silencing tool to study the roles of a vital gene that encodes a novel parasitic nematode-specific protein (SDNP). RESULTS: The red colour fluorescence detected following RNAi injection to the thorax of C. quinquefasciatus indicated the uptake of dsRNA by S. digitata larvae. The reduction of SDNP transcripts in siRNA treated larvae compared to non-treated larvae, as determined by qPCR, indicated that the siRNA pathway is operational in S. digitata larvae. The observation of motility reductions and deformities during the development indicated the association of SDNP in larvae locomotion and development processes, respectively. The irregularities in the migration of larvae in mosquitoes and elevated survival rates of mosquitoes compared to their untreated counterparts indicated reduced parasitism of S. digitata larvae in mosquitoes upon targeted downregulation of SDNP by siRNA treatment. CONCLUSION: SDNP plays vital roles in muscle contraction, locomotion, development processes, larval development and parasitism of S. digitata. Its ubiquitous presence in parasitic nematodes and its absence in their hosts provide a tantalising prospect of the possibility of targeting SDNP for future development of anthelmintic drugs. The susceptibility of the larval stages of S. digitata for RNAi in Culex quinquefasciatus was also demonstrated for the first time in this study.Item Transgenic mosquitoes to control vector borne diseases(OMICS International, 2015) Sampath, L.D.S.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Dassanayake, R.S.Item Molecular relatedness and diversity of insect antimicrobial defensin genes(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2004) Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Dassanayake, R.S.Item Clinical utility of PCR and real time PCR assays for Cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections.(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008) Dassanayake, R.S.; de Silva, P.; Weerasena, J.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Manamperi, A.Molecular Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses from the status of latency is seen in immunocompromised individuals and such reactivation is often associated with morbidity and mortality in such individuals. The prevalence of these viral infections in a selected population of patients referred to the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at the Durdan's Hospital, Colombo, during the period from August 2007 to May 2008 were studied using qualitative PCR assays. All specimens from patients with suspected clinical diagnoses of either CMV or HBV or HCV infections were analyzed. Of 176 samples analyzed for CMV 78 were positive (37 males, 29 females) and majority of them are patients from a nephrology unit. Out of 40 and 10 samples analyzed from males and females, respectively, 22 and 4 were positive for HBV. Twenty six samples were analyzed for HCV and only 6 were fond to be infected with viruses and all of them were from males. Although PCR detection of these viral DNA/RNA is a sensitive method to detect infection, it lacks specificity for the detection of active viral disease and for monitoring the efficacy of antiviral therapy. Therefore, Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) assays for the detection and quantification of CMV-DNA, HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA were developed using SYBRgreen1 chemistry. The assays developed are capable of detecting viral particles in blood samples and quantifying viral DNA accurately over a broad range of input target copies (102 - 108copies/ml) and therefore, can be used to predict the reactivation of viruses by comparing with published kinetic criteria in clinical guidelines. Post PCR analyses of Real-time PCR products by agarose gel electrophoresis revealed bands having the same intensity for a wide range of target copies (103 -108copies/ml). In contrast, RT-PCR elicited higher cycle threshold for the descending order of concentration of target copies. Therefore, based on these results, it is evident that the intensity of conventional PCR bands should not be used for the assessment of viral reactivation or for monitoring therapeutic intervention and for this purpose RT-PCR is the method of choiceItem Rapid differential diagnosis of dengue and chikungunya infections by multiplex RT-PCR and impact of chikungunya infection on liver biochemical tests(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2008) Manamperi, A.; de Silva, P.; Ekanayaka, C.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; de Silva, J.; Weerasena, O.V.D.S.J.; Dassanayake, R.S.Item Systematic identification and characterization of Tyrosine kinase linked receptor gene family from Anopheles gambiae genome(Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 2005) Wasala, W.M.W.N.B.; Gunawardene, Y.I.N.S.; Dassanayake, R.S.