A5047931259- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Marine Invertebrate Physiology and Ecology
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Cephalopods and Marine Biology
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Parvovirus B19 Infection Studies
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Connexins and lens biology
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
Duke-NUS Medical School
2016-2024
National University of Singapore
2017-2021
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
2017
North Carolina State University
2017
National Parks Board
2017
Duke University
2017
The University of Queensland
2013-2016
Although known for their potent venom and ability to prey upon both invertebrate vertebrate species, the Barychelidae spider family has been entirely neglected by toxinologists. In striking contrast, sister Theraphosidae (commonly as tarantulas), which last shared a most recent common ancestor with over 200 million years ago, received much attention, accounting 25% of all described toxins while representing only 2% species. this study, we evaluated first time arsenal barychelid spider,...
Bats, unique among mammals with powered flight, have many species the longest size-proportionate lifespan of all mammals. Evolutionary adaptations would been required to survive elevated body temperatures during flight. Heat shock protein (HSP), highly conserved master regulators cell stress, expression was examined across tissues and various lines in bats. Basal level major HSPs (HSP70 HSP90) is significantly higher two different bat compared other This HSP could be a bat-unique, key factor...
Bats are reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens, including filoviruses. Recent work highlights the diversity of bat borne filoviruses in Asia. High risk activities at bat-human interface pose threat virus transmission. We present evidence prior exposure harvesters and two resident fruit species to filovirus surface glycoproteins by screening sera a multiplexed serological assay. Antibodies reactive antigenically distinct were detected human three individual bats remote Northeast India....
Orthonairovirus is a genus of viruses in the family Nairoviridae, order Bunyavirales, with segmented circular RNA genome. They typically infect birds and mammals are primarily transmitted by ectoparasites such as ticks. Four nine genogroups can humans, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus infections displaying case fatality rates up to 40%. Here, we discover describe novel Cencurut (CENV). CENV was detected 34 37 Asian house shrews (Suncus murinus) sampled Singapore nymphal Amblyomma...
To determine whether fruit bats in Singapore have been exposed to filoviruses, we screened 409 serum samples from of 3 species by using a multiplex assay that detects antibodies against filoviruses. Positive reacted with glycoproteins Bundibugyo, Ebola, and Sudan viruses, indicating filovirus circulation among Southeast Asia.
Abstract Bats are unusual mammals, with the ability to fly, and long lifespans. In addition, bats have a low incidence of cancer, but mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. Here we discovered that bat cells more resistant than human mouse DNA damage induced by genotoxic drugs. We found accumulate less chemical cells, efficient drug efflux mediated ABC transporter ABCB1 underlies improved response reagents. Inhibition triggers an accumulation doxorubicin, damage, cell death. is...
Abstract Bats are asymptomatic reservoir hosts for several highly pathogenic viruses. Understanding this enigmatic relationship between bats and emerging zoonotic viruses requires tools approaches which enable the comparative study of bat immune cell populations their functions. We show that genomes have a conservation marker genes delineate phagocyte in humans, while lacking key mouse surface markers such as Ly6C Ly6G. Cross-reactive antibodies against CD44, CD11b, CD14, MHC II, CD206 were...
Coronaviruses are a diverse group of viruses that infect mammals and birds. Bats reservoirs for several different coronaviruses in the Alphacoronavirus Betacoronavirus genera. They also appear to be natural reservoir ancestral generated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus Middle East outbreaks. Here, we detected sequences next-generation sequence data created from Eonycteris spelaea faeces urine. We screened by PCR urine samples, faecal samples rectal swabs collected six species...
Bats are unique mammals that reservoirs of high levels virus diversity. Although several these viruses zoonotic, the majority not. Astroviruses, transmitted fecal-orally, commonly detected in a wide diversity bat species, prevalent at rates and not thought to directly infect humans. These features make astroviruses useful examining evolutionary history, epidemiology host, temporal shedding trends. Our study screened for presence bats Singapore, reconstructed phylogenetic relations polymerase...
Dengue and chikungunya are global re-emerging mosquito-borne diseases. In Singapore, sustained vector control coupled with household improvements reduced domestic mosquito populations for the past 45 years, particularly primary Aedes aegypti. However, while disease incidence was low first 30 years following implementation, outbreaks have re-emerged in 15 years. Epidemiological observations point to importance of peridomestic infection areas not targeted by programs. We investigated role...
Abstract Bats are an important animal model with long lifespans, low incidences of tumorigenesis and ability to asymptomatically harbour pathogens. Currently, in vivo studies bats hampered due their reproduction rates. To overcome this, we transplanted bat cells from bone marrow (BM) spleen into immunodeficient mouse strain NOD-scid IL-2R −/− (NSG), have successfully established stable, long-term reconstitution immune mice (bat-mice). Immune functionality our bat-mouse was demonstrated...
Bat flies are highly-specialized, hematophagous arthropods that globally ubiquitous. There is little published research on bat (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) in Singapore and understanding the diversity of nycteribiids, host association infestation rates can provide insight into this host-ectoparasite relationship. Nycteribiids were collected from bats trapped (2011-2016) identified using morphological keys. Host-ectoparasite relationships investigated with logistic regression Bayesian poisson...
Cross-species transmission can often lead to deleterious effects in incidental hosts. Parvoviruses have a wide host range and primarily infect members of the order Carnivora. Here we describe juvenile common palm civet cats (Paradoxurus musangus) that were brought Singapore zoo fell ill while quarantined. The tissues two individual civets died tested PCR-positive for parvovirus infection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed this strain falls basal position clade CPV infected dogs China Uruguay,...
Bats are the reservoir for numerous human pathogens, including coronaviruses. Despite many coronaviruses having descended from bat ancestors, little is known about virus-host interactions and broader evolutionary history involving bats. Studies have largely focused on zoonotic potential of with few infection experiments conducted in cells. To determine genetic changes derived replication cells possibly identify novel pathways virus emergence, we serially passaged six 229E isolates a newly...
Abstract The recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in North and South America, including widespread infection cattle the United States, calls for an urgent assessment host range A viruses, particularly subtypes pandemic concern. We conducted a serological survey binding antibodies to B viruses goats (n=452) sheep (n=329) Pakistan found high seropositive rates hemagglutinin (HA) (AIV) H5 (23.9–34.0%), H7 (13.9– 37.1%), H9 (17.0–34.7%). In contrast, there were low...
Bats are known natural reservoirs of several highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses, including Hendra virus, Nipah rabies SARS-like coronaviruses, and suspected ancestral SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The capacity to survive infections agents without severe disease, together with many other unique features, makes bats an ideal animal model studying regulation infection, cancer, longevity, which is likely translate into human health outcomes. A key factor that limits...
Central and South American pitvipers, belonging to the genera Bothrops Bothriechis, have independently evolved arboreal tendencies. Little is known regarding composition activity of their venoms. In order close this knowledge gap, venom proteomics toxin species (including Bothriopsis) were investigated through established analytical methods. A combination bioactivity techniques was used demonstrate a similar diversification between large small within Bothriechis Bothriopsis. Increasing our...