Media composition to revive leptospires stored at -80 °C.

Leptospires are preserved by frequent sub-culturing in semisolid media due to the challenge of low recovery by freezing or liquid nitrogen methods. The present study evaluated three liquid EMJH medium compositions (Medium A: Leptospira medium base EMJH, Leptospira enrichment EMJH, 5-fluorouracil (3%), rabbit serum (1%) and calf serum (1%); Medium B: same as Medium A but without 5-fluorouracil; Medium C: same as Medium B but with the addition of sodium pyruvate) for the revival of leptospires after storage at -80 °C. A total of 18 Leptospira serovars cultured in Medium A was aliquoted into cryogenic vials and directly stored at -80 °C. A hundred microlitre from each serovar culture stored at -80 °C was sub-cultured on a selected time over a period of 30 months into Media A, B and C. Regrowth on Media B and C showed a better and faster recovery (89-100%) (p-value <0.05) compared to Medium A (67-100%). Leptospires can be stored longer at -80 °C and a good recovery could be obtained when sub-cultured on EMJH medium without 5-fluorouracil.

Proteomic analysis revealed the biofilm-degradation abilities of the bacteriophage UPMK_1 and UPMK_2 against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

OBJECTIVE: The degradation activity of two bacteriophages UPMK_1 and UPMK_2 against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus phages were examined using gel zymography. METHODS: The analysis was done using BLASTP to detect peptides catalytic domains. Many peptides that are related to several phage proteins were revealed. RESULTS: UPMK_1 and UPMK_2 custom sequence database were used for peptide identification. The biofilm-degrading proteins in the bacteriophage UPMK_2 revealed the same lytic activity towards polysaccharide intercellular adhesin-dependent and independent of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm producers in comparison to UPMK_1, which had lytic activity restricted solely to its host. CONCLUSION: Both bacteriophage enzymes were involved in MRSA biofilm degradation during phage infection and they have promising enzybiotics properties against MRSA biofilm formation.

Microarray Analysis of the Genomic Effect of Eugenol on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly adaptive human pathogen responsible for serious hospital- and community-acquired infectious diseases, ranging from skin and soft tissue infections, to complicated and life-threatening conditions such as endocarditis and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). The rapid development of resistance of this organism to available antibiotics over the last few decades has necessitated a constant search for more efficacious antibacterial agents. Eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) belongs to the class of chemical compounds called phenylpropanoids. It is a pure-to-pale yellow, oily liquid substance, mostly extracted as an essential oil from natural products such as clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, basil, and bay leaf. Eugenol has previously been shown to have antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, the mechanism of action of eugenol against MRSA has not, as yet, been elucidated; hence, the necessity of this study. Global gene expression patterns in response to challenge from subinhibitory concentrations of eugenol were analysed using the Agilent DNA microarray system to identify genes that can be used as drug targets-most importantly, essential genes involved in unique metabolic pathways elicited for bacterial survival. Transcriptomic analysis of fluctuating genes revealed those involved in amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, translational, and ribosomal pathways. In amino acid metabolism, for instance, the argC gene encodes for N-acetyl-gamma-glutamyl-phosphate reductase. The argC gene plays an important role in the biosynthesis of arginine from glutamate in the amino acid metabolic pathway. It is the enzyme that catalyses the third step in the latter reaction, and without this process the production of N-acetylglutamate 5-semialdehyde cannot be completed from the NADP-dependent reduction of N-acetyl-5-glutamyl phosphate, which is essential for the survival of some microorganisms and plants. This study enables us to examine complete global transcriptomic responses in MRSA when challenged with eugenol. It reveals novel information with the potential to further benefit the exploratory quest for novel targets against this pathogen, with a view to the development of efficacious antimicrobial agents for the treatment of associated infections.

Predictors of severe leptospirosis: a multicentre observational study from Central Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is a re-emerging disease with vast clinical presentations, that ranges from subclinical or mild to severe and fatal outcomes. Leptospirosis can be managed well if diagnosed earlier, however, similar clinical presentations by several other febrile illnesses or co-infections, and laboratory diagnostic challenges due to the biphasic nature of the illness, often result in mis- or underdiagnosis, thereby lead to severe illness. Identification of clinical predictors for the severe form of the disease plays a crucial role in reducing disease complication and mortality. Therefore, we aimed to determine the clinical predictors associated with severe illness among leptospirosis patients from Central Malaysia through a prospective multicenter observational study. METHODS: A prospective multicenter observational study was performed on patients admitted for clinically suspected leptospirosis. Three hospitals namely Hospital Serdang, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah and Hospital Teluk Intan were included in the study. Among a total of 165 clinically suspected leptospirosis patients, 83 confirmed cases were investigated for clinical predictors for severe illness. Qualitative variables were performed using χ2 and the relationship between mild and severe cases was evaluated using logistic regression. Multivariable logistic regression was used to predict the independent variable for severity. RESULTS: Among the 83 patients, 50 showed mild disease and 33 developed severe illness. The mean age of the patients was 41.92 ± 17.99 and most were males (n = 54, 65.06%). We identified mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury, septic shock, creatinine level of > 1.13 mg/dL, urea > 7 mmol/L, alanine aminotransferase > 50 IU, aspartate aminotransferase > 50 IU, and platelet < 150 × 109/L as factors associated with severe illness. Acute kidney injury, alanine aminotransferase > 50 IU and platelet < 150 × 109/L were defined as the independent factors for severity. CONCLUSIONS: Lungs, liver and kidney involvement and septic shock were found as the prognostic factors for severe leptospirosis. Acute kidney injury, high level of alanine aminotransferase and low level of platelets were found to be independent predictors of severity.

Necrotizing fasciitis, causative agents and management: a five-year retrospective study in two tertiary care hospitals in Central Malaysia.

PURPOSE: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive inflammatory infection of the fascia, with secondary necrosis of the subcutaneous tissues. The severity of the disease depends on the virulence of the organism and host immunity. There is a paucity of reports on the prevalence of NF causing pathogens and management. METHODS: Retrospective data of patients treated for NF were collected from two tertiary care hospitals in Central Malaysia between January 2014 and December 2018. RESULTS: A total of 469 NF patients were identified. More than half of the NF patients were males (n = 278; 59.28%). The highest number of cases was found among age groups between 30 and 79, with mean age of 56.17. The majority of the NF cases (n = 402; 85.72%) were monomicrobial. Streptococcus spp. (n = 89; 18.98%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 63; 13.44%) and Staphylococcus spp. (n = 61; 13.01%) were identified as the top three microorganisms isolated. Among the 469 NF cases, 173 (36.8%) were amputated or dead while 296 (63.1%) recovered. Proteus spp. (n = 19; 12.93%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 18; 12.24%) and Escherichia coli (n = 14; 9.52%) were associated with all types of amputations. The most common antibiotic prescribed was unasyn (n = 284; 60.56%), followed by clindamycin (n = 56; 11.94%) and ceftazidime (n = 41; 8.74%). A total of 239 (61.8%) recovered while 148 (38.2%) were either amputated or dead when managed with the unasyn, clindamycin or ceftazidime. CONCLUSION: This study represents the largest NF cases series in Malaysia highlighting the causative agents and management.

Genomic analyses of two novel biofilm-degrading methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus phages.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm producers represent an important etiological agent of many chronic human infections. Antibiotics and host immune responses are largely ineffective against bacteria within biofilms. Alternative actions and novel antimicrobials should be considered. In this context, the use of phages to destroy MRSA biofilms presents an innovative alternative mechanism. RESULTS: Twenty-five MRSA biofilm producers were used as substrates to isolate MRSA-specific phages. Despite the difficulties in obtaining an isolate of this phage, two phages (UPMK_1 and UPMK_2) were isolated. Both phages varied in their ability to produce halos around their plaques, host infectivity, one-step growth curves, and electron microscopy features. Furthermore, both phages demonstrated antagonistic infectivity on planktonic cultures. This was validated in an in vitro static biofilm assay (in microtiter-plates), followed by the visualization of the biofilm architecture in situ via confocal laser scanning microscopy before and after phage infection, and further supported by phages genome analysis. The UPMK_1 genome comprised 152,788 bp coding for 155 putative open reading frames (ORFs), and its genome characteristics were between the Myoviridae and Siphoviridae family, though the morphological features confined it more to the Siphoviridae family. The UPMK_2 has 40,955 bp with 62 putative ORFs; morphologically, it presented the features of the Podoviridae though its genome did not show similarity with any of the S. aureus in the Podoviridae family. Both phages possess lytic enzymes that were associated with a high ability to degrade biofilms as shown in the microtiter plate and CLSM analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The present work addressed the possibility of using phages as potential biocontrol agents for biofilm-producing MRSA.

Leptospira dzianensis and Leptospira putramalaysiae are later heterotypic synonyms of Leptospira yasudae and Leptospira stimsonii.

Leptospira dzianensis and Leptospira putramalaysiae were recently described as novel species and published almost concurrently with Leptospira yasudae and Leptospira stimsonii. Genome comparisons based on average nucleotide identity of the type strain genomes indicate that L. dzianensis and L. putramalaysiae are conspecific with L. yasudae and L. stimsonii, respectively. Based on the rules of priority, L. dzianensis should be reclassified as a later heterotypic synonym of L. yasudae, and L. putramalaysiae should be reclassified as a later heterotypic synonym of L. stimsonii.

An outbreak of leptospirosis among reserve military recruits, Hulu Perdik, Malaysia.

Here, we investigated an outbreak of leptospirosis among reserve military recruits that occurred following a survival exercise in the Hulu Perdik forest within the Hulu Langat district, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Blood samples from the 12 patients that presented symptoms for febrile illness on clinical examination were subjected to laboratory investigation, comprising Lepto IgM rapid test, IgM ELISA, and microscopic agglutination test (MAT). All these patients were interviewed for possible risk factors for leptospirosis. Rodent trapping and environmental sampling for possible isolation of leptospires in the outbreak site was performed. The isolated leptospires were genetically characterized and investigated for the potential epidemiological link with human leptospirosis. Among the 12 patients, two (2/12; 16.6%) were confirmed positive for leptospirosis by microscopic agglutination test (MAT with titers 400-800; serovar autumnalis and hardjobovis). Two Leptospira species from rodents (L. interrogans and L. borgpetersenii) and two from the environment (L. kmetyi and L. wolffii) were identified. The possible epidemiological link between human serovars and animal Leptospira species indicates rodents as the potential reservoir while the environment (soil and water) serves as a transmission route. This investigation highlights the robust presence of pathogenic leptospires on Malaysian environment and rodents which may present the risk of infection, especially among high-risk individuals. Hence, occupational risk individuals are cautioned to observe appropriate preventive measures including prophylaxis and seek immediate medical attention for any illness following similar activities.

Long-term preservation of Leptospira spp.: challenges and prospects.

Preservation of leptospiral cultures is tantamount to success in leptospiral diagnostics, research, and development of preventive strategies. Each Leptospira isolate has imperative value not only in disease diagnosis but also in epidemiology, virulence, pathogenesis, and drug development studies. As the number of circulating leptospires is continuously increasing and congruent with the importance to retain their original characteristics and properties, an efficient long-term preservation is critically needed to be well-established. However, the preservation of Leptospira is currently characterized by difficulties and conflicting results mainly due to the biological nature of this organism. Hence, this review seeks to describe the efforts in developing efficient preservation methods, to discover the challenges in preserving this organism and to identify the factors that can contribute to an effective long-term preservation of Leptospira. Through the enlightenment of the previous studies, a potentially effective method has been suggested. The article also attempts to evaluate novel strategies used in other industrial and biotechnological preservation efforts and consider their potential application to the conservation of Leptospira spp.

Putative Iron Acquisition Systems in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

Iron has been shown to regulate biofilm formation, oxidative stress response and several pathogenic mechanisms in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Thus, the present study is aimed at identifying various iron acquisition systems and iron sources utilized during iron starvation in S. maltophilia. The annotations of the complete genome of strains K279a, R551-3, D457 and JV3 through Rapid Annotations using Subsystems Technology (RAST) revealed two putative subsystems to be involved in iron acquisition: the iron siderophore sensor and receptor system and the heme, hemin uptake and utilization systems/hemin transport system. Screening for these acquisition systems in S. maltophilia showed the presence of all tested functional genes in clinical isolates, but only a few in environmental isolates. NanoString nCounter Elements technology, applied to determine the expression pattern of the genes under iron-depleted condition, showed significant expression for FeSR (6.15-fold), HmuT (12.21-fold), Hup (5.46-fold), ETFb (2.28-fold), TonB (2.03-fold) and Fur (3.30-fold). The isolates, when further screened for the production and chemical nature of siderophores using CAS agar diffusion (CASAD) and Arnows's colorimetric assay, revealed S. maltophilia to produce catechol-type siderophore. Siderophore production was also tested through liquid CAS assay and was found to be greater in the clinical isolate (30.8%) compared to environmental isolates (4%). Both clinical and environmental isolates utilized hemoglobin, hemin, transferrin and lactoferrin as iron sources. All data put together indicates that S. maltophilia utilizes siderophore-mediated and heme-mediated systems for iron acquisition during iron starvation. These data need to be further confirmed through several knockout studies.

The 'Checkmate' for Iron Between Human Host and Invading Bacteria: Chess Game Analogy.

Iron is an essential nutrient for all living organisms with critical roles in many biological processes. The mammalian host maintains the iron requirements by dietary intake, while the invading pathogenic bacteria compete with the host to obtain those absorbed irons. In order to limit the iron uptake by the bacteria, the human host employs numerous iron binding proteins and withholding defense mechanisms that capture iron from the microbial invaders. To counteract, the bacteria cope with the iron limitation imposed by the host by expressing various iron acquisition systems, allowing them to achieve effective iron homeostasis. The armamentarium used by the human host and invading bacteria, leads to the dilemma of who wins the ultimate war for iron.

Genomics data of L. borgpetersenii strain HP364 and L. weilii strain SC295 isolated from rodents captured from human leptospirosis outbreak areas in Selangor, Malaysia.

We report complete genome sequences of two Leptospira isolates, Leptospira borgpetersenii strain HP364 and Leptospira weilii strain SC295. The genome sizes of L. borgpetersenii strain HP364 and L. weilii strain SC295 were 3,874,738 bp and 4,063,712 bp, respectively. Both genomes have been deposited in NCBI GenBank.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri 29A Cell-Free Supernatant Antibiofilm and Antagonistic Effects in Murine Model of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.

Vaginal dysbiosis advocates burgeoning of devious human vaginal pathobionts like Candida species that possess multiple virulence properties and metabolic flexibility to cause infections. Inevitably, antifungal resistance may emerge due to their innate nature (e.g., biofilm formation), which assists in their virulence as well as the formation of persister cells after dispersal. In consequence, the phenomenon of biofilm involvement in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and its recurrence is becoming paramount. Lactic acid bacteria and their derivatives have proven to be hostile to Candida species. Here, we throw more light on the potency of the derivatives, i.e., cell-free supernatant (CFS) produced by an indigenously isolated vaginal Lactobacillus strain, Limosilactobacillus reuteri 29A. In the present study, we investigated the antibiofilm and antagonistic effects of L. reuteri 29A CFS, against biofilms of Candida species and in murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis. In our in vitro biofilm study, the CFS disrupted and inhibited preformed biofilms of C. albicans and C. glabrata. Scanning electron microscopy displayed the destruction of preformed biofilms and impediment of C. albicans morphogenesis by the CFS. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed multiple key compounds that may act singly or synergistically. In vivo, the CFS showed no collateral damage to uninfected mice; the integrity of infected vaginal tissues was restored by the administration of the CFS as seen from the cytological, histopathological, and electron microscopical analyses. The results of this study document the potential use of CFS as an adjuvant or prophylactic option in addressing vaginal fungal infections.

Distribution of Causative Microorganisms in Diabetic Foot Infections: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central Malaysia.

Diabetes mellitus is a global pandemic, especially in Southeast Asia. Diabetic foot infection (DFI) is a common complication of this condition and causes significant morbidity and mortality in those affected. There is a lack of locally published data on the types of microorganisms and empirical antibiotics being prescribed. This paper highlights the importance of local microorganism culture and antibiotic prescription trends among diabetic foot patients in a tertiary care hospital in central Malaysia. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study of data taken from January 2010 to December 2019 among 434 patients admitted with diabetic foot infections (DFIs) using the Wagner classification. Patients between the ages of 58 and 68 years old had the highest rate of infection. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Proteus spp., and Proteus mirabilis appeared to be the most isolated Gram-negative microorganisms, and Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and MRSA appeared to be the most common Gram-positive microorganisms. The most common empirical antibiotics prescribed were ampicillin/sulbactam, followed by ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime, and the most common therapeutic antibiotics prescribed were ampicillin/sulbactam, ciprofloxacin, and cefuroxime. This study could be immensely pertinent in facilitating future empirical therapy guidelines for treating diabetic foot infections.

In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Models for Neuroinfectious Diseases: A Narrative Review.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a complex, dynamic, and adaptable barrier between the peripheral blood system and the central nervous system. While this barrier protects the brain and spinal cord from inflammation and infection, it prevents most drugs from reaching the brain tissue. With the expanding interest in the pathophysiology of BBB, the development of in vitro BBB models has dramatically evolved. However, due to the lack of a standard model, a range of experimental protocols, BBB-phenotype markers, and permeability flux markers was utilized to construct in vitro BBB models. Several neuroinfectious diseases are associated with BBB dysfunction. To conduct neuroinfectious disease research effectively, there stems a need to design representative in vitro human BBB models that mimic the BBB's functional and molecular properties. The highest necessity is for an in vitro standardised BBB model that accurately represents all the complexities of an intact brain barrier. Thus, this in-depth review aims to describe the optimization and validation parameters for building BBB models and to discuss previous research on neuroinfectious diseases that have utilized in vitro BBB models. The findings in this review may serve as a basis for more efficient optimisation, validation, and maintenance of a structurally- and functionally intact BBB model, particularly for future studies on neuroinfectious diseases.

Pulmonary haemorrhage as the earliest sign of severe leptospirosis in hamster model challenged with Leptospira interrogans strain HP358.

BACKGROUND: Severe leptospirosis is challenging as it could evolve rapidly and potentially fatal if appropriate management is not performed. An understanding of the progression and pathophysiology of Leptospira infection is important to determine the early changes that could be potentially used to predict the severe occurrence of leptospirosis. This study aimed to understand the kinetics pathogenesis of Leptospira interrogans strain HP358 in the hamster model and identify the early parameters that could be used as biomarkers to predict severe leptospirosis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Male Syrian hamsters were infected with Leptospira interrogans strain HP358 and euthanized after 24 hours, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days post-infection. Blood, lungs, liver and kidneys were collected for leptospiral detection, haematology, serum biochemistry and differential expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory markers. Macroscopic and microscopic organ damages were investigated. Leptospira interrogans strain HP358 was highly pathogenic and killed hamsters within 6-7 days post-infection. Pulmonary haemorrhage and blood vessel congestion in organs were noticed as the earliest pathological changes. The damages in organs and changes in biochemistry value were preceded by changes in haematology and immune gene expression. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This study deciphered haemorrhage as the earliest manifestation of severe leptospirosis and high levels of IL-1ß, CXCL10/IP-10, CCL3/MIP-α, neutrophils and low levels of lymphocytes and platelets serve as a cumulative panel of biomarkers in severe leptospirosis.

Impact of IsaA Gene Disruption: Decreasing Staphylococcal Biofilm and Alteration of Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiles.

Staphylococcus aureus expresses diverse proteins at different stages of growth. The immunodominant staphylococcal antigen A (IsaA) is one of the proteins that is constitutively produced by S. aureus during colonisation and infection. SACOL2584 (or isaA) is the gene that encodes this protein. It has been suggested that IsaA can hydrolyse cell walls, and there is still need to study isaA gene disruption to analyse its impact on staphylococcal phenotypes and on alteration to its transcription and protein profiles. In the present study, the growth curve in RPMI medium (which mimics human plasma), autolytic activity, cell wall morphology, fibronectin and fibrinogen adhesion and biofilm formation of S. aureus SH1000 (wildtype) was compared to that of S. aureus MS001 (isaA mutant). RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were carried out on samples of both S. aureus strains taken during the exponential growth phase, followed by bioinformatics analysis. Disruption of isaA had no obvious effect on the growth curve and autolysis ability or thickness of cell walls, but this study revealed significant strength of fibronectin adherence in S. aureus MS001. In particular, the isaA mutant formed less biofilm than S. aureus SH1000. In addition, proteomics and transcriptomics showed that the adhesin/biofilm-related genes and hemolysin genes, such as sasF, sarX and hlgC, were consistently downregulated with isaA gene disruption. The majority of the upregulated genes or proteins in S. aureus MS001 were pur genes. Taken together, this study provides insight into how isaA disruption changes the expression of other genes and has implications regarding biofilm formation and biological processes.

A versatile isothermal amplification assay for the detection of leptospires from various sample types.

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira that affects both humans and animals worldwide. Early detection of the pathogen in humans is crucial for early intervention and control of the progression of the disease to a severe state. It is also vitally important to be able to detect the presence of the pathogen in carrier animals to control the spread of the disease from the environment. Here we developed a simple and rapid loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay targeting the leptospiral secY gene. Results: Several reaction conditions of the LAMP reaction were optimized to ensure efficient amplification of the target DNA. The sensitivity of the developed LAMP assay obtained using a pure Leptospira culture was 2 × 104 copies of genomic DNA per reaction (equivalent to 0.1 ng) for a 40-minute reaction time. No cross-reactions were observed in the LAMP reaction against a series of non-leptospiral bacteria, indicating a specific reaction. The applicability of the LAMP assay was demonstrated on human blood and urine specimens collected from suspected leptospirosis patients and rat kidney specimens collected from suspected leptospirosis outbreak areas and high-risk areas. The developed LAMP assay demonstrated a higher detection rate for leptospiral DNA compared with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, possibly due to the presence of inhibitory substances, especially in rat kidney specimens, to which the PCR method is more susceptible. The present findings also highlight the importance of urine sample collection from patients for routine monitoring of the disease. Conclusions: In short, the developed LAMP assay can serve as a feasible alternative tool for the diagnosis of leptospirosis and be used for epidemiological and environmental surveillance of the disease, considering its robustness, rapidity, sensitivity, and specificity, as demonstrated in this study.

Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of loop-mediated isothermal amplification method (LAMP) compared with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Leptospira spp. in clinical samples: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test is widely used in molecular diagnostics as a point-of-care technique alternative to traditional PCR especially in resource-limited countries. LAMP has been recently used to diagnose leptospirosis. Therefore, we undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the accuracy of LAMP with PCR in the diagnosis of leptospirosis. Sixty-one studies were extracted from three international databases and analyzed throughout using the PRISMA guideline. The pooled sensitivity of LAMP and PCR technique was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.58-0.90) and 0.54 (95% CI: 0.35-0.67) respectively indicating that LAMP is more sensitive than PCR. The Q* value of LAMP and PCR-based technique is 274.61 and 397.95, respectively. Among the analyzed studies, significant heterogeneity was observed where I2 is 90.90% for LAMP-based and 86.18% for PCR-based. Our study suggests that LAMP has better diagnostic accuracy than PCR. However, future work should be carried out to reduce heterogeneity as well as to improve and develop effective intervention strategies.

Genomic data of Leptospira interrogans HP358 isolated from rodent captured from the human leptospirosis suspected areas of Selangor state, Malaysia.

The data provided in this article is the genomic sequence of new Leptospira isolate, Leptospira interrogans strain HP358 (L. interrogans HP358) isolated from rodent, Sundamys muelleri (S. muelleri), captured from the human leptospirosis suspected area, in forest environment, Hulu Perdik, Selangor. The kidney of the rodent was cultured, and the genomic DNA of pure Leptospira isolate was extracted and sequenced. The de novo assembly of genome generated 118 contigs with N50 of 133,176bp. The genome size of the L. interrogans HP358 was determined with a length of 4,808,724 and 35.01% G+C content with 229 subsystems, 5236 coding sequences and 39 RNAs. The whole genome shotgun project has been deposited in NCBI GenBank under the accession number JAFCYY000000000.1.