Norsyahida Arifin
Name
Norsyahida Binti Arifin
Current Position
Lecturer
syahida_arifin@usm.my
Office Telephone
+604-6534818
Qualifications
BSc (Hons), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2005
MSc, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2010
PhD, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2016
Research Interests
Molecular parasitology, rapid diagnostics, recombinant protein technology
Research Overview 1
Disease biomarker discovery for the development of rapid diagnostic test.
Lateral flow test is an assay specifically designed for use at the site of care with point-of-care testing (POCT), which requires no sophisticated equipment or skilled personnel to perform the test, providing a significant advantage for use in developing countries. Importantly, this test provides an instantaneous diagnosis direct to the patient, with the results displayed between 5-30 minutes after the test, offering new solutions for improved disease detection. My research work focuses on identifying disease biomarkers, particularly parasitic diseases, as the aim is to develop new and rapid lateral flow dipstick test specifically for front-line use in developing countries where the capacity for disease detection is still a challenge.
In identifying specific disease biomarkers, the cDNA library was immunoscreened with specific human antibodies, resulting in the selection of reactive cDNA clones with a potential diagnostic value. Recombinant proteins were then produced from the selected genes for use in the development of the rapid dipstick test.
Research Overview 2
Development of prototype of rapid dipstick test for strongyloidiasis
The end goal of a discovery study is to be able to translate the finding into a diagnostic platform with the potential for commercialization. I work closely with the group led by Prof Rahmah Noordin; we are working on developing a lateral flow for point-of care (POC) test with special consideration of the major neglected tropical diseases, i.e., strongyloidiasis. Strongyloidiasis is a human parasitic disease capable of causing long-term infection in immunocompetent individuals, as well as contributing to a high risk of mortality in immunosuppressed patients. The increased number of immunosuppressed patients due to cancer and organ transplantation proportionally increases the risk of these groups of patients contracting strongyloidiasis. Research is on-going to refine the prototype test (Strongi Rapid) developed using two patented recombinant proteins specific for the detection of strongyloidiasis.
Selected Publications
1. Norsyahida A, Riazi M, Sadjjadi SM, Muhammad Hafiznur Y, Low HC, Zeehaida M, Noordin R. Laboratory detection of strongyloidiasis: IgG-, IgG4 - and IgE-ELISAs and cross-reactivity with lymphatic filariasis. Parasite Immunol. 2013 May-Jun;35(5-6):174-9. doi: 10.1111/pim.12029. PMID: 23448095
2. Zueter AM, Mohamed Z, Abdullah AD, Mohamad N, Arifin N, Othman N, Noordin R. Detection of Strongyloides stercoralis infection among cancer patients in a major hospital in Kelantan, Malaysia. Singapore Med J. 2014 Jul;55(7):367-71. PMID: 25091885 PMCID: PMC4291962
3. Abdelrahman MZ1, Zeehaida M, Rahmah N, Norsyahida A, Madihah B, Azlan H, Nazlee WZ. Fatal septicemic shock associated with Strongyloides stercoralis infection in a patient with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma: a case report and literature review. Parasitol Int. 2012 Sep;61(3):508-11. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2012.04.005. Epub 2012 May 3. PMID: 22575692
4. Norsarwany M, Abdelrahman Z, Rahmah N, Ariffin N, Norsyahida A, Madihah B, Zeehaida M. Symptomatic chronic strongyloidiasis in children following treatment for solid organ malignancies: case reports and literature review. Trop Biomed. 2012 Sep;29(3):479-88. PMID: 23018511
5. Noordin R, Muhi J, Md Idris Z, Arifin N, Kiyu A. Duration of detection of anti-BmR1 IgG4 antibodies after mass-drug administration (MDA) in Sarawak, Malaysia. Trop Biomed. 2012 Mar;29(1):191-6. PMID: 22543621
6. Arifin N, Basuni M, Lan CA, Yahya AR, Noordin R. Purification of BmR1 recombinant protein. Protein J. 2010 Oct;29(7):509-15. doi: 10.1007/s10930-010-9281-1. PMID: 20845068
7. Norsyahida A, Rahmah N, Ahmad RM. Effects of feeding and induction strategy on the production of BmR1 antigen in recombinant E. coli. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2009 Nov;49(5):544-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2009.02694.x. PMID: 19832937
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