This study explores the production of prebiotic xylooligosaccharide (XOS) from cassava pulp waste and its effectiveness for the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus). We successfully produced and characterized XOS from cassava pulp xylan using a Bacillus sp. endo-β-1,4-D-xylanase. The XOS was added to modify the MRS medium (MRSm) in various concentrations (0, 1, 3 and 5%) in which the L. acidophilus was inoculated. The growth of L. acidophilus was observed every 12 h for 2 days, and the fermentation products were analyzed for pH, sugar content, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in terms of types and amount. The study showed that L. acidophilus grew well in MRSm. The optimum XOS concentration in MRSm was 5%, indicated by the highest growth of L. acidophilus (8.61 log CFU mL⁻¹). The profile of SCFA products is 14.42 mM acetic acid, 0.25 mM propionic acid, 0.13 mM isobutyric acid, 0.41 mM n-butyric acid, 0.02 mM n-valeric acid, 0.25 mM isovaleric acid, and 25.08 mM lactic acid.

A blood clot (thrombus) in a blood stream is formed due to a circulatory system imbalance in the hemostasis which results in plug of blood vessels. The suppliy of nutrients and oxygen to the tissues is inhibited (ischemia) by the accumulation of thrombus and embolus in the blood vessel. This prosses is the main cause for further atherotrombotic diseases such as myocardial infraction and cerebral infraction. This disease could be overcome by thrombolytic therapy by using fibrinolytic protease enzyme. Fibrinolytic activity of protease enzymes have been studied from various species of bacteria. Bacterial isolate of WU 021055* obtained from Papuma coastal waters has demonstrated fibrinolytic activity. This research was aimed to identify the bacterial isolate through morphological characterization (colony and cell morphology), physiological characterization (indole test, carbohydrates fermentation test (glucose, lactose, sucrose and fructose), catalase test, starch hydrolysis test, and the pH effect test), and molecular identification using 16S rRNA. Based on those characterizations, the bacterial isolate of WU 021055* shows a high similarity to Bacillus aerius. Keywords: Atherotrombosis, fibrinolytic, identification, characterization, bacteria ABSTRAK Bekuan darah (trombus) dalam peredaran darah terbentuk akibat ketidakseimbangan sistem sirkulasi dalam hemostasis yang menyebabkan penyumbatan pembuluh darah. Akumulasi trombus dan embolus pada pembuluh darah mengakibatkan suplai nutrisi dan oksigen ke jaringan terhambat (iskemia) dan bahkan kematian jaringan (infark). Pembentukan ini merupakan etiologi dari penyakit aterotrombosis seperti infark miokard dan infark serebral. Penyakit akibat trombosis ini dapat diatasi dengan terapi trombolitik dengan enzim protease fibrinolitik. Aktivitas enzim protease fibrinolitik telah diteliti dari berbagai spesies bakteri. Isolat bakteri WU 021055* asal perairan pantai papuma tampak memiliki aktivitas fibrinolitik. Pada penelitian ini dilakukan identifikasi isolat bakteri melalui karakterisasi morfologi (morfologi koloni dan sel), karakterisasi fisiologis (uji indol, uji fermentasi karbohidrat (glukosa, laktosa, sukrosa dan fruktosa), uji katalase, uji hidrolisis pati, dan uji pengaruh pH), dan identifikasi secara molekuler menggunakan 16S rRNA. Berdasarkan karakterisasi morfologi, fisiologi, dan marker 16S rRNA, isolat bakteri WU 021055* menunjukkan kemiripan yang tinggi dengan Bacillus aerius. Kata kunci: Aterotrombosis, fibrinolitik, identifikasi, karakterisasi, bakteri

Anopheles mosquitoes are vectors of malaria, which is a serious health issue in Indonesia. Thus, vector control is an important approach taken to overcome this disease. The first and most important step in vector control is vector identification. As some Anopheles species share similar morphological features, molecular identification helps make the process more accurate by using specific DNA sequences as molecular markers such as Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2). Many of the available ITS2 primers are universally designed for insects and, as such, are typically less specific for identifying certain genera, such as Anopheles sp. Therefore, redesigning a specific ITS2 primer is needed for specific Anopheles identification. Our objective was to redesign a specific PCR primer for Anopheles species. The redesigned primer, named sma-ITS2, was then tested using mosquito samples from the Anopheles genus and other genera. Each mosquito was identified morphologically and their genomes were extracted. DNA samples were then amplified using the redesigned primer. The sma-ITS2 primer pair was capable of amplifying ITS2 sequences from all of the Anopheles samples and unable to amplify any of the non-Anopheles samples, suggesting that it is specific to Anopheles only. ll Anopheles samples were also able to be identified, only An. indefinitus were not able to be separated from its complex species, An. vagus. The sma-ITS2 primer pair was able to identify intra-species of Anopheles, but its efficiency in making differentiations within a species complex should be evaluated further.

Sibling species is two or more related species that are morphologically similiar but they are reproductively isolated in a population. Identification of sibling species is important because each species has a different vectorial capacity. Comprehensive understanding of Anopheles identity is important to vector-based malaria control. The purpose of this study is to identify morphological caracters of sibling spesies An. vagus vagus and An. vagus limosus from Bangsring, Banyuwangi. Morphological identification is carried out by observing the legs, palpus, proboscis and wings using a stereo microscope based on several morphological keys of Anopheles. Identification results indicate that An. vagus vagus has non-speckled legs, proboscis with pale mark toward te tip and prehumeral area of the costa has pale mark between two dark mark. While An. vagus limosus has non-speckled legs, proboscis and prehumeral area of the costa all dark. Keywords: Anopheles vagus limosus, Anopheles vagus vagus, Morphological identification, Sibling species

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium, which is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes as vectors. Malaria transmission begins when an infected mosquito takes blood meal from healthy human. Mosquitoes will release parasite and components of saliva into the host's body. Saliva contains components (proteins) that affect the host's hemostasis and immune respose, such as vasomodulator and immunomodulators. Imunomudulator could act as immunosuppressive factors that can suppress nonspecific immune system of the host and modulate the change of T helper 1 (Th1) toward T helper 2 (Th2) response, which is advantageous for malaria parasite to infect human host. This research wanted to evaluate human immune respons in endemic area against salivary gland protein extract (SGPE) from its major malaria vector i.e. Anopheles sundaicus (An. sundaicus). Analysis of human immune response was conducted quantitatively by ELISA (Enzyme Link Immunosorbend Assay) towards IgG from human sera samples after cross reacted with SGPE. The results showed that exposures to An. sundaicus were able to induce high levels of IgG. IgG anti salivary proteins of An. sundaicus is higher than the levels of IgG anti salivary proteins of Ae. aegypti. Furthermore, the age group 11-40 years with the highest bites probability, had the highest IgG levels compared to other age groups.