Category: Research Highlights

A study by Dr. Jaikrishna Balakittnen and colleagues from Griffith University, published in The Journal of the American Dental Association, has been selected as the Cover Story of the journal issue, highlighting an innovative approach for the early detection of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Conducted at Griffith University, Australia, the study evaluated the use of salivary oral rinse samples with the GeneXpert platform, a fully automated real-time PCR system developed by Cepheid, which is widely used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, HIV, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. The researchers demonstrated that the GeneXpert platform can effectively detect oral HPV using non-invasive salivary oral rinse specimens, supporting its potential as a scalable screening tool for identifying individuals at increased risk of developing HPV-associated OPSCC. The findings highlight the promise of..

A study by Mrs. Fathima Siromiya Shamil Mafras and colleagues, published in BMC Microbiology, reports important findings on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among pregnant women in Sri Lanka. Conducted at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa, the study investigated antibiotic-resistant bacterial colonization in 235 mothers admitted for delivery between May and August 2023. The researchers focused on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms, including Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species. The study found that 14% of participants were colonized with MRSA, while 4.3% carried ESBL-producing bacteria. Although all MRSA isolates remained sensitive to vancomycin, a high level of resistance to erythromycin was observed. Molecular testing identified the mecA gene as the main determinant of MRSA resistance and blaCTX-M as the most common ESBL resistance gene. Maternal..

A recent study co-first-authored by Dr P. Maheswaran of the Department of Pharmacy has been published in the prestigious journal Nucleic Acids Research, offering significant new mechanistic insights into the function of the human fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) enzyme, a key regulator of RNA modification. The research examines how FTO acts on N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), one of the most abundant and biologically significant RNA modifications. While FTO has long been described as an RNA demethylase, the study demonstrates that its catalytic activity fundamentally differs from the prevailing view. Through the combined use of mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the authors show that FTO primarily catalyses the hydroxylation of m⁶A to form an N⁶-hydroxymethyladenosine (hm⁶A) intermediate, rather than directly generating demethylated adenosine. This mechanism contrasts sharply with that..

Dr. Rasaratnam Karunaithas, Lecturer in Medical Laboratory Sciences, recently co-authored a research article titled "Association Between ABO or Rh Blood Groups and Chikungunya Virus Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis", published in the journal Medicina (https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/8/1316). The study explores the potential relationship between blood group types and susceptibility to Chikungunya virus infection. The findings suggest that blood group O is significantly associated with an increased susceptibility to Chikungunya viral infection. However, no consistent associations were identified with other ABO or Rh blood groups. Given the considerable variability among studies and certain limitations, the authors emphasise the need for more rigorous and large-scale investigations to validate these..

Dr. Rasaratnam Karunaithas, Lecturer in Medical Laboratory Sciences, received the prestigious 'Award for Patented Innovation' from Mahidol University, Thailand, in recognition of his outstanding research conducted at the university during his PhD studies. He is one of the inventors of the patented work titled 'Method for preparing peptide from Garlic that has the ability to inhibit leukemic cells', which was granted Thailand Patent No. 22609. The award was announced on March 2, 2025, during the celebration of the 56th Anniversary of the Royal Naming Day and the 137th Anniversary of Mahidol..

Ms. Ysotha G, a student from the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Jaffna, presented her research at the  International Research Conference in Health Sciences, 2025, SJP, where she was awarded Best Abstract for her study titled “Adherence to Tacrolimus and Its Influencing Factors in Renal Disease Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.” Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive medication with a narrow therapeutic window, commonly prescribed for kidney transplant recipients and patients with glomerulonephritis. The study aimed to study the adherence to tacrolimus and investigate factors influencing adherence among renal disease patients. The research was conducted as a single-centered, cross-sectional study at the Nephrology and Transplant Unit of the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Among the 180 participants, 51.1% had glomerulonephritis, and..