Feasibilty of zein proteins, simple sequence repeats and phenotypic traits for background selection in quality protein maize breeding

Widespread adoption of quality protein maize (QPM), especially among tropical farming systems has been slow mainly due to the slow process of generating varieties with acceptable kernel quality and adaptability to different agroecological contexts. A molecular based foreground selection system for opaque 2 (o2), the cause of enhanced lysine content in maize exists. Background selection systems albeit, are poorly developed in spite of the mapping of putative loci associated with kernel modification and knowledge on causes of modification. The aim of this study was to develop background selection systems for o2 introgression into locally adapted genotypes. Experiments were conducted at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK), in Uganda on backcross progeny (BC1F1) and BC2F2), derived from a locally adapted line 136R and a QPM donor CML176. We tested the use of zein proteins known to influence modification as well as DNA markers and phenotypic descriptors as tools for background selection for recurrent parent genome and modifier loci in locally adapted maize genotypes. Simply inherited traits such as maize streak virus disease resistance were suitable for background selection. Other traits include plant and ear heights. The simple sequence repeats markers mapped to chromosomes 3, 5, 7, respectively and associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) conditioning resistance in maize to grey leaf spot and anthesis to silking interval were suitable for assay of recurrent parent genome. The 27-kDa g zein protein levels was suitable for background selection for kernel modification. It should, however, be used along with other zeins such as the 22 kDa and 19 kDa zein proteins.L'adoption du ma\uefs de prot\ue9ne de qualit\ue9 (QPM), sp\ue9cialement parmi les syst\ue8mes culturaux tropicaux a \ue9t\ue9 lente principalement due au processus lent de g\ue9n\ue9ration de vari\ue9t\ue9s avec de grains acceptables de qualit\ue9 et d'adaptabilit\ue9 \ue0 diff\ue9rents contextes agro\ue9cologiques. Il existe une cause du contenu am\ue9lior\ue9 de la lysine dans le ma\uefs, un syst\ue8me bas\ue9 sur la s\ue9lection mol\ue9culaire opaque 2 (o2). Malgr\ue9 les syst\ue8mes de s\ue9lection de fond, ceux-ci sont pauvrement d\ue9velopp\ue9s en d\ue9pit du "mapping" du loci associ\ue9 avec la modification du grain et la connaissance sur les causes de modification. L'objet de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de d\ue9velopper les syst\ue8mes de s\ue9lection de fond pour l'introgression o2 dans les g\ue9notypes localement adapt\ue9s. Des essais \ue9taient conduits sur la prog\ue9nie de "backcross" (BC1F1) et BC2F2), d\ue9riv\ue9s de lign\ue9es adapt\ue9es 136R et un QPM doneur CML176. Nous avons test\ue9 l'usage des prot\ue9ines z\ue9ines capables d'influencer de modifications des marqueurs d'ADN et descripteurs ph\ue9notypiques comme mat\ue9riel de s\ue9lection de fond pour parent de g\ue9nome recurrent et modifiant de loci dans les g\ue9notypes de ma\ubfs localement adapt\ue9s. Des traits simplement h\ue9rit\ue9s dont la r\ue9sistance \ue0 la maladie de virus de m\ue8che \ue9taient appropri\ue9s pour la s\ue9lection de fond. D'autres traits incluaient la hauteur de plants et la taille de l'\ue9pis. Les marqueurs SSR repr\ue9sent\ue9s sur les chromosomes 3,5,7, respectivement et associ\ue9s aux traits quantitatifs loci (QTL) conditionnant la r\ue9sistance dans le ma\ubfs \ue0 la maladie de t\ue2che grise de feuilles ansi que l'intervalle de l'anthesis jusqu'\ue0 la s\ue9cr\ue9tion du "silk" \ue9taient appropri\ue9s pour \ue9valuation du g\ue9nome parent recurrent. Les niveaux de prot\ue9ines z\ue9ines 27-kDa g \ue9taient appropri\ue9s pour la s\ue9lection de fond pour la modification de grains. Ceci pourra \ueatre utilis\ue9 \ue0 c\uf4t\ue9 d'autres z\ue9ines telles que les prot\ue9ines z\ue9ines 22 kDa et 19 kDa

Context of Violence in Adolescence Cohort (CoVAC) study: protocol for a mixed methods longitudinal study in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Violence exposure in adolescence is associated with a range of poor health and social outcomes, including both the perpetration and experience of violence in later intimate relationships. However, there is little longitudinal evidence on how both individual and contextual characteristics encourage or interrupt these associations. We designed the Contexts of Violence in Adolescence Cohort study (CoVAC) to provide evidence on these pathways for Ugandan adolescents, with the aim of providing information to improve the design of violence prevention interventions for adolescents and young adults. METHODS: CoVAC is a mixed-methods prospective cohort study with three parallel strands. Between 2014 and 2022, the study comprises three waves of quantitative survey data collection; qualitative data from five time points; and a series of workshops to facilitate direct use of emerging findings by intervention developers at Uganda-based NGO Raising Voices in their ongoing work to prevent violence. 3431 adolescents participated in a survey in 2014 when the majority were aged 11-14 years, and agreed to be re-contacted for a Wave 2 survey in 2018 (aged about 15-18 years); and again in 2021 (aged 18-21 years). 36 young people from Wave 1 survey sample will be invited to participate in longitudinal qualitative data collection. Adolescents aged 18 years and over will provide informed consent; for those under age 18 years, adolescents will be invited to assent, except in cases where caregivers, following notification, have opted not to consent to their adolescent's participation. Quantitative and qualitative data will be analysed iteratively, and triangulation will be used to confirm, clarify and deepen our interpretation of findings. We will hold regular structured meetings so that emerging findings can be integrated into intervention development. DISCUSSION: This will be the first longitudinal study on the aetiology of violence over adolescence in sub-Saharan Africa which will enable examination of pathways using mixed methods at multiple time points. Quantitative mediation analysis, and annual qualitative fieldwork will provide detailed insights into how adolescents' violence-related experiences, perspectives and practices relate to their social contexts and how these change over time. Results will feed directly into intervention development to reduce violence and harmful sequelae. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is a long-term follow up of participants in the Good Schools Study (NCT01678846, clinicaltrials.gov). This protocol is for cohort follow-up only; we have a separate protocol paper describing an evaluation of the long-term effects of the Good School Toolkit (In preparation)

'It is like a tomato stall where someone can pick what he likes': structure and practices of female sex work in Kampala, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Effective interventions among female sex workers require a thorough knowledge of the context of local sex industries. We explore the organisation of female sex work in a low socio-economic setting in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study with 101 participants selected from an epidemiological cohort of 1027 women at high risk of HIV in Kampala. Repeat in-depth life history and work practice interviews were conducted from March 2010 to June 2011. Context specific factors of female sex workers' day-to-day lives were captured. Reported themes were identified and categorised inductively. RESULTS: Of the 101 women, 58 were active self-identified sex workers operating in different locations within the area of study and nine had quit sex work. This paper focuses on these 67 women who gave information about their involvement in sex work. The majority had not gone beyond primary level of education and all had at least one child. Thirty one voluntarily disclosed that they were HIV-positive. Common sex work locations were streets/roadsides, bars and night clubs. Typically sex occurred in lodges near bars/night clubs, dark alleyways or car parking lots. Overall, women experienced sex work-related challenges at their work locations but these were more apparent in outdoor settings. These settings exposed women to violence, visibility to police, a stigmatising public as well as competition for clients, while bars provided some protection from these challenges. Older sex workers tended to prefer bars while the younger ones were mostly based on the streets. Alcohol consumption was a feature in all locations and women said it gave them courage and helped them to withstand the night chill. Condom use was determined by clients' willingness, a woman's level of sobriety or price offered. CONCLUSIONS: Sex work operates across a variety of locations in the study area in Kampala, with each presenting different strategies and challenges for those operating there. Risky practices are present in all locations although they are higher on the streets compared to other locations. Location specific interventions are required to address the complex challenges in sex work environments

Feasibilty of zein proteins, simple sequence repeats and phenotypic traits for background selection in quality protein maize breeding

Widespread adoption of quality protein maize (QPM), especially among tropical farming systems has been slow mainly due to the slow process of generating varieties with acceptable kernel quality and adaptability to different agroecological contexts. A molecular based foreground selection system for opaque 2 (o2), the cause of enhanced lysine content in maize exists. Background selection systems albeit, are poorly developed in spite of the mapping of putative loci associated with kernel modification and knowledge on causes of modification. The aim of this study was to develop background selection systems for o2 introgression into locally adapted genotypes. Experiments were conducted at Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK), in Uganda on backcross progeny (BC1F1) and BC2F2), derived from a locally adapted line 136R and a QPM donor CML176. We tested the use of zein proteins known to influence modification as well as DNA markers and phenotypic descriptors as tools for background selection for recurrent parent genome and modifier loci in locally adapted maize genotypes. Simply inherited traits such as maize streak virus disease resistance were suitable for background selection. Other traits include plant and ear heights. The simple sequence repeats markers mapped to chromosomes 3, 5, 7, respectively and associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) conditioning resistance in maize to grey leaf spot and anthesis to silking interval were suitable for assay of recurrent parent genome. The 27-kDa g zein protein levels was suitable for background selection for kernel modification. It should, however, be used along with other zeins such as the 22 kDa and 19 kDa zein proteins.L'adoption du maïs de proténe de qualité (QPM), spécialement parmi les systèmes culturaux tropicaux a été lente principalement due au processus lent de génération de variétés avec de grains acceptables de qualité et d'adaptabilité à différents contextes agroécologiques. Il existe une cause du contenu amélioré de la lysine dans le maïs, un système basé sur la sélection moléculaire opaque 2 (o2). Malgré les systèmes de sélection de fond, ceux-ci sont pauvrement développés en dépit du "mapping" du loci associé avec la modification du grain et la connaissance sur les causes de modification. L'objet de cette étude était de développer les systèmes de sélection de fond pour l'introgression o2 dans les génotypes localement adaptés. Des essais étaient conduits sur la progénie de "backcross" (BC1F1) et BC2F2), dérivés de lignées adaptées 136R et un QPM doneur CML176. Nous avons testé l'usage des protéines zéines capables d'influencer de modifications des marqueurs d'ADN et descripteurs phénotypiques comme matériel de sélection de fond pour parent de génome recurrent et modifiant de loci dans les génotypes de ma¿s localement adaptés. Des traits simplement hérités dont la résistance à la maladie de virus de mèche étaient appropriés pour la sélection de fond. D'autres traits incluaient la hauteur de plants et la taille de l'épis. Les marqueurs SSR représentés sur les chromosomes 3,5,7, respectivement et associés aux traits quantitatifs loci (QTL) conditionnant la résistance dans le ma¿s à la maladie de tâche grise de feuilles ansi que l'intervalle de l'anthesis jusqu'à la sécrétion du "silk" étaient appropriés pour évaluation du génome parent recurrent. Les niveaux de protéines zéines 27-kDa g étaient appropriés pour la sélection de fond pour la modification de grains. Ceci pourra être utilisé à côté d'autres zéines telles que les protéines zéines 22 kDa et 19 kDa

Afri-Can Forum 2

CITATION: Mukudu, H., et al. 2016. Afri-Can Forum 2. BMC Infectious Diseases, 16:315, doi:10.1186/s12879-016-1466-6.The original publication is available at https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.comENGLISH ABSTRACT: We are pleased to present peer reviewed forum proceedings of the 2nd synchronicity forum of GHRI/CHVIfunded Canadian and African HIV prevention and vaccine teams Forum objectives ∙GHRI-funded capacity building and HIV prevention research teams presented highlights of achievements ∙Teams discussed how to jointly build on achievements for sustainability ∙Provided an opportunity for inter-team collaboration, synchronize best approach to capacity building, mentoring of new researchers and building leadership ∙Provided opportunities for informal discussions and networking among the teams. ∙Teams learnt about recent advances in the area of African regulatory and ethics review process ∙The forum proceedings was a special supplement in an openaccess journal was producedhttps://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/supplements/volume-16-supplement-2Publisher's versio