Ethical issues in human genomics research in developing countries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide a powerful means of identifying genetic variants that play a role in common diseases. Such studies present important ethical challenges. An increasing number of GWAS is taking place in lower income countries and there is a pressing need to identify the particular ethical challenges arising in such contexts. In this paper, we draw upon the experiences of the MalariaGEN Consortium to identify specific ethical issues raised by such research in Africa, Asia and Oceania.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>We explore ethical issues in three key areas: protecting the interests of research participants, regulation of international collaborative genomics research and protecting the interests of scientists in low income countries. With regard to participants, important challenges are raised about community consultation and consent. Genomics research raises ethical and governance issues about sample export and ownership, about the use of archived samples and about the complexity of reviewing such large international projects. In the context of protecting the interests of researchers in low income countries, we discuss aspects of data sharing and capacity building that need to be considered for sustainable and mutually beneficial collaborations.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>Many ethical issues are raised when genomics research is conducted on populations that are characterised by lower average income and literacy levels, such as the populations included in MalariaGEN. It is important that such issues are appropriately addressed in such research. Our experience suggests that the ethical issues in genomics research can best be identified, analysed and addressed where ethics is embedded in the design and implementation of such research projects.</p

Prevlaence of Helicobacter pylori in children less than three years of age in health facilities in Nairobi Province

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Larvicidal Activity of Mellein from Cultures of an Ascomycete Pezicula Livida against Aedes Aegypti

Mosquito-borne diseases remain one of the major health problems in many developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as other tropical and sub-tropical countries. The resistance of mosquitoes to synthetic chemicals and environmental toxicity created by the chemicals raised the demand for finding of alternate natural molecules that control mosquito. In the present study, a crystalline compound mullein was isolated from the crude extracts prepared from cultures of an ascomyete Pezicula livida. The crude extracts showed larvicidal activity which was tracked by bio-activity guided chromatographic purification to obtain mellein. The larvicidal activity of mellein was evaluated against late 3rd and early 4th instars larvae of Aedes aegypti. The crude extract exhibited 100% larval mortality of Ae. aegypti at 20 ppm. Mellein had LC50 and LC50 values of 1.4 and 4.3 ppm against Ae. aegypti, respectively at 24 h. Mellein is reported here as larvicidal compound for the first time to our best of knowledge

Larvicidal Activity of Mellein from Cultures of an Ascomycete Pezicula Livida against Aedes Aegypti

Mosquito-borne diseases remain one of the major health problems in many developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as other tropical and sub-tropical countries. The resistance of mosquitoes to synthetic chemicals and environmental toxicity created by the chemicals raised the demand for finding of alternate natural molecules that control mosquito. In the present study, a crystalline compound mullein was isolated from the crude extracts prepared from cultures of an ascomyete Pezicula livida. The crude extracts showed larvicidal activity which was tracked by bio-activity guided chromatographic purification to obtain mellein. The larvicidal activity of mellein was evaluated against late 3rd and early 4th instars larvae of Aedes aegypti. The crude extract exhibited 100% larval mortality of Ae. aegypti at 20 ppm. Mellein had LC50 and LC50 values of 1.4 and 4.3 ppm against Ae. aegypti, respectively at 24 h. Mellein is reported here as larvicidal compound for the first time to our best of knowledge

Maternal colonization with Streptococcus agalactiae and associated stillbirth and neonatal disease in coastal Kenya.

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS) causes neonatal disease and stillbirth, but its burden in sub-Saharan Africa is uncertain. We assessed maternal recto-vaginal GBS colonization (7,967 women), stillbirth and neonatal disease. Whole-genome sequencing was used to determine serotypes, sequence types and phylogeny. We found low maternal GBS colonization prevalence (934/7,967, 12%), but comparatively high incidence of GBS-associated stillbirth and early onset neonatal disease (EOD) in hospital (0.91 (0.25-2.3)/1,000 births and 0.76 (0.25-1.77)/1,000 live births, respectively). However, using a population denominator, EOD incidence was considerably reduced (0.13 (0.07-0.21)/1,000 live births). Treated cases of EOD had very high case fatality (17/36, 47%), especially within 24 h of birth, making under-ascertainment of community-born cases highly likely, both here and in similar facility-based studies. Maternal GBS colonization was less common in women with low socio-economic status, HIV infection and undernutrition, but when GBS-colonized, they were more probably colonized by the most virulent clone, CC17. CC17 accounted for 267/915 (29%) of maternal colonizing (265/267 (99%) serotype III; 2/267 (0.7%) serotype IV) and 51/73 (70%) of neonatal disease cases (all serotype III). Trivalent (Ia/II/III) and pentavalent (Ia/Ib/II/III/V) vaccines would cover 71/73 (97%) and 72/73 (99%) of disease-causing serotypes, respectively. Serotype IV should be considered for inclusion, with evidence of capsular switching in CC17 strains