Cancer-Inducing Mechanisms of Representative Sexually- Transmitted Infection Pathogens

The causal organisms of the numerous sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may be bacteria, viruses, fungi or protozoa. Apart from the known STIs these organisms cause, along with their accompanying physical, psychological and social effects, these organisms have also been implicated in oncogenesis. Each pathogen has its unique mechanisms of action, however, one representative organism was examined for each of the groups of microbes that cause STIs, namely: viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa, to show their oncogenic association. The human papillomavirus, which causes genital warts, is associated with oropharyngeal, cervical, anogenital, testicular and prostate cancer by the actions of the E5, E6 and E7 oncogenes, which have different functions. Chlamydia trachomatis, the etiological agent of Chlamydia infection, is linked to lymphogranuloma venereum, trachoma, cervical, and ovarian cancers by squamous cell metaplasia, and by the inhibition of apoptosis factors: caspase 3 and mitcochondrial cytochrome c; which consequently inhibits apoptosis. Candida albicans, the causal organism of thrush in the mouth and the vagina, could cause cancer by producing carcinogenic by-products, triggering inflammation, molecular mimicry, and induction of the TH17 response. Trichomonas vaginalis, the protozoon which causes trichomoniasis, is known to cause the influx of pro-inflammatory molecules: chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-8, and leukotriene B4, d neutrophils, and IL-6, and this may play a role in carcinogenesis. Expression of the oncogenes PIM1, HMGA1, and COX-2 by T. vaginalis has also been associated with the onset of cancer. Vaccination, healthy lifestyles, a mutually-monogamous sexual relationship, completing treatment regimen, use of sterile medical equipment, and not sharing sharp or invasive materials, are recommended in prevention and control of the STI pathogens and consequently, the cancers they cause

Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus on the Hands of Health-Care Workers and the Environment of a Nigerian University Health Centre

Hospital-acquired infections continue to be an important public health issue with unacceptable levels of morbidity and mortality. Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of infections in the hospital. This research aimed at giving a better understanding of the prevalence of S. aureus in a hospital setting in order to adequately account for its potential threat. A total of 115 samples comprising 65 environmental samples obtained from trays, bed railings, doorknobs, and other surfaces of patient wards and 50 hand swabs of health-care workers were screened for S. aureus using established microbiological techniques. Twenty-eight isolates each represented positive cultures from environmental and hand samples, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was determined for the S. aureus isolates using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. The anti-biotic resistance pattern for the hand and environmental isolates respectively gave the following results: Ciprofloxacin (32.14%, 21.43%), Trimethoprim/ Sulphamethoxazole (60.71%, 67.86%), Oxacillin (28.57%, 35.71%), Erythromycin (21.42%, 17.86%), Gentamicin (42.86%, 28.57%), Tetracycline (17.86%, 21.42%), Penicillin (42.86%, 42.85%). Twelve resistant phenotypes were identified, of which Ciprofloxacin-Gentamicin- Trimethoprim/ Sulphamethoxazole (CIP-CN-SXT) was predominant. This study shows that the hands of health-care workers and the hospital environment could serve as potential vehicles of transmission of S. aureus infections, thus high-lighting the need for effective infection control measures

COVID-19 Pandemic: Perception, Practices and Preparedness in Nigeria

Since Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 30th of January, 2020. Nigeria, with 343 cases and 10 deaths as at April 14, 2020 is classified as one of the countries at high risk of importation of the disease from China. The ability to limit and control local transmission after importation depends on the application and execution of strict measures of detection, prevention and control. The initial response of some percentage of the population was of doubt due to the ignorance of the far-reaching effect of the virus. More than 1,700 leaders of religious groups and communities in all 36 States and FCT were therefore sensitized to increase awareness level and consequences of COVID-19 among the populace. Major response activities were initiated before the first case was reported and were upgraded within weeks after the number of cases began to rise. Based on previous experience of perception, and awareness of other viral disease outbreaks, COVID-19 infection prevention and control interventions recommended by WHO are yet to be fully entrenched in the Nigerian public health system in order to reduce the general risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 from infected individuals. There is therefore the need to execute strict measures of detection, prevention and control and drive compliance with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and WHO guidelines in Nigeria

A systematic review of pharmacological activities and safety of Moringa oleifera

In the last few decades, Moringa oleifera, a multipurpose medicinal plant (MMP) has received increased research attention and commercial interest for its nutritional, therapeutic and pharmacological properties. Rigorous approaches including biological assays, animal and clinical trials are required towards safe usage as herbal therapy. We conducted a systematic review of the known pharmacological activities, toxicity, and safety of M. oleifera, usually used locally in the treatment and prevention of myriads of illnesses. Five major bibliographic databases (SCOPUS, Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and Mendeley) were searched for studies reported on pharmacological activities, toxicity, and safety assessment of M. oleifera in the last 29 years (1990 – 2019). Studies on animals and humans involving aqueous leaf extracts and different preparations from M. oleifera seed and bark were also considered. All articles retained, and data collected were evaluated based on the period of the article, country where such studies were conducted and the document type. Our search results identified and analyzed 165 articles while 63 studies were eventually retained. Diverse pharmacological activities including neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antiasthmatic, anti-malaria, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, antiobesity, hepatoprotective and cytotoxic effects, amongst others, were recorded. Toxicity studies in animal models and few human studies showed that M. oleifera is safe with no adverse effect reported. The importance of the plant is highlighted in the search for new bioactive compounds to explore its therapeutic potentials towards drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical and allied industries

Functional Foods and the Gut Microbiome

The diversity of microorganisms that inhabits the gut play vital roles as determinants of human health. Among other factors, diet has a significant impact on gut microbial composition and function. This is as a result of the biotransformation of food components and the production of metabolites by the microorganisms. Examples of gut microbiota include Bifidobacterium, Lac-tobacillus, Streptococcus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The interplay between the diet, gut micro-biota, and the host occurs as the diet changes the gut microbiota composition and function, which in turn affects the host biochemical processes. Thus, diet is currently considered one of the most critical factors that control microbiota structure and metabolism. Functional foods such as probiotic products, prebiotics, symbiotic and dietary polyphenols can modulate the microbio-ta. This is a result of the health benefits associated with these foods. More knowledge of the interactions between functional foods and specific intestinal bacteria could contribute to a better understanding of both positive and negative interactions in vivo and the identification of new microorganisms inhabiting the gut

Factors Associated with Biofilm Persistence on Different Surfaces, Spread and Pathogenicity

The conglomeration of microbial life on a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) matrix for mutual co-existence and protection against external aggression and adverse environmental conditions best describe biofilms. This community of microorganisms confers a number of survival and nutritional benefits to members while at the same time portend great ecological and health concern. Biofilms can form on virtually any surface; terrestrial, aquatic, plants, animals and on medical devices and implants. The ability of biofilms to disperse from the parental stalk ensures continuous survival and spread within their ecological niche. Biofilm organisms therefore possess unique survival mechanisms over their plancktonic form and have contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms of pathogenicity of infectious microorganisms. This review highlights trends in the understanding of biofilms and emphasized their health significanc

Antifungal Activity of Telfaira occidentalis Extracts on some Phytopathogenic Fungi Isolated from Carica papaya

Infused within plants are potent phytochemicals with beneficial activities to mankind which includes the management and treatment of microbial infections. Fungal diseases result in significant economic losses and hindrance of global papaya production. Phytochemicals have made medicinal plants become sources of environmentally friendly alternative antimicrobials. This study aimed at evaluating the antifungal activity of leaf extracts of Telfeira occidentalis against phytopathogenic fungi isolated from Carica papaya. Ethyl acetate, n-Hexane, ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts of Telfeira occidentalis leaves were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties. Agar-well diffusion method was employed for in vitro screening, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the extract types against test fungal species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Trichoderma. All the extracts evaluated inhibited fungal growth to some degree, with the aqueous extract exhibiting more inhibitory activities than the organic extracts. MIC and MFC values of the extracts ranged between 15.625 to 31.25 and 62.5 to 125 mg/mL, respectively. The antifungal activity of T. occidentalis was found to be equal or higher than commercially available fungicide, ketoconazole. The results of this study indicate that leaf extracts of T. occidentalis has potential for use as bio-fungicides for plant protection against fungal diseases

In vitro Antifungal Activity of Extracts of Moringa oleifera on Phytopathogenic Fungi Affecting Carica papaya

BACKGROUND: Plants remain the natural sources of efficacious phytonutrients with beneficial assets to mankind against microbial disorders. Diverse folklores have reported the roles of medicinal plants in the remedies of various disorders in man and animals. Metabolites and pesticides from the plant origin are considered better alternatives due to favorable environmental impact as compared to the synthetic counterparts. Significant economic losses and hindrance of global papaya production are due to fungal diseases. Phytochemicals have made medicinal plants become sources of environmentally friendly alternative antimicrobials. AIM: This study aimed at assessing the antifungal activity of leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera against phytopathogenic fungi isolated from Carica papaya. METHODS: n-Hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, and aqueous extracts of M. oleifera leaves were evaluated for their antifungal properties. Agar well-diffusion method was implemented for in vitro screening, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the extract types against fungal species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Trichoderma. RESULTS: All the extracts evaluated inhibited fungal growth to some degree, with the aqueous extract exhibiting more inhibitory activities than the organic extracts. There was significant inhibition of fungal development by the tested plant extracts at different concentrations. MIC of the extracts was 15.625 mg/ml while the MFC values ranged between 15.625 and 31.25. In this work, the antifungal activity of M. oleifera was found to be equal or higher than commercially available fungicide, ketoconazole. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that foliole extracts of M. oleifera have potential for use as biofungicides for plant protection against fungal diseases

Significance of African Diets in Biotherapeutic Modulation of the Gut Microbiome

Diet plays an essential role in human development and growth, contributing to health and well-being. The socio-economic values, cultural perspectives, and dietary formulation in sub-Saharan Africa can influence gut health and disease prevention. The vast microbial ecosystems in the human gut frequently interrelate to maintain a healthy, well-coordinated cellular and humoral immune signalling to prevent metabolic dysfunction, pathogen dominance, and induction of systemic diseases. The diverse indigenous diets could differentially act as biotherapeutics to modulate microbial abundance and population characteristics. Such modulation could prevent stunted growth, malnutrition, induction of bowel diseases, attenuated immune responses, and mortality, particularly among infants. Understanding the associations between specific indigenous African diets and the predictability of the dynamics of gut bacteria genera promises potential biotherapeutics towards improving the prevention, control, and treatment of microbiome-associated diseases such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The dietary influence of many African diets (especially grain-base such as millet, maize, brown rice, sorghum, soya, and tapioca) promotes gut lining integrity, immune tolerance towards the microbiota, and its associated immune and inflammatory responses. A fibre-rich diet is a promising biotherapeutic candidate that could effectively modulate inflammatory mediators’ expression associated with immune cell migration, lymphoid tissue maturation, and signalling pathways. It could also modulate the stimulation of cytokines and chemokines involved in ensuring balance for long-term microbiome programming. The interplay between host and gut microbial digestion is complex; microbes using and competing for dietary and endogenous proteins are often attributable to variances in the comparative abundances of Enterobacteriaceae taxa. Many auto-inducers could initiate the process of quorum sensing and mammalian epinephrine host cell signalling system. It could also downregulate inflammatory signals with microbiota tumour taxa that could trigger colorectal cancer initiation, metabolic type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The exploitation of essential biotherapeutic molecules derived from fibre-rich indigenous diet promises food substances for the downregulation of inflammatory signalling that could be harmful to gut microbiota ecological balance and improved immune response modulation

Next Generation Nanochitosan Applications in Animal Husbandry, Aquaculture and Food Conservation

Studies have identified the properties of enzymes, functionalized molecules, and compounds in food industry applications as edible coatings and encapsulations, that assure prolonged food quality and standards. These molecules present benefits of longer shelf-life by delayed deterioration and inhibition of the proliferation of spoilage and mycotoxigenic microorganisms. However, challenges of reduced nutrient levels, miniaturized size, and low chemical stability remain concerning. Chitosan polymers naturally formed from the deacetylation of shellfish shells and exoskeletons of aquatic arthropods and crustaceans offer improved benefits when functionalized into nanoparticles as nanochitosans. These polysaccharides produced by the alkalescent deacetylation of chitin, comprise a series of 2-deoxy-2 (acetylamino) glucose linked by ß-(1- 4) glycosidic linkages. This chapter considers the health impacts and microbiological health hazards associated with animal feeds quality and the enzyme immobilization potentials of nanochitosans in animalbased food and feed packages. Thereafter, nanochitosan properties and benefits are compared against traditional preservatives from microbes and plants; with highlights on current challenges in the application of nanochitosan for enzyme immobilization