IN VITRO STUDY OF ANTITRYPANOSOMAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF GARCINIA KOLA AGAINST TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI BRUCEI

Objective: The study was aimed at evaluating in vitro antitrypanosomal activity of Garcinia kola against Trypanosoma brucei brucei.Methods: The plant materials were extracted and screened for phytochemicals. The antitrypanosomal activity of 70% and 100% G. kola extracts against the parasite was determined in vitro.Results: Both extracts contained saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, and flavonoids. However, anthraquinones and alkaloids were undetected. The parasites were seen to be actively motile within the first 30 min post-incubation period in 70% hydroethanolic G. kola extract and were found dead at 40–60 min in a higher concentration of extract. After 10 min post-incubation of the parasites in 100% ethanolic extract of G. kola, the parasites were observed to be active at lower concentration but at higher concentrations of the extracts, no trypanosomes were seen.Conclusion: 100% extract induces ceasing of motility at the lesser time compared to 70% ethanolic extract. Similarly, the effect increases with increase in extract concentration. Further research should be carried out to elucidate the bioactive compounds present to have a broad knowledge on the mode of action of the compounds

Humoral immunological kinetics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and diagnostic performance of serological assays for coronavirus disease 2019: an analysis of global reports

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to rise and second waves are reported in some countries, serological test kits and strips are being considered to scale up an adequate laboratory response. This study provides an update on the kinetics of humoral immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and performance characteristics of serological protocols (lateral flow assay [LFA], chemiluminescence immunoassay [CLIA] and ELISA) used for evaluations of recent and past SARS-CoV-2 infection. A thorough and comprehensive review of suitable and eligible full-text articles was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wordometer and medRxiv from 10 January to 16 July 2020. These articles were searched using the Medical Subject Headings terms 'COVID-19', 'Serological assay', 'Laboratory Diagnosis', 'Performance characteristics', 'POCT', 'LFA', 'CLIA', 'ELISA' and 'SARS-CoV-2'. Data from original research articles on SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection >= second day postinfection were included in this study. In total, there were 7938 published articles on humoral immune response and laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19. Of these, 74 were included in this study. The detection, peak and decline period of blood anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM, IgG and total antibodies for point-of-care testing (POCT), ELISA and CLIA vary widely. The most promising of these assays for POCT detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 at day 3 postinfection and peaked on the 15th day; ELISA products detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG at days 2 and 6 then peaked on the eighth day; and the most promising CLIA product detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 at day 1 and peaked on the 30th day. The most promising LFA, ELISA and CLIA that had the best performance characteristics were those targeting total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies followed by those targeting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG then IgM. Essentially, the CLIA-based SARS-CoV-2 tests had the best performance characteristics, followed by ELISA then POCT. Given the varied performance characteristics of all the serological assays, there is a need to continuously improve their detection thresholds, as well as to monitor and re-evaluate their performances to assure their significance and applicability for COVID-19 clinical and epidemiological purposes

IN VITRO STUDY OF ANTITRYPANOSOMAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF GARCINIA KOLA AGAINST TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI BRUCEI

Objective: The study was aimed at evaluating in vitro antitrypanosomal activity of Garcinia kola against Trypanosoma brucei brucei.Methods: The plant materials were extracted and screened for phytochemicals. The antitrypanosomal activity of 70% and 100% G. kola extracts against the parasite was determined in vitro.Results: Both extracts contained saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, and flavonoids. However, anthraquinones and alkaloids were undetected. The parasites were seen to be actively motile within the first 30 min post-incubation period in 70% hydroethanolic G. kola extract and were found dead at 40–60 min in a higher concentration of extract. After 10 min post-incubation of the parasites in 100% ethanolic extract of G. kola, the parasites were observed to be active at lower concentration but at higher concentrations of the extracts, no trypanosomes were seen.Conclusion: 100% extract induces ceasing of motility at the lesser time compared to 70% ethanolic extract. Similarly, the effect increases with increase in extract concentration. Further research should be carried out to elucidate the bioactive compounds present to have a broad knowledge on the mode of action of the compounds

Plasmonic Biosensors for the Detection of Lung Cancer Biomarkers: A Review

International audienceLung cancer is the most common and deadliest cancer type globally. Its early diagnosis can guarantee a five-year survival rate. Unfortunately, application of the available diagnosis methods such as computed tomography, chest radiograph, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, low-dose CT scan, bone scans, positron emission tomography (PET), and biopsy is hindered due to one or more problems, such as phenotypic properties of tumours that prevent early detection, invasiveness, expensiveness, and time consumption. Detection of lung cancer biomarkers using a biosensor is reported to solve the problems. Among biosensors, optical biosensors attract greater attention due to being ultra-sensitive, free from electromagnetic interference, capable of wide dynamic range detection, free from the requirement of a reference electrode, free from electrical hazards, highly stable, capable of multiplexing detection, and having the potential for more information content than electrical transducers. Inspired by promising features of plasmonic sensors, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR), localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) such as ultra-sensitivity, single particle/molecular level detection capability, multiplexing capability, photostability, real-time measurement, label-free measurement, room temperature operation, naked-eye readability, and the ease of miniaturisation without sophisticated sensor chip fabrication and instrumentation, numerous plasmonic sensors for the detection of lung cancer biomarkers have been investigated. In this review, the principle plasmonic sensor is explained. In addition, novel strategies and modifications adopted for the detection of lung cancer biomarkers such as miRNA, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratins, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using plasmonic sensors are also reported. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of the plasmonic biosensors for the detection of lung cancer biomarkers are highlighted

Towards Urban Sustainability: Developing Noise Prediction Model in an Informal Setting

Noise remains an important challenge, particularly in informal settings where planning and regulation are relatively weak. This study aims at developing a model to predict noise in a largely informal urban Kano, the second most populated city in Nigeria. Sound level meter (SLM) 200 TL was used to measure noise at locations covering different land use: residential, industrial, commercial, educational, and administrative areas. Data were collected for seven days, and each day measurements were taken for six hours: 8–10 a.m., 12–2 p.m. and 4–6 p.m. Land use, population density, residential division, traffic volume, and land cover were used to generate a noise model using weighted geographic regression. The findings revealed that noise in the area is higher than the permissible limits set by the WHO and Nigeria’s regulatory agency. The model identified population density as the most influencing factor, followed by land cover, traffic volume and distance to the road, then land use. Seventy three percent of the model’s residual are below five, indicating a significant association between noise and the variables used. The R2 ranges between 18% and 26% depending on the time of the day. Noise in the area can be effectively control by paying serious attention to city planning and enforcing traffic regulation measures