Evaluación de la flora de área y la composición de fauna de un bosque comunitario en norte-central de Nigeria

Forest structure assessment is vital in ensuring environmental functions such as habitat provision for biodiversity and soil conservation. This study was carried out to assess the flora and fauna composition of a community forest. The systematic line plot technique was used for the establishment of sampling plots for floristic survey of woody trees species, shrubs, climbers and herbs. Direct observation and in-depth interview was adopted to acquire information on fauna species in the forest. The abundance and diversity of flora and fauna species in the forest was analyzed. The results revealed a total 18 species in 13 families were recorded for woody plants, 12 species in 9 families were recorded for shrubs, 7 species in 6 families were recorded for climber and 16 species in 8 families were recorded for herbaceous plants. Pseudocedrela kotschyi, Chromolaena odorata, Opilia celtidifolia and Desmodium adscendens were the most abundance species for both trees, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous species respectively. Forty one species of fauna species within the class mammalian, aves, and reptile were indicated. Bird species form the major component of the animal species in the forest. It is suggested that the reserve be protected from resource exploitation through monitoring and conservation educationLa evaluación de la estructura forestal es vital para garantizar las funciones ambientales, como la provisión de hábitat para la biodiversidad y la conservación del suelo. Este estudio se llevó a cabo para evaluar la composición de la flora y la fauna de un bosque comunitario. La técnica sistemática de trazado de líneas se utilizó para el establecimiento de parcelas de muestreo para el estudio florístico de especies de árboles leñosos, arbustos, escaladores y hierbas. La observación directa y la entrevista en profundidad se adoptaron para adquirir información sobre especies de fauna en el bosque. Se analizó la abundancia y diversidad de especies de flora y fauna en el bosque. Los resultados revelaron un total de 18 especies en 13 familias se registraron para las plantas leñosas, 12 especies en 9 familias se registraron para los arbustos, 7 especies en 6 familias se registraron para escalador y 16 especies en 8 familias se registraron para las plantas herbáceas. Pseudocedrela kotschyi, Chromolaena odorata, Opilia celtidifolia y Desmodium adscendens fueron las especies de mayor abundancia para árboles, arbustos, escaladores y especies herbáceas, respectivamente. Cuarenta y una especies de especies de fauna dentro de la clase de mamíferos, aves y reptiles fueron indicadas. Las especies de aves forman el componente principal de las especies animales en el bosque. Se sugiere que la reserva esté protegida de la explotación de los recursos a través del monitoreo y la educación para la conservació

Structural characterization of CYP144A1 - a cytochrome P450 enzyme expressed from alternative transcripts in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) causes the disease tuberculosis (TB). The virulent Mtb H37Rv strain encodes 20 cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, many of which are implicated in Mtb survival and pathogenicity in the human host. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CYP144A1 is retained exclusively within the Mycobacterium genus, particularly in species causing human and animal disease. Transcriptomic annotation revealed two possible CYP144A1 start codons, leading to expression of (i) a "full-length" 434 amino acid version (CYP144A1-FLV) and (ii) a "truncated" 404 amino acid version (CYP144A1-TRV). Computational analysis predicted that the extended N-terminal region of CYP144A1-FLV is largely unstructured. CYP144A1 FLV and TRV forms were purified in heme-bound states. Mass spectrometry confirmed production of intact, His6-tagged forms of CYP144A1-FLV and -TRV, with EPR demonstrating cysteine thiolate coordination of heme iron in both cases. Hydrodynamic analysis indicated that both CYP144A1 forms are monomeric. CYP144A1-TRV was crystallized and the first structure of a CYP144 family P450 protein determined. CYP144A1-TRV has an open structure primed for substrate binding, with a large active site cavity. Our data provide the first evidence that Mtb produces two different forms of CYP144A1 from alternative transcripts, with CYP144A1-TRV generated from a leaderless transcript lacking a 5'-untranslated region and Shine-Dalgarno ribosome binding site

Structural Characterization and Ligand/Inhibitor Identification Provide Functional Insights into the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Cytochrome P450 CYP126A1

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv genome encodes 20 cytochromes P450, including P450s crucial to infection and bacterial viability. Many M. tuberculosis P450s remain uncharacterized, suggesting that their further analysis may provide new insights into M. tuberculosis metabolic processes and new targets for drug discovery. CYP126A1 is representative of a P450 family widely distributed in mycobacteria and other bacteria. Here we explore the biochemical and structural properties of CYP126A1, including its interactions with new chemical ligands. A survey of azole antifungal drugs showed that CYP126A1 is inhibited strongly by azoles containing an imidazole ring but not by those tested containing a triazole ring. To further explore the molecular preferences of CYP126A1 and search for probes of enzyme function, we conducted a high throughput screen. Compounds containing three or more ring structures dominated the screening hits, including nitroaromatic compounds that induce substrate-like shifts in the heme spectrum of CYP126A1. Spectroelectrochemical measurements revealed a 155-mV increase in heme iron potential when bound to one of the newly identified nitroaromatic drugs. CYP126A1 dimers were observed in crystal structures of ligand-free CYP126A1 and for CYP126A1 bound to compounds discovered in the screen. However, ketoconazole binds in an orientation that disrupts the BC-loop regions at the P450 dimer interface and results in a CYP126A1 monomeric crystal form. Structural data also reveal that nitroaromatic ligands "moonlight" as substrates by displacing the CYP126A1 distal water but inhibit enzyme activity. The relatively polar active site of CYP126A1 distinguishes it from its most closely related sterol-binding P450s in M. tuberculosis, suggesting that further investigations will reveal its diverse substrate selectivity.This work was supported by Biotechnology and Biological Research Council (BBSRC) Grants BB/I019227/1 (to A. W. M.) and BB/I019669/1 (to C. A.) underpinning this research program and supporting the research of A. J. C. and K. J. M

COVID-19 and informal settlements: An urgent call to rethink urban governance

While some countries are nearing or reaching their peak of coronavirus infections, others are only at what seems to be the early stages of the infection curve. Some of these countries, particularly in the Global South, contain some of the world’s largest informal and/or urban settlements and are low resource settings. Given that the last few months have shown us how quickly COVID-19 can push health systems to the brink or overwhelm them, even in high-income countries, it is worrying to think what would happen if the outbreak becomes severe in such contexts

La carte sanitaire de la ville de Lubumbashi, République Démocratique du Congo Partie II : analyse des activités opérationnelles des structures de soins

Les structures de santé dans la ville de Lubumbashi tentent d’offrir à la population des soins de santé en réponse à ses besoins ressentis. Cet article présente et analyse la nature et le volume des soins offerts par les différents prestataires institutionnels aux différents niveaux du système de santé pour l’ensemble de l’année 2006. Pratiquement toutes les structures offrent des soins curatifs. Le taux d’utilisation moyen pour l’ensemble de la ville est de 0,37 nouveaux cas par habitant par an. La population utilise plus souvent l’hôpital que les structures intermédiaires et celles de première ligne. Des maternités sont disponibles dans près de 2/3 des structures de première ligne, dans toutes les structures intermédiaires et dans tous les hôpitaux. Neuf accouchements sur dix sont assistés avec un taux de césarienne de moins de 2%. La vaccination est réalisée dans 2/3 des structures de première ligne avec un taux de couverture de la 3ème dose du vaccin trivalent contre la diphtérie, le tetanos et la coqueluche (DTC3) de 49%. Seulement quelques structures de première ligne dépistent les cas de tuberculose pulmonaire à microscopie positive avec un taux de dépistage de 44%. La présente étude, basée sur une mesure quantitative, met en évidence une discordance entre l’offre et la demande. Elle contribue à une meilleure compréhension de l’offre de soins à Lubumbashi même si les questions de la qualité des soins et de l’accessibilité financière aux soins restent encore en suspens. </jats:p

La carte sanitaire de la ville de Lubumbashi, République Démocratique du Congo Partie I : problématique de la couverture sanitaire en milieu urbain congolais

Cet article fait l’inventaire physique de toutes les structures de soins existantes dans la ville de Lubumbashi en 2006, étudie l’évolution de leur apparition dans le temps, détermine leur répartition géographique et identifie les différents prestataires institutionnels et opérationnels qui y travaillent. Une enquête de terrain a permis de collecter des informations se rapportant à ces objectifs pour l’année 2006. Les résultats révèlent une augmentation annuelle du nombre des structures de soins et leur concentration vers le centre-ville ; une grande diversité institutionnelle des prestataires (Etat, confessions religieuses, ONG locales, entreprises paraétatiques et privés indépendants) ; une évolution exponentielle du nombre de structures de première ligne et une croissance de la pratique médicalisée dans ces structures ; une marginalisation de l’Etat comme prestataire de première ligne (moins de 10% de l’offre) mais qui reste néanmoins prestataire majoritaire dans l’offre de soins hospitaliers (51% de lits d’hospitalisation). Ces résultats plaident pour une évolution dans les rôles de l’Etat : celui-ci devrait se concentrer en priorité sur l’offre de soins hospitaliers, ensuite sur son rôle de démonstration des bonnes pratiques en première ligne et enfin sur la régulation de l’offre privée de soins de première ligne. </jats:p

The Health System Dynamics Framework: The introduction of an analytical model for health system analysis and its application to two case-studies

<div><div><p class="AbstractParagraphs">Frameworks can clarify concepts and improve understanding of underlying mechanisms in the domain of health systems research and strengthening. Many existing frameworks have a limited capacity to analyze interactions and equilibriums within a health system overlooking values as an underlying steering mechanism. This paper introduces the health system dynamics framework and demonstrates its application as a tool for analysis and modelling.</p> <p class="AbstractParagraphs">The added value of this framework is: 1) consideration of different levels of a health system and tracing how interventions or events at one level influence other elements and other levels; 2) emphasizes the importance of values; 3) a central axis linking governance, human resources, service delivery and population, and 4) taking into account the key elements of complexity in analysis and strategy development. We urge  the analysis of individual health systems and meta-analysis, for a better understanding of their functioning and strengthening.</p></div><p class="AbstractParagraphs"> </p></div