Antibacterial effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on Staphyloccus aureus: An in vitro study.

Abstract: Garlic (Allium sativum) has an important dietary and medicinal role for centuries. It is a large annual plant of the Liliaceae family, which grows in most of Africa and in Ethiopia. Ethiopian garlic is used in traditional medicine for infectious disease and some other cases. The present study tested the aqueous extract of garlic in vitro for its antibacterial activity. The extract showed concentration dependent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The traditional use of Ethiopian garlic for infectious diseases and for controlling fever appears to be justified

Rhetoric vs. realities—An assessment of rainwater management planning and implementation modalities in Oromia and Amhara regions, Ethiopia

This paper is the first in a series of three interrelated papers and focuses on planning and implementation modalities of Rainwater Management (RWM) Strategies. It is part of the NBDC project ‘On integrated RWM strategies—technologies, institutions and policies’. The project is underpinned by the recognition that integrated RWM needs to combine technologies, policies and institutions and be developed through multi-stakeholder engagement to foster innovation. Three woredas were selected for the research—Jeldu and Diga in Oromia Region and Fogera in Amhara Region. The research on planning and implementation of RWS is guided by the hypothesis that there is a gap between available policy and guidelines and specific planning and implementation procedures. Research findings conclude that RWM planning and implementation is still rather top–down and technology-oriented instead of people-centred. Local processes are not in place to take account of different livelihood strategies and constraints, cultural, social or institutional dynamics as well as power relations and gender issues. The research concludes with six recommendations, largely aimed at Ethiopian policymakers and implementing agencies, suggesting an alternative approach to RWM planning and implementation processes which would help improve the impact, sustainability and local ownership of interventions. The paper outlines RWM strategies which are developed with true participation of farmers and other stakeholders; are based on evidence of what works and why; take into account specific socioeconomic and ecological niches; work across relevant sectors; and support local opportunities for innovation

Reverse vaccinology-based identification of a novel surface lipoprotein that is an effective vaccine antigen against bovine infections caused by Pasteurella multocida.

Pasteurella multocida can infect a multitude of wild and domesticated animals, with infections in cattle resulting in hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) or contributing to bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex. Current cattle vaccines against P. multocida consist of inactivated bacteria, which only offer limited and serogroup specific protection. Here, we describe a newly identified surface lipoprotein, PmSLP, that is present in nearly all annotated P. multocida strains isolated from cattle. Bovine associated variants span three of the four identified phylogenetic clusters, with PmSLP-1 and PmSLP-2 being restricted to BRD associated isolates and PmSLP-3 being restricted to isolates associated with HS. Recombinantly expressed, soluble PmSLP-1 (BRD-PmSLP) and PmSLP-3 (HS-PmSLP) vaccines were both able to provide full protection in a mouse sepsis model against the matched P. multocida strain, however no cross-protection and minimal serum IgG cross-reactivity was identified. Full protection against both challenge strains was achieved with a bivalent vaccine containing both BRD-PmSLP and HS-PmSLP, with serum IgG from immunized mice being highly reactive to both variants. Year-long stability studies with lyophilized antigen stored under various temperatures show no appreciable difference in biophysical properties or loss of efficacy in the mouse challenge model. PmSLP-1 and PmSLP-3 vaccines were each evaluated for immunogenicity in two independent cattle trials involving animals of different age ranges and breeds. In all four trials, vaccination with PmSLP resulted in an increase in antigen specific serum IgG over baseline. In a blinded cattle challenge study with a recently isolated HS strain, the matched HS-PmSLP vaccine showed strong efficacy (75-87.5% survival compared to 0% in the control group). Together, these data suggest that cattle vaccines composed of PmSLP antigens can be a practical and effective solution for preventing HS and BRD related P. multocida infections