Electrophoretic characterization of crude leaf proteins in Lycopersicon and Trichosanthes cultivars

Young leaves of three cultivars of Lycopersicon esculentum (Mill) and a cultivar of Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina (Haines) were freshly collected at 50% flowering. Crude leaf proteins were extracted from them and characterized using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Intercultivar qualitative as well as quantitative protein bands depict some degree of relationship among the Lycopersicon cultivars studied. The degree of variation in protein bands as a measure of genetic divergence between L. esculentum cultivars and T. cucumerina was discussed. Key Words: Electrophoresis, protein, Lycopersicon, Trichosanthes. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(11) 2004: 585-58

Gene frequencies of ABO and rhesus blood groups and haemoglobin variants in Ogbomoso, South–West Nigeria

The distribution and gene frequencies of ABO and rhesus (Rh) blood groups and haemoglobin variants for samples of the Nigerian population at Ogbomoso was determined. Data consisting of records of blood groups and haemoglobin types of different ages ranging from infants to adults for a period of 4 to 6 years (1995 – 2000) was collected from Baptist Medical Centre (BMC), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Health Centre (LAUTHC) and Oyo State General Hospital (OSGH), all in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. Overall, a total number of 7653, 7053 and 14,845 individuals were typed for ABO and Rh blood groups, and haemoglobin genotypes, respectively. 3824 (50%) were blood group O, 1750 (22.9%) were blood group A, 1629 (21.3%) were blood group B and 450 (5.9%) were blood group AB. This distribution differs significantly (P<0.05) from those expected under the Hardy Weinberg law. The proportion of the individuals belonging to the various ABO blood groups also varied significantly (P<0.05) over the period of the study. Overall gene frequencies for the A, B and O alleles were 0.15, 0.15 and 0.70, respectively. For the Rh blood group 6823 (96.7%) were Rh-positive (DD and Dd) while 230 (3.3%) were Rh – negative (dd). The distribution and proportion of individuals belonging to each group did not differ significantly from those expected under the Hardy Weinberg law (P>0.05). The gene frequencies of D and d alleles were 0.82 and 0.18, respectively. Six haemoglobin genotypes were recorded in the order of AA (68.1%) > AS (21.0%) > AC (5.7%) >SS (3.0%) >SC (2.0%) >CC (0.3%). The gene frequencies were 0.81, 0.14 and 0.04 for A, S and C alleles, respectively. Our results are representative of the distribution of these genetic variants in Nigeria.Keywords: Gene frequency, blood groups, haemoglobin, Nigeri

Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus in the private blood banking sector in Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is an agent of Transfusion Transmissible Infection (TTI) which serves as a threat to blood safety and sufficiency of blood and blood products supply.Objectives: This study aimed at determining the distribution patterns of HCV among potential blood donors in a private Blood Bank in Osogbo, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Over a period of 6 months, 290 consenting prospective blood donors were recruited for this study by convenient sampling technique. Pre-test counseling was done, before blood specimen collection and laboratory serological analysis was carried out, using third generation Enzyme Immunoassay Technique.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 35.99 ±10.94 years. A total of 6 participants (2.07%) tested positive for anti-HCV. In this study, HCV prevalence has no association with age and blood type, but it does with the donor type, where the prevalence is higher among commercial blood donors.Conclusion: The rates were lower than the previous studies in Nigeria perhaps this is due to the positive effect of public awareness on transfusion transmissible infections and the fact that majority of the donors were regular donors. Blood transfusion services should be further strengthened by establishment of blood transfusion committees at State level, to regulate and monitor the practice, especially in the private sector, with a view to ensure that stringent criteria are adhered to in blood donors’ selection.Keywords: Blood Safety, Hepatitis C Virus, Serology and Private sector

Polluted Alamuyo River: Impacts on surrounding wells, microbial attributes and toxic effects on Allium cepa root cells

The physicochemical analysis and microbial load of polluted Alamuyo River in Ibadan, Nigeria and selected wells along its course were evaluated. Toxic effects of water samples obtained from upstream(A) and down stream (F) of the river were also evaluated using Allium cepa root assay. The result of the analysis revealed that the water sample contained toxic substances. However, almost all parametersevaluated were within the allowable limit of treated wastewater. High microbial load was observed in river water samples compared to the well water samples throughout the sampling periods with overall highest value observed at Late Rainy Season upstream water sample (LRS-A). MPN of faecal coliform showed that LDS-A, ERS-F and LRS from A – F were significantly different. Echerichia coli, Bacillus substillis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fragii were among the microbes observed in the samples. T-test analysis on A. cepa root length showed that only 50% of LDS-A, LDS-F and LRS-A were significantly different from control (P < 0.05) though there were reduction in root length in allconcentrations tested through out the sampling period except 5% ERSA, 10% ERSF and 10% LRSF. Microscopic evaluation of A. cepa cells showed decreasing number of dividing cells and mitotic indiceswere not dose dependent in most cases. Chromosome fragments, bridge, lag and disturbed spindle were the aberrations observed in this study. Our result showed that water samples from the rivercontained toxic substances and high microbial load, which have effects on the surrounding wells due to infiltration

Frequency of twinning in southwest Nigeria

Background: In the human species, twin is a type of multiple birth in which the mother gives birth to two offspring from the same pregnancy. The occurrence and frequency of twinning, however, varies across human populations. The maternal age, socio-environmental factors, increase in the use of contraceptives, the race of human population, increase in the spontaneous abortion rate, and seasonal variations are among the factors that could influence twinning rate. Information on twinning rates in southwest Nigeria is limited. Aims : This study presents information on the frequency of twinning, as well as its analysis by maternal age, in four urban settings in southwest Nigeria. This is with the aim of extending current knowledge on the frequency of twinning in southwest Nigeria and contributing to the demographic studies in the country. Materials and Methods: Data on single births and twin births from January 1995 to December 2004 were collected from the Oyo State General Hospital (OSGH), Wesley Guild Hospital (WGH), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), and Ekiti State Specialist Hospital (ESSH) in Ogbomoso, Ilesa, Ile-Ife, and Ado-Ekiti respectively. These were analyzed by year and maternal age groups of 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, and 45-49 years according to the standard method. Results: A frequency of twin births of 46.5 per 1000 deliveries and 46.2 per 1000 deliveries was recorded for Ilesa and Ile-Ife respectively. The frequency recorded for Ogbomoso and Ado-Ekiti was 38.5 and 22.1 per 1000 deliveries respectively. The overall average frequency of 40.2 per 1000 deliveries for the four hospitals ranks among the highest recorded rates of twin births in the world. The maternal age group of 25-29 years had the highest occurrence of twin births, while the lowest was recorded in the 45-49 years age group. Conclusion: This analysis reveals high incidence of twinning in the studied areas and supports previous assertion that the southwestern part of Nigeria has the highest twinning rate in the country and in the whole world. It is our opinion that diet, maternal history of twinning, and some socio-environmental factors may have influenced the results

Two decades of neuroscience publication trends in Africa.

Neuroscience research in Africa remains sparse. Devising new policies to boost Africa's neuroscience landscape is imperative, but these must be based on accurate data on research outputs which is largely lacking. Such data must reflect the heterogeneity of research environments across the continent's 54 countries. Here, we analyse neuroscience publications affiliated with African institutions between 1996 and 2017. Of 12,326 PubMed indexed publications, 5,219 show clear evidence that the work was performed in Africa and led by African-based researchers - on average ~5 per country and year. From here, we extract information on journals and citations, funding, international coauthorships and techniques used. For reference, we also extract the same metrics from 220 randomly selected publications each from the UK, USA, Australia, Japan and Brazil. Our dataset provides insights into the current state of African neuroscience research in a global context

Heterogeneously catalyzed lignin depolymerization

Biomass offers a unique resource for the sustainable production of bio-derived chemical and fuels as drop-in replacements for the current fossil fuel products. Lignin represents a major component of lignocellulosic biomass, but is particularly recalcitrant for valorization by existing chemical technologies due to its complex cross-linking polymeric network. Here, we highlight a range of catalytic approaches to lignin depolymerisation for the production of aromatic bio-oil and monomeric oxygenates

Potential of pyrolysis processes in the waste management sector

The fundamentals of pyrolysis, its latest developments, the different conditions of the process and its residues are of great importance in evaluating the applicability of the pyrolysis process within the waste management sector and in waste treatment. In particular the types of residue and their further use or treatment is of extreme interest as they could become the source of secondary raw materials or be used for energy generation in waste treatments. The main area of focus of this paper is the investigation of the link between the pyrolysis conditions, the chemical and mineralogical composition of their products and the benefits of pyrolysis in the waste management sector. More specifically the paper covers the fast, intermediate and slow pyrolysis of organic waste and mixtures of inorganic and organic waste from households. The influence of catalysts during fast pyrolysis on the product yield and composition is not being considered in this review.This reported work was conducted as part of the “Design Optimisation of the HERU Waste Treatment System” project in Brunel University London that was funded by Manik Ventures Limited