Opportunities in Africa for training in genome science

Genome science is a new type of biology that unites genetics, molecular biology, computational biology and bioinformatics. The availability of the human genome sequence, as well as the genome sequences of several other organisms relevant to health, agriculture and the environment in Africa necessitates the development and delivery of several types and levels of training that will enhance the use of genome data and the associated computational resources. A survey of initiatives that provide opportunities for training in genome science is presented. Current efforts to increase the ability of African scientists to computationally process and analyse genomic and post-genomic data have the potential to produce excellent scientists who perform cutting-edge, hypothesis-based research, and who will accelerate the continent's scientific and technological development

Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis CRY1A(c) d-endotoxin on growth, nodulation and productivity of beans [Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) and siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum DC.)]

The recent introduction of Bt maize and Bt cotton transgenic crops into Africa has raised concerns on their potential short and long-term ecological effects on the environment. The effects of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry1A(c) d-endotoxin on the growth, nodulation and productivity of two leguminous plants grown in clay soil were evaluated. Bt Cry1A(c) d-endotoxin from a local B. thuringiensis isolate (ICIPE L1-2) active against Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) was used. Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and Siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum DC.) seedlings were grown in pots treated with Bt Cry1A(c) dendotoxin solution (100 ìg/ml). Control experiments were treated with water. The plants were maintained in the greenhouse until nodulation (8 weeks) and maturity (14 weeks) stages when sampling was done for measurements of morphological, productivity and nodulation traits. Nodulation was observed in both plants species. Nitrogen content in treatments for both bean and siratro plants, withand without Bt-toxin not were significantly different. Leaf area, plant dry weight, number of pods per plants and number of seeds per pod observed in treatments with and without Bt-toxin for both bean and siratro plants were also not significantly different. This shows that Bt Cry1A(c) delta-endotoxin does not interfere with the host plant growth, nodulation and productivity in clay soil. Findings will provide researchers with data to design more robust experiments and will inform the decisions of diversestakeholders regarding the safety of transgenic crops

<i>Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense</i> transmitted by a single tsetse fly bite in vervet monkeys as a model of human African trypanosomiasis

Sleeping sickness is caused by a species of trypanosome blood parasite that is transmitted by tsetse flies. To understand better how infection with this parasite leads to disease, we provide here the most detailed description yet of the course of infection and disease onset in vervet monkeys. One infected tsetse fly was allowed to feed on each host individual, and in all cases infections were successful. The characteristics of infection and disease were similar in all hosts, but the rate of progression varied considerably. Parasites were first detected in the blood 4-10 days after infection, showing that migration of parasites from the site of fly bite was very rapid. Anaemia was a key feature of disease, with a reduction in the numbers and average size of red blood cells and associated decline in numbers of platelets and white blood cells. One to six weeks after infection, parasites were observed in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), indicating that they had moved from the blood into the brain; this was associated with a white cell infiltration. This study shows that fly-transmitted infection in vervets accurately mimics human disease and provides a robust model to understand better how sleeping sickness develops

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense group 1 is distinguished by a unique amino acid substitution in the HpHb receptor implicated in human serum resistance

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (Tbr) and T. b. gambiense (Tbg), causative agents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) in Africa, have evolved alternative mechanisms of resisting the activity of trypanosome lytic factors (TLFs), components of innate immunity in human serum that protect against infection by other African trypanosomes. In Tbr, lytic activity is suppressed by the Tbr-specific serum-resistance associated (SRA) protein. The mechanism in Tbg is less well understood but has been hypothesized to involve altered activity and expression of haptoglobin haemoglobin receptor (HpHbR). HpHbR has been shown to facilitate internalization of TLF-1 in T.b. brucei (Tbb), a member of the T. brucei species complex that is susceptible to human serum. By evaluating the genetic variability of HpHbR in a comprehensive geographical and taxonomic context, we show that a single substitution that replaces leucine with serine at position 210 is conserved in the most widespread form of Tbg (Tbg group 1) and not found in related taxa, which are either human serum susceptible (Tbb) or known to resist lysis via an alternative mechanism (Tbr and Tbg group 2). We hypothesize that this single substitution contributes to reduced uptake of TLF and thus may play a key role in conferring serum resistance to Tbg group 1. In contrast, similarity in HpHbR sequence among isolates of Tbg group 2 and Tbb/Tbr provides further evidence that human serum resistance in Tbg group 2 is likely independent of HpHbR functio

Behavioural responses of Phlebotomus duboscqi to plant-derived volatile organic compounds

Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania parasites that cause leishmaniases. Both sexes of sand flies feed on plants primarily for sugars, although the chemical cues that mediate attraction to host plants remain largely unknown. Previously, using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the authors identified several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) common to preferred host plants for selected Afrotropical sand flies from the Fabaceae family. Of the identified volatiles, the significance of the monoterpenes linalool oxide, ocimene and p-cymene and the benzenoid m-cresol, p-cresol in sand fly behaviour is unknown. In olfactometer assays, the authors tested these compounds singly and in blends for their attractiveness to Phlebotomus duboscqi, cutaneous leishmaniasis vector in Kenya. In dose–response assays, single compounds increased the responses of males and females over controls, but their optimum attractive doses varied between the sexes. Two five-component blends, referred to as Blend-f and Blend-m for females and males respectively, were formulated and tested in dose–response assays against 1-octen-3-ol (positive control). The results of the present study showed that males and females were significantly attracted to varying levels of the two blends. In pairwise assays, the authors evaluated the most attractive of these blends to each sex (i.e., Blend Am for male against Blend Bf for female), revealing that males were attracted to both blends at varying levels, whereas females were indifferent. The study's results demonstrate that plant-derived VOCs can be exploited for sand fly management.Government of the Republic of Kenya; Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation; German Academic Exchange Service.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/136529152022-07-26hj2022Zoology and Entomolog

Towards an optimal design of target for tsetse control: comparisons of novel targets for the control of palpalis group tsetse in West Africa

Background: Tsetse flies of the Palpalis group are the main vectors of sleeping sickness in Africa. Insecticide impregnated targets are one of the most effective tools for control. However, the cost of these devices still represents a constraint to their wider use. The objective was therefore to improve the cost effectiveness of currently used devices. Methodology/Principal Findings: Experiments were performed on three tsetse species, namely Glossina palpalis gambiensis and G. tachinoides in Burkina Faso and G. p. palpalis in Côte d'Ivoire. The 1×1 m2 black blue black target commonly used in W. Africa was used as the standard, and effects of changes in target size, shape, and the use of netting instead of black cloth were measured. Regarding overall target shape, we observed that horizontal targets (i.e. wider than they were high) killed 1.6-5x more G. p. gambiensis and G. tachinoides than vertical ones (i.e. higher than they were wide) (P<0.001). For the three tsetse species including G. p. palpalis, catches were highly correlated with the size of the target. However, beyond the size of 0.75 m, there was no increase in catches. Replacing the black cloth of the target by netting was the most cost efficient for all three species. Conclusion/Significance: Reducing the size of the current 1*1 m black-blue-black target to horizontal designs of around 50 cm and replacing black cloth by netting will improve cost effectiveness six-fold for both G. p. gambiensis and G. tachinoides. Studying the visual responses of tsetse to different designs of target has allowed us to design more cost-effective devices for the effective control of sleeping sickness and animal trypanosomiasis in Africa

International Glossina Genome Initiative 2004-2014: a driver for post-genomic era research on the African continent

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, is a neglected disease that impacts 70 million people distributed over 1.55 million km2 in sub- Saharan Africa and includes at least 50% of the population of theDemocratic Republic of the Congo [1]. Trypanosoma brucei gambiense accounts for more than 98% of the infections in central and West Africa, the remaining infections being from Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in East Africa [2]. The parasites are transmitted to the hosts through the bite of an infected tsetse fly. Disease control is challenging as there are no vaccines, and effective, easily delivered drugs are still lacking. Treatment invariably involves lengthy hospitalization, with both medical and socioeconomic consequences.Web of Scienc

Discovery of mating in the major African livestock pathogen Trypanosoma congolense

The protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma congolense, is one of the most economically important pathogens of livestock in Africa and, through its impact on cattle health and productivity, has a significant effect on human health and well being. Despite the importance of this parasite our knowledge of some of the fundamental biological processes is limited. For example, it is unknown whether mating takes place. In this paper we have taken a population genetics based approach to address this question. The availability of genome sequence of the parasite allowed us to identify polymorphic microsatellite markers, which were used to genotype T. congolense isolates from livestock in a discrete geographical area of The Gambia. The data showed a high level of diversity with a large number of distinct genotypes, but a deficit in heterozygotes. Further analysis identified cryptic genetic subdivision into four sub-populations. In one of these, parasite genotypic diversity could only be explained by the occurrence of frequent mating in T. congolense. These data are completely inconsistent with previous suggestions that the parasite expands asexually in the absence of mating. The discovery of mating in this species of trypanosome has significant consequences for the spread of critical traits, such as drug resistance, as well as for fundamental aspects of the biology and epidemiology of this neglected but economically important pathogen

Ten Simple Rules for Organizing a Virtual Conference—Anywhere

1 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi, Kenya, 2 Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, 3 Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, 4 Institute of Bioinformatics, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria, 5 Moroccan Society for Bioinformatics Institute, Morocco, 6 South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa, 7 University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 8 University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, United States of America, 9 Biotechnology Unit, University of Buea, Buea, South West Region, Cameroon, 10 International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya, 11 Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa, Nairobi, Kenya, 12 International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya, 13 Bioinformatics Organization, Hudson, Massachusetts, United States of America, 14 Bioinformatics Team, Center for Development of Advanced Computing, Pune University Campus, Pune, India, 15 Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of Americ

Ten Simple Rules for Organizing a Virtual Conference—Anywhere

Etienne P. de Villiers and Sheila C. Ommeh are ILRI author