Neural stem cell research in Africa: current realities and future prospects

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are immature progenitor cells that are found in developing and adult brains that have the potential of dividing actively and renewing themselves, with a complex form of gene expression. The generation of new brain cells in adult individuals was initially considered impossible, however, the landmark discovery of human neural stem cells in the hippocampus has been followed by further discoveries in other discreet regions of the brain. Investigation into the current state in Africa of the research and use of NSCs shows relatively limited activities on the continent. Information on the African application of NSCs for modelling disease mechanisms, drug discovery, and therapeutics is still limited. The International Brain Research Organization (IBRO)-African Regional Committee (ARC), with support from the Company of Biologists, and the Movement Disorder Society, sponsored the first African Basic School on NSC in Ibadan, Nigeria, with the vision of bringing together young neuroscientists and physicians across different fields in neuroscience to learn from leaders who have applied NSCs in stem cell research, the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, neuroanatomy, and neurotherapeutics. Twenty early-career researchers in academic institutions at junior and senior faculty cadres were selected from South Africa, Uganda and Nigeria. The students and organizer of the school, who wrote this review on the state of NSCs research in Africa, recommended the following: (1) other African countries can take a cue from South Africa and Nigeria in probing the phenomena of adult neurogenesis in unique animal species on the continent; (2) Africa should leverage the expertise and facilities of South African scientists and international collaborators in scaling up NSC research into these unique species and (3) Centers of Excellence should be established on the continent to serve as research hubs for training postgraduate students, and facilities for African scientists who trained overseas on NSCs

Co-expression of HERV-R, CCND1, BRAF, FOXA1, TMPRSS2, ATF4 and low expression of BAZ1B and KMT2D is associated with early detection and poor prognosis of prostate cancer in African Black men from Nigeria.

Prostate cancer (CaP) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by features of non-aggressive, slow-growing disorders to fast-growing disease. Men of African ancestry have disproportionately higher incidence and mortality rates for CaP than men of European ancestry. While there is evidence for a higher genetic predisposition for incidence of CaP in men of African ancestry compared to men of European ancestry, there is paucity of molecular biology and transcriptomic studies on the role of Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) in relation to CaP-associated genes in CaP pathogenesis and prognosis. In this study, we performed bulk RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embeded (FFPE) CaP samples from Nigerian CaP patients to investigate the expression significance of HERV-R in relation to FOXA1, TMPRSS2, BAZ1B, KMT2D, ATF4 and BRAF genes. Based on this findings, we used immunohistochemistry (IHC), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence (IF) to confirm the expression pattern of the HERV-R and FOXA1, TMPRSS2, BAZ1B, KMT2D, ATF4 and BRAF proteins on 45 FFPE CaP and blood plasma samples, and 5 CaP-free samples from patients in Zaria, Nigeria. Most of these patients were longitudinally followed from 2017 to date. The DESeq2 procedure was used for data processing, analysis, and differential expression analysis of the aforementioned genes. We found a significant expression of HERV-R in relation with FOXA1, TMPRSS2, BAZ1B, KMT2D, ATF4, CCND1 and BRAF in the CaP from rural Africans in Nigeria. HERV-R expression was found to be associated with increased PSA level, higher Gleason grade and poor prognosis of CaP. A CaP sample from an 80-year-old patient that was histologically diagnosed to have no malignancy seen despite high PSA level of >100 and poor disease outcomes shows a significant cytoplasmic expression of HERV-R, indicating that HERV-R may serve as an important biomarker for early detection. Unfortunately, we lost the 80-year-old patient to late detection before revisiting his case for proper histological diagnosis and management. In addition, some histologically diagnosed BPH samples that are apparently reported to be CaP-free show stromal cells expression of HERV-R and in some cases show expression of HERV-R in the prostatic glandular areas. In contrast, stromal cells of the CaP samples show no expression of HERV-R, but strong expression in the glandular areas. This may implicate a gradual transition from benign prostatic lesion to malignant prostatic disease. HERV-R expression in CaP may have a relationship with BRAF, CCND1, FOXA1, TMPRSS2 and ATF4 genes. These findings combined together, underscore the importance of the expanded concept of HERV-R expression and CaP associated genes in early detection of CaP and prognosis

Factors affecting the delivery, access, and use of interventions to prevent malaria in pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Malaria in pregnancy has important consequences for mother and baby. Coverage with the World Health Organization-recommended prevention strategy for pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) is low. We conducted a systematic review to explore factors affecting delivery, access, and use of IPTp and ITNs among healthcare providers and women. METHODS AND RESULTS: We searched the Malaria in Pregnancy Library and Global Health Database from 1 January 1990 to 23 April 2013, without language restriction. Data extraction was performed by two investigators independently, and data was appraised for quality and content. Data on barriers and facilitators, and the effect of interventions, were explored using content analysis and narrative synthesis. We conducted a meta-analysis of determinants of IPTp and ITN uptake using random effects models, and performed subgroup analysis to evaluate consistency across interventions and study populations, countries, and enrolment sites. We did not perform a meta-ethnography of qualitative data. Ninety-eight articles were included, of which 20 were intervention studies. Key barriers to the provision of IPTp and ITNs were unclear policy and guidance on IPTp; general healthcare system issues, such as stockouts and user fees; health facility issues stemming from poor organisation, leading to poor quality of care; poor healthcare provider performance, including confusion over the timing of each IPTp dose; and women's poor antenatal attendance, affecting IPTp uptake. Key determinants of IPTp coverage were education, knowledge about malaria/IPTp, socio-economic status, parity, and number and timing of antenatal clinic visits. Key determinants of ITN coverage were employment status, education, knowledge about malaria/ITNs, age, and marital status. Predictors showed regional variations. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of ITNs through antenatal clinics presents fewer problems than delivery of IPTp. Many obstacles to IPTp delivery are relatively simple barriers that could be resolved in the short term. Other barriers are more entrenched within the overall healthcare system or socio-economic/cultural contexts, and will require medium- to long-term strategies. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary