Arabidopsis and Musa cyclin D2 expressed in banana (cv. “Sukali Ndiizi”- AAB) enhances regeneration efficiency

Genetic transformation of banana is important because of its polyploidy, sterility and long generation time of most cultivars which limit conventional breeding. However, transformability and regeneration of transgenic lines remains low in bananas. This research reports on the potential of CycD2 genes to improve transformation and regeneration efficiency of banana (cv. “Sukali Ndiizi”). Two genes Arath;CycD2;1 and Musa;CycD2;1 were evaluated for cell cycle modification of the embryogenic cell suspension that is conventionally used in banana genetic engineering at the National Biotechnology Centre, Kawanda. The UidA (GUS) gene was used as reporter gene to establish transient transformation frequency by fusing it with each of the CycD2; 1 genes and Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter in the binary vector, pC1305.1. The transformed “Sukali Ndiizi” cells were cultured on selection media and the hygromycin resistant clones developed into shoots. The Gus assay analyses showed a success rate of 80 to 90% for all the constructs including the control, transformed with the empty vector without CycD2; 1 gene. Also, the Gus assay of the regenerants showed that the gene was expressed in different parts of the plants (roots, corm and leaves). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the regenerated shoots gave the regeneration frequency of the embryogenic clones of Arath; CycD2; 1 and Musa; CycD2; 1 gene was 47 and 62%, respectively. This was much higher than that of the control clones without CycD2; 1 (18%). The results show that CycD2; 1 genes have the potential to significantly improve regeneration efficiency of “Sukali Ndiizi” cells”.Keywords: Cell cycle genes, reporter gene, genetic transformation, regeneration efficiencyAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(13), pp. 1467-147

Viruses associated with measles-like illnesses in Uganda

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the causes of measles-like illnesses (MLI) in the Uganda national surveillance programme in order to inform diagnostic assay selection and vaccination strategies. Methods: We used metagenomic next-generation sequencing (M-NGS) on the Illumina platform to identify viruses associated with MLI (defined as fever and rash in the presence of either cough, coryza or conjunctivitis) in patient samples that had tested IgM negative for measles between 2010 and 2019. Results: Viral genomes were identified in 87/271 (32%) of samples, of which 44/271 (16%) contained 12 known viral pathogens. Expected viruses included rubella, human parvovirus B19, Epstein Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6B, human cytomegalovirus, varicella zoster virus and measles virus (detected within the seronegative window-period of infection) and the blood-borne hepatitis B virus. We also detected Saffold virus, human parvovirus type 4, the human adenovirus C2 and vaccine-associated poliovirus type 1. Conclusions: The study highlights the presence of undiagnosed viruses causing MLI in Uganda, including vaccine-preventable illnesses. NGS can be used to monitor common viral infections at a population level, especially in regions where such infections are prevalent, including low and middle income countries to guide vaccination policy and optimize diagnostic assays

Relationship between Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense genetic diversity and clinical spectrum among sleeping sickness patients in Uganda

Abstract Objective Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) due to Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in East and southern Africa is reported to be clinically diverse. We tested the hypothesis that this clinical diversity is associated with a variation in trypanosome genotypes. Results Trypanosome DNA isolated from HAT patients was genotyped using 7 microsatellite markers directly from blood spotted FTA cards following a whole genome amplification. All markers were polymorphic and identified 17 multi-locus genotypes with 56% of the isolates having replicate genotypes. We did not observe any significant clustering between isolates and bootstrap values across major tree nodes were insignificant. When genotypes were compared among patients with varying clinical presentation or outcome, replicate genotypes were observed at both extremes showing no significant association between genetic diversity and clinical outcome. Our study shows that T. b. rhodesiense isolates are homogeneous within a focus and that observed clinical diversity may not be associated with parasite genetic diversity. Other factors like host genetics and environmental factors might be involved in determining clinical diversity. Our study may be important in designing appropriate control measures that target the parasite

MOESM4 of Relationship between Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense genetic diversity and clinical spectrum among sleeping sickness patients in Uganda

Additional file 4. Allele frequencies across the different microsatellite loci

Additional file 2: Table S2. of Population genetic structure and temporal stability among Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense isolates in Uganda

Multi-locus genotypes summarized by temporal group (year of isolation). (DOCX 12 kb

MOESM2 of Relationship between Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense genetic diversity and clinical spectrum among sleeping sickness patients in Uganda

Additional file 2. Multi-locus genotypes (MLGs) and allele sizes for 7 microsatellite markers

Inspiring Anti-Tick Vaccine Research, Development and Deployment in Tropical Africa for the Control of Cattle Ticks: Review and Insights

Ticks are worldwide ectoparasites to humans and animals, and are associated with numerous health and economic effects. Threatening over 80% of the global cattle population, tick and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) particularly constrain livestock production in the East, Central and Southern Africa. This, therefore, makes their control critical to the sustainability of the animal industry in the region. Since ticks are developing resistance against acaricides, anti-tick vaccines (ATVs) have been proposed as an environmentally friendly control alternative. Whereas they have been used in Latin America and Australia to reduce tick populations, pathogenic infections and number of acaricide treatments, commercially registered ATVs have not been adopted in tropical Africa for tick control. This is majorly due to their limited protection against economically important tick species of Africa and lack of research. Recent advances in various omics technologies and reverse vaccinology have enabled the identification of many candidate anti-tick antigens (ATAs), and are likely to usher in the next generation of vaccines, for which Africa should prepare to embrace. Herein, we highlight some scientific principles and approaches that have been used to identify ATAs, outline characteristics of a desirable ATA for vaccine design and propose the need for African governments to investment in ATV research to develop vaccines relevant to local tick species (personalized vaccines). We have also discussed the prospect of incorporating anti-tick vaccines into the integrated TTBDs control strategies in the sub-Saharan Africa, citing the case of Uganda