Population of Fungi Associated with Seed Germination after Storage and Seed Treatment

Fungi growth occurs in seeds as a result of environmental conditions (high relative humidity, suitable temperature and high level of seed moisture content). But pathogen free healthy seeds are required for plant propagation. Microbial and insect attack affect seeds throughout the life cycle of the plant (Islam et al., 2009). Fungi are the most common microbes that affect seed germination and they can be both saprophytic and pathogenic. Hence, the aim of this experiment is to determine the cultural and morphological characteristics and population of fungi associated with the germination of some legume seeds after storage and scarification

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

EVALUATION OF MICROBIOLOGICAL SHELF LIFE AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND FATE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 INOCULATED IN PASTEURIZED MILK**.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, achieving safer and healthier foods had been one of the top 10 achievements of 20th century. Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a well-known food-borne pathogen that can cause food borne diseases in humans. To control E. coli O157:H7 in foods, thermal process has been widely used, but there is a possibility to recover some sub – lethal microorganisms during storage period. Providing the additional assurance of thermal processing of food, some natural bioactive compounds can be the effective possible alternatives. There is not much information about the shelf life of food against E. coli O157:H7 at different temperatures has been reported. So, there is a need of some study to understand the fate and survival of E. coli O157:H7 during storage period. The current study investigated persistence of wild-type E. coli O157:H7 serovars in sterile milk stored aerobically for up to 28 days at 4°C and 37°C. Additionally, survival of E. coli O157:H7 against the synergistic effect of heat and caprylic acid in sterile milk were monitored after heat shock at 4°C and 37°C for 28 days. In this study 107 CFU/ml inoculum level and 0.5% caprylic acid were used. Inoculated samples were heat shocked with 63 ℃ for 30 minutes and 72 ℃ for 15 sec. Treatments at 63 ℃ for 30 minutes and the synergistic effect of caprylic acid with 63 ℃ for 30 minutes exhibited the similar trend for survival which were about 4.1 and 3.2 log CFU/ml reduction of E. coli O157:H7 respectively after 28 days at both 4°C and 37°C. Our study thus indicates the occurrence of contamination could lead to prolonged survival of these microorganisms in high and low-nutrient environments and highlights the need for preventive measures

Determining minimum inhibitory concentration of sodium salicylate and developing PCR-based identification of Providencia rettgeri and Providencia stuartii

The genus Providencia comprises of urease-producing bacteria accountable for an extending range of human infections. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common disease related to Providencia that’s present in patients with long-term urinary catheters. Salicylate and related compounds, commonly present in aspirin, have a variety of effects in eukaryotic systems and are well known for their medicinal properties. Salicylate also has numerous effects on bacteria, yet only a handful of individuals within the scientific community appreciate these findings. This study investigates the effects of sodium salicylate on the growth of P. rettgeri and P. stuartii. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of sodium salicylate were determined by using broth dilution methods. Both P. rettgeri and P. stuartii were grown overnight in tryptic soy broth (TSB) with different concentrations of sodium salicylate to determine MICs of sodium salicylate. MICs of sodium salicylate on the growth of P. rettgeri was determined at 17mM – 20mM and MICs for P. stuartii was determined at 30mM – 35mM. Based on cultural and morphological identification, pathogen detection and identification methods are time consuming and not always reliable. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based pathogen detection method with the genus-specific primers is fast and reliable for detecting Providencia species. We have deigned two pairs of primers based on the global regulatory gene rsmC to detect P. rettgeri and P. stuartii. This study will be helpful to control the growth and break down antibiotic resistance by using sodium salicylate on the growth of Providencia species. Also, PCR based tools of this study should make easier the detection of P. rettgeri and P. stuartii

DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKERS’ PENSION VERIFICATION SYSTEM IN CENTRAL REGION OF NIGERIA

It is mandatory by law for all employers in Nigeria to engage in occupational scheme pension. However, the principles of pension documentation and services are static despite the dynamics of reforms. Most of these problems are caused by the manual approach used by the pension fund administrator. The aim of the pension system is to expedite consumption equalization by making mandatory provision for the future after service. This study analyses the problems faced by many retirees in the Central Region of Nigeria, Kogi State in recent times. The study seeks to develop a secure system for pensioners to assess information on payment of their pension with ease through a computerized pension verification system by adapting the Waterfall model, using tools like the Hypertext Preprocessor Program (PHP) for the programming language which is used in carrying out the web-based pension fund management scheme for effective, efficient, reliable and easy accessibility, and also the use of MYSOL for the database. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the staff pension system developed in this research should be adopted by all states

Efficacy of Admission Cardiotocography in Early Stage of Labour in Predicting Perinatal Outcome among Parturients in a Tertiary Health Facility in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria

Background: Some fetuses will present with hypoxia at admission into the labour room and may not be able to withstand the stress of frequent and adequate uterine contractions. Admission cardiotocography (CTG) in early labour has been thought to be useful in detecting babies with such conditions therefore affording the obstetrician early intervention to prevent adverse perinatal outcome. Aim: This study aims to determine the predictive value of admission cardiotocogram in early labour in the early detection of fetal hypoxia and its adverse perinatal outcome. Patients,Materials and Methods: It was a prospective cross‑sectional study among low‑ and high‑risk pregnant women in a tertiary health institution in Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria. Two hundred participants with singleton fetus in cephalic presentation were recruited consecutively at term in early first stage of labour and were subjected to 20 min admission CTG (ACTG). The resulting cardiotocograms were classified into reactive, suspicious or pathological and further management was based on the cardiotocogram findings. Perinatal outcomes were assessed and statistical analysis done using IBM SPSS version 20. The main outcome measures were mode of delivery and perinatal outcome using Apgar scores, neonatal pulse oximetry, and neonatal unit (NNU) admission. Results: Seventy percent of the participants were multipara, 42% were aged between 26 and 30 years. Suspicious and pathological CTGs were 9% and 1%, respectively. Operative delivery, birth asphyxia, and NNU admission of babies were more common among the non‑reactive (suspicious/pathological) CTG groups compared to reactive CTG group. The test, in predicting perinatal asphyxia, has low sensitivity (42.86%) and positive predictive values (15%) but high specificity (91.19%) and negative predictive values (97.78) Conclusion: ACTG is a simple, noninvasive screening tool in labour. It is highly effective in predicting fetuses unlikely to develop birth asphyxia but not so effective at predicting those likely to develop asphyxia. The test should be used with caution

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways