Analysis of AVR4 promoter by sequential response-element deletion

Several reports have associated the variability in physico-chemical properties of avidin protein to dynamism inherent in the consensus regulatory networks within the promoter region of avidin genes. An Avr4 promoter region ligated to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid vector (pBLCAT2) to produce recombinant plasmid Avr4pBLCAT2 was sequentially deleted to produce five distinct mutants: Avr4pBLCAT2907-176, Avr4pBLCAT2809-176, Avr4pBLCAT2789-176, Avr4pBLCAT2429-176 and Avr4pBLCAT2 302-176. The transformants elicited different chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) activities. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(7): 185-188

Occurrence of malaria and utilization of antimalaria preventive measures amongst pregnant women attending Ajeromi- Ifelodun General Hospital, Lagos State, Nigeria

Malaria in Pregnancy poses a serious health problem both for the mother and her unborn baby and this can be prevented with the use of Intermittent Preventive Treatment with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP), Long Lasting Insecticidetreated Nets (LLIN) and other preventive measures. This cross-sectional survey was carried out among pregnant women attending Ajeromi Ifelodun General Hospital between August 2013 and February 2014. A total of 414 pregnant women (with mean age of 29±8.7) in their first (84), second (124) and third (206) trimesters were recruited for this study. Blood samples for making both thin and thick smears were collected and semi-structured questionnaires administered to the respondents. The questionnaire probed into their knowledge on cause of malaria, the preventive measures taken against mosquito bite, use of IPTp-SP, possession and use of LLIN. The overall prevalence of malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum is 24 (5.8%) out of which 13 were primigravid, 5 were secundi-gravid, and 6 were multigravida with no significant difference (P>0.05) amongst them. Two hundred and eighty-six (69.1%) pregnant women had good knowledge of the cause of malaria. 164 (39.6%) of the sampled population had a tertiary education while 182 (44.0%) had secondary education, 124 (30.4%) were traders and 80(19.6%) were civil servants. Preventive measures claimed to be adopted by the respondents in avoiding mosquito bites include the use of LLIN (62.6%), insecticides sprays (36.2%), and locally adopted measures (1.5%). The number of respondents who had not availed themselves of IPTp-SP was significantly higher 258 (62.3%) compared to those who had (P<0.05). It was observed that educational status had no significant effect on the knowledge of the cause of malaria in sample population (p>0.05). The findings of this study reveal that there is a good knowledge on the cause of malaria among pregnant women but low use of IPTp-SP. In order to meet the new target of reaching an elimination stage set by the World Health Organization, factors responsible for the low use of these preventive measures should be investigated and quickly addressed so as to reduce both maternal and child morbidity/mortality resulting from malaria infection.Keywords: Malaria, Pregnant women, Prevention, Intermitent preventive treatment, Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, Longlasting Insecticide treated ne

Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum among pregnant women in south-west Nigeria

Pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) is a major public health concern and an important contributor to maternal and foetal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding of the biological basis of malaria in pregnancy was recently advanced by the discovery that susceptibility to PAM is not solely dependent on pre-exposure or gravidity. It was hypothesize in this study that PAM is difficult to diagnose in pregnant women who are multigravidae due to antibodies acquired from previous infections coupled with the extensive genetic diversity of the parasite. This cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the extent of genetic diversity of P. falciparum isolates among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Lagos, Nigeria between August 2013 and February 2014. A total of 414 pregnant women in their first (84), second (124) and third (206) trimesters were recruited for this study. Blood spots were made from P. falciparum positive blood samples and the parasite deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted for merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 genotyping. The prevalence of FC27 allele type from pregnant women isolate was higher (33.3%) than that from non-pregnant women (29.2%). The multiplicity of infection with P. falciparum in both groups was low. The findings indicate a low level of P. falciparum diversity among pregnant women but there is need for year-round surveillance especially during the peak malaria transmission.Keywords: Genetic diversity; Plasmodium falciparum; merozoite surface proteins