The Influence of Hip Hop on Zimbabwe\u27s Urban Culture

A transcription of the author\u27s presentation at the Hiphop Symposium that took place at the University of Zimbabwe on February 27th, 2013, which is a personal reflection about the Zimbabwean Hip Hop scene, its beginnings in the 1980s and the directions it is currently taking

Phylogenetic Evidence of the Public and Veterinary Health Threat of Dog Rabies in Nigeria

Molecular phylogenetics has been utilised to trace spillovers of rabies infection from reservoir host species to dead-end non-reservoirs including humans and other susceptible mammalian species. In this study we demonstrate phylogenetic evidence of the transmission of rabies virus infection from a reservoir host to humans and other animals. Here, we analysed phylogenetically a partial region of the nucleoprotein gene of 33 representative Nigerian rabies viruses predominantly recovered fromdogs. The analyses revealed monophyletic group with 2 subclusters according to geographical locality of origin of the viruses. Furthermore, a correlation between humandependent activities such as movement was observed. The data indicated that the virus isolates analysed here together with sequence obtained from Genbank of a human (Nigerian) formed one dominant group. This finding could be attributable to migration and translocation of animals infected with these rabies strains across the country. These molecular epidemiological data further contribute to depicting the public and veterinary health threat that rabies still poses in Nigeria and its implication to food security in this developing economy

X-ray structure analysis of 3-chloro-7-hydroxy-4- methyl-chroman-2-one

The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, with unit cell parameters a=7.7203(3), b=14.0481(4), c=8.9066(3) Å, â=112.858(5)º, V= 890.11(5) Å3 and Z = 4. The structure has been solved by direct methods and the final R-factor is 0.0433 for 2832 unique reflections. The molecule, as such, is planar and the planarity is confirmed by the magnitude of dihedral angles between the two rings. Extensive Hydrogen-bonding has been observed and chlorine atom is responsible for the formation of trifurcated hydrogen-bond. Trifurcated hydrogen-bond plays a significant role in the design and synthesis of molecules having drug implications

Rabies can be prevented : be aware of its dangers.

28 September 2022 is #WorldRabiesDay. The theme for this year is “Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths”, emphasising the need for us all to work together to achieve the #ZeroBy30 goal. This article by Dr Claude Sabeta and Prof Jannie Crafford, both in the Faculty of Veterinary Science's Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases highlights the dangers of the disease, how it can be prevented and what must be done if someone was bitten by a potentially rabid animalNews article with colour photos about what's happening at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria.Originally published on the University of Pretoria's websiteab202

Antigenic characterisation of lyssaviruses in South Africa

There are at least six Lyssavirus species that have been isolated in Africa, which include classical rabies virus, Lagos bat virus, Mokola virus, Duvenhage virus, Shimoni bat virus and Ikoma lyssavirus. In this retrospective study, an analysis of the antigenic reactivity patterns of lyssaviruses in South Africa against a panel of 15 anti-nucleoprotein monoclonal antibodies was undertaken. A total of 624 brain specimens, collected between 2005 and 2009, confirmed as containing lyssavirus antigen by direct fluorescent antibody test, were subjected to antigenic differentiation. The lyssaviruses were differentiated into two species, namely rabies virus (99.5%) and Mokola virus (0.5%). Furthermore, rabies virus was further delineated into two common rabies biotypes in South Africa: canid and mongoose. Initially, it was found that the canid rabies biotype had two reactivity patterns; differential staining was observed with just one monoclonal antibody. This difference was likely to have been an artefact related to sample quality, as passage in cell culture restored staining. Mongoose rabies viruses were more heterogeneous, with seven antigenic reactivity patterns detected. Although Mokola viruses were identified in this study, prevalence and reservoir host species are yet to be established. These data demonstrate the usefulness of monoclonal antibody typing panels in lyssavirus surveillance with reference to emergence of new species or spread of rabies biotypes to new geographic zones

3-Anilinothio­carbonyl-4-hydroxy­chromen-2-one

The geometrical parameters of the title compound, C16H11NO3S, are in the usual ranges. The two aromatic residues are not coplanar and are twisted by a dihedral angle of 66.63 (6)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by N—H⋯O and O—H⋯S inter­actions

Aspects of the molecular epidemiology of rabies in Zimbabwe and South Africa

Rabies, one of the oldest recognized viral zoonotic diseases, is a fatal encephalomyelitis transmitted to man via contact with infected animals. Evan today, rabies still is a disease of public health concern with many potentially preventable deaths occurring mainly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Rabies and rabies-related viruses are members of the Lyssavirus genus, which comprises the rabies virus (genotype 1), Lagos bat virus (genotype 2), Mokola virus (genotype 3), Duvenhage virus (genotype 4), European bat lyssaviruses 1 and 2 (genotypes 5 and 6) and the Australian bat lyssavirus (genotype 7). Antigenic and genetic studies have shown that rabies virus strains circulating in particular host species tend to undergo genetic adaptation and evolve into distinct biotypes that differ in antigenicity and pathogenicity. Two biotypes of rabies virus are recognized in southern Africa. The first called the canid viruses, infect carnivores of the family Canidae (dogs, jackals and bat-eared foxes) and the second, the viverrid viruses, infect carnivores of the family Herpestidae (the yellow mongoose Cynictis penicil!ata and the slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea). In an endeavour to better understand the molecular epidemiology of lyssaviruses in Zimbabwe and South Africa, we analysed nucleotide sequences of the glycoprotein and the G-L intergenic region (rabies viruses) and the nucleoprotein gene (Mokola viruses). The main aim of the studies described in this thesis was to characterise lyssaviruses (genotypes I and 3) from Zimbabwe and compare them to those present in South Africa. In addition, we wanted to establish the role of the various rabies variants in rabies epizootics in the southern African subcontinent. It could be shown from this study that all the southern African canid viruses were closely related, with no general distinction between viruses from any of the canid species. Despite the general overall similarity between the canid viruses, certain phylogenetic groupings were apparent and by association with host species, geography and year of isolation, certain groups could be identified as particular epidemiological cycles. A high genetic diversity was evident amongst viverrid rabies viruses, the opposite of our observation for canid viruses. The viverrid virus groups corresponded to geographical pockets that were independent of host species. Mokola viruses from Zimbabwe were shown to be different from those from South Africa and phylogenetic relationships of these viruses were related to their geographical location of origin. This study has demonstrated the value of multinational surveillance and investigation in understanding the epidemiology of lyssaviruses in southern Africa and elsewhere in Africa. The results presented here will serve as basis for future studies on lyssaviruses in Africa and will contribute to the improved surveillance and control programs of rabies and Mokola viruses in the region.Thesis (PhD (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Microbiology and Plant Pathologyunrestricte

Molecular structure elucidation and hydrogen bonding analysis of a pyrazolone derivative

The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with space group P21/c having unit cell parameters: a=7.6329(4), b=7.8137(4), c=28.0651(14) Å, ? =95.995o. The structure converges to a final R-value of 0.0563. The two C-N bonds in Ring B are puckered as the torsion around these bonds is 29.67(2)o and -18.49(2)o , respectively. The two methyl carbons as well as the oxygen atom of the central N-containing five-membered ring (B) are significantly deviated from their mean positions. The magnitude of dihedral angle between the phenyl ring A and B is 133.09(1)o while it is 170.43(1)o between ring B and the phenyl ring C. This indicates that the molecule adopts a non-planar configuration. The crystal structure is stabilized by few C-H…O and C-H…N inter and intramolecular hydrogen interactions

X-ray structure and activity analysis of 3-bromomethyl -2-chloro-quinoline

The structure of 3-bromomethyl-2-chloro-quinoline crystallizes in the triclinic crystal space group P‘1 with unit cell parameters a=6.587(2), b=7.278(3), c=10.442(3) Å, a= 83.59(3)°, b= 75.42(2)°, g= 77.39(3)°, Z= 2, V= 471.9(3)Å3. The structure has converged to a final R-value of 0.0734. The phenyl Ring-B has normal geometry while the pyridine Ring-A has slightly distorted conformation. The asymmetry parameter calculations, i.e., DC2 and DCs for the pyridine ring indicates that the structure is planar. There exists one intramolecular hydrogen bonded interaction of the type C-H…Cl and one C-H…N intermolecular interaction. The structure is stabilized by Van der Waals forces