Relationship Between Alpha+-Thalassaemia and Glutathione-S-Transferases Polymorphisms in Children with Severe Malaria in Tanzania

Alpha+-thalassaemia is well known for conferring partial protection to against severe malaria. On the other, Glutathione –S-transferase (GST) polymorphism has recently been associated to severe malaria in children. A retrospective cross sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between genotypic polymorphisms of alpha+-thalassaemia and glutathione-S-transferase in children with severe malaria. A total of 148 DNA samples from children aged between 1 and 15 years with mild and severe malaria were retrieved and determined by polymerase chain reaction. Children with Glutathione-S-transferase-pi1 (GSTP1)-polymorphism were observed to have three fold risk (OR = 2.9; 95% CI =1.3- 6.1; P = 0.006) of developing severe malaria compared to mild malaria in Mnyuzi-Korogwe, north-eastern, Tanzania. In the presence of Glutathione- S-transferase-pi1 polymorphism, children were found to have 3% decreased protective effect of alpha+- thalassaemia polymorphisms (homozygotes and heterozygotes) against severe malaria although this was not statistically significant [ OR = 0.81 (95% CI = 0.5-1.5; P = 0.5) to OR = 0.78 (95% CI = 0.4-1.5; P = 0.44)]. We conclude that Glutathione-S-transferase-pi1 polymorphism increases risk of developing severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum in children. The observed inverse relationship between GSTP1 polymorphisms and alpha+-thalassaemia to children with severe malaria need further investigation

The UV Dose Used for Disinfection of Drinking Water in Sweden Inadequately Inactivates Enteric Virus with Double-Stranded Genomes

Irradiation with ultraviolet light (UV) at 254 nm is effective in inactivating a wide range of human pathogens. In Sweden, a UV dose of 400 J/m2 is often used for the treatment of drinking water. To investigate its effect on virus inactivation, enteric viruses with different genomic organizations were irradiated with three UV doses (400, 600, and 1000 J/m2), after which their viability on cell cultures was examined. Adenovirus type 2 (double-stranded DNA), simian rotavirus 11 (double-stranded RNA), and echovirus 30 (single-stranded RNA) were suspended in tap water and pumped into a laboratory-scale Aquada 1 UV reactor. Echovirus 30 was reduced by 3.6-log10 by a UV dose of 400 J/m2. Simian rotavirus 11 and adenovirus type 2 were more UV resistant with only 1-log10 reduction at 400 J/m2 and needed 600 J/m2 for 2.9-log10 and 3.1-log10 reductions, respectively. There was no significant increase in the reduction of viral viability at higher UV doses, which may indicate the presence of UV-resistant viruses. These results show that higher UV doses than those usually used in Swedish drinking water treatment plants should be considered in combination with other barriers to disinfect the water when there is a risk of fecal contamination of the water

Relationship between alpha+-thalassaemia and glutathione-S-transferases polymorphisms in children with severe malaria in Tanzania

Alpha+-thalassaemia is well known for conferring partial protection to against severe malaria. On the other, Glutathione –S-transferase (GST) polymorphism has recently been associated to severe malaria in children. A retrospective cross sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between genotypic polymorphisms of alpha+-thalassaemia and glutathione-S-transferase in children with severe malaria. A total of 148 DNA samples from children aged between 1 and 15 years with mild and severe malaria were retrieved and determined by polymerase chain reaction. Children with Glutathione-S-transferase-pi1 (GSTP1)- polymorphism were observed to have three fold risk (OR = 2.9; 95% CI =1.3- 6.1; P = 0.006) of developing severe malaria compared to mild malaria in Mnyuzi-Korogwe, north-eastern, Tanzania. In the presence of Glutathione- S-transferase-pi1 polymorphism, children were found to have 3% decreased protective effect of alpha+- thalassaemia polymorphisms (homozygotes and heterozygotes) against severe malaria although this was not statistically significant [ OR = 0.81 (95% CI = 0.5-1.5; P = 0.5) to OR = 0.78 (95% CI = 0.4-1.5; P = 0.44)]. We conclude that Glutathione-S-transferase-pi1 polymorphism increases risk of developing severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum in children. The observed inverse relationship between GSTP1 polymorphisms and alpha+-thalassaemia to children with severe malaria need further investigation