Partial characterization of lignin peroxidase expressed by bacterial and fungal isolates from termite gut

Lignin peroxidase producing microorganisms were isolated from the gut of Macrotermes nigeriense (Soldier and worker termite). The microorganisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Epidermophyton flocussum, Microsporum distortum, Trichophyton megininii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Aspergillus niger. When the isolates were incubated for 24 hours in the presence of 0.5 w/v pyrogallol to test for the expression of peroxidase activities, B. subtilis produced the highest activity among the bacterial isolates, with optimum temperature of 35 °C, and optimum pH of 6.5. Similar screen among the fungal isolates found M. distortum to express the most activities, with optimum temperature of 40 °C, and optimum pH of 5.0, after 72 hours incubation. The results from this study suggest that B. subtilis and M. distortum can be a cheap source of lignin peroxidase for large scale commercial production, biotechnological and industrial applications.Keywords: Macrotermes nigeriense, lignin peroxidase, microorganisms, enzyme Activit

Evaluation of some Varieties of Okra (Abelmoschusesculentus) Seed Oil for Consumption and Industrial Uses

The demand for seeds oil is rapidly increasing due to the growth of the human population and the resulting increase in its consumption for both domestic and industrial uses. Hence, seed oils from three okra (Abelmoschusesculentus) varieties – Clemson spineless, ex-Samaru and NHAE-74 were extracted and their physicochemical properties were analysed and compared with some conventional seed oils. The percentage oil yield of the seeds determined for NHAE-74 (25.67±0.58 %) is significantly higher (p < 0.05) than Clemson spineless  (24.33±0.29 %) and ex-Samaru (23.05±0.50 %). The acid value (3.65±0.02, 1.96±0.01 and 2.24±0.02 mgKOH/g), Iodine Value (114.59±0.01,110.97±0.02 and 111.67±0.02 mg/100g) and Saponification value (122.02±0.19, 130.43±0.04 and 124.82±0.02 meqKOH/kg) of Clemson  spineless, ex-Samaru and NHAE-74, respectively differ significantly (p < 0.05) among the three varieties, while the peroxide value  (meqKOH/kg) of Clemson spineless (3.92±0.14) is significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the values of NHAE-74 (5.33±0.14) and ex-Samaru (5.00±0.25). The results further showed that the seed oil has a quality comparable to those of conventional oils and has great nutritional and industrial potentials

Building capacity for public and population health research in Africa : the consortium for advanced research training in Africa (CARTA) model

Background: Globally, sub-Saharan Africa bears the greatest burden of disease. Strengthened research capacity to understand the social determinants of health among different African populations is key to addressing the drivers of poor health and developing interventions to improve health outcomes and health systems in the region. Yet, the continent clearly lacks centers of research excellence that can generate a strong evidence base to address the region’s socio-economic and health problems. Objective and program overview: We describe the recently launched Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA), which brings together a network of nine academic and four research institutions from West, East, Central, and Southern Africa, and select northern universities and training institutes. CARTA’s program of activities comprises two primary, interrelated, and mutually reinforcing objectives: to strengthen research infrastructure and capacity at African universities; and to support doctoral training through the creation of a collaborative doctoral training program in population and public health. The ultimate goal of CARTA is to build local research capacity to understand the determinants of population health and effectively intervene to improve health outcomes and health systems. Conclusions: CARTA’s focus on the local production of networked and high-skilled researchers committed to working in sub-Saharan Africa, and on the concomitant increase in local research and training capacity of African universities and research institutes addresses the inability of existing programs to create a critical mass of well-trained and networked researchers across the continent. The initiative’s goal of strengthening human resources and university-wide systems critical to the success and sustainability of research productivity in public and population health will rejuvenate institutional teaching, research, and administrative systems

Ocular rhinosporidiosis mimicking conjunctival squamous papilloma in Kenya - a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ocular rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by a newly classified organism that is neither a fungus nor bacterium. It often presents as a benign conjunctival tumour but may mimic other ocular conditions. It is most often described in India. In Africa cases have been reported from South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Congo and Ivory Coast. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54 year old man was seen in Kenya with a lesion that resembled a conjunctival papilloma. We report resemblance to conjunctival papilloma and the result of vital staining with 0.05% Toluidine Blue. CONCLUSION: Ocular rhinosporidiosis occurs in East Africa. It may resemble conjunctival squamous papilloma. Vital staining with 0.05% Toluidine blue dye did not distinguish the two lesions well

Partial characterization of lignin peroxidase expressed by bacterial and fungal isolates from termite gut

Lignin peroxidase producing microorganisms were isolated from the gut of Macrotermes nigeriense (Soldier and worker termite). The microorganisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermis , Bacillus subtilis , Micrococcus luteus , Epidermophyton flocussum , Microsporum distortum , Trichophyton megininii , Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Aspergillus niger . When the isolates were incubated for 24 hours in the presence of 0.5 w/v pyrogallol to test for the expression of peroxidase activities, B. subtilis produced the highest activity among the bacterial isolates, with optimum temperature of 35 \ub0C, and optimum pH of 6.5. Similar screen among the fungal isolates found M. distortum to express the most activities, with optimum temperature of 40 \ub0C, and optimum pH of 5.0, after 72 hours incubation. The results from this study suggest that B. subtilis and M. distortum can be a cheap source of lignin peroxidase for large scale commercial production, biotechnological and industrial applications

Topical fluorouracil after surgery for ocular surface squamous neoplasia in Kenya: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is an aggressive eye tumour particularly affecting people with HIV in Africa. Primary treatment is surgical excision; however, tumour recurrence is common. We assessed the effect of fluorouracil 1% eye drops after surgery on recurrence. METHODS: We did this multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in four centres in Kenya. We enrolled patients with histologically proven OSSN aged at least 18 years. After standard surgical excision, participants were randomly allocated to receive either topical fluorouracil 1% or placebo four times a day for 4 weeks. Randomisation was stratified by surgeon, and participants and trial personnel were masked to assignment. Patients were followed up at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. The primary outcome was clinical recurrence (supported by histological assessment where available) by 1 year, and analysed by intention to treat. The sample size was recalculated because events were more common than anticipated, and trial enrolment was stopped early. The trial was registered with Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR201207000396219). FINDINGS: Between August, 2012, and July, 2014, we assigned 49 participants to fluorouracil and 49 to placebo. Four participants were lost to follow-up. Recurrences occurred in five (11%) of 47 patients in the fluorouracil group and 17 (36%) of 47 in the placebo group (odds ratio 0·21, 95% CI 0·07–0·63; p=0·01). Adjusting for passive smoking and antiretroviral therapy had little effect (odds ratio 0·23; 95% CI 0·07–0·75; p=0·02). Adverse effects occurred more commonly in the fluorouracil group, although they were transient and mild. Ocular discomfort occurred in 43 of 49 patients in the fluorouracil group versus 36 of 49 in the placebo group, epiphora occurred in 24 versus five, and eyelid skin inflammation occurred in seven versus none. INTERPRETATION: Topical fluorouracil after surgery substantially reduced recurrence of OSSN, was well-tolerated, and its use recommended

Concomitant infections of Plasmodium falciparum and Wuchereria bancrofti on the Kenyan coast

BACKGROUND: Anopheles gambiae s.l. and An. funestus are important vectors of malaria and bancroftian filariasis, which occur as co-endemic infections along the Kenyan Coast. However, little is known about the occurrence and prevalence of concomitant infections of the two diseases in mosquito and human populations in these areas. This study reports the prevalence of concomitant infections of Plasmodium falciparum and Wuchereria bancrofti in mosquito and human populations in Jilore and Shakahola villages in Malindi, Kenya. METHODS: Mosquitoes were sampled inside houses by pyrethrum spray sheet collection (PSC) while blood samples were collected by finger prick technique at the end of entomological survey. RESULTS: A total of 1,979 female Anopheles mosquitoes comprising of 1,919 Anopheles gambiae s.l and 60 An. funestus were collected. Concomitant infections of P. falciparum sporozoites and filarial worms occurred in 1.1% and 1.6% of An. gambiae s.l collected in Jilore and Shakahola villages respectively. Wuchereria-infected mosquitoes had higher sporozoite rates compared to non-infected mosquitoes, but multiple infections appeared to reduce mosquito survivorship making transmission of such infections rare. None of the persons examined in Shakahola (n = 107) had coinfections of the two parasites, whereas in Jilore (n = 94), out of the 4.3% of individuals harbouring both parasites, 1.2% had P. falciparum gametocytes and microfilariae and could potentially infect the mosquito with both parasites simultaneously. CONCLUSION: Concerted efforts should be made to integrate the control of malaria and bancroftian filariasis in areas where they co-exist

Isolation of oleanolic acid from Parinari curatellifolia (Planch Ex. Benth) stem bark and evaluation of its anticonvulsant and sedative activities in rodents

Parinari curatellifolia is used by traditional medicine practitioners for the treatment of epilepsy. So far, no study has isolated the active principle that may be responsible for its anticonvulsant activity. The study aimed to isolate compound(s) present from Parinari curatellifolia that may be responsible for its anticonvulsant activity. The ethyl acetate fraction of the stem bark of Parinari curatellifolia was chromatographed over silica gel column chromatography which led to the isolation of compound C. The structure of the compound was elucidated using IR, 1H-NMR, 13CNMR and DEPT-135 spectroscopy. Acute toxicity study of the isolated compound was evaluated in mice using OECD 425 guidelines (2000 mg/kg orally). The anticonvulsant study of the isolated compound (at 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) was evaluated in mice using pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- induced convulsion. The sedative properties of the compound (at 10, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were evaluated using the diazepam-induced sleep model in rats. Structure elucidation of the isolated compound confirmed the compound to be oleanolic acid. Acute toxicity study revealed no lethal effects at 2000 mg/kg. the compound (oleanolic acid) significantly (p<0.05) increased the onset of seizure at all doses and resulted in 25% protection against seizure at 100 mg/kg. It exerted sedative effect at all doses by significantly (p<0.05) reducing sleep latency and increasing total duration of sleep induced by diazepam. The results obtained from this study have revealed the presence of oleanolic acid in P. curatellifolia and have shown its anticonvulsant and sedative activities for the first time.The authors expressed their sincere appreciation to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFund) and the management of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto for their financial support.The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETFund) and the management of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto.https://www.tjnpr.orgam2020Chemistr

Intimate partner violence against adolescents and young women in sub-Saharan Africa: who is most vulnerable?

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health and human rights issue that affects millions of women and girls. While disaggregated national statistics are crucial to assess inequalities, little evidence exists on inequalities in exposure to violence against adolescents and young women (AYW). The aim of this study was to deter- mine inequalities in physical or sexual IPV against AYW and beliefs about gender based violence (GBV) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Methods: We used data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 27 countries in SSA. Only data from surveys conducted after 2010 were included. Our analysis focused on married or cohabiting AYW aged 15–24 years and compared inequalities in physical or sexual IPV by place of residence, education and wealth. We also examined IPV variations by AYW’s beliefs about GBV and the association of country characteristics such as gender inequality with IPV prevalence. Results: The proportion of AYW reporting IPV in the year before the survey ranged from 6.5% in Comoros to 43.3% in Gabon, with a median of 25.2%. Overall, reported IPV levels were higher in countries in the Central Africa region than other sub-regions. Although the prevalence of IPV varied by place of residence, education and wealth, there was no clear pattern of inequalities. In many countries with high prevalence of IPV, a higher proportion of AYW from rural areas, with lower education and from the poorest wealth quintile reported IPV. In almost all countries, a greater pro- portion of AYW who approved wife beating for any reason reported IPV compared to their counterparts who disap- proved wife beating. Reporting of IPV was weakly correlated with the Gender Inequality Index and other societal level variables but was moderately positively correlated with adult alcohol consumption (r = 0.48) and negative attitudes towards GBV (r = 0.38). Conclusion: IPV is pervasive among AYW, with substantial variation across and within countries reflecting the role of contextual and structural factors in shaping the vulnerability to IPV. The lack of consistent patterns of inequalities by the stratifiers within countries shows that IPV against women and girls cuts across socio-economic boundaries sug- gesting the need for comprehensive and multi-sectoral approaches to preventing and responding to IPV

Effect of Body Mass Index on pregnancy outcomes in nulliparous women delivering singleton babies

Peer reviewedPublisher PD