Bioinformatics proficiency among African students.

Bioinformatics, the interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and data analysis, plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of life sciences. In the African context, where the diversity of biological resources and healthcare challenges is substantial, fostering bioinformatics literacy and proficiency among students is important. This perspective provides an overview of the state of bioinformatics literacy among African students, highlighting the significance, challenges, and potential solutions in addressing this critical educational gap.

Microbiome profile of South Korean vector mosquitoes.

This research offers a comprehensive exploration of the microbial communities associated with vector mosquitoes from South Korea. Aedes albopictus, Anopheles sinensis, and Culex molestus are vectors of pathogens, and understanding the intricacies of their microbiome profile is paramount for unraveling their roles in disease transmission dynamics. In this study, we characterized the microbiome of the midguts of adult female vector mosquitoes collected from different locations in South Korea.

Association of circulating serum free bioavailable and total vitamin D with cathelicidin levels among active TB patients and household contacts.

The free hormone hypothesis postulates that the estimation of free circulating 25 (OH)D may be a better marker of vitamin D status and is of clinical importance compared to total vitamin D fraction. The unbound fraction is involved in biological activities since it is able to penetrate into the cell. Studies have shown that cathelicidin/LL-37 inhibits the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a vitamin D-dependent manner and therefore adequate vitamin D is required for its expression.

Deep Learning and Structure-Based Virtual Screening for Drug Discovery against NEK7: A Novel Target for the Treatment of Cancer.

NIMA-related kinase7 (NEK7) plays a multifunctional role in cell division and NLRP3 inflammasone activation. A typical expression or any mutation in the genetic makeup of NEK7 leads to the development of cancer malignancies and fatal inflammatory disease, i.e.

Malaria vaccine: The lasting solution to malaria burden in Africa.

Malaria is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in Africa. Many measures have been taken over the past few years to reduce the burden of malaria on public health following the recommendation of WHO, still, malaria has continued to rake devastation in Africa. Combating malaria in Africa has grown into an international concern.

Complete mitochondrial genome of a malaria vector mosquito from South Korea.

We present the complete mitochondrial genome of a Malaria vector Mosquito Wiedemann, 1828 from South Korea. The mitochondrial genome is about 15,421 bp long and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and an A-T rich region. The present data were compared with those from China with respect to PCG sequence differences, tRNA structure, gene order, and control region (CR) structure.

Larvicidal Activity of Methyl Benzoate, a Volatile Organic Compound, Against the Mosquitoes Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae).

Methyl benzoate (MBe) is a volatile organic molecule found in various plants; it is used as an insect semiochemical. MBe also has a biorational insecticidal effect against various agricultural and urban arthropod pests. The present study was the first to assess the larvicidal potential of MBe against fourth-instar larvae of the mosquitoes Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Culex pipiens (L.

Genetic Relationship of Fall Armyworm () Populations That Invaded Africa and Asia.

The fall armyworm, , is an important agricultural pest native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Western Hemisphere, and has invaded Africa and further spread into most countries of Asia within two years. Here, we analyzed the genetic variation of invaded populations by comparing the nucleotide sequences of two genes: the nuclear Z-chromosome linked gene () and the mitochondrial gene () of 27 specimens collected in Africa (DR Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe) and Asia (Bangladesh, Korea, Nepal, and Vietnam). The results revealed that 25 specimens were from a heterogeneous hybrid (-corn strain and -rice strain; -C/-R) of the corn strain male and rice strain female, but two specimens were from a homogenous corn strain (-corn strain and -corn strain; -C/-C).

The mitochondrial genome of a giant water bug (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from South Korea.

A giant water bug (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) is a large, predatory, and nocturnal hemipteran insect, which has been considered threatened and thus enrolled as an endangered species in South Korea and Japan. Here, we characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of , which has a circular form with 19,295 bp in length, which is the longest when compared to those of the 111 hemipteran species reported so far. Its longest genome size is due to the extremely extended CR (4686 bp), which is much longer than those of China and Japan.