An immunoinformatics approach for the design of a multi-epitope subunit vaccine for urogenital schistosomiasis.

Discovery of T and B memory cells capable of eliciting long-term immunity against schistosomiasisis is important for people in endemic areas. Changes in schistosomes environment due to developmental cycle, induces up-regulation of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) which assist the parasite in coping with the hostile conditions associated with its life cycle. This study therefore focused on exploring the role of HSPs in urogenital schistosomiasis to develop new multi-epitope subunit vaccine against the disease using immunoinformatic approaches.

Shedding proportion of -like oocysts in feral cats and soil contamination in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite is transmitted through several hosts with cats serving as its definitive host. Oocysts are released with cat faeces into the environment ( soil); an important medium in its transmission. The level of soil contamination with oocysts is an indicator of the level of on- going transmission.

Arsenicosis in bladder pathology and schistosomiasis in Eggua, Nigeria.

Background: Chronic schistosomiasis and arsenic exposure through drinking water are some of the risk factors for bladder cancer. To determine the association of schistosomiasis and arsenicosis with bladder pathologies, 122 individuals from Eggua in southwest Nigeria were recruited for this study.

Methods: Prevalence of schistosomiasis was determined by urine microscopy and PCR.

Metabolite profiling for biomarkers in Schistosoma haematobium infection and associated bladder pathologies.

Background: Metabolic fingerprinting analysis can offer insights into underlying reactions in a biological system; hence it is crucial to the understanding of disease pathogenesis and could provide useful tools for discovering biomarkers. We sought to examine the urine and plasma metabolome in individuals affected by urogenital schistosomiasis and its associated-bladder pathologies.

Methodology: Blood and midstream urine were obtained from volunteers who matched our inclusion criteria among residents from Eggua, southwestern Nigeria.

Correction: The microbiome in urogenital schistosomiasis and induced bladder pathologies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.

Quantitative label-free proteomic analysis of human urine to identify novel candidate protein biomarkers for schistosomiasis.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease that is characterized by continued inflammatory challenges to the exposed population and it has been established as a possible risk factor in the aetiology of bladder cancer. Improved diagnosis of schistosomiasis and its associated pathology is possible through mass spectrometry to identify biomarkers among the infected population, which will influence early detection of the disease and its subtle morbidity.

Methodology: A high-throughput proteomic approach was used to analyse human urine samples for 49 volunteers from Eggua, a schistosomiasis endemic community in South-West, Nigeria.

The microbiome in urogenital schistosomiasis and induced bladder pathologies.

Background: Human schistosomiasis is a highly prevalent neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by Schistosoma species. Research on the molecular mechanisms influencing the outcomes of bladder infection by Schistosoma haematobium is urgently needed to develop new diagnostics, therapeutics and infection prevention strategies. The objective of the research study was to determine the microbiome features and changes in urine during urogenital schistosomiasis and induced bladder pathologies.

Acquisition, maintenance and adaptation of invasion inhibitory antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum invasion ligands involved in immune evasion.

Erythrocyte-binding antigens (EBAs) and P. falciparum reticulocyte-binding homologue proteins (PfRhs) are two important protein families that can vary in expression and utilization by P. falciparum to evade inhibitory antibodies.

Antimalarial actions of Lawsonia inermis, Tithonia diversifolia and Chromolaena odorata in combination.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Chromolaena odorata, Tithonia diversifolia and Lawsonia inermis are medicinal plants used in treating malaria in traditional medicine system. Previous studies however showed that their dichloromethane, methanol (1:1) extracts were more active against Plasmodium parasite than the aqueous extracts.

Aim Of The Study: To determine the in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of dichloromethane, methanol (1:1) extracts of Chromolaena odorata, Tithonia diversifolia and Lawsonia inermis in combination and evaluate their safety using acute limit toxicity test.

Persistent Transmission of Schistosomiasis in Southwest Nigeria: Contexts of Culture and Contact with Infected River Water.

Transmission of schistosomiasis is aided by human behaviour. Globally, about 800 million people are at risk of schistosomiasis infection. Data exist on biomedical understanding of the disease transmission; there is a dearth of information from the social science perspective.

Insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and the risk of hypertension among residents of two cities, South-South Nigeria.

Background: Hypertension is a public health challenge due to its high prevalence, and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study was designed to determine the frequency of the I/D polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene and its association with hypertension in a sample population of Calabar and Uyo, South-South Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: A population-based case control design consisting of total of 1224 participants, 612 each of patients and controls, were randomly recruited from hypertension clinics and the general population.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor A1166C gene polymorphism and essential hypertension in Calabar and Uyo cities, Nigeria.

Objectives: The angiotensin II protein is a vasoconstrictor that exerts most of its influence through the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R). Inconsistent association between the A1166C polymorphism of the AT1R gene and hypertension has been reported among various populations but not among the peoples of Calabar and Uyo. This study was designed to determine the frequency of the A1166C polymorphism of the AT1R gene and its association with hypertension in a sample population of Calabar and Uyo.

Developmental Regulation of Genes Encoding Universal Stress Proteins in Schistosoma mansoni.

The draft nuclear genome sequence of the snail-transmitted, dimorphic, parasitic, platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni revealed eight genes encoding proteins that contain the Universal Stress Protein (USP) domain. Schistosoma mansoni is a causative agent of human schistosomiasis, a severe and debilitating Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) of poverty, which is endemic in at least 76 countries. The availability of the genome sequences of Schistosoma species presents opportunities for bioinformatics and genomics analyses of associated gene families that could be targets for understanding schistosomiasis ecology, intervention, prevention and control.

Fine specificity of anti-MSP119 antibodies and multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 types in individuals in Nigeria with sub-microscopic infection.

Background: The absence of antibodies specific for the 19 kDa C-terminal domain of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP119) has been associated with high-density malaria parasitaemia in African populations. The hypothesis that a high prevalence and/or level of anti-MSP119 antibodies that may inhibit erythrocyte invasion would be present in apparently healthy individuals who harbour a sub-microscopic malaria infection was tested in this study.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected from residents in a region in Nigeria hyperendemic for malaria, who had no detectable parasitaemia by microscopy.

Cellular responses to modified Plasmodium falciparum MSP119 antigens in individuals previously exposed to natural malaria infection.

Background: MSP1 processing-inhibitory antibodies bind to epitopes on the 19 kDa C-terminal region of the Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1(19)), inhibiting erythrocyte invasion. Blocking antibodies also bind to this antigen but prevent inhibitory antibodies binding, allowing invasion to proceed. Recombinant MSP1(19) had been modified previously to allow inhibitory but not blocking antibodies to continue to bind.

Detection of p53 codon 249 mutation in Nigerian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma using a novel evaluation of cell-free DNA.

Objectives: This case-control study was done to determine the association and prevalence of p53 codon 249 mutation using cell-free DNA in the plasma of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in South-Western Nigeria.

Method: Eighty-five adults with HCC and seventy-seven age and gender matched controls without evidence of liver disease or malignancy involving any part of the body, were recruited. Plasma DNA was analyzed for p53 codon 249 by restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Epidemiological factors that promote the development of severe malaria anaemia in children in Ibadan.

Background: Effective control and management of severe malaria cases depends on a clear understanding of the local epidemiological factors and specific clinical manifestations of the disease in the different endemic regions.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of severe malaria and epidemiological factors that affect the development of malaria anaemia.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among children below 5 years of age, at the Adeoyo State Maternity Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

The human immune response to Plasmodium falciparum includes both antibodies that inhibit merozoite surface protein 1 secondary processing and blocking antibodies.

Malaria merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) is cleaved in an essential step during erythrocyte invasion. The responses of children to natural malaria infection included antibodies that inhibit this cleavage and others that block the binding of these inhibitory antibodies. There was no correlation between the titer of the antibody to the 19-kDa fragment of MSP1 and its inhibitory activity.