Double-Stranded RNA Targeting Dicer-Like Genes Compromises the Pathogenicity of on Grapevine.

Downy mildew caused by is one of the most devastating diseases of grapevine, attacking all green parts of the plant. The damage is severe when the infection at flowering stage is left uncontrolled. management consumes a significant amount of classical pesticides applied in vineyards, requiring efficient and environmentally safe disease management options.

RNA Interference Strategies for Future Management of Plant Pathogenic Fungi: Prospects and Challenges.

Plant pathogenic fungi are the largest group of disease-causing agents on crop plants and represent a persistent and significant threat to agriculture worldwide. Conventional approaches based on the use of pesticides raise social concern for the impact on the environment and human health and alternative control methods are urgently needed. The rapid improvement and extensive implementation of RNA interference (RNAi) technology for various model and non-model organisms has provided the initial framework to adapt this post-transcriptional gene silencing technology for the management of fungal pathogens.

Using a mentorship model to localise the Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK): from South Africa to Ethiopia.

The Federal Ministry of Health, Ethiopia, recognised the potential of the Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK) programme to promote integrated, comprehensive and evidence-informed primary care as a means to achieving universal health coverage. Localisation of the PACK guide to become the 'Ethiopian Primary Health Care Clinical Guidelines' (PHCG) was spearheaded by a core team of Ethiopian policy and technical experts, mentored by the Knowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town. A research collaboration, ASSET (helth ystems trnghening in sub-Saharan Africa), has brought together policy-makers from the Ministry of Health and health systems researchers from Ethiopia (Addis Ababa University) and overseas partners for the PACK localisation process, and will develop, implement and evaluate health systems strengthening interventions needed for a successful scale-up of the Ethiopian PHCG.

Obstetric hemorrhage and safe blood for transfusion in Ethiopia: the challenges of bridging the gap.

Background: Obstetric hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal death in sub-Saharan Africa, and the shortage of blood for transfusion is a contributory factor. In Ethiopia, the National Blood Bank Service continues to be confronted with challenges in its efforts to ensure the availability of blood for health care facilities. This paper reviews the available data on the contribution of obstetric hemorrhage to maternal mortality and examines the current status of the blood supply in Ethiopia.

Genetic diversity of hepatitis C virus in Ethiopia.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is genetically highly divergent and classified in seven major genotypes and approximately hundred subtypes. These genotypes/subtypes have different geographic distribution and response to antiviral therapy. In Ethiopia, however, little is known about their molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity.

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B and C virus infections among blood donors in Ethiopia.

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among blood donors in different regions in Ethiopia. A total of 56 885 sera were tested for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies. Of these, 3.