Regulatory T cells modulate monocyte functions in immunocompetent antiretroviral therapy naive HIV-1 infected people.

We previously demonstrated that the overall number of regulatory T (Treg) cells decrease proportionately with helper CD4 T cells and their frequencies increase in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infected individuals. The question now is whether the discrepancies in Treg cell numbers and frequencies are synonymous to an impairment of their functions. To address this, we purified Treg cells and assessed their ability to modulate autologous monocytes functions.

Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH)-Conjugated Cancer Drug Delivery from Magnetite Nanoparticle-Modified Microporous Poly-Di-Methyl-Siloxane (PDMS) Systems for the Targeted Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

This study presents LHRH conjugated drug delivery via a magnetite nanoparticle-modified microporous Poly-Di-Methyl-Siloxane (PDMS) system for the targeted suppression of triple-negative breast cancer cells. First, the MNP-modified PDMS devices are fabricated before loading with targeted and untargeted cancer drugs. The release kinetics from the devices are then studied before fitting the results to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model.

In vitro antiplasmodial and anticancer analyses of endophytic fungal extracts isolated from selected Nigerian medicinal plants.

Ethnomedicinal plants are thought to have better prospects of harboring endophytes that produce natural products with pharmacological activities. This study aimed to investigate the antiplasmodial and anticancer properties of secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi from three medicinal plants. The endophytic fungi included Lasiodiplodia theobromae isolated from Cola acuminata, Curvularia lunata Bv4 isolated from Bambusa vulgaris, and Curvularia lunata Eg7 isolated from Elaeis guineensis.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) specific responses to recombinant Qβ displayed MSP3 and UB05 in plasma of asymptomatic -infected children living in two different agro-ecological settings of Cameroon.

Introduction: in areas with intense perennial malaria transmission, limited data is available on the impact of environmental conditions especially rainfall on naturally acquired immunity against promising malaria vaccine candidates. For this reason, we have compared IgG antibody responses specific to Plasmodium spp. derived MSP3 and UB05 vaccine candidates, in plasma of children living in two areas of Cameroon differing in rainfall conditions.

Evaluating Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests and Microscopy for Detecting Plasmodium Infection and Status of Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2/3 Gene Deletions in Southeastern Nigeria.

Delays in malaria diagnosis increase treatment failures and deaths. In endemic regions, standard diagnostic methods are microscopy and malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) detecting Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2/3 (PFHRP2/PFHRP3), but gene deletions can allow certain parasites to remain undetected. We enlisted a cohort comprising 207 symptomatic individuals, encompassing both children and adults, at a hospital in Nnewi, Nigeria.

Incidence and antibiotic susceptibility profile of uropathogenic positive for extended spectrum β-lactamase among HIV/AIDS patients in Awka metropolis, Nigeria.

Background And Objectives: This study investigated the incidence and antibiotic susceptibility profile of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing uropathogenic recovered from HIV/AIDS patients in Awka metropolis, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: A total of 363 urine samples were bacteriologically analyzed for the isolation of isolates which were further characterized using standard microbiology techniques. The isolated uropathogenic was tested for susceptibility to a range of clinically important antibiotics using the modified disk diffusion technique.

Bioactivities and HPLC analysis of secondary metabolites of a morphologically identified endophytic fungus isolated from .

Natural products from Nigerian plants are significant in the search for drug compounds, as they contribute new compounds with biological properties to the fight against resistant pathogens, hence the study. Fresh leaves of were prepared for fungal isolation, identification, fermentation, and secondary metabolites extraction. The extract, subjected to HPLC analysis revealed the presence of two bioactive compounds: p-Hydroxylbenzoic acid, and Protocatechuic acid.

Antibiotypes and high frequency of toxin genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from nares of dogs and dog guardians in Nigeria.

To determine the antibiotypes and frequency of toxin genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP), 281 nasal swab samples were collected from dogs and dog guardians in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was determined by disc diffusion technique while detection of toxin genes was carried out by PCR. Exactly 41 (28.

Malaria surveillance amongst pregnant women attending antenatal care in private hospitals in Onitsha metropolis, South Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Recent reports suggest that pregnant women living in holoendemic regions of sub-Sahara Africa die in great numbers annually due to malaria disease resulting from their higher susceptibility, reduced immunity and demographic associated factors. This work investigated the prevalence of in pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) in selected private hospitals in Onitsha metropolis South East Nigeria.

Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from 270 pregnant women during ANC visits between October 2016 and December 2017.

Genetic diversity and allelic frequency of antigenic markers in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Nnewi district in Nigeria.

Introduction: The genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum poses a threat to the development and implementation of malaria control strategies. Thus, there is a need for continuous surveillance of its genetic diversity, especially amongst the parasite's reservoir's asymptomatic population.

Methodology: Three cohorts comprising children under ten years old, pregnant women and other adults were recruited into this study.

Absence of Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance gene mutations eleven years after the adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapy in Nigeria.

Background: The occurrence of artemisinin resistance (ART)-associated polymorphism of Plasmodium falciparum K13-propeller (pfk13) gene before and after the introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in two regions of Nigeria was investigated in this study. Regular surveillance is necessary to make a definite conclusion on the emergence and pattern of possible resistance to ART.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Southwestern and Southeastern geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among staff and students in a Nigerian tertiary educational institution.

Background: COVID-19 was first reported on 31 December 2019 and has so far claimed over 2,000 lives in Nigeria. Through global and national efforts, about 4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine was distributed and used in Nigeria from March 2021. Vaccine hesitancy could pose a serious problem for COVID-19 prevention and control.

Biosurfactant Production Using Mutant Strains of and from Agro-industrial Wastes.

Biosurfactants are applied in drug formulations to improve drug solubility and in some cases, treat diseases. This study is focused on generating, extracting, purifying and then characterizing biosurfactants from bacterial isolates of palm oil wastes and abattoir soil origins. Eight bacteria were isolated from the soil and sludge samples, out of which four (50%) were found to produce biosurfactants.

Metallo-β-lactamase and AmpC genes in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from abattoir and poultry origin in Nigeria.

Background: Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae represent the most relevant reservoir of resistance genes such as metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) and AmpC genes that give them the undue advantage to resist antimicrobial onslaught. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of MBL (bla, bla, bla, bla) and AmpC (bla, bla, bla, bla) resistance genes in aforementioned GNB collected from abattoir and poultry sources in Nigeria.

Results: In total, 370 isolates were collected from abattoir tables (n = 130), anal region of cows (n = 120), and the cloacae of poultry birds (n = 120).

Molecular characterization of invasive Enterobacteriaceae from pediatric patients in Central and Northwestern Nigeria.

Background: Bacteremia is a leading cause of mortality in developing countries, however, etiologic evaluation is infrequent and empiric antibiotic use not evidence-based. Here, we evaluated the patterns of ESBL resistance in children enrolled into a surveillance study for community acquired bacteremic syndromes across health facilities in Central and Northwestern Nigeria.

Method: Blood culture was performed for children aged less than 5 years suspected of having sepsis from Sept 2008-Dec 2016.

The Activating Receptors of Natural Killer Cells and Their Inter-Switching Potentials.

The global incidence of cancer is on the increase and researchers are prospecting for specific and non-selective therapies derived from the immune system. The killer activating receptors of NK cells are known to be involved in immunosurveillance against tumor and virally-infected cells. These receptors belong to two main categories, namely the immunoglobulin like and C-lectin like families.

-Hexitronic acid, a new tetronic acid derivative isolated from a soil fungus FG9RK.

A new tetronic acid derivative () together with terrestric acid (), a known metabolite of species, was isolated from the soil fungus, FG9RK following fermentation on solid rice medium. The structure of was elucidated by one- and two-dimensional NMR and MS measurements. The absolute configuration of the oxygenated carbon in the side chain of was identified as by converting the compound into its Mosher ester whereas the absolute configuration of the lactone ring was deduced based on biogenetic considerations and comparison with .

Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 genes in parasite isolates from asymptomatic individuals in Southeast Nigeria 11 years after withdrawal of chloroquine.

Background: A reversal of chloroquine (CQ) resistance following a period of withdrawal has raised the possibility of its re-introduction. This study evaluated the current prevalence of Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 alleles in Plasmodium falciparum isolates, 11 years after CQ withdrawal in Southeast Nigeria.

Methods: Filter-paper blood samples were collected from 725 non-febrile individuals, comprising 250 children (≤ 12 years), 250 pregnant women and 225 other adults, between October 2014 and February 2015 in Nnewi town, Southeast Nigeria.

Preliminary studies on the formulation of immune stimulating complexes using saponin from leaves.

There have been several modifications in the use of immune stimulating complexes as adjuvants, such as the replacement of phospholipids with saponin content. Not much research has been done on the use of local alternatives. This actually instigated the use of a local alternative saponin source from leaves to formulate Iscomatrix adjuvant.

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and peroxidase-mediated cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitory properties of extract.

Nigerian soil fungi population is unexplored. It is hypothesized that they harbour new bioactive chemicals. This hypothesis is based on the large percentage of currently approved medicines that originated from soil-inhabiting micro-organisms To investigate the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract selected based on its broad spectrum of antimicrobial potential in an overlay experiment with seven other soil fungi strains.

Efficacy and safety of Syferol-IHP for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease: a pilot, double-blind randomized trial.

Background: To our knowledge, there is no prior randomized study on the utility of Syferol-IHP (blend of virgin coconut oil and oil) when coadministered with a triple therapy schedule.

Aim: This study determined the efficacy and safety of Syferol-IHP as adjunct to conventional triple therapy for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD).

Methods: A pilot double-blind randomized trial was conducted in patients with confirmed diagnosis (endoscopy-guided biopsy) of PUD.

First Detection of FOX-1 AmpC β-lactamase Gene Expression Among Isolated from Abattoir Samples in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Objectives: Gram-negative bacteria represent the most relevant reservoir of resistance to antibiotics in the environment. The natural selection of resistant clones of bacteria in the environment by antimicrobial selective pressure is a relevant mechanism for spreading antibiotic resistance traits in both the community and hospital environment. This is in scenarios where antimicrobials are used irrationally, and even in the propagation of livestock, poultry birds, and for other veterinary purposes.

Filaria specific antibody response profiling in plasma from anti-retroviral naïve Loa loa microfilaraemic HIV-1 infected people.

Background: In West and Central Africa areas of endemic Loa loa infections overlap with regions of high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections. Because individuals in this region are exposed to filarial parasites from birth, most HIV-1 infected individuals invariably also have a history of filarial parasite infection. Since HIV-1 infection both depletes immune system and maintains it in perpetual inflammation, this can hamper Loa loa filarial parasite mediated immune modulation, leading to enhanced loaisis.

Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic Properties, and Phytochemical Characterization of Stem Bark Extract and Fractions of .

Background: () is used by Mbano people of Imo State, Nigeria, for the treatment of various ailments.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties of the methanol extract, fractions, and subfractions of .

Materials And Methods: The powdered stem bark was extracted with methanol and sequentially fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions.

Substituted l-tryptophan-l-phenyllactic acid conjugates produced by an endophytic fungus using an OSMAC approach.

The endophytic fungus isolated from leaves of the papaya plant was fermented on solid rice medium, yielding a new l-tryptophan-l-phenyllactic acid conjugate (1) and thirteen known compounds (11, 14-25). In addition, an OSMAC approach was employed by adding eight different sodium or ammonium salts to the rice medium. Addition of 3.