Leveraging on the genomics and immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 for vaccines development: prospects and challenges.

The incidence and case-fatality rates (CFRs) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the etiological agent for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), have been rising unabated. Even though the entire world has been implementing infection prevention and control measures, the pandemic continues to spread. It has been widely accepted that preventive vaccination strategies are the public health measures for countering this pandemic.

Evaluation of apoptotic protease-activating Factor-1 and cluster of Differentiation-4 T-Cell counts in patients-infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis in Bauchi, Nigeria.

Background: This cross-sectional study evaluated Apoptotic Protease Activating Factor and cluster of differentiation-4 (CD4) T-cell counts in patients infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Bauchi, Nigeria.

Methods: This involved 180 blood samples from 90 tuberculosis (TB)-infected patients and 90 of their close contacts at home or attending Federal Medical Center Azare and Infectious Disease Hospital Bayara, Bauchi, Nigeria. The blood samples were analyzed for Apoptotic Protease Activating Factor (Apaf-1) expression using ELISA and CD4 T cells using cyflow counter.

Absence of poliovirus in apparently healthy school children in Bauchi state, Nigeria.

Introduction: Poliovirus infections have been established to be in circulation in the remaining three polio-endemic nations. These pathogens have been associated with several chronic diseases, particularly acute flaccid paralysis of children. This study sought to ascertain whether polioviruses are silently shed by apparently healthy schoolchildren in Bauchi, Katagum, and Misau local government areas of Bauchi state, Nigeria.

Clinical Significance of IgG Avidity Testing and Other Considerations in the Diagnosis of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Review Update.

Prompt and accurate laboratory testing of women before or during antenatal days is necessary for detecting humoral immunological responses against cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and assessing risk of congenital transmission. CMV is the most common viral etiology with the greatest propensity to induce neonatal pathologies. Most healthcare facilities in developing countries rely solely on anti-CMV IgM and IgG assays in diagnosing CMV infections.

Molecular Detection and Clinical Implications of HTLV-1 Infections among Antiretroviral Therapy-Naïve HIV-1-Infected Individuals in Abuja, Nigeria.

Background: Individuals with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1)/HIV-1 coinfection have been demonstrated to undergo CD4+ lymphocytosis even in the face of immunodeficiency and increased vulnerability to opportunistic pathogens that can lead to poor prognosis.

Objective: This study investigated the prevalence as well as the effects of HIV-1/HTLV-1 coinfection on CD4+ cell counts, routine hematology, and biochemical parameters of study participants.

Materials And Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study involved 184 blood samples collected from HIV-1-seropositive individuals attending HIV-special clinic of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Nigeria.

Optimization of thermo-alkaline disintegration of sewage sludge for enhanced biogas yield.

Optimization of thermo-alkaline disintegration of sewage sludge for enhanced biogas yield was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design of experiment. The individual linear and quadratic effects as well as the interactive effects of temperature, NaOH concentration and time on the degree of disintegration were investigated. The optimum degree of disintegration achieved was 61.