Simple and Fail-safe Method to Transform Miniprep Strain K12 Plasmid DNA Into Viable EHA105 Cells for Plant Genetic Transformation.

Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation method is a vital molecular biology technique employed to develop transgenic plants. Plants are genetically engineered to develop disease-free varieties, knock out unsettling traits for crop improvement, or incorporate an antigenic protein to make the plant a green factory for edible vaccines. The method's robustness was validated through successful transformations, demonstrating its effectiveness as a standard approach for researchers working in plant biotechnology.

anticoccidial activity of nanoencapsulated bromelain against spp. oocysts isolated from goats in Kenya.

Background And Aim: The emergence of drug-resistant strains of spp. calls for the development of novel anticoccidial drugs. Plant extracts provide a possible natural source for such drugs.

Schistosoma mansoni and soil transmtted helminths in olive baboons and potential zoonosis.

Zoonotic pathogens are among the most important causes of ill health all over the world. The presence of these pathogens in free ranging baboons may have significant implications for humans. In Kenya, the encroachment of wildlife habitats has led to increased interaction between humans and wildlife especially non-human primates.

A Review on the Present Advances on Studies of Toxoplasmosis in Eastern Africa.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the protozoan parasite, . It was discovered over 100 years ago and is credited as the most successful parasitic organism worldwide, able to infect and multiply in all warm blooded animals including an estimated 2.3 billion people.

Diurnal transcriptome atlas of a primate across major neural and peripheral tissues.

Diurnal gene expression patterns underlie time-of-the-day-specific functional specialization of tissues. However, available circadian gene expression atlases of a few organs are largely from nocturnal vertebrates. We report the diurnal transcriptome of 64 tissues, including 22 brain regions, sampled every 2 hours over 24 hours, from the primate (baboon).

Prevalence of and Other Gastrointestinal Parasites in Domestic Cats from Households in Thika Region, Kenya.

Gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites of domestic cats (Felis catus) not only cause morbidity but are also potential zoonotic agents. The current study aimed at establishing the prevalence of GIT parasites in cats kept by households in Thika region, Kenya. Fecal samples were collected randomly from 103 cats and analyzed for presence of parasites using standard parasitological methods.

Development of Neurological Mouse Model for Toxoplasmosis Using Isolated from Chicken in Kenya.

Animal models for the toxoplasmosis are scarce and have limitations. In this study, a neurological mouse model was developed in BALB/c mice infected intraperitoneally with 15 cysts of a isolate. The mice were monitored for 42 days and euthanized at different time points.

IgM, lgG and IL-6 profiles in the Trypanosoma brucei brucei monkey model of human African trypanosomiasis.

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) patients manifest immunological profiles, whose variations over time can be used to indicate disease progression. However, monitoring of these biomarkers in human patients is beset by several limitations which can be offset by using chronic animal models. A recent improved monkey model of HAT using a Trypanosoma brucei brucei isolate has been developed but the immunological profile has not been elucidated.

Detection of Natural Infection in Chicken in Thika Region of Kenya Using Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction.

The detection of in free-range chickens is a good indicator of possible risk to human beings. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of in free-range chicken using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Brain samples from 105 free-range chickens from three administrative areas in Thika region, Kenya, were collected, DNA-extracted, and analyzed using PCR to detect presence of .

Comparative evaluation of the nested ITS PCR against the 18S PCR-RFLP in a survey of bovine trypanosomiasis in Kwale County, Kenya.

We compared the nested internal transcribed spacer (ITS) PCR and the 18S PCR-RFLP (restriction-fragment length polymorphism) pan-trypanosome assays in a cross-sectional survey of bovine trypanosomiasis in 358 cattle in Kwale County, Kenya. The prevalence of trypanosomiasis as determined by the nested ITS PCR was 19.6% (70/358) and by 18S PCR-RFLP was 16.

Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification for Detection of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Urine and Saliva Samples in Nonhuman Primate Model.

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a vector-borne parasitic zoonotic disease. The disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is the most prevalent in Africa. Early diagnosis is hampered by lack of sensitive diagnostic techniques.

Virulence and pathogenicity of three stabilates in a Swiss white mouse model.

Background: A key objective in basic research on human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is developing a cheap and reliable experimental model of the disease for use in pathogenesis and drug studies.

Objective: With a view to improving current models, a study was undertaken to characterise the virulence and pathogenicity of three stabilates, labelled as International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)-2918, ILRI-3953, and Institute of Primate Research (IPR)-001, infected into Swiss white mice.

Methods: Swiss white mice were infected intraperitoneally with trypanosomes and observed for parasitaemia using wet blood smears obtained by tail snipping.

Development of a safer laboratory vervet monkey model for the study of human African trypanosomiasis.

Background: There are three subspecies of : and . The first two are infectious to humans, whilst is not. Identifying an animal model of that mimics human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) would enable researchers to study HAT without subjecting themselves to undue risks such as accidental infection.

IL-6 is upregulated in late-stage disease in monkeys experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.

The management of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is constrained by lack of simple-to-use diagnostic, staging, and treatment tools. The search for novel biomarkers is, therefore, essential in the fight against HAT. The current study aimed at investigating the potential of IL-6 as an adjunct parameter for HAT stage determination in vervet monkey model.

In vivo evaluation of antiviral compounds on respiratory syncytial virus using a juvenile vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) infection model.

Several animal models with varying susceptibilities to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection have been developed to study the specific aspects of RSV disease. Many of these models are used for testing antiviral compounds or in vaccine efficacy studies during preclinical evaluation. In this chapter, we describe the study design of an efficacy study of an RSV inhibitor, performed in a juvenile vervet monkey model for RSV.

Questionnaire survey on the occurrence of risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection amongst farmers in Thika District, Kenya.

A survey was conducted to determine the occurrence of risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection amongst farmers in Thika District, Kenya. Interviews were conducted in a total of 385 households using a structured questionnaire. The water consumed at household level originated from taps (74.

Influence of trypanocidal therapy on the haematology of vervet monkeys experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.

The aim of this study was to characterise the sequential haematological changes in vervet monkeys infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and subsequently treated with sub-curative diminazene aceturate (DA) and curative melarsoprol (MelB) trypanocidal drugs. Fourteen vervet monkeys, on a serial timed-kill pathogenesis study, were infected intravenously with 10(4) trypanosomes of a stabilate T. b.

IL-10 is up regulated in early and transitional stages in vervet monkeys experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.

IL-10 has been suggested as a possible parameter for human African trypanosomiasis stage determination. However, conclusive experimental studies have not been carried out to evaluate this, which is a prerequisite before a potential test can be validated in humans for diagnostic purposes. We used the vervet monkey model of trypanosomiasis to scrutinize IL-10 in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).