Leveraging the complex interplay between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, seasonal dynamics, and genotypic diversity to optimize maize productivity in semi-arid agroecosystems.

Maize production under low-input agricultural systems in semi-arid areas of Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant challenges, primarily stemming from the synergistic impacts of climate variability and suboptimal agronomic practices. Harnessing soil microbiota, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), represents a pivotal strategy for bolstering low-input systems. However, their functional utility is contingent upon their compatibility with the prevailing environmental conditions and biotic interactions.

Epidemiology of multi-drug resistant Tuberculosis in the western region of Kenya.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) (MDR-TB), or TB that is simultaneously resistant to both isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), is a barrier to successful TB control and treatment. Stratified data on MDR-TB, particularly in the high-burden western Kenya region, remain unknown. This data is important to monitor the efficacy of TB control and treatment efforts.

Molecular Characterization and Diversity of Bacteria Isolated from Fish and Fish Products Retailed in Kenyan Markets.

Fish products are highly vulnerable to microbial contamination due to their soft tissues, making them perishable and harmful to consumers. The clinical and subclinical infections reported by fish consumers are mainly associated with pathogenic microorganisms in fish products. Therefore, this study aimed at establishing the molecular profiles and diversity of the bacterial isolates from fish and fish products obtained from Kirinyaga County markets in Kenya.

Genetic and phenotypic diversity of microsymbionts nodulating promiscuous soybeans from different agro-climatic conditions.

Background: Global food supply is highly dependent on field crop production that is currently severely threatened by changing climate, poor soil quality, abiotic, and biotic stresses. For instance, one of the major challenges to sustainable crop production in most developing countries is limited nitrogen in the soil. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation of legumes such as soybean (Glycine max (L.

Diversity and Phosphate Solubilization Efficiency of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria Isolated from Semi-Arid Agroecosystems of Eastern Kenya.

Phosphorus (P) is a major nutrient required for plant growth but it forms complexes with other elements in soil upon application. A cost-effective way of availing P to plants is by use of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB). There is a wide range of PSB suited for diverse agro-ecologies.

Characterization and diversity of native spp. isolated from semi-arid agroecosystems of Eastern Kenya.

Declining food production in African agroecosystems is attributable to changes in weather patterns, soil infertility and limited farming inputs. The exploitation of plant growth-promoting soil microbes could remedy these problems. Such microbes include ; free-living, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which confer stress tolerance, avail phytohormones and aid in soil bioremediation.

Symbiotic efficiency and genetic characterization of rhizobia and non rhizobial endophytes associated with cowpea grown in semi-arid tropics of Kenya.

Cowpea ( (L.) Walp) is an important multipurpose legume crop grown in arid and semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The crop associates with a wide diversity of high ecological value rhizobia bacteria, improving biological soil fertility and crop production.

Western Kenyan Anopheles gambiae showing intense permethrin resistance harbour distinct microbiota.

Background: Insecticide resistance poses a growing challenge to malaria vector control in Kenya and around the world. Following evidence of associations between the mosquito microbiota and insecticide resistance, the microbiota of Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.

16S rRNA gene profiling of bacterial communities mediating production of tsetse attractive phenols in mammalian urine.

Several types of odours are involved in the location of host animals by tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae), a vector of animal African trypanosomiasis. Host animals' ageing urine has been shown to be the source of a phenolic blend attractive to the tsetse. Nevertheless, limited research has been performed on the microbial communities' role in the production of phenols.

Genetic Characterization and Diversity of Isolated From Root Nodules of Mid-Altitude Climbing Bean ( L.) Varieties.

The increasing interest in the use of rhizobia as biofertilizers in smallholder agricultural farming systems of the Sub-Saharan Africa has prompted the identification of a large number of tropical rhizobia strains and led to studies on their diversity. Inoculants containing diverse strains of rhizobia have been developed for use as biofertilizers to promote soil fertility and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. In spite of this success, there is paucity of data on rhizobia diversity and genetic variation associated with the newly released and improved mid-altitude climbing (MAC) bean lines ( L.

Potential of Native Rhizobia in Enhancing Nitrogen Fixation and Yields of Climbing Beans ( L.) in Contrasting Environments of Eastern Kenya.

Climbing bean ( L.) production in Kenya is greatly undermined by low soil fertility, especially in agriculturally prolific areas. The use of effective native rhizobia inoculants to promote nitrogen fixation could be beneficial in climbing bean production.

Resistance of -maize (MON810) against the stem borers (Fuller) and (Swinhoe) and its yield performance in Kenya.

A study was conducted to assess the performance of maize hybrids with event MON810 (-hybrids) against the maize stem borer (Fuller) in a biosafety greenhouse (BGH) and against the spotted stem borer (Swinhoe) under confined field trials (CFT) in Kenya for three seasons during 2013-2014. The study comprised 14 non-commercialized hybrids (seven pairs of near-isogenic and non- hybrids) and four non-Bt commercial hybrids. Each plant was artificially infested twice with 10 first instar larvae.

Upscaling Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis and Related Agroecosystems Services in Smallholder Farming Systems.

Smallholder farming systems form unique ecosystems that can protect beneficial soil biota and form an important source of useful genetic resources. They are characterized by high level of agricultural diversity mainly focused on meeting farmers' needs. Unfortunately, these systems often experience poor crop production mainly associated with poor planning and resource scarcity.

Prevalence of hypertension and associated cardiovascular risk factors in an urban slum in Nairobi, Kenya: a population-based survey.

Background: Urbanisation has been described as a key driver of the evolving non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic. In Africa, hypertension is the commonest cardiovascular problem. We determined the prevalence and risk factor correlates of hypertension in the largest Nairobi slum.

RANDOMISED DOUBLE BLIND STUDY TO COMPARE EFFECTIVENESS OF HONEY, SALBUTAMOL AND PLACEBO IN TREATMENT OF COUGH IN CHILDREN WITH COMMON COLD.

Background: Acute upper respiratory infection is the most common childhood illness and presents with cough, coryza and fever. Available evidence suggests that cough medicines may be no more effective than honey-based cough remedies.

Objective: To compare effectiveness of honey, salbutamol and placebo in the treatment of cough in children with acute onset cough.

A population-based survey of prevalence of diabetes and correlates in an urban slum community in Nairobi, Kenya.

Background: Urban slum populations in Africa continue to grow faster than national populations. Health strategies that focus on non-communicable diseases (NCD) in this segment of the population are generally lacking. We determined the prevalence of diabetes and associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors correlates in Kibera, Nairobi's largest slum.

Severe road traffic injuries in Kenya, quality of care and access.

Background: Road traffic injuries (RTI) are on increase in developing countries. Health care facilities are poorly equipped to provide the needed services.

Objective: Determine access and quality of care for RTI casualties in Kenya.

Oral hygiene practices and risk of oral leukoplakia.

Objective: To determine the influence of oral hygiene habits and practices on the risk of developing oral leukoplakia.

Design: Case control study.

Setting: Githongo sublocation in Meru District.

Headache associated disability in medical students at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.

Objective: To study headache associated disability in a group of medical students at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

Study Design: Cross sectional survey.

Results: Between October 1994 and January 1995 we conducted a survey on headache characteristics on medical students at both the Kenya Medical Training Centre and the Medical School of the University of Nairobi.

Influence of cigarette filters on the risk of developing oral leukoplakia in a Kenyan population.

Objective: To determine the influence of cigarette filters and the effect of smoking Kiraiku (home processed, hand rolled tobacco) on the risk of developing oral leukoplakia among cigarette smokers.

Design: Case control using population-based study groups in a Kenyan rural community.

Materials And Methods: 85 cases and 141 controls identified in a cross-section house-to-house screening of subjects aged 15 years and over and matched for sex, age (+/- 3 years) and cluster origin were compared for their use of filter and non-filter cigarettes as well as their history of smoking Kiraiku.

X-ray diagnosable pneumonia in children with severe malnutrition at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of radiologically evident pneumonia among children with severe malnutrition and to evaluate the diagnostic utility of commonly used clinical indicators of pneumonia among children with severe malnutrition.

Methods: All children with severe malnutrition and admitted at the then Paediatric Observation Ward without congestive cardiac failure, severe anaemia, or severe dehydration, were clinically evaluated and a posteroanterior chest X-ray taken for each child. Pneumonia was diagnosed on the basis of radiological changes consistent with pneumonia as reported by an experienced radiologist.

Screening for urinary tract infection in children with cancer.

Neutropaenia and immunosuppression place children on treatment for malignancies at a high risk for infections. We undertook to determine the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children on treatment for cancer at the Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral hospital. With the understanding that many laboratories in the rural areas of the country lack appropriate facilities for confirmation of UTI, it was also important to evaluate simple and inexpensive screening methods against a "gold standard" in this cross sectional study.

Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of primary caretakers towards sickle cell anaemia in children.

The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and beliefs (KAB) that may influence health seeking behaviour of caretakers of children with sickle cell disease (SCD). A cross-sectional survey was undertaken at Nyanza provincial hospital in Kenya between March and September 1993 to identify socio-demographic and economic factors that may influence health seeking behaviour of primary caretakers of children with SCD. All caretakers accompanying children under the age of 18 years to the Sickle Cell Clinic were eligible.

The effects of malaria control on nutritional status in infancy.

Both malaria and undernutrition are major causes of paediatric mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. The introduction of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITBN) during a randomized controlled trial on the Kenyan coast significantly reduced severe, life-threatening malaria and all-cause childhood mortality. This paper describes the effects of the intervention upon the nutritional status of infants aged between 1 and 11 months of age.

Migraine headaches in a group of medical students at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.

A survey was carried out on 711 medical students from both the medical school and the Kenya Medical Training Centre on headaches using a closed ended questionnaire. Six hundred and twenty five (88%) of the students reported to have at least one episode of headache in the last six months. Two hundred and forty (33.