Evaluation of Au(III) complexes as Plasmodium falciparum aquaglyceroporin (PfAQP) inhibitors by in silico and in vitro methods.

The onset of resistance to artemisinin for malaria treatment has stimulated the quest for novel antimalarial drugs. Herein, the gold(III) coordination complexes Aubipy [Au(bipy)Cl] (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), Auphen [Au(phen)Cl] (phen = phenanthroline), Auterpy [Au(terpy)Cl] (terpy = 2,2';6',2″-terpyridine), and corresponding hydrolyzed species, have been investigated as inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum aquaglyceroporin (PfAQP) protein by computational methods. Through an in-silico approach using an Umbrella Sampling protocol to sample how Aubipy, Auphen, and Auterpy permeate through the PfAQP, their permeability coefficients were estimated using the Inhomogeneous Solubility Diffusion (ISD) model with promising results.

Pathology and molecular detection of influenza A subtype H9N2 virus in commercial poultry in Nigeria, 2024.

Background: After the first Avian Influenza H5N1 outbreak in Nigerian poultry in 2006, subsequent waves of outbreaks occurred, causing substantial losses. Despite effective control measures by 2008, a resurgence in 2015 led to further losses and required depopulation efforts.

Aim: The aim of this study was to do pathology and molecular detection of influenza A subtype H9N2 virus in commercial poultry in Nigeria during 2024.

An immuno-inflammatory profiling of asymptomatic individuals in a malaria endemic area in Uganda.

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum leads to the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs). A better understanding of how naturally immune individuals control infections should be valuable for future vaccine studies. Antibodies against RBCs and RBC surface antigens were measured together with different inflammatory markers in healthy adults living in a malaria endemic area of Uganda and compared to Swedish healthy adults.

Acquisition of anti-phosphatidylserine IgM and IgG antibodies by infants and their mothers over time in Uganda.

Background: Production of anti-phosphatidylserine (anti-PS) antibodies has been associated with malaria and can aggravate pathology. How these autoantibodies develop during early childhood in a malaria context is not known. We examined levels of anti-PS IgG and IgM antibodies in a longitudinal cohort of mother-baby pairs during birth, in the infants at 2.

transmission based on merozoite surface protein 1 () and 2 () gene diversity and antibody responses in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Background: Nigeria is a major contributor to the global malaria burden. The genetic diversity of malaria parasite populations as well as antibody responses of individuals in affected areas against antigens of the parasite can reveal the transmission intensity, a key information required to control the disease. This work was carried out to determine the allelic frequency of highly polymorphic genes and antibody responses against schizont crude antigens in an area of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Amplifying the power density in thermoacoustic systems using a spring component.

This paper deals with the introduction of a spring component into a thermoacoustic system to increase the power density. This enables more compact and cheaper thermoacoustic systems. A theoretical and experimental study is presented to demonstrate the effect of the introduction of a spring component to amplify the thermal power in a thermoacoustic heat pump.

The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on Tuberculosis (TB) case notification in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in disruptions in delivery of Tuberculosis services especially, in resource-limited settings. Provisional data by the WHO from 84 countries indicates that about 1.4 million fewer people received care for tuberculosis in 2020 than in 2019.

How to Detect Antibodies Against in Human Blood Samples.

Background: Today only indirect fluorescent antibody assays (IFAs) are commercially available to detect antibodies against in humans. IFA is subjective and requires highly experienced staff. We have therefore developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based method for measuring anti- immunoglobulin G antibodies in human blood samples.

Acquisition of complement fixing antibodies targeting merozoites in infants and their mothers in Uganda.

Background: Antibody-mediated complement fixation has previously been associated with protection against malaria in naturally acquired immunity. However, the process of early-life development of complement-fixing antibodies in infants, both in comparison to their respective mothers and to other immune parameters, remains less clear.

Results: We measured complement-fixing antibodies in newborns and their mothers in a malaria endemic area over 5 years follow-up and found that infants' complement-fixing antibody levels were highest at birth, decreased until six months, then increased progressively until they were similar to birth at five years.

Shows Equal Predilection for Human ABO Blood Types in an In Vitro Erythrocyte Preference Assay.

is spread to humans via ticks or blood transfusions. Severity of malaria is strongly correlated to the ABO blood group of the patient. is an intraerythrocytic parasite with many similarities to malaria, but the impact of ABO on the susceptibility to and progression of the infection in humans is unknown.

Anti-phosphatidylserine antibody levels are low in multigravid pregnant women in a malaria-endemic area in Nigeria, and do not correlate with anti-VAR2CSA antibodies.

Anemia is a common malaria-associated complication in pregnant women in endemic regions. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is exposed to the immune system during the massive destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) that accompany malaria, and antibodies against PS have been linked to anemia through destruction of uninfected RBCs. We determined levels of anti-PS IgG antibodies in pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria and correlated them to parameters of importance in development of anemia and immunity.

L-arginine and lisinopril supplementation protects against sodium fluoride-induced nephrotoxicity and hypertension by suppressing mineralocorticoid receptor and angiotensin-converting enzyme 3 activity.

Sodium fluoride (NaF) is one of the neglected environmental toxicants that has continued to silently cause toxicity to both humans and animals. NaF is universally present in water, soil, and atmosphere. The persistent and alarming rate of increase in cardiovascular and renal diseases caused by chemicals such as NaF in mammalian tissues has led to the use of various drugs for the treatment of these diseases.

Quality and hydrochemical assessment of groundwater in geological transition zones: a case study from N.E. Nigeria.

Sustainable management of groundwater resources in geological transition zones (GTZ) is essential due to their complex geology, increasing population, industrialization, and climate change. Groundwater quality monitoring and assessment represent a viable panacea to this problem. Therefore, there is a great need to investigate groundwater resources in terms of their chemistry and pollution to ascertain their quality and implement robust pollution abatement strategies.

Flow Cytometry Assay of Plasmodium Falciparum-Specific B-Cell Proportions.

Detection of P. falciparum-specific subpopulations of B-cells is important for studies of immunity in malaria. This protocol relies on the photostability and protein loading capacity of carboxylated quantum dots to detect a broad range of different P.

Osteopontin and malaria: no direct effect on parasite growth, but correlation with P. falciparum-specific B cells and BAFF in a malaria endemic area.

Background: The dysregulation of B cell activation is prevalent during naturally acquired immunity against malaria. Osteopontin (OPN), a protein produced by various cells including B cells, is a phosphorylated glycoprotein that participates in immune regulation and has been suggested to be involved in the immune response against malaria. Here we studied the longitudinal concentrations of OPN in infants and their mothers living in Uganda, and how OPN concentrations correlated with B cell subsets specific for P.

Cell-cell adhesion regulates Merlin/NF2 interaction with the PAF complex.

The PAF complex (PAFC) coordinates transcription elongation and mRNA processing and its CDC73/parafibromin subunit functions as a tumour suppressor. The NF2/Merlin tumour suppressor functions both at the cell cortex and nucleus and is a key mediator of contact inhibition but the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study we have used affinity proteomics to identify novel Merlin interacting proteins and show that Merlin forms a complex with multiple proteins involved in RNA processing including the PAFC and the CHD1 chromatin remodeller.

Naturally Acquired Antibodies against : Friend or Foe?

Antibodies are central to acquired immunity against malaria. elicits antibody responses against many of its protein components, but there is also formation of antibodies against different parts of the red blood cells, in which the parasites spend most of their time. In the absence of a decisive intervention such as a vaccine, people living in malaria endemic regions largely depend on naturally acquired antibodies for protection.

Assessment of groundwater recharge potential in a typical geological transition zone in Bauchi, NE-Nigeria using remote sensing/GIS and MCDA approaches.

The increasing demand for water occasioned by harsh climatic conditions, population explosion, and increasing urbanization has necessitated more attention and reliance on groundwater resources, particularly in water-limited regions. Thus, judicious management of available groundwater resources becomes crucial to meet the freshwater requirements in such zones. In this study, remote sensing and geographic information system were deployed to delineate groundwater recharge zones in semi-arid geological transition zones of Bauchi, northeastern Nigeria.

Viral gene therapy for paediatric neurological diseases: progress to clinical reality.

In the era of genomic medicine, diagnoses of rare paediatric neurological diseases are increasing. Many are untreatable and life-limiting, leading to an exceptional increase in gene therapy development. It is estimated that 20 gene therapy products will have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration by 2025.

in a bull on a university farm: public health implications.

An unsuspected bull in a private herd of forty cattle heads in south-western Nigeria died suddenly following three days´ treatment against tick infestation. Post-mortem findings revealed multi-focal widespread nodules in all lobes of the lungs with markedly enlarged lymph nodes. Isolate from cultured sample was subjected to spoligotyping which confirmed the isolate as Mycobacterium bovis (M.

Exacerbation of diclofenac-induced gastroenterohepatic damage by concomitant exposure to sodium fluoride in rats: protective role of luteolin.

NSAID-induced gastrointestinal toxicity is associated with non-selective inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-mediated synthesis of prostaglandins. Fluoride salts, known to stimulate COX-2 synthesis, have also been associated with gastrointestinal damage. The effects of fluoride treatment on NSAID toxicity are, however, yet to be clarified.