Changes in the frequencies of Plasmodium falciparum dhps and dhfr drug-resistant mutations in children from Western Kenya from 2005 to 2018: the rise of Pfdhps S436H.

Background: Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is the only anti-malarial drug formulation approved for intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp). However, mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum dhfr (Pfdhfr) and dhps (Pfdhps) genes confer resistance to pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine, respectively. Here, the frequencies of SP resistance-associated mutations from 2005 to 2018 were compared in samples from Kenyan children with malaria residing in a holoendemic transmission region.

Epidemiological patterns and antimicrobial resistance of bacterial diarrhea among children in Nairobi City, Kenya.

Aim: Determine the prevalence of enteric bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance among diarrheic children in Nairobi City, Kenya.

Background: Regardless of enteric bacterial pathogens being a major cause of gastroenteritis in children, their occurrence and antimicrobial resistance patterns reveals regional spatial and temporal variation.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a total of 374 children below five years presenting with diarrhea at Mbagathi County Hospital were recruited.

Analysis of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance-associated mutations in Plasmodium falciparum isolates obtained from asymptomatic pregnant women in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria.

Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is one of the main strategies for protecting pregnant women, fetus, and their new-born against adverse effects of P. falciparum infection. The development of the drug resistance linked to mutations in P.

Influence of blood group, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and Haemoglobin genotype on Falciparum malaria in children in Vihiga highland of Western Kenya.

Background: Genetic diversity of ABO blood, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and haemoglobin type and their ability to protect against malaria vary geographically, ethnically and racially. No study has been carried out in populations resident in malaria regions in western Kenya.

Method: A total of 574 malaria cases (severe malaria anaemia, SMA = 137 and non-SMA = 437) seeking treatment at Vihiga County and Referral Hospital in western Kenya, were enrolled and screened for ABO blood group, G6PD deficiency and haemoglobin genotyped in a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Molecular surveillance of the Pfmdr1 N86Y allele among Congolese pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria.

Background: Malaria in pregnancy is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Regular surveillance of artemisinin-based combination therapy tolerance, or molecular makers of resistance, is vital for effective malaria treatment, control and eradication programmes. Plasmodium falciparum multiple drug resistance-1 gene (Pfmdr1) N86Y mutation is associated with reduced susceptibility to lumefantrine.

Genetic diversity and population structure of Plasmodium falciparum in Kenyan-Ugandan border areas.

Kenya has, in the last decade, made tremendous progress in the fight against malaria. Nevertheless, continued surveillance of the genetic diversity and population structure of Plasmodium falciparum is required to refine malaria control and to adapt and improve elimination strategies. Twelve neutral microsatellite loci were genotyped in 201 P.

Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein (PfHRP2 and 3) diversity in Western and Coastal Kenya.

Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich proteins 2 (PfHRP2) based RDTs are advocated in falciparum malaria-endemic regions, particularly when quality microscopy is not available. However, diversity and any deletion in the pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes can affect the performance of PfHRP2-based RDTs. A total of 400 samples collected from uncomplicated malaria cases from Kenya were investigated for the amino acid repeat profiles in exon 2 of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes.

Distribution of Snails in Associated Vegetations and Schistosome Infection Prevalence Along the Shores of Lake Victoria in Mbita, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Schistosomiasis due to remains a major public health problem and cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa despite the implementation of control programmes. More than 6 million Kenyans are at risk of infection. Regarding control measures, snail species, which are the obligatory intermediate hosts for transmission of have been neglected.

PfHRP2-PfHRP3 diversity among Kenyan isolates and comparative evaluation of PfHRP2/pLDH malaria RDT with microscopy and nested PCR methodologies.

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) are valuable tools that support prudent and timely use of antimalarial drugs, particularly if reliable microscopy is not available. However, the performance and reliability of these tests vary between and within geographical regions. The present study evaluated the performance of routine malaria RDT in Kenyan febrile patients in Busia County, Kenya.

Inhibitory effects of mushroom extracts on progression of carcinogenesis in mice.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common primary malignancy of hepatocytes that has caused many fatalities globally. To manage the increasing cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, natural products like mushrooms have been tested for their anti-oxidant, anti-tumour and therapeutic properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Agaricus bisporus on progression of chemically induced carcinogenesis in mice.

pathotypes and sero-groups in diarrheic children in Nairobi city, Kenya.

Aim: In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of pathotypes and sero-groups and their antimicrobial profiles among diarrheic children in Nairobi city, Kenya.

Background: Although diarrheagenic pathotypes and sero-groups are leading causes of diarrhea in children under five years in developing countries, their distribution and antimicrobial resistance vary from place to place and over time in a given region.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled diarrheic children (n=354) under five years seeking treatment at Mbagathi Hospital, Nairobi city, Kenya,.

Vaccine-related poliovirus shedding in trivalent polio vaccine and human immunodeficiency virus status: analysis from under five children.

Background: Poliomyelitis is an acute viral infection caused by poliovirus and transmitted via the fecal-oral route. The causative agent is one of the three serotypes of poliovirus (serotypes 1, 2, 3) that differ slightly in capsid protein. Prolonged vaccine-related poliovirus shedding in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals has been linked to possible reservoir for reintroduction of polioviruses after eradication.

Safety, immunogenicity, and cross-species protection of a plasmid DNA encoding Plasmodium falciparum SERA5 polypeptide, microbial epitopes and chemokine genes in mice and olive baboons.

Incorporation of biomolecular epitopes to malarial antigens should be explored in the development of strain-transcending malarial vaccines. The present study sought to determine safety, immunogenicity and cross-species efficacy ofPlasmodium falciparum serine repeat antigen 5 polypeptide co-expressed with epitopes of Bacille-Calmette Guerin (BCG), tetanus toxoid (TT) and a chemokine gene. Olive baboons and BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into vaccine and control groups.

PAI-1 secretion of endometrial and endometriotic cells is Smad2/3- and ERK1/2-dependent and influences cell adhesion.

In the endometrium transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-βs) are involved mainly in menstruation and endometriosis. After binding of the ligands to the high-affinity receptors, TGF-β receptors (TBR1 and TBR2), TGF-βs activate Smad signaling to modulate gene expression and cellular functions. However, recently also Smad-independent pathways have been studied in more details.

Chloroquine sensitivity: diminished prevalence of chloroquine-resistant gene marker pfcrt-76 13 years after cessation of chloroquine use in Msambweni, Kenya.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine (CQ) denied healthcare providers access to a cheap and effective anti-malarial drug. Resistance has been proven to be due to point mutations on the parasite's pfcrt gene, particularly on codon 76, resulting in an amino acid change from lysine to threonine. This study sought to determine the prevalence of the pfcrt K76T mutation 13 years after CQ cessation in Msambweni, Kenya.