Effect of fungi–termite interaction on the chlorophyll content of three rice varieties grown on ultisol soil of Ikenne,south-west Nigeria

The effect of fungi–termite interaction on three rice varieties was conducted in a screen house at the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) Ibadan, Nigeria. Of the 10 fungi species (Fusarium verticilloides, Trichoderma sp., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Macrophoma sp., Neurospora sp., Botryodiplodia theobromae, Penicillum sp., Rhizopus sp. and Sclerotium rolfsii) isolated from termites, soil and rice plants, F. verticilloides, Trichoderma sp. and B. theobromae were used for the interaction study. Each fungus was inoculated singly and in combinations with termite into the root of each rice variety in potted soil. Leaf samples were taken to measure the chlorophyll content which is a major parameter to estimate effect of termite–fungi interaction. The chlorophyll content of the inoculated rice plants was significantly reduced when compared with the control. Fungi interaction with termite had significant reduction on the chlorophyll content. The synergistic relationship between the fungi and the termite was discussed.     

Innovative Technological Approach to Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Response in Nigeria Using the Open Data Kit and Form Hub Technology

The recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa has ravaged many lives. Effective containment of this outbreak relies on prompt and effective coordination and communication across various interventions; early detection and response being critical to successful control. The use of information and communications technology (ICT) in active surveillance has proved to be effective but its use in Ebola outbreak response has been limited. Due to the need for timeliness in reporting and communication for early discovery of new EVD cases and promptness in response; it became imperative to empower the response team members with technologies and solutions which would enable smooth and rapid data flow. The Open Data Kit and Form Hub technology were used in combination with the Dashboard technology and ArcGIS mapping for follow up of contacts, identification of cases, case investigation and management and also for strategic planning during the response. A remarkable improvement was recorded in the reporting of daily follow-up of contacts after the deployment of the integrated real time technology. The turnaround time between identification of symptomatic contacts and evacuation to the isolation facility and also for receipt of laboratory results was reduced and informed decisions could be taken by all concerned. Accountability in contact tracing was ensured by the use of a GPS enabled device. The use of innovative technologies in the response of the EVD outbreak in Nigeria contributed significantly to the prompt control of the outbreak and containment of the disease by providing a valuable platform for early warning and guiding early actions.     

New covalent capture probes for imaging and therapy, based on a combination of binding affinity and disulfide bond formation

We describe the synthesis and development of new reactive DOTA-metal complexes for covalently targeting engineered receptors in vivo, which have superior tumor uptake and clearance properties for biomedical applications. These probes are found to clear efficiently through the kidneys and minimally through other routes, but bind persistently in the tumor target. We also explore the new technique of Cerenkov luminescence imaging to optically monitor radiolabeled probe distribution and kinetics in vivo. Cerenkov luminescence imaging uniquely enables sensitive noninvasive in vivo imaging of a β(-) emitter such as (90)Y with an optical imager.     

Role of Plasmodium berghei cGMP-dependent Protein Kinase in Late Liver Stage Development

The liver is the first organ infected by Plasmodium sporozoites during malaria infection. In the infected hepatocytes, sporozoites undergo a complex developmental program to eventually generate hepatic merozoites that are released into the bloodstream in membrane-bound vesicles termed merosomes. Parasites blocked at an early developmental stage inside hepatocytes elicit a protective host immune response, making them attractive targets in the effort to develop a pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine. Here, we generated parasites blocked at a late developmental stage inside hepatocytes by conditionally disrupting the Plasmodium berghei cGMP-dependent protein kinase in sporozoites. Mutant sporozoites are able to invade hepatocytes and undergo intracellular development. However, they remain blocked as late liver stages that do not release merosomes into the medium. These late arrested liver stages induce protection in immunized animals. This suggests that, similar to the well studied early liver stages, late stage liver stages too can confer protection from sporozoite challenge.     

Ca++/CaMKII switches nociceptor‐sensitizing stimuli into desensitizing stimuli

Many extracellular factors sensitize nociceptors. Often they act simultaneously and/or sequentially on nociceptive neurons. We investigated if stimulation of the protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) signaling pathway influences the signaling of a subsequent sensitizing stimulus. Central in activation of PKCs is their transient translocation to cellular membranes. We found in cultured nociceptive neurons that only a first stimulation of the PKCε signaling pathway resulted in PKCε translocation. We identified a novel inhibitory cascade to branch off upstream of PKCε, but downstream of Epac via IP3‐induced calcium release. This signaling branch actively inhibited subsequent translocation and even attenuated ongoing translocation. A second ‘sensitizing’ stimulus was rerouted from the sensitizing to the inhibitory branch of the signaling cascade. Central for the rerouting was cytoplasmic calcium increase and CaMKII activation. Accordingly, in behavioral experiments, activation of calcium stores switched sensitizing substances into desensitizing substances in a CaMKII‐dependent manner. This mechanism was also observed by in vivo C‐fiber electrophysiology corroborating the peripheral location of the switch. Thus, we conclude that the net effect of signaling in nociceptors is defined by the context of the individual cell's signaling history.     

Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Awareness and Utilization of Pap Smear Test among Federal Civil Servants in North Central Nigeria

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women in developing countries. A key factor linked to the relatively high levels of cervical cancer in these populations is the lack of awareness and access to preventive methods. This study aimed to determine the level of awareness of cervical cancer and Papanicolaou test (Pap smear test) and factors associated with the utilization of Pap test among female civil servants in Jos. Data was obtained from female workers (n = 388) aged 18–65 years in a Nigerian Federal establishment. Participants were randomly approached and instructed to complete validated questionnaires. Data was analyzed using Chi-square, t-tests and logistic regression analysis to determine if there was an association between variables and identify any predictors of awareness and utilization of the Pap test. Cervical cancer and Pap smear test awareness was 50.9% and 38.6% respectively, with the media as the major source of information. Pap smear test utilization rate was 10.2%, with routine antenatal care (ANC) as the major reason for getting screened. Personal barriers to screening include the lack of awareness, and belief that cervical cancer is not preventable. Opportunistic screening, mass media campaigns and ANC education were suggested as ways of improving awareness and utilization of cervical cancer screening services.     

Severe Childhood Malaria Syndromes Defined by Plasma Proteome Profiles

Background

Cerebral malaria (CM) and severe malarial anemia (SMA) are the most serious life-threatening clinical syndromes of Plasmodium falciparum infection in childhood. Therefore it is important to understand the pathology underlying the development of CM and SMA, as opposed to uncomplicated malaria (UM). Different host responses to infection are likely to be reflected in plasma proteome-patterns that associate with clinical status and therefore provide indicators of the pathogenesis of these syndromes.

Methods and Findings

Plasma and comprehensive clinical data for discovery and validation cohorts were obtained as part of a prospective case-control study of severe childhood malaria at the main tertiary hospital of the city of Ibadan, an urban and densely populated holoendemic malaria area in Nigeria. A total of 946 children participated in this study. Plasma was subjected to high-throughput proteomic profiling. Statistical pattern-recognition methods were used to find proteome-patterns that defined disease groups. Plasma proteome-patterns accurately distinguished children with CM and with SMA from those with UM, and from healthy or severely ill malaria-negative children.

Conclusions

We report that an accurate definition of the major childhood malaria syndromes can be achieved using plasma proteome-patterns. Our proteomic data can be exploited to understand the pathogenesis of the different childhood severe malaria syndromes.