Studies have been carried out into the production of microbial protein from cassava using Trichoderma reesei and yeast. In monoculture studies, T. reesei was grown on whole cassava medium to give 0.74g dry cell/g cassava. The dry material contained 42% protein. The culture filtrate contained 5.8 g/l glucose, which supported the growth of yeast. Mixed culture fermentation was also carried out with the two microorganisms. Besides accelerating the rate of degradation and conversion of cassava to cells (0.85g cell/g cassava) the yeast boosted the protein content of the growth product to 51%. 相似文献
International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) is a member of the family of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). FGF21 (synthesized by many organs)... 相似文献
Onchocerciasis, caused by Onchocerca volvulus, affects more than 37 million people worldwide. Despite the progress achieved with mass drug distribution, suitable vaccines against onchocerciasis are needed to effectively eliminate the infection. The O. volvulus cysteine protease inhibitor (onchocystatin) is an immuno-dominant antigen detected in O. volvulus infections, capable of inducing protective immunity. Here, we explore the onchocystatin for a multi-epitope subunit vaccine candidate targeted against onchocerciasis. A multi-epitope vaccine candidate composed of RS-09 as adjuvant, a CD8+ T cell peptide, a CD4+ T cell peptide and a B cell peptide concatenated with suitable linkers was computationally constructed. Immune simulation of the vaccine response predicted several aspects of antibody-dependent and cellular-mediated immunity with accompanied B cell and helper T cell immune memory development. The levels of lFN-γ and IL-2 were also predicted to be elevated. Collectively, our results suggest that the multi-epitope vaccine construct has the potential to mimic the natural immunity targeted against onchocerciasis and other related filarial infections, and should be considered for further experimental validations.
The objective of this trial was to determine the effectiveness of 1.0% C31G (SAVVY) in preventing male-to-female vaginal transmission of HIV infection among women at high risk.
Methodology/Principal Findings
This was a Phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Participants made up to 12 monthly visits for HIV testing, adverse event reporting, and study product supply. The study was conducted between March 2004 and February 2006 in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. We enrolled 2142 HIV-negative women at high risk of HIV infection, and randomized them to SAVVY or placebo gel. Main outcome measures were the incidence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection as determined by detection of HIV antibodies from oral mucosal transudate specimens and adverse events. We accrued 790 person-years of follow-up in the SAVVY group and 772 person-years in the placebo group. No clinically significant differences in the overall frequency of adverse events, abnormal pelvic examination findings, or abnormal laboratory results were seen between treatment groups. However, more participants in the SAVVY group reported reproductive tract adverse events than in the placebo group (13.0% versus 9.4%). Seventeen HIV seroconversions occurred; eight in participants randomized to SAVVY and nine in participants receiving placebo. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of the cumulative probability of HIV infection through 12 months were 0.010 in the SAVVY group and 0.011 in the placebo group (p = 0.731), with a hazard ratio (SAVVY versus placebo) of 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.33, 2.27). Because of a lower-than-expected HIV incidence, we were unable to achieve the required number of HIV infections (66) to obtain the desired study power.
Conclusions/Significance
SAVVY was not associated with increased adverse events overall, but was associated with higher reporting of reproductive adverse events. Our data are insufficient to conclude whether SAVVY is effective at preventing HIV infection relative to placebo.
Although balancing selection with the sickle-cell trait and other red blood cell disorders has emphasized the interaction between malaria and human genetics, no systematic approach has so far been undertaken towards a comprehensive search for human genome variants influencing malaria. By screening 2,551 families in rural Ghana, West Africa, 108 nuclear families were identified who were exposed to hyperendemic malaria transmission and were homozygous wild-type for the established malaria resistance factors of hemoglobin (Hb)S, HbC, alpha+ thalassemia, and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency. Of these families, 392 siblings aged 0.5–11 y were characterized for malaria susceptibility by closely monitoring parasite counts, malaria fever episodes, and anemia over 8 mo. An autosome-wide linkage analysis based on 10,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms was conducted in 68 selected families including 241 siblings forming 330 sib pairs. Several regions were identified which showed evidence for linkage to the parasitological and clinical phenotypes studied, among them a prominent signal on Chromosome 10p15 obtained with malaria fever episodes (asymptotic z score = 4.37, empirical p-value = 4.0 × 10−5, locus-specific heritability of 37.7%; 95% confidence interval, 15.7%–59.7%). The identification of genetic variants underlying the linkage signals may reveal as yet unrecognized pathways influencing human resistance to malaria. 相似文献
This paper examines change within farming systems in the Brong Ahafo Region in Ghana, and the impact of agricultural modernization
and mechanization on the regional economy and local farming systems. It combines anthropological, historical, and remote sensing
techniques to document changes in farming practice and land use and land cover. It argues that change is not the product of
simple evolutionary sequences of responses to population pressures or adoption of modern technologies, but arises out of a
complex set of factors interacting within wider regional economies, which are increasingly commodified and commercialized
and subject to global market pressures. These include technical, institutional, market, movements of labor, and transport
infrastructure development dimensions, which often create new opportunities for local farmers other than those envisaged in
agricultural development policies. Tracing the opening up of the transition zone over the last 40–50 years through the development
of state farms and mechanized synthetic agriculture, the paper examines the changing fortunes of farming systems within a
radius of 30–40 km from agricultural technology hubs and the implications for models of agricultural development.
There is a surge in chronic diseases in the developing world, driven by a high prevalence of cardio-metabolic risk factors. This study described differences in prevalence of obesity and cardio-metabolic risk factors between urban and rural settlements in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. This comparative cross-sectional study included 672 participants (median age 50 years), of which 312 were from Kumasi (urban) and 360 from Jachie-Pramso (rural). Demographic, anthropometric and other cardio-metabolic risk factors were gathered and venous blood samples were drawn for biochemical assays. Results suggested significant differences in diastolic blood pressure (80.0 mmHg vs 79.5 mmHg; p = 0.0078), and fasting blood sugar (5.0 mmo/l vs 4.5 mmol/l; p < 0.0001) between the two groups. Further differences in anthropometric measures suggested greater adiposity amongst participants in the urban area. Participants in the urban area were more likely than rural participants, to have high total cholesterol and LDL-c (p < 0.0001 respectively). Risk factors including BMI ≥ 25 (p < 0.0001), BMI ≥ 30 (p < 0.0001), high waist circumference (p < 0.0001), high waist-to-height ratio (p < 0.0001) and alcohol consumption (p = 0.0186) were more prevalent amongst participants in the urban area. Markers of adiposity were higher amongst females than males in both areas (p < 0.05). In the urban area, hypertension, diabetes and lifestyle risk factors were more prevalent amongst males than females. Differences in risk factors by urban / rural residence remained significant after adjusting for gender and age. Obesity and cardio-metabolic risk factors are more prevalent amongst urban settlers, highlighting an urgent need to avert the rise of diet and lifestyle-related chronic diseases. 相似文献