Background The occurrence of artemisinin resistance (ART)-associated polymorphism of Plasmodium falciparum K13-propeller (pfk13) gene before and after the introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in two regions of Nigeria was investigated in this study. Regular surveillance is necessary to make a definite conclusion on the emergence and pattern of possible resistance to ART. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Southwestern and Southeastern geopolitical zones of Nigeria. A total of 150, 217, and 475 participants were enrolled for the study in the Southwest (2004_Group A), Southwest (2015_Group B), and southeast (2015_Group C), respectively. Blood samples were collected from the study participants for DNA extraction and a nested PCR for P. falciparum identification. Samples that were positive for P. falciparum were genotyped for the pfk13 gene using the Sanger sequencing method. The single nucleotide polymorphisms were analysed using the Bioedit software. Results A total of 116, 125, and 83 samples were positive for P. falciparum, respectively for the samples collected from the Southwest (2004 and 2015) and southeast (2015). Parasite DNA samples collected from febrile children in 2004 (Group A; n = 71) and 2015 (Group B; n = 73) in Osogbo Western Nigeria and 2015_Group C (n = 36) in southeast Nigeria were sequenced successfully. This study did not observe mutations associated with the in vitro resistance in southeast Asia, such as Y493H, R539T, I543T, and C580Y. Two new polymorphisms V520A and V581I were observed in two samples collected in Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria. These two mutations occurred in the year 2004 (Group A) before the introduction of ACT. Six mutations were identified in 17% of the samples collected in southeast Nigeria. One of these mutations (D547G) was non-synonymous, while the remaining (V510V, R515R, Q613Q, E688E, and N458N) were synonymous. Also, one (2%) heterozygote allele was identified at codon 458 in the 2015 (Group C) samples. Conclusions None of the mutations observed in this study were previously validated to be associated with ART resistance. These results, therefore, suggest that artemisinin is likely to remain highly effective in treating malaria in the study areas that are malarious zone.
Aim: This present study was conducted to isolate antibiotic producing bacteria from insects living in poultry. Place and Duration of Study: Insects living in poultry were collected from poultry farms within Onitsha metropolis in Anambra State between April 2018 and September 2018. Methodology: The gut of one hundred insects; (Musca domestica and Alphitobius diaperinus) were analyzed. The insects were dissected and emulsified in 10ml of peptone water. The dilutions were cultured on Nutrient agar and Blood agar for 24 h. The bacterial isolates were characterized using molecular identification. The DNA was extracted from the identified isolates and analyzed by 16S rRNA. In preliminary screening, the isolates were inoculated into Muller Hinton agar using agar plug. The promising isolate showing antagonism was subjected to submerged fermentation method and the secondary metabolites were extracted. Screening of the secondary metabolites extract was done using agar well diffusion. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the secondary metabolite was determined using broth dilution method at different concentrations. The inhibitory activity of the organism was checked against four bacteria namely; Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella serovar typhi, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Results: The sequence analysis revealed the strains to be Lysinibacillus macroides, Paealcaligenes hermetiae, Bordetella flabilis, Bacillus aerophilus, Klebsiella variicola. Lysinibacillus macroides showed antagonism against the test bacteria during the preliminary test. After fermentation, the secondary metabolite extracts from Lysinibacillus macroides exhibited antibacterial activities against Salmonella Serovar Typhi, Staphyloccus aureus and Bacillus subtilis at different concentrations. Conclusion: The extracts from bacterial isolate; Lysinibacillus macroides exhibited antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella serovar typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. The extracts may serve as a new drug molecule produced from natural source when purified.
Each year, an estimated number of 300–500 million people are infected with malaria parasite, with an undesirable effect of over one million deaths. Pregnant women as well as young children, non-immune travellers visiting malaria-endemic zones are at the highest risk of suffering or experiencing life - threatening malaria infection. Maternal immunity, parasite density, parity, inadequate antenatal care services, drug misuse and abuse as well intermitted preventive treatment drug failure cum resistance are the most associated risk factors of malaria in pregnancy obtainable in endemic regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Identification and understanding of these factors will play a major role in reducing the burden as well as eliminating malaria disease among pregnant women living in endemic regions.
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