Microbiology Research Journal International

Genetic Diversity of Bat Rotaviruses

2022-05-12T04:37:54+00:00

Rotaviruses are the most common cause of diarrhea in children and animals. Bats are considered reservoirs of many viruses with zoonotic impact worldwide. Rotaviruses have been detected in bats and many of those strains that have been identified globally share high homology with rotavirus strains identified in animals and humans, demonstrating that roles are being created in interspecies transmission and genetic rearrangement in a large number of occasions, which is producing rotavirus genetic diversity. The current effort to characterize strains of rotavirus in bats would help expand knowledge about the great genetic diversity of rotaviruses and could also suggest a bat origin for several unusual rotavirus strains detected in humans and animals. This is a review of the different strains of rotavirus that have been detected in bats globally, where bats have been identified as a possible zoonotic potential in the transmission of rotavirus to animals and humans; and possible anthropozoonosis events are revealed.

Genetic Diversity and Molecular Surveillance of Antimalarial Drug Resistance of Plasmodium falciparum among Hospitals Patients in Benue State Nigeria

2022-04-08T06:02:31+00:00

Introduction: Malaria is a febrile illness caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. The genetic diversity and antimalarial drug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum are some of the major challenges of malaria control programme in Nigeria.

Aim: This study was aimed at determining the genetic diversity, and molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance among patients attending Government hospitals in Benue State, Nigeria.

Methodology: Plasmodium falciparum deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from dried blood spots of 60 positive malariacases among the patients. The diversity of Plasmodium falciparum was done by genotyping 3D7 and FC27 families of merozoite surface protein- 2 alleles. The Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance 1 and Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 genes of Plasmodium falciparum were also amplified and assessed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to survey molecular resistance to antimalarial drugs.

Results: The results showed that the frequency of 3D7 allele 37(61.7%) was higher than FC27 allele 18(30.0%). The frequency of merozoite surface protein- 2 infections with both allelic types was 5(8.3%). There was a significant difference in the distribution of the merozoite surface protein two alleles (χ²=25.9,df=2 P<.0.001). Both the Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance 1 Asparagine 86Tyrosine (N86Y) and Aspartic acid 1246Tyrosine (D1246Y), had 100 % mutant while the 100% while the Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 G449A had 100% wild type allele.

Conclusion: The current study underscores the need for frequent monitoring of indicators of antimalaria drug resistance in Nigeria.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Commonly used Plants for Wound Treatment in Southwestern Nigeria

2022-04-11T04:30:36+00:00

Aims: Infection of wounds by microorganisms can prolong wound healing process and result in wound associated complications. Therefore, wound treatment entails the use of antimicrobial agents usually administered directly on the wound where possible to prevent microbial colonization. Traditionally, various plants have been used in wound treatment in different regions of the world. This study evaluated the contribution of the antibacterial activity of four plants commonly use in the treatment of wound in southwestern Nigeria to their ethnobotanically acclaimed wound healing property.

Methodology: The antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the selected plants (Chromolaena odorata, Sida acuta, Ageratum conyzoides and Carica papaya) was evaluated using the agar well diffusion assay. Wound isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, two commonly isolated Gram negative and Gram-positive bacteria from wounds were used for this study. Antibacterial activity was inferred for plant extracts that achieved zone of inhibition ≥ 7 mm in diameter (size of the well inclusive).

Results: Generally, the ethanolic extracts of the selected plants showed better extraction yield and antibacterial activity compared to the aqueous extracts. The ethanolic extracts of the four selected plants demonstrated antibacterial activity against the test organisms used while only the aqueous extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Sida acuta showed activity against both test organisms. The aqueous extracts of Ageratum conyzoides and Carica papaya only showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus.

Conclusion: Results from this study demonstrated that the antibacterial activity of the selected plants contributes to their acclaimed wound healing property. Although there is need to investigate the role of other non-antibacterial properties of the plants that may be associated with wound healing to fully understand the usefulness of the plants in wound treatment.