ABSTRACT Glutathione and enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) play crucial roles in defending the cell against reactive oxygen species (ROS) which have been implicated in HIV replication. It has been shown that cells infected with HIV generate large amounts of inflammatory products such as superoxide anions, peroxynitrites and other ROS, and is accompanied by the deregulation of antioxidant enzymes. The pro-oxidative stress...
ABSTRACT V Yeast mating type locus gene alpha2 (MATa2), Yeast G protein complementing gene ( YGC1) and minichromosome maintenance gene (M C M 1) have been identified by isolation of plasmids that are able to complement or suppress a gpa1::HIS3 mutation. MATa2 and YGC1 rescue both MATa and M A Ta-gpa1::HIS3 haploid cell types whereas MCM1 complements only MATa gpal::HIS3 cell type. MATa2 is known to be a general repressor and a determinant of both haploid and diploid cell types. MCM1 is known ...
A total of 1,075 fasting Human Serum and early morning urine samples were assayed for various biochemical parameters. The parameters include: Blood lipids, Total Cholesterol, High Density lipoproteins, Low Density lipoproteins, Vitamin A, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Bicarbonate, Urinary glucose, Protein and Blood. From the results obtained, the calculated phospholipids:cholesterol ratio was less than 1 amongst the hypertensives. This confirmed the work of Stroev and Makarova, 1986; Of...
ABSTRACT Milicia regia and M . excelsa are inva.lua.iDle plant species in Ghana for their durable timber. Their numbers are however dwindling. Efforts by the forestry department to establish plantations have been unsuccessful due primarily to attack by Phytolyma species, resulting in gall formation. Phenols and phenolic oxidases appear to be important in the defence mechanisms of some plants as well as in wound healing and regulation of growth in these plants. Thus, they may be natural resist...
ABSTRACT Background: Dengue and malaria are two important mosquito-borne diseases. Together, both diseases are indistinguishable due to similarities in clinical and laboratory characteristics. These similarities have contributed immensely to the over-diagnosis of malaria and the under-recognition of dengue in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. No baseline study has yet been conducted in Ghana to estimate the burden of dengue. This study therefore set out to estimate the prevalence of dengu...
ABSTRACT Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Thyroid Dysfunction (TD) are the two most common endocrinopathies seen in general population. Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) is commonly associated with altered thyroid function. The aim of the research is to evaluate TD in patients with T2DM attending Endocrinology Clinic of UsmanuDanfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Blood samples were collected from 80 Type 2 diabetic patients and 80 non-diabetics (control) and analyze for fasting blood s...
ABSTRACT Background: Influenza B viruses are receiving attention lately perhaps due to the degree of haemagglutinin (HA) antigen mismatching between vaccine composition strains and circulating strains. Neuraminidase inhibitor (NI) antiviral has also been implicated in prophylaxis and treatment of severe cases of influenza diseases. However, mutations in the two major surface glycoproteins, HA and nueraminidase (NA) could cause the virus to escape host defence mechanisms leading to failure of ...
ABSRACT Background: Recent studies have indicated PON 1 polymorphism to be associated with cardiovascular-related diseases such as diabetes mellitus but varied reports have been provided from such association studies. In Ghana, there is no such information on PON 1 polymorphism in disease situations; except one instance reported in non-diseased Ghanaians. The present study has therefore provided baseline information on PON 1 Q192R polymorphism in Ghanaians with type II Diabetes Mellitus. Main...
ABSTRACT Clinical manifestations of Plasmodium falciparum infections are caused by invasion of erythrocytes by malaria parasites, a process mediated by multiple receptor-ligand interactions. Antibodies against some parasite ligands significantly inhibit parasite growth in vitro, demonstrating that these interactions may be good targets for the development of an effective blood stage vaccine. This study was aimed at investigating the erythrocyte receptors used by P. falciparum isolates in Ghan...
ABSTRACT Purpose: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a malignant tumor which is commonly associated with Epstein Barr virus (EBV). Two genotypes of EBV, genotype 1 and genotype 2, which are geographically restricted, are implicated in the pathogenesis of NPC. This study aimed at detecting and characterizing EBV genotypes involved in the pathogenesis of NPC in Ghana. Experimental design: Whole blood and biopsy samples were collected from 55 patients diagnosed of NPC by CT scan and endoscopy at the...
ABSTRACT HIV-1 infection is mediated by the interaction between the host cellular CD4 receptor and co-receptors with HIV Envelope protein (Env). Inhibition of HIV entry into host cell presents a biological target for therapeutic intervention. Broadly neutralizing antibody (bNabs) are potent in neutralizing a broad range of HIV strains by binding to the Env and preventing entry into the host cell. VRC01 is a CD4 binding-site class bNabs that binds to the conserved CD4 binding region of Env. Ho...
Abstract Background As malaria transmission continues to decline, a better understanding of how transmission intensity and patterns influence clinical presentation of disease and the acquisition of immunity to malaria is important for our understanding of the pathophysiology of malaria and the changes in immune responses. Erythrocyte invasion is a crucial step in the life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. However, the targets of naturally acquired invasion inhibitory antibodies remain unclear. ...
ABSTRACT Background Buruli ulcer (BU) is a skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. BU is the third most common mycobacterial disease after tuberculosis and leprosy, but in Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire, it is the second. M. ulcerans produces mycolactone, an immunosuppressant macrolide toxin which makes the infection painless. However, some patients have complained of painful lesions and delay healing. Painful ulcers and delay healing experienced by some patients may be due to secondary ba...
ABSTRACT Some traditional medical practitioners use decoctions of the plants Tridax procumbens and Phyllanthus amarus, separately, to treat malaria in Ghana. These plants have however, not been investigated scientifically to establish their antimalarial activities. In this study, inhibition of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum uptake o f 3H-hypoxanthine was used as an in vitro assay to assess the antiplasmodial activities of aqueous, ethanolic, chloroform and ethyl acetate extr...
ABSTRACT As reported malaria cases continue to decline, heterogeneity in transmission will become more pronounced and thus more sensitive tools would be required to identify micro-geographic areas of higher risk for targeted interventions. Sero-positivity against antigens expressed at different stages of the parasite life cycle and proteins in the mosquito saliva cocktail have gained relevance as transmission monitoring tool. However, the persistent nature of blood stage antigens and the poss...