Biochemistry Research Papers/Topics

The Role of Termites in Litter Decomposition and Soil Translocation with Special Reference to Odontotermes in Arid Lands of Northern Kenya

Abstract: This research work on the role of termites in an arid ecosystem covered eleven months (August 1981 to .June 1982). It was conducted at the site of the UNESCO integrated project in Arid Lands (UNESCO - !PAL} . This area is in Western Marsabit district, Kenya . About 80% of this area is semi-arid thorn bush scrubland and receives annual rainfall from about 100 to 600 mm. A survey of the termite fauna as a whole was carried out around most of the !PAL Field camps. Main investigation s...

Isolation And Characterization Of Cellulolytic Bacteria From Soils Excavated From Geothermal Wells Along The Kenyan Rift Valley

Abstract: Cellulolytic microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria are responsible for much of the cellulose degradation in soils. Despite this vast number of cellulase producers, there is a deficiency of microorganisms that can produce significant amount of the three cellulase enzyme specifities i.e. endoglucanases, exoglucanases and cellobiases to efficiently degrade cellulose to fermentable products. Little emphasis has been given to cellulase production from bacteria despite their extremel...

Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of tomato root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) from selected localities of Kenya

Abstract: Distinguishing pathogenic nematodes on the basis of morphological characters is difficult because differences in characters may be absent or difficult to observe. Hence identification to the species level is increasingly reliant on molecular based techniques. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based techniques offer possibilities for precision, sensitivity and quantification. Tomato root-knot nematodes from the three selected areas in Kenya were characterized by analysis of isozyme ph...

Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infecting free-ranging non-human Primates in Kenyan Urban Centres

Abstract: My foremost profound gratitude goes to God Almighty who has granted me good health,strength and ability to accomplish this study and more so during the challenging academic times. Second, I am grateful to my supervisors Dr. Maamun Jeneby and Dr. Vincent Owino Adung’a for their time, guidance, dedication and involvement in my academic pursuits. Special thanks to Dr. Maamun and Dr. Mercy Akinyi who were kind enough to offer an opportunity to conduct a research project for my thesis...

Prevalence and transmission of selected infectious disease-causing enzootic and zoonotic pathogens by haematophagous camel keds, Hippobosca camelina, in Laisamis, Marsabit county of northern

Abstract: Hippobosca camelina, also known as camel keds or camel louse flies, are the most common blood-sucking ectoparasites infesting camels in, Laisamis Ward, northern Kenya. The ability of these obligate haematophagous biting flies to transmit infectious agents is less understood. The aims of this study were to; I) screen for protozoan, bacterial and viral pathogens in camels and their biting keds, H. camelina, sampled from Laisamis Ward, Marsabit county II) assess the potential utility ...

Polypyrrole Based Biofunctional Composite Layer for Bioelectrocatalytic Device System

The involvement and development of intelligent polymers in enzymes as a catalyst have been interesting to develop processes that are environmentally benign, energy efficient, and selective towards their specific molecular applications. Polypyrrole based enzyme nanocomposites represents a continuous considerable redox organic polymer  that have been increased in electromechanical devices in advance  for  surface  functionalization. This review addresses the fundamental concepts of poly...

Sex-moderated relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and circulating hormones in an adult Ghanaian population

The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is the putative marker of prenatal hormone exposure. The 2D:4D ratio or the right–left difference (Dr-l) are said to be negative and positive correlates, respectively, of circulating testosterone and estrogen in both adult males and females. However, previous studies on the subject have reported mixed results. This study aimed to determine the sex-moderated relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and adult circulating testosterone, estradiol, testostero...

Interactions between sex and the age at disease onset on cardiometabolic risk factors in a Ghanaian population with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross‐sectional study

Background and Aim: The are sex differences in cardiometabolic risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as well as the age at disease onset. However, the impact of these risk factors on the age at onset of T2DM is less known in the Ghanaian population. An understanding of the differential impact of cardiometabolic risk factors on the age at onset on T2DM may lead to sex‐specific interventions in preventive and management strategies for T2DM. Methods: The study was cross‐sectional f...

The Impact of Disease Duration on Sex Differences in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetic Patients on Metformin-glimepiride Oral Therapy

Aims: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are commonly treated with metformin-glimepiride combination therapy. The relationship between disease duration and cardiometabolic risk factors among T2DM patients on metformin-glimepiride combination therapy may be moderated by sex. This, however, has not been investigated in the Ghanaian population. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted from January to December 2019 at the Bol...

Insulin Resistance in relation to Hypertension and Dyslipidaemia among Men Clinically Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes

Pathophysiologically, type 2 diabetes can result from insulin resistance or insulin insufficiency alone. It is unclear whether relative insulin shortage or pronounced insulin resistance is linked to poor cardiometabolic problems like obesity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between insulin resistance (IR), hypertension, and dyslipidaemia, in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus. One hundred and twenty-one (121) type 2 diabetic men participated in this cros...

Determination Of Ascorbic Acid In Vitamin C Syrups Sold In Gombe Metropolis

ABSTRACT    Titrimetric method was used to analyze ten different brands of each vitamin C syrups that are sold in Gombe metropolis. The percentage of ascorbic acid content in vitamin C syrups containing 100mg/5ml showed that samples (1,2,3 and 7) having (68.37%,54.10%, 52.10%, and 74.00%) were below 95-105 recommended by British pharmacopeia limit. While for A samples (4, 5 and 6)have percentage ascorbic acid content of (95.00%, 95.10% and 96.00% )respectively and were within the normal ran...

Human Pluripotents Stem Cells Application And Drugs Recovery And Toxicology

INTRODUCTION Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are a type of stem cell with the remarkable ability to self-renew and dierentiate into various cell types of the human body (NIH, 2020). There are two main types of hPSCs: embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from adult cells through reprogramming (Takahashi et al., 2007). These cells hold great promise for biomedical research and have revolutionized t...

Phytomedical assessment of two Cymbopogon species found in Nkonkobe Municipality: toxicological effect on human Chang liver cell line

Abstract Background: Cymbopogon species are widely used as herbal remedies by the traditional healers living in Nkonkobe Municipality for the treatment and management of skin and respiratory infections. According to our survey, the plants seem to be very important because of the higher demands. Methods: The leaves of C. validis and C. plurinodis were hydro-distilled and the resulted extracted oils were analyzed by GC/MS. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 7.8 to 500.0 μg/m...

Comparative Diagnostic Techniques for Cryptosporidium Infection

Abstract: Diarrhoea caused by Cryptosporidium is usually mild in immune competent individuals but severe in the young and those with underlying disease leading to compromised immunity. The conventional diagnosis of Cryptosporidium requires observation of the infective oocysts however, their tiny size yields indistinct results, thus limiting the effectiveness of the conventional diagnostic technique, modified Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) differential staining. Consequent to the abovementioned limitatio...

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Sour Fig (Suurvy) Native to South Africa

Abstract: Sour figs have become a provincial demand in South Africa for the treatment of common infections. The plant has displayed antioxidant activity. The plant leaves were extracted with hexane, acetone, and ethanol using Stuart Sharker, UK. The extracts' antibacterial activity was evaluated by determining the MICs in a range of 7.8-500.0 μg/ml against ten strains using micro-well dilution. Cytotoxicity was evaluated with brine shrimp using the same concentrations. The hexane extract exh...


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