Research Papers/Topics in Biochemistry

Polyphenols as Potential Indicators for Drought Tolerance in Tea (Camellia sinensis L.)

Abstract: Plant polyphenols have gained prominence in quality of plant products and in human health. an experiment...(continue from the attached pdf)

Characterization and Functional analysis of tricorn interacting factor 3 in Trypanosoma brucei brucei as potential drug targets against African Trypanosomiasis

Abstract: Trypanosomes are protozoans causing African trypanosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease in Africa affecting humans and animals. Despite advancement in African Trypanosomiasis research, the disease continues to threaten millions of people and animals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Control methods have focused on the use of drugs which have adverse effects and vector control methods which have proved to be ecologically unsustainable while vaccines are still not available due to antigenic v...

Vitellogenin of the Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca Sexta: Properties and Endocytotic Incorporation into follicles

Abstract: Manduca sexta vitellogenin is a phosphoglycolipoprotein (Mr - 500,000) that contains two copies of the apoproteins (apovitellogenin-1, Mr 180,000 and apovitellogenin-11, Mr 45,000), 13 percent lipids, 3 percent carbohydrates and 0.6 percent phosphorus. The two apoproteins are immunologically distinct polypeptides and apovitellogenin-11 is not completely accessible to the aqueous environment in the intact molecule. The carbohydrate moiety located on apovitellogenin-1 has a high mann...

Isolation of Glossina Typanolysis/Trypanoglutinin and Assessment of their use in the Interruption of Trypanosome Differentiation

Abstract: Midgut trypanolysin from Glossina morsitans morsitans was isolated by a combination of an anion-exchange and gel permeation chromatography. The trypanolysin activity was recovered in the bound fraction. The native molecular weight of trypanolysin was determined -669kDa. Analysis oftrypanolysin by SDS-PAGE recovered a single sub-unit ofMr-14kDa. The induction of trypanolysin activity by bloodmeal increased gradually reaching a peak at 72-120 h after the bloodmeal, and then decreased...

Studies on the Midgut Lectin Gene of Glossina Austeni

Abstract: Trypanosomiasis continues to be a serious problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The inadequacies of existing control strategies necessitate the development of alternative control measures. In most cases, the causative agents of African trypanosomiasis, Trypanosoma spp., require an obligatory passage through the tsetse, Glossina spp (Diptera; Glossinidae ), vector. This developmental step of the parasite leads to vector-parasite interactions, especially within the midgut. Among the vector ...

Gene Expression Profiling of Odorant Binding Proteins in the Tsetse fly Glossina brevipalpis

Abstract: Glossina brevipalpis is a vector of trypanosomes that cause Animal African Trypanosomiasis. Chemoreception in tsetse flies is critical for identifying larvipositioning sites, hosts and mates. Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are thought to mediate insect chemoreception by shuttling odours to receptors on olfactory sensory neurons. Little is known about the roles of OBPs in tsetse fly chemoreception. The genome of G. brevipalpis has been sequenced and 28 OBPs identified. This study a...

Genetic Variation in Two Populations of the Brown Ear Tick, Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus, in Kenya

Abstract: Several studies have shown that Rhipicephalus appendiculatus from geographically isolated areas differ in their susceptibilities to Theileria parva, the haemoprotozoan causative agent of East Coast Fever. In Kenya, R appendiculatus from Muguga have been reported to be less susceptible to T. parva infection than those from Rusinga Islands. As the same tick species from different areas shows variation in vector competence, it was considered to be of epidemiological interest to determ...

DNA Barcoding and Morphometrics of Stingless Bees (apidae: meliponinae) in three selected forests in Kenya

Abstract: Stingless honeybee keeping is an income generating enterprise with an indirect potential of achieving the goal of forest and biodiversity conservation in Kenya. However, little information is available on species diversity and spatial distribution of stingless bees in Kenya. This study describes variations of stingless bee samples collected from Arabuko Sokoke, Mwingi and Kakamega forests, ranging from low, middle to high altitude, respectively using morphometrics and DNA barcoding...

Biochemical Alterations in Maize Plants induced by Viruses causing Maize Lethal Necrosis and their Relevance for Insect Vectors

Abstract: Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) - a big threat to maize production and food security in Kenya, is caused by co-infection of maize with Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). In severely affected maize fields, MLN destroys the crop completely with a devastating impact on food security of smallholder households. Since the disease was only recently documented in Kenya, there is limited information on its pathogenesis due to SCMV and MCMV interaction, the ef...

Composition and repellency of essential oils of tagetes minuta from different zones in Kenya against brown ear tick (rhipicephalus appendlculatusi

Abstract: Ticks are haematophagous ectoparasites capable of transmitting diseases to vertebrates and, therefore, constitute a threat to human, livestock and wildlife health. Though synthetic chemical aearicides have made a tremendous impact over the years in the control and management of the vector on livestock, ticks have developed resistance to most of them. In addition, the chemicals are toxic to non-target organisms. In some parts of Kenya, powdered parts of some plants, including those ...

Molecular Analysis of the Knockdown Resistance (kdr) Gene in the Anopheles Gambiae s.l. and Anopheles Funestus Populations in Kenya

ABSTRACT Insecticide resistance affects the re-emergence of vector borne diseases and their control. Resistance to insecticides poses a risk to compromise the role of chemical vector control as a component of the integrated vector management. The kdr (knock down resistance) allele is characterised by a single base pair substitution causing a change from leu to phe (West Africa) or leu to see (East African) in codon 1014 of the voltage sensitive sodium channel protein sequence. In Ken...

Prevalence of malaria and selected arboviral infections in patients presenting with undiagnosed febrile illness in Rusinga Island, Kenya

Abstract: Onset of uncomplicated malaria is characterized by fever, headache, joint pains, myalgia and lack of appetite. These non-specific signs and symptoms also present in patients with arthropod borne viral (arboviral) infections complicate differential diagnoses. The lack of diagnostics that can detect arboviral infections in Kenyan public hospitals coupled with malaria diagnostic tools incapable of detecting low Plasmodiumparasitemia,has led to diagnosis based on clinical symptoms only...

Protective role of antioxidant in ameliorating African trypanosomiasis - induced brain degeneration in a mouse model

Abstract: Late stage Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is manifested by brain degeneration following infection by Trypanasoma brucei rhodensiense and Trypanasoma brucei gambiense parasites. This stage can only be treated with melarsoprol (Mel B) which inadvertently induces Post Treatment Reactive Encephalopathy (PTRE) and a mortality of 5% among HAT infected patients. This is an unacceptable mortality for a modern human drug. Investigations were conducted to establish the protective role o...

Blood Feeding Pattern of Malaria Vector Reveals Malaria Transmission Dynamics in Three Islands of Lake Victoria in Kenya

Abstract: The Lake Victoria region of western Kenya is malaria endemic with a suitable environment throughout the year for the transmission of Plasmodium parasites by its primary mosquito vector, Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.), as well as other secondary vectors. Malaria control largely depends on vector control using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) that protect humans from infectious bites while sleeping. However, the success of this strategy is greatly threatened by resistance ...

Expression of the Glossina Proteolytic Lectin (Gpl) Gene in Tsetse Flies and other Haematophagous Arthropods

Abstract: African animal trypanosomosis, transmitted by the tsetse fly (Glossina spp.) remains a major constraint to food security in areas of Africa that hold the continent's greatest potential for expanded agriculture production. The flies also transmit the parasite responsible for human sleeping sickness. Other haematophagous arthropods like stable flies also transmit trypanosomes mechanically. Mechanical transmission only accounts for a small percentage (-16 % ) of the trypanosomes trans...


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