ABSTRACT Production of cowpea is severely hampered by different races of the parasitic weed, Striga gesnerioides. Cultivation of Striga-resistant cowpea is the most reliable protocol to effectively combat the parasite. The current study reported the identification of genetic markers associated with multi-race-Striga resistance and seed size across the genome of cowpea RIL populations. The landrace GH3684 from Ghana was tested for resistance against all known races of Striga gesnerioides in ...
ABSTRACT The effect of composting substrates prepared from four agricultural wastes: corn cob, oil palm fruit fibre, rice husk and sawdust on growth, yield and nutrient content of oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, (Jacq. ex Fr.) Kumer was investigated. One set of the substrates was decomposed and the other set was not. The mother spawn, obtained from oyster mushroom fruit body tissues and spores from two sources and a spawn from a third source, cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar medium grew...
ABSTRACT Buruli ulcer is caused by mycolactone, a toxin produced by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Drug development for the treatment of the disease and early diagnosis is greatly hampered by the lipid nature of the mycolactone and bacterial resistance to currently used antimycobacterials. Kombucha tea is a health drink consumed worldwide. Research has shown that Kombucha exerts medicinal properties including enhanced wound healing and antimicrobial activity. This study was aimed at characterizing t...
ABSTRACT Majority of life-threatening fungal infections in clinics are caused by Candida albicans. The emergence of azole resistance in fungi complicates patient management. In response to chemical stress, C. albicans make transient changes in the gene expression for survival. Notable among these is the upregulation of efflux pump which is known to be the main mechanism of antifungal resistance. Potent therapeutic agents targeting this resistance mechanism are urgently needed. Chemo-sensitiza...
ABSTRACT African trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by the parasitic protozoans of African trypanosomes. Despite several efforts at chemotherapeutic interventions, the disease poses serious health and economic concerns to humans and animals of various sub-Saharan African countries. Commercially available drugs such as suramin, eflornithine, pentamidine, melarsoprol and nifurtimox have reported cases of undesirable side effects, drug resistance, and difficulty in regimen application. Studies ...
Abstract Malaria pathogenesis is an intricate process mediated by factors found in both the host and the parasite. The adaptive immune response to the most lethal malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, remains to be fully comprehended. Meanwhile, T cells, which are critical for the host responses interact with antigens coupled with MHC molecules, through their membrane surface-expressed T cell receptor (TCR). These TCRs are produced by a process of imprecise gene rearrangement called V(D)J ...
ABSTRACT Avocado (Persia americana Mill) is a nutritious economic tree crop with cultivations scattered all over the country. A study was conducted to assess its distribution, uses and the morphological and genetic diversity of the crop in the Ashanti and Central Regions of Ghana. An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in 14 districts, while morphological and genetic diversities were determined among the accessions in eight districts. Microsatellites markers were used for genetic diversity...
ABSTRACT Tuberculosis (TB) still remains a major global health problem particularly in resourcelimited settings despite the availability of treatment regimen for decades. Although two pathogens, Mycobacterium tuberculosis sensu stricto (MTBss) and Mycobacterium africanum (Maf) are responsible for TB incidence in humans, more research attention has been accorded MTBss to the neglect of Maf, which is reported to be geographically restricted to West Africa and its immigrants. This thesis s...
ABSTRACT Group A Rotaviruses (RVAs) are the most important etiological agents of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children less than 5 years of age. Mortality resulting from RVA gastroenteritis is higher in developing countries than in developed ones, causing a huge public health burden in global regions like Africa and South East Asia. The aim of this study was to investigate the strains of RVAs causing AGE in children less than 5 years of age in Ashaiman after the introduction of the Rot...