ISSN 2756-3413
Review
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (3), pp. 049-054, March, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Human bocavirus: A new virus discovered by molecular techniques in respiratory samples
Bernhard Meyer, Adriano Huber and Philipp Calonder
Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Università Della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 12 January, 2007
Abstract
A new virus was discovered by molecular techniques in respiratory samples collected from young children with respiratory diseases in Sweden in 2005. The virus, named human bocavirus, is genetically related to the bovine parvovirus and the canine minute virus, both of which belong to the bocavirus genus of the parvoviridae family. Recent studies conducted in different countries have shown that HBoV is found in 1.5 - 19% of children with respiratory diseases. HBoV has been observed to be associated with a broad spectrum of both upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, more frequently related to lower respiratory diseases, one third of which is pneumonia. HBoV infection is of worldwide distribution, and a seasonal distribution with a peak in winter and spring is suspected. There is increasing evidence that HBoV is pathogenic for the human respiratory tract, especially in infants and young children, and HBoV has been detected from patients with gastroenteritis. However, given the frequent co-infection with bacterial or viral pathogens, the exact role played by this virus in human diseases still remains disputable. Further investigations, including population- based studies with controlled subjects, are needed to prove its pathogenic potential and epidemiologic patterns.
Key words: Respiratory virus, human bocavirus, parvovirus; HBoV; respiratory infection, children.
Adriano Huber and Philipp Calonder, Bernhard Meyer
Page: 49 - 54
Research Article
Henry Appiah and Stephen Eghagha, *Orupabo Okilo
Page: 55 - 58
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (5), pp. 086-089, May, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of the immunomodulatory potential of an Indian medicinal plant
*Konwar Rahman1, Pande Bhatia1 and Singh Pradhan2
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
2Department of Microbiology, Hargobind Khurana School of Life Sciences, Assam University, Assam, India.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 21 March, 2007
Abstract
In this study the immunomodulatory potential of an Indian medicinal plant, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (Oleaceae), was investigated. The leaf extracts of N. arbor-tristis is used to treat arthritis, lung injury and some painful conditions such as cancer, chronic fever and rheumatism. An ethanolic extract of N. arbor-tristis (NAEE) was screened in rats for humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Oral administration of the NAEE to rats at a dose of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg significantly enhanced the circulating antibody titre when challenged with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and heat -killed Salmonella antigens. The chronic administration of NAEE increased the total counts of white blood cells (WBC) and potentated the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions. The present study confirms the strong immuno-bioactivities in extracts of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.
Key words: Immuno-bioactivities, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, anti inflammatory, humoral immunity, delayed-type hypersensitivity.
*Konwar Rahman, Pande Bhatia and Singh Pradhan
Page: 86 - 89
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (11), pp. 123-126, November, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of the IAA synthesis capacity of Rhizobium isolates
*Sachdev Singh, Banerji Latif and Gopal Sivasankar
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Bihar, India.
*Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 09 May, 2007
Abstract
Rhizobium isolates from root (Sesbania procumbens) and stem nodules (S. rostrata and S. procumbens) of Sesbania species were shown to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in culture supplemented with L-tryptophan. Production of IAA was maximal after 72 h of incubation when the bacteria reached stationary phase of growth. The cultural requirements were optimized for maximum IAA production. The effect of carbon (1%) and nitrogen sources (0.1%) revealed that glucose and potassium nitrate were best promoters for IAA production over controls. The effect of different concentrations of EDTA revealed that 0.2 gml-1 EDTA increased IAA production. Among the three isolates, maximum amount of IAA was produced by the Rhizobium isolate from S. procumbens. The IAA from this isolate was extracted, purified and identified by thin layer chromatography.
Key words: Rhizobium species, Indole acetic acid, Sesbania species, Rhizobium-legume symbiosis.
*Sachdev Singh, Banerji Latif and Gopal Sivasankar
Page: 123 - 126
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (4), pp. 059-062, April, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of the antioxidant profile of Nigerian children with plasmodium falciparum malaria
*Emmanuel Ibe1, Chinedu Obi2 and Ngozi Okereke2
1Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.
2Department of Medical Microbiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract
We evaluated the antioxidant status of 148 Nigerian children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The mean malarial parasitaemia was 4701.05 ± 2160.53/µL. The mean antioxidant concentrations of the infected children were determined for vitamin A (12.16 ± 1 - 16 µg/dL), vitamin C (0.43 ± 0.03 mg/dL), 5 carotenes (40.96 ± 5.38 µg/dL), and vitamin E (0.45 ± 0.03 mg/dL) . The control subjects had higher mean concentrations of vitamin A (72.12 ± 3.12 µg/dL), and of the 5 carotenes (132.63 ± 22.45 µg/dL), and these differences were statistically significant (X2 = 42.86, P > 0.05 and X2 = 50.64, P > 0.05, respectively). The mean concentrations of vitamin C (1.22 ± 0.31 mg/dL) and vitamin E (1.03 ± 0.48 mg/dL) in the control children were not statistically significant when compared with their infected children (X2 = 0.34, P < 0.05) and (X2 = 0.66, P < 0.05), respectively. The relationship between malarial parasitaemia and the concentrations of vitamin E and the 5 carotenes were positively correlated (r = 0.83 and r = 0.99, respectively) . The levels of plasma vitamin A and vitamin C were negatively correlated with the malarial parasitaemia (r = -0.98, and r = -0.96, respectively). Children within their first 5 years of age had higher malarial parasitaemia (7628.42 ± 3151.42/µL) than those > 6 years (1176.58 ± 956/µL). The children between 1 - 5 years old had lower concentrations of vitamin A (8.89 ± 3.74 µg/dL) and vitamin C (0.28 ± 0.21 µg/dL), while the concentration of the 5 carotenes (44.54 µg/dL) and of vitamin E (0.50 ± 0.16 µg/dL) was higher in these children. In conclusion, the depressed levels of plasma antioxidants in the P. falciparum-infected children suggested lowered immunity of the children, which may contribute to the morbidity and mortality of malaria in our locality.
Key words: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, antioxidants, Children, Plasmodium falciparum, Nigeria.
Chinedu Obi and Ngozi Okereke, *Emmanuel Ibe
Page: 59 - 62
Research Article
African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 1 (7), pp. 112-115, July, 2007. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Assessment of the immunoglobulin status of Nigerians with Schistosoma haematobium infection
*Njoku Okorafor1, Francis Owoh2 and Elizabeth Uzukwu2
1Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.
2Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, Uyo, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 10 February, 2007
Abstract
The preliminary investigation revealed the prevalence of 138 (46.9%) out of 294 volunteers screened for the ova of Schistosoma haematobium in their urine samples. Of these, 84(28.6%) had light infection (50 ova/10 ml urine), while 54(18.4%) had heavy infection (> 50 ova/10 ml urine). This difference was statistically significant at ( 2 = 6.52, p > 0.05). The mean immunoglobulin status were as follow: IgE (2141.6 ± 143.7 ng/dL), IgG (13.6 ± 3.53 mg/dL), IgA (3.72 ± 0.149 mg/dL), IgM (2.82 ± 0.48 mg/dL) and IgD (0.12 ± 0.04 mg/dL) . The relationship between the IgM, IgE and the intensities of infection were positively correlated (r = 0.27 and r = 0.65, respectively) . IgG, IgA and IgD showed negative correlation with the intensities of infection (r = -0.65, r = -0.39 and r = - 0.18, respectively). IgG and IgA can be used as markers of light infection, while IgM and IgE can be used as markers for heavy infection. We deduced that the levels of IgG, IgA and IgM, which were depleted in the infected volunteers, compared to the control subjects, which lacked significant protective effects in these infected volunteers. These low levels of IgA, IgG and IgM and high level of IgE may be involved in maintenance of S. haematobium infection in our study area.
Key words: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM, Schistosoma haematobium, Nigerians.
Francis Owoh and Elizabeth Uzukwu, *Njoku Okorafor
Page: 112 - 115