Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Green revolution vaccines, edible vaccines

Swamy Krishna Tripurani, N. S. Reddy and K. R. S. Sambasiva Rao*

Centre for Biotechnology, Nagarjuna university, Nagarjuna Nagar, Guntur-522510, A.P., India.

Accepted 28 November 2018

Abstract

Edible vaccines are sub-unit vaccines where the selected genes are introduced into the plants and the transgenic plant is then induced to manufacture the encoded protein. Edible vaccines are mucosal targeted vaccines where stimulation of both systematic and mucosal immune network takes place. Foods under study include potatoes, bananas, lettuce, rice, wheat, soybean, corn and legumes. Edible vaccines for various diseases such as measles, cholera, hepatitis-B, and many more are in the process of development. Food vaccines may also help to suppress autoimmunity disorders such as Type-1 Diabetes.

Key words: Edible vaccines, oral vaccines, antigen expression, food vaccines.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (4), pp. 001-003, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Short communication

In vitro activity of commercial formulation and active principle of trypanocidal drugs against bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

Clarisse Lekane Likeufack¹, Lisette Kohagne Tongue¹, and Philippe Truc^1,2 *

¹Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Department of Research and Control of Human African Trypanosomiasis, BP 288, Yaounde, Cameroon.

²Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, IRD, Research Unit 35 BP 1857, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Accepted 14 October 2018

Abstract

The in vitro trypanocidal activities of 4 commercial formulations Ornidyl®, Pentamidine isethionate®, Germanin® and Lampit® and their corresponding active principles (Dl-α-difluoromethylornithine, pentamidine isethionate, suramine and 5-nitrofuran) were compared against Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Differences of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were observed between Ornidyl® and Dl-α-difluoromethylornithine and between Lampit® and 5-nitrofuran. For RO 15 strain and the comparison of Ornidyl®/ DFMO, the MIC when using the commercial drug was more than twice the MIC value obtained with the active principle. For all 3 trypanosome strains, MICs were identical for Lampit® and 5-nitrofuran but the MIC with the commercial formulation was twice the MIC obtained with the active principle. The active principles, rather than commercial formulations, should be used for standardization of in vitro assay protocols.

Key words: In vitro activity, trypanocidal drugs, commercial formulations, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Morphological and virulence variation among isolates of Mycosphaerella pinodes the causal agent of pea leaf blight

Benali Setti¹*, Mohamed Bencheikh¹, Jamel Henni² and Claire Neema³

¹Institut de Biologie, Université de Chlef, BP151, 02000- Algérie.

²Institut des Sciences, Université d’Es Senia, Oran, Algérie.

³UMR de Pathologie Végétale, INRA/INA-PG/Université Paris VI, 16 rue Claude Bernard, 75231, France.

Accepted 20 October, 2018

Abstract

Mycosphaerella blight caused by Mycosphaerella pinodes (Berk. and Blox.) Vestergr. is an important disease, causing severe damage in peas. Variability of 20 Algerian isolates of M. pinodes representative of four agro climatic regions were investigated on the basis of cultural, morphological and pathogenicity. Culture and morphology showed variations in colony color, radial growth pattern and production of pycnidia and pycnidiospores. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in both pycnidia and pycnidiospores size among isolates were observed. Hence, the size of pycnidia and pycnidiospores of M. pinodes varied from 145 × 143 µm to 280 × 265 µm and from 11.5 × 2.3 µm to 22.5 × 6.3 µm respectively. Using the factor analysis, this revealed that the first principal component (pc) was more related to the growth and sporulation aspect, hence, the colony growth and both the pycnidia and pycnidiospore density were more related to the first pc, while the second pc contributed for the pycnidiospores size. The isolates were also evaluated for their pathogenicity on seven cultivars in controlled conditions. Cluster analysis based on disease rating on a scale of 1 to 5, indicated higher similarity coefficient. In addition, using Euclidian distances method, the clusters were subdivided at 70% of similarity in seven pathotype groups (PG). The two first pathotypes grouped the most isolates (70%), representing isolates from the four agro climatic regions. However, the members of same group were different in their cultural and morphological characteristics. A detailed study to investigate molecular and genetic basis of diversity is suggested.

Key words: Mycosphaerella blight, morphometry, cluster analysis.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-010, March, 2019. International Scholars Journals

Review

African indigenous plants with chemotherapeutic potentials and biotechnological approach to the production of bioactive prophylactic agents

E. Olatunde Farombi

Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]. Fax: 234-2-8103043 or 8103118.

Accepted 25 November, 2018

Abstract

Undoubtedly medicinal plants are relevant in both developing and developed nations of the world as sources of drugs or herbal extracts for various chemotherapeutic purposes. Also the use of plant-derived natural compounds as part of herbal preparations as alternative sources of medicaments continues to play major roles in the general wellness of people all over the world. The African continent contains some of the richest biodiversity in the world, and abounds in plants of economic importance and plants of medicinal importance which when developed would reduce our expenditure on imported drugs to meet our health needs. Herbal-based and plant-derived products can be exploited with sustainable comparative and competitive advantage. This review presents some indigenous African plants with chemotherapeutic properties and possible ways of developing them into potent pharmacological agents using biotechnological approaches.

Key words: Antioxidants, chemotherapy, medicinal plants, biotechnology, tissue culture, phytochemicals, prophylaxis, african plants, herbs, natural products.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

About Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, the causative agent of the chronic form of Human African Trypanosomiasis: some findings and proposals

P. Truc ^1,2

¹Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Department of Research and Control of Human African Trypanosomiasis, BP 288, Yaounde, Cameroon.

²Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, IRD, Research Unit 35 BP 1857, Yaounde, Cameroon. E-mail: [email protected], Tel: + 237 984 60 57.

Accepted 20 November 2018

Abstract

Since its discovery at the beginning of 20th century, Human African Trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness has killed several hundred thousands of individuals in Africa, mainly in Central part of the continent. The actual situation of the disease in several countries is dramatic, such as in Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo or Angola. However, diagnosis is still based on the detection of parasites in blood or lymphatic juice by microscopy, like in 1930's. Furthermore, since the discovery of melarsoprol in 1949, no novel drugs have been synthesized for treatment. This must consider it within the whole context of "most-neglected diseases" but some findings obtained through biotechnology are discussed in terms of epidemiology and control applications.

Key words: Human African Trypanosomiasis, neglected disease, biotechnologies.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN 7295-2849 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-010, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Anthemideae: advances in tissue culture, genetics and transgenic biotechnology

Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva

Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Ikenobe, 2393, Kagawa-ken, 761-0795, Japan. Telfax: +81 (0)72 726 8178. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 02 December 2018

Abstract

Members of the Anthemideae include important floricultural (cut-flower) and ornamental (pot and garden) crops, as well as plants of medicinal and ethno-pharmacological interest. Despite the use of many of these plants (over 1400 species) in the extraction of important secondary metabolites and essential oils, the greatest emphasis has been on their in vitro tissue culture and micropropagation. Few studies have been conducted on genetic transformation, with those primarily focused on increasing yield of compounds in plants. This review, the first and only available for plants within this Family, highlights all the available literature that exists on Anthemideae (excluding ornamental chrysanthemums) in vitro cell, tissue and organ culture, micropropagation and transformation.

Key words: Achillea, Anthemis, Artemisia, Matricaria, Santolina, Tanacetum.