Precision medicine on a budget in Africa: using existing genetic data to mitigate adverse drug reactions to conventional cancer drugs.

Variations in drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters are associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs). ADRs to cancer drugs can differ among populations owing to environmental and genetic differences. Due to limited resources and prohibitive costs associated with drug development, African countries rely on cancer drugs developed from non-African genetic backgrounds.

The Confluence of HIV-1 and HIV-2: Implications for Disease Progression and Insights for Therapy.

Two distinct types of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), namely, HIV-1 and HIV-2 exist. HIV-1 is responsible for the global pandemic and has an aggressive pathogenesis. On the contrary, HIV-2 is not only less aggressive but also confined to West and Central African regions.

Paracrine Signals from HIV-1 Infected Immune Cells Reprogram Cervical Cancer Pathways.

Persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer worldwide. Notably, women co-infected with HPV and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) have a six-fold higher lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer compared to those without HIV, even when adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and achieving T-cell reconstitution. While chronic HIV-1 infection is known to cause inflammation, how paracrine signals from immune cells alter signaling in cervical cells remain poorly understood.

Malaria exposure remodels the plasma proteome of Ghanaian children.

Background: Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, remains a major public health burden causing ~ 200 million deaths annually, especially among children. Although the lack of an effective vaccine has hindered malaria elimination, studies have reported on individuals acquiring natural immunity to malaria in the context of high malaria exposure. However, the immune correlates of protection in these people who acquire natural immunity against malaria are poorly understood.

In vitro analysis suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection differentially modulates cancer-like phenotypes and cytokine expression in colorectal and prostate cancer cells.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reportedly exacerbates cancer outcomes. However, how COVID-19 influences cancer prognosis and development remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19, on cellular cancer phenotypes the expression of cancer-related markers, and various proinflammatory cytokines.

CRISPR-Cas9 screen of E3 ubiquitin ligases identifies TRAF2 and UHRF1 as regulators of HIV latency in primary human T cells.

Unlabelled: During HIV infection of CD4+ T cells, ubiquitin pathways are essential to viral replication and host innate immune response; however, the role of specific E3 ubiquitin ligases is not well understood. Proteomics analyses identified 116 single-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligases expressed in activated primary human CD4+ T cells. Using a CRISPR-based arrayed spreading infectivity assay, we systematically knocked out 116 E3s from activated primary CD4+ T cells and infected them with NL4-3 GFP reporter HIV-1.

Knowledge, attitude and perception towards COVID-19 among representative educated sub-Saharan Africans: A cross-sectional study during the exponential phase of the pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the Severe Acute Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global health threat with extensive misinformation and conspiracy theories. Therefore, this study investigated the knowledge, attitude and perception of sub-Saharan Africans (SSA) on COVID-19 during the exponential phase of the pandemic. In this cross-sectional survey, self-administered web-based questionnaires were distributed through several online platforms.

SARS-CoV-2 variants evolve convergent strategies to remodel the host response.

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we used unbiased systems approaches to study the host-selective forces driving VOC evolution. We discovered that VOCs evolved convergent strategies to remodel the host by modulating viral RNA and protein levels, altering viral and host protein phosphorylation, and rewiring virus-host protein-protein interactions.

Network modeling suggests HIV infection phenocopies PI3K-AKT pathway mutations to enhance HPV-associated cervical cancer.

Women coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human papillomavirus (HPV) are six times as likely to develop invasive cervical carcinoma compared to those without HIV. Unlike other HIV-associated cancers, the risk of cervical cancer development does not change when HPV/HIV coinfected women begin antiretroviral therapy, suggesting HIV-associated immune suppression is not a key driver of cervical cancer development in coinfected women. Here, we investigated whether the persistent secretion of inflammatory factors in HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy could enhance cancer signaling in HPV-infected cervical cells endocrine mechanisms.

Probing SARS-CoV-2-positive plasma to identify potential factors correlating with mild COVID-19 in Ghana, West Africa.

Background: West Africa has recorded a relatively higher proportion of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases than the rest of the world, and West Africa-specific host factors could play a role in this discrepancy. Here, we assessed the association between COVID-19 severity among Ghanaians with their immune profiles and ABO blood groups.

Methods: Plasma samples were obtained from Ghanaians PCR-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive individuals.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification for pecies surveillance in under-resourced setting: a review of evidence.

Introduction: Non-albicans species (NACS) have emerged as a major public health burden, although they are still underappreciated. Some NACS have intrinsic antifungal resistance, requiring constant surveillance to improve patient care and thwart outbreaks of recalcitrant candida infections. However, effective species surveillance has relied on PCR-based or other high-end techniques that are largely unaffordable in under-resourced countries.

Pathogen-Induced Epigenetic Modifications in Cancers: Implications for Prevention, Detection and Treatment of Cancers in Africa.

Cancer is a major public health burden worldwide. Tumor formation is caused by multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Many reports have demonstrated a positive correlation between the burden of infectious pathogens and the occurrence of cancers.

Parallels in Sepsis and COVID-19 Conditions: Implications for Managing Severe COVID-19.

Sepsis is a life-threatening systemic illness attributed to a dysregulated host response to infection. Sepsis is a global burden killing ~11 million persons annually. In December 2019, a novel pneumonia condition termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged and has resulted in more than 1,535,982 deaths globally as of 8 December 2020.

Potential of laser-induced fluorescence-light detection and ranging for future stand-off virus surveillance.

Viruses remain a significant public health concern worldwide. Recently, humanity has faced deadly viral infections, including Zika, Ebola and the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The threat is associated with the ability of the viruses to mutate frequently and adapt to different hosts.

Pausing the Fight Against Malaria to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: Is the Future of Malaria Bleak?

Malaria remains a major global health burden, killing hundreds of thousands annually, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2019, a Phase IV Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)-linked malaria vaccine implementation was underway. However, in December 2019, a novel pneumonia condition termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), with many clinical, epidemiological, and biological parallels to malaria, was reported in Wuhan, China.

Alternative sigma factor B (σ) and catalase enzyme contribute to Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm's tolerance against physico-chemical disinfection.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the predominant cause of recalcitrant biofilm-associated infections, which are often highly resistant to antibiotics. Thus, the use of physico-chemical agents for disinfection offers a more effective approach to the control of S. epidermidis biofilm infections.

Susceptibility patterns and the role of extracellular DNA in Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm resistance to physico-chemical stress exposure.

Background: Over 65% of human infections are ascribed to bacterial biofilms that are often highly resistant to antibiotics and host immunity. Staphylococcus epidermidis is the predominant cause of recurrent nosocomial and biofilm-related infections. However, the susceptibility patterns of S.