Abstract The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (FAW), first invaded Africa in 2016 and has since become established many areas across the continent where it poses a serious threat to food nutrition security. We re-parameterized existing CLIMEX model assess FAW global invasion threat, emphasizing risk of transient permanent population establishment under current projected future climates, considering irrigation patterns. can establish itself almost all countries eastern central large part...

Fermentation of Theobroma cacao L. beans is the most critical stage in production cocoa products such as chocolates and its derivatives. There a limited understanding complex response microbial diversity during bean fermentation. The aim present study was to investigate communities fermentation heap using culture-independent approach elucidate diversity, structure, functional annotation mapping unto metabolic pathways. Genomic DNA extracted purified from sample followed by library...

Maize lethal necrosis is caused by a synergistic co-infection of chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and specific member the Potyviridae, such as Sugarcane mosaic (SCMV), Wheat streak (WSMV) or Johnson grass (JGMV). Typical maize symptoms include severe yellowing leaf drying from edges. In Kenya, we detected plants showing typical atypical symptoms. Both groups often tested negative for SCMV ELISA. We used next-generation sequencing to identify viruses associated in Kenya through metagenomics...

Sorghum is a major food staple in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but its production constrained by the parasitic plant Striga that attaches to roots of many cereals crops and causes severe stunting loss yield. Away from cultivated farmland, wild sorghum accessions grow as weedy plants have shown remarkable immunity Striga. We sought determine extent resistance plants. Our screening strategy involved controlled laboratory assays rhizotrons, where we artificially infected with Striga, well field...

A culture-independent approach was used to elucidate the microbial diversity and structure in anaerobic-aerobic reactors integrated with a constructed wetland for treatment of tannery wastewater Modjo town, Ethiopia. The system has been running removal efficiencies ranging from 94%–96% COD, 91%–100% SO42- S2-, 92%–94% BOD, 56%–82% total Nitrogen 2%–90% NH3-N. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were community assemblies determined by analysis 801 unique sequences all sites. Operational Taxonomic...

Sorghum yields in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are greatly reduced by parasitic plants of the genus Striga (witchweed). Vast global sorghum genetic diversity collections, as well availability modern sequencing technologies, can be potentially harnessed to effectively manage parasite.We used laboratory assays - rhizotrons screen a panel identify new sources resistance Striga; determine mechanisms resistance, and elucidate loci underlying using genome-wide association studies (GWAS). New resistant...

The invasion and wide spread of Spodoptera frugiperda represent real impediments to food security the livelihood millions maize sorghum farming communities in sub-Saharan Sahel regions Africa. Current management efforts for pest are focused on use synthetic pesticides, which often economically unviable extremely hazardous environment. biological control offers a more environmentally safer alternative. In this study, performance recently described parasitoid, Cotesia icipe , against was...

Abstract The control of arthropod disease vectors using chemical insecticides is vital in combating malaria, however the increasing insecticide resistance (IR) poses a challenge. Furthermore, climate variability affects mosquito population dynamics and subsequently IR propagation. We present mathematical model to decipher relationship between Anopheles gambiae populations variability. By adapting susceptible-infected-resistant (SIR) framework integrating temperature rainfall data, our...

Two closely related potyviruses, bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and necrosis (BCMNV), are regarded as major constraints on production of (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in Eastern Central Africa, where this crop provides a high proportion dietary protein well other nutritional, agronomic, economic benefits. Previous studies using antibody-based assays indicator plants indicated that BCMV BCMNV both prevalent fields the region but these approaches cannot distinguish between potyviruses or detect...

Abstract Invasive holoparasitic plants of the genus Cuscuta (dodder) threaten African ecosystems due to their rapid spread and attack on various host plant species. Most species cannot photosynthesize hence rely for nourishment. After attachment through a peg-like organ called haustorium, parasites deprive hosts water nutrients, which negatively affects growth development. Despite in Africa, dodders have attracted limited research attention, although data taxonomy, range, epidemiology are...

The role of equine piroplasmosis as a factor in the population decline Grevy's zebra is not known. We determined prevalence Babesia caballi and Theileria equi cograzing zebras (Equus grevyi) donkeys africanus asinus) northern Kenya identified associated tick vectors. Blood samples were taken from 71 16 March to May 2011. A nested PCR reaction using 18s ribosomal (r)RNA primers on 87 blood spots showed 72% (51/71; 95% confidence interval [CI] 60.4-81.0%) 100% (16/16; CI, 77.3-100%) T....

AbstractMembers of the genus Pleurotus, also commonly known as oyster mushroom, are well for their socioeconomic and biotechnological potentials. Despite being one most important edible fungi, scarce information about genetic diversity species in natural populations has limited sustainable utilization. A total 71 isolates Pleurotus were collected from three populations: 25 obtained Kakamega forest, 34 Arabuko Sokoke forest 12 Mount Kenya forest. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)...

Abstract: Cameroon has a wide range of agro-ecological zones, having indigenous chicken populations which are thought to be adapted and diversified. Genetic diversity the from zones I, II, III IV was assessed using 25 microsatellite markers. A total 314 chickens were genotyped, revealing 226 distinct alleles 24 private (10.62%). The mean polymorphic information content 0.57. average observed, expected unbiased frequencies heterozygote 0.60, 0.62 0.65 respectively, with Shannon index 1.21....

Disruptions in the food supply chains caused by COVID-19 pandemic have destabilized balance between production, supply, transport, distribution, and consumption. Consequently, these disruptions affected nutritional security all over world. This study proposes a framework for investigating impact of on chains, considering Eastern Africa as focus region with Kenya Rwanda case studies. A systems thinking approach three systemic components (food nutrition, contagion, human health) was applied....

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the etiological agent of ASF, a fatal hemorrhagic that affects domestic pigs. There currently no vaccine against ASFV, making it significant threat to pork industry. The ASFV genome sequence has been published; however, about half open reading frames have not characterized in terms their structure and function despite being essential for our understanding pathogenicity. present study reports three-dimensional uncharacterized protein, pB263R ( NP_042780.1...

Maritim Tony, Kamunya Samson, Mwendia Charles, Mireji Paul, Muoki Richard, Wamalwa Mark, Francesca Stomeo, Schaack Sarah, Kyalo Martina, and Wachira Francis. J Plant Biotechnol 2016;43:302-10. https://doi.org/10.5010/JPB.2016.43.3.302

The emergence of COVID-19 as a global pandemic presents serious health threat to African countries and the livelihoods its people. To mitigate impact this disease, intervention measures including self-isolation, schools border closures were implemented varying degrees success. Moreover, there are limited number empirical studies on effectiveness non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) control COVID-19. In study, we considered two models inform policy decisions about planning implementation...

Abstract Summary:Many natural nucleic acid sequences have evolutionarily conserved secondary structures with diverse biological functions. A reliable computational tool for identifying such would be very useful in guiding experimental analyses of their NASP (Nucleic Acid Structure Predictor) is a program that takes into account thermodynamic stability, Boltzmann base pair probabilities, alignment uncertainty, covarying sites and evolutionary conservation to identify biologically relevant...

Introduction East Coast fever, a devastating disease of cattle, can be controlled partially by vaccination with live T. parva sporozoites. The antigens responsible for conferring immunity are not fully characterized. Recently it was shown that the P. falciparum immunodominant protein UB05 is highly conserved in parva, causative agent fever. aim present investigation to determine role homologue TpUB05 protective Methods cloning, sequencing and expression were done according standard...

Abstract Invasive holoparasitic plants of the genus Cuscuta (dodder) threaten Africa’s ecosystems, due to their rapid spread and attack on various host plant species. Most species cannot photosynthesize, hence rely for nourishment. After attachment through a peg-like organ called haustorium, parasites deprive hosts water nutrients leading death. Despite in Africa, dodders have attracted limited research attention, although data taxonomy, range epidemiology are critical management. Here, we...

African swine fever virus (ASFV) infection is fatal in domesticated pigs, with a mortality rate approaching 100%. This may result economic losses and threats to food security. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or antiviral therapies for ASFV. Therefore, this study, we evaluated congocidine congeners tris-benzimidazole as potential inhibitors of ASFV transcription using an silico approach. We applied redocking docking its receptor containing B-DNA AT-motifs target mimic conserved late...

Theileria parva induces pathogenesis, characteristic of cancer cell transformation and associated with invasion, proliferation altered gene expression infected bovine host leucocytes. Interactions among proteins are an important basis for biological functions underlie processes essential to pathogenesis during infection. Knowledge or prediction host–pathogen molecular interactions may suggest mechanisms pathogen interference can be useful selecting potential therapeutic targets. Using...