Pub Date : 2022-09-02DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2022.2158387
T. Garuba, Rayhaan Govender, Habibah Abdulsalam Isah, S. Sabiu
Rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis is a global health concern and the leading cause of death in low-income countries and children under the age of five. While rotavirus A (RVA) vaccines are available, there accessibility and efficacy remain challenging, especially in the third world countries. This has necessitated the need to develop therapeutics to manage RVA infection. This study investigated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-derived Phyllosticta capitalensis metabolites as potential therapeutics against the key structural proteins [VP8* portion of the VP4 (spike protein), the VP7 (capsid protein), and the VP1 (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase)] of RVA using molecular docking and ADME approaches. The results revealed that four [lup-20(29)-en-one, A’-neogammacer-22(29)-ene, stigmasta-4,7,22-trien-3-α-ol, and fucosterol] of the 67 metabolites had favourable affinity for the three structural proteins and belonged to classes of metabolite of antiviral importance. Further analysis and pharmacokinetic profiling showed that the pentacyclic triterpenoids, lup-20(29)-en-one and A’-neogammacer-22(29)-ene, had the potential to be developed as antivirals against RVA infection and effort is underway in this direction.
{"title":"Metabolites profiling and molecular docking identification of putative leads from endophytic Phyllosticta capitalensis as modulators of key druggable structural targets of rotavirus A","authors":"T. Garuba, Rayhaan Govender, Habibah Abdulsalam Isah, S. Sabiu","doi":"10.1080/0035919X.2022.2158387","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2022.2158387","url":null,"abstract":"Rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis is a global health concern and the leading cause of death in low-income countries and children under the age of five. While rotavirus A (RVA) vaccines are available, there accessibility and efficacy remain challenging, especially in the third world countries. This has necessitated the need to develop therapeutics to manage RVA infection. This study investigated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-derived Phyllosticta capitalensis metabolites as potential therapeutics against the key structural proteins [VP8* portion of the VP4 (spike protein), the VP7 (capsid protein), and the VP1 (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase)] of RVA using molecular docking and ADME approaches. The results revealed that four [lup-20(29)-en-one, A’-neogammacer-22(29)-ene, stigmasta-4,7,22-trien-3-α-ol, and fucosterol] of the 67 metabolites had favourable affinity for the three structural proteins and belonged to classes of metabolite of antiviral importance. Further analysis and pharmacokinetic profiling showed that the pentacyclic triterpenoids, lup-20(29)-en-one and A’-neogammacer-22(29)-ene, had the potential to be developed as antivirals against RVA infection and effort is underway in this direction.","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"77 1","pages":"207 - 217"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46784977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-02DOI: 10.1080/0035919x.2022.2161719
M. Bruton
Professor Brian Robert Allanson, the doyen of South African zoology professors, died in Cape Town on 10 July 2022 at the age of 94 years. He is survived by his wife, Sue, five children, 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Brian was born in Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on New Year ’s Day in 1928 where his father, Arthur, was a marine engineer. The Allanson family moved to the United Kingdom when Brian was an infant and then to Port Elizabeth in 1938. Brian’s passionate interest in biology manifested early in life as he enjoyed dissecting rabbits, rats and all manner of other creatures. He was schooled at Grey High School and studied zoology and chemistry at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, graduating in 1948. Whilst a student at the University of Natal in 1948 Brian took part in a research expedition organised by Dr George Campbell to Maputaland (including Lake Sibaya, an unexplored lake at the time). This trip whetted his appetite for doing research in the area, which eventually came to fruition 20 years later. This episode emphasises the importance of early student involvement in field research. After three years as Assistant Science Master at Hilton College, he earned his master ’s degree in marine biology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and taught there as a junior lecturer in zoology for a year while commencing his studies for a PhD. In 1955 he joined the Zoology Department at UCTas a junior lecturer under Professor John Day. Later that year he married Sue Nicholson, who was studying librarianship at the university. When Brian received a four-year research fellowship from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Transvaal Provincial Administration, he and Sue moved to Pretoria where he was tasked with monitoring the health of the rivers that supply water to the province. During this period he was sent to England for a year as a visiting researcher at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) Water Pollution Laboratories in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, where he completed the write-up for his PhD from UCT. On his return he was appointed Head of the Division of Hydrobiology at the CSIR’s National Institute for Water Research, where he continued his work on rivers and reservoirs. In 1963, at the age of only 35 years, Brian Allanson was appointed Professor of Zoology and Entomology at Rhodes University, a position he held with distinction for the next 25 years. The dashing young professor apparently caused quite a stir in the quiet “City of Saints” and became the university’s first Dean of Research and one of the scholarly giants on the campus. His advice to struggling students was always, “Be strong and of good courage” (Joshua, 1, v 9), or “Go sit quietly and think.” It is no accident that the Department of Zoology and Entomology remains one of the top-performing research departments on the Rhodes University campus. In 1965 Professor Allanson established the Institute for Fresh
{"title":"Tribute to Professor Brian Robert Allanson","authors":"M. Bruton","doi":"10.1080/0035919x.2022.2161719","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919x.2022.2161719","url":null,"abstract":"Professor Brian Robert Allanson, the doyen of South African zoology professors, died in Cape Town on 10 July 2022 at the age of 94 years. He is survived by his wife, Sue, five children, 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Brian was born in Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) on New Year ’s Day in 1928 where his father, Arthur, was a marine engineer. The Allanson family moved to the United Kingdom when Brian was an infant and then to Port Elizabeth in 1938. Brian’s passionate interest in biology manifested early in life as he enjoyed dissecting rabbits, rats and all manner of other creatures. He was schooled at Grey High School and studied zoology and chemistry at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, graduating in 1948. Whilst a student at the University of Natal in 1948 Brian took part in a research expedition organised by Dr George Campbell to Maputaland (including Lake Sibaya, an unexplored lake at the time). This trip whetted his appetite for doing research in the area, which eventually came to fruition 20 years later. This episode emphasises the importance of early student involvement in field research. After three years as Assistant Science Master at Hilton College, he earned his master ’s degree in marine biology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and taught there as a junior lecturer in zoology for a year while commencing his studies for a PhD. In 1955 he joined the Zoology Department at UCTas a junior lecturer under Professor John Day. Later that year he married Sue Nicholson, who was studying librarianship at the university. When Brian received a four-year research fellowship from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Transvaal Provincial Administration, he and Sue moved to Pretoria where he was tasked with monitoring the health of the rivers that supply water to the province. During this period he was sent to England for a year as a visiting researcher at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) Water Pollution Laboratories in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, where he completed the write-up for his PhD from UCT. On his return he was appointed Head of the Division of Hydrobiology at the CSIR’s National Institute for Water Research, where he continued his work on rivers and reservoirs. In 1963, at the age of only 35 years, Brian Allanson was appointed Professor of Zoology and Entomology at Rhodes University, a position he held with distinction for the next 25 years. The dashing young professor apparently caused quite a stir in the quiet “City of Saints” and became the university’s first Dean of Research and one of the scholarly giants on the campus. His advice to struggling students was always, “Be strong and of good courage” (Joshua, 1, v 9), or “Go sit quietly and think.” It is no accident that the Department of Zoology and Entomology remains one of the top-performing research departments on the Rhodes University campus. In 1965 Professor Allanson established the Institute for Fresh ","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"77 1","pages":"171 - 173"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44506830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-02DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2022.2164629
Tebogo Doctor Malatsi, A. Kara
Using underlying invariance/symmetry properties and related/associated conservation laws, we investigate some 'high' order nonlinear equations. The multiplier method is mainly used to construct conserved vectors for these equations. When the partial differential equations are reduced to the nonlinear ordinary differential equation (NLODE), exact solutions for the ODEs are constructed and graphical representations of the resulting solutions are provided. In some cases, the solutions obtained are the Jacobi elliptic cosine function and the solitary wave solutions. We study the third-order 'equal width equation' followed by a new fourth-order nonlinear partial differential equation (NLPDE), which was recently established in the literature and, finally, the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation having three dispersion sources.
{"title":"Invariance, conservation laws and reductions of some classes of “high” order partial differential equations","authors":"Tebogo Doctor Malatsi, A. Kara","doi":"10.1080/0035919X.2022.2164629","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2022.2164629","url":null,"abstract":"Using underlying invariance/symmetry properties and related/associated conservation laws, we investigate some 'high' order nonlinear equations. The multiplier method is mainly used to construct conserved vectors for these equations. When the partial differential equations are reduced to the nonlinear ordinary differential equation (NLODE), exact solutions for the ODEs are constructed and graphical representations of the resulting solutions are provided. In some cases, the solutions obtained are the Jacobi elliptic cosine function and the solitary wave solutions. We study the third-order 'equal width equation' followed by a new fourth-order nonlinear partial differential equation (NLPDE), which was recently established in the literature and, finally, the Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation having three dispersion sources.","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"77 1","pages":"255 - 270"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49477102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-02DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2022.2144536
G. Chakafana, S. Makumire, T. Zininga, A. Shonhai
Although protein interaction studies are instrumental in understanding protein networks, most protein interaction techniques depend on use of sophisticated and expensive equipment. This makes it difficult for under-resourced laboratories to conduct protein–protein interaction studies. As such, we sought to explore the prospects of using ELISA and slot blot as alternate methods for analyzing protein–protein interactions in resource-limited settings. We used these two methods to explore the well established interaction of heat shock proteins (Hsps) of Plasmodium falciparum as a model. P. falciparum Hsp70-1 (PfHsp70-1) is a cytosol-nuclear localised molecular chaperone that interacts with several functional partners including P. falciparum Hsp70-Hsp90 organising protein (PfHop), P. falciparum Hsp40 (PfHsp40) and P. falciparum Hsp70-z (PfHsp70-z). To validate the application of ELISA and slot blot techniques in protein–protein studies, we employed these two techniques to explore the interaction of recombinant PfHsp70-1 with its partners. We further used the two techniques to explore the effects of mutating residues located in the GGMP repeat and linker motifs of PfHsp70-1 on the chaperone’s interaction with its functional partners. We established that despite requiring much larger amounts of protein compared to the more sensitive assays, the ELISA and slot blot assays were capable of detecting both nucleotide- and mutation-driven changes regulating the affinity of PfHsp70-1 for its interactors. Our findings highlight the utility of these two techniques under resource constraints in conducting routine protein–protein interaction studies and their possible application in the preliminary screening of inhibitors targeting protein networks.
{"title":"Exploring the application of ELISA and slot blot as utility protein–protein interaction analysis tools","authors":"G. Chakafana, S. Makumire, T. Zininga, A. Shonhai","doi":"10.1080/0035919X.2022.2144536","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2022.2144536","url":null,"abstract":"Although protein interaction studies are instrumental in understanding protein networks, most protein interaction techniques depend on use of sophisticated and expensive equipment. This makes it difficult for under-resourced laboratories to conduct protein–protein interaction studies. As such, we sought to explore the prospects of using ELISA and slot blot as alternate methods for analyzing protein–protein interactions in resource-limited settings. We used these two methods to explore the well established interaction of heat shock proteins (Hsps) of Plasmodium falciparum as a model. P. falciparum Hsp70-1 (PfHsp70-1) is a cytosol-nuclear localised molecular chaperone that interacts with several functional partners including P. falciparum Hsp70-Hsp90 organising protein (PfHop), P. falciparum Hsp40 (PfHsp40) and P. falciparum Hsp70-z (PfHsp70-z). To validate the application of ELISA and slot blot techniques in protein–protein studies, we employed these two techniques to explore the interaction of recombinant PfHsp70-1 with its partners. We further used the two techniques to explore the effects of mutating residues located in the GGMP repeat and linker motifs of PfHsp70-1 on the chaperone’s interaction with its functional partners. We established that despite requiring much larger amounts of protein compared to the more sensitive assays, the ELISA and slot blot assays were capable of detecting both nucleotide- and mutation-driven changes regulating the affinity of PfHsp70-1 for its interactors. Our findings highlight the utility of these two techniques under resource constraints in conducting routine protein–protein interaction studies and their possible application in the preliminary screening of inhibitors targeting protein networks.","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"58 8","pages":"175 - 180"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41247154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-02DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2022.2164807
B. Ikhajiagbe, M. Ogwu, G. Omoregie, C. A. Tennison-Omovoh, J. Ifie, Dorathy Eseose Otabor
The use of calcium carbide (CaC2) to ripen Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck and other non-climacteric fruit is prevalent in parts of the Global South. However, little to no information exists about the potential effects and risks associated with such practices. Hence, it is necessary to determine if contaminants like arsenic that are associated with CaC2 accumulate significantly in orange juices after they are ripened with the chemical. Fresh mature but unripe C. sinensis were harvested from an orchard in Benin City, Nigeria, and exposed to the different concentrations (1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 g) of dry and wet CaC2 in small lidded cylindrical containers with a surface area of 1507.96 cm2. In each container, three oranges were placed while the control setup was allowed to naturally ripen. The control oranges began to ripen on the 7th day, with severe colour loss, whereas the oranges treated with 5.0 g CaC2 (dry) began to ripen on the second day. However, there were already signs of rotting by the sixth day. Even though the orange exposed to 5.0 g CaC2 (wet) began to ripen after 24 h, there were no symptoms of fruit degradation after one week. Moreover, in oranges ripened with CaC2, there was a large deposition of arsenic. The dried and wet-CaC2-exposed oranges showed no significant variations in arsenic accumulation. It was found that the oranges contain 2.15 mg/L juice and 2.06 mg/L peel material. The use of CaC2 for fruit ripening is discouraged and could contribute to reducing the incidence of cancer, skin lesions, poor cognitive development, and non-communicable diseases like diabetes caused by arsenic exposure.
电石(CaC2)在柑桔催熟中的应用奥斯贝克和其他非更年期水果在全球南方的部分地区很普遍。然而，几乎没有关于这种做法的潜在影响和风险的信息。因此，有必要确定与CaC2相关的砷等污染物在橙汁中成熟后是否会大量积累。在尼日利亚贝宁市的一个果园中收获新鲜的成熟和未成熟的sinensis，并在1507.96 cm2的小有盖圆柱形容器中暴露于不同浓度(1.0、2.5和5.0 g)的干湿CaC2。在每个容器中，放置三个橙子，同时让对照装置自然成熟。对照橙在第7天开始成熟，颜色严重丧失，而5.0 g CaC2(干)处理的橙在第2天开始成熟。然而，第六天已经有腐烂的迹象。尽管暴露于5.0 g CaC2(湿)的橙子在24 h后开始成熟，但在一周后没有出现果实退化的症状。此外，在CaC2催熟的橙子中，砷有大量沉积。干橙和湿橙的砷积累量无显著差异。结果发现，橙子的果汁含量为2.15 mg/L，果皮含量为2.06 mg/L。不鼓励在水果成熟过程中使用CaC2，这可能有助于减少癌症、皮肤损伤、认知发育不良以及由砷暴露引起的糖尿病等非传染性疾病的发病率。
{"title":"Arsenic poisoning results from the postharvest use of calcium carbide to ripen Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck. fruits","authors":"B. Ikhajiagbe, M. Ogwu, G. Omoregie, C. A. Tennison-Omovoh, J. Ifie, Dorathy Eseose Otabor","doi":"10.1080/0035919X.2022.2164807","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2022.2164807","url":null,"abstract":"The use of calcium carbide (CaC2) to ripen Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck and other non-climacteric fruit is prevalent in parts of the Global South. However, little to no information exists about the potential effects and risks associated with such practices. Hence, it is necessary to determine if contaminants like arsenic that are associated with CaC2 accumulate significantly in orange juices after they are ripened with the chemical. Fresh mature but unripe C. sinensis were harvested from an orchard in Benin City, Nigeria, and exposed to the different concentrations (1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 g) of dry and wet CaC2 in small lidded cylindrical containers with a surface area of 1507.96 cm2. In each container, three oranges were placed while the control setup was allowed to naturally ripen. The control oranges began to ripen on the 7th day, with severe colour loss, whereas the oranges treated with 5.0 g CaC2 (dry) began to ripen on the second day. However, there were already signs of rotting by the sixth day. Even though the orange exposed to 5.0 g CaC2 (wet) began to ripen after 24 h, there were no symptoms of fruit degradation after one week. Moreover, in oranges ripened with CaC2, there was a large deposition of arsenic. The dried and wet-CaC2-exposed oranges showed no significant variations in arsenic accumulation. It was found that the oranges contain 2.15 mg/L juice and 2.06 mg/L peel material. The use of CaC2 for fruit ripening is discouraged and could contribute to reducing the incidence of cancer, skin lesions, poor cognitive development, and non-communicable diseases like diabetes caused by arsenic exposure.","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"77 1","pages":"271 - 277"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48449893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-02DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2022.2160389
O. Oduwole, S. Akinboro, O. G. Lala, S. Olabiyisi
The need for cloud computing load balancing is a peculiar area of interest for researchers because it affects both the quality of service provided to users and resource utilisation on the part of cloud service providers. Due to the requirement to minimise processing costs, enhance throughput, improve resource efficiency, and optimise cloud node arrangement, existing cloud computing load balancing methods have been found to be restricted in their capacity to manage big-data cloud system load distribution. This research developed a novel Central-Regional Architecture Based Load Balancing Technique (CRLBT) different from the known central, distributive, and hierarchical cloud architectures. The proposed technique was developed by combining a formulated throughput maximisation algorithm with the algorithms; Throughput Maximised-Particle Swarm Optimisation (TM-PSO) and Throughput Maximised-Firefly optimisation (TM-Firefly). The developed technique was implemented using the MATLAB R2018 software package. The performance of the CRLBT in comparison to the already-in-use PSO and Firefly algorithms was evaluated using response time, throughput, job rejection ratio, and CPU utilisation rate. The significance of the improvement in load balancing brought about by the new approach was further assessed using a statistical T-Test. The results showed that the proposed CRLBT significantly outperformed the PSO and Firefly techniques regarding response time, throughput CPU utilisation rate, and task rejection ratio. Finally, significant improvements in response time, tax rejection ratio, CPU utilisation rate, and network throughput proved the ability of the proposed technique to handle task-resource distribution of big-data cloud centres superiorly.
{"title":"An Enhanced Load Balancing Technique for Big-data Cloud Computing Environments","authors":"O. Oduwole, S. Akinboro, O. G. Lala, S. Olabiyisi","doi":"10.1080/0035919X.2022.2160389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2022.2160389","url":null,"abstract":"The need for cloud computing load balancing is a peculiar area of interest for researchers because it affects both the quality of service provided to users and resource utilisation on the part of cloud service providers. Due to the requirement to minimise processing costs, enhance throughput, improve resource efficiency, and optimise cloud node arrangement, existing cloud computing load balancing methods have been found to be restricted in their capacity to manage big-data cloud system load distribution. This research developed a novel Central-Regional Architecture Based Load Balancing Technique (CRLBT) different from the known central, distributive, and hierarchical cloud architectures. The proposed technique was developed by combining a formulated throughput maximisation algorithm with the algorithms; Throughput Maximised-Particle Swarm Optimisation (TM-PSO) and Throughput Maximised-Firefly optimisation (TM-Firefly). The developed technique was implemented using the MATLAB R2018 software package. The performance of the CRLBT in comparison to the already-in-use PSO and Firefly algorithms was evaluated using response time, throughput, job rejection ratio, and CPU utilisation rate. The significance of the improvement in load balancing brought about by the new approach was further assessed using a statistical T-Test. The results showed that the proposed CRLBT significantly outperformed the PSO and Firefly techniques regarding response time, throughput CPU utilisation rate, and task rejection ratio. Finally, significant improvements in response time, tax rejection ratio, CPU utilisation rate, and network throughput proved the ability of the proposed technique to handle task-resource distribution of big-data cloud centres superiorly.","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"77 1","pages":"219 - 236"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46888407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-02DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2022.2156934
Deokary Joseph Matiya, A. Philbert, W. Kidima, R. Kaaya, J. Matowo
Abstract In malaria-endemic countries, monitoring of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in areas contaminated with different sources of pollutants is still lacking. This study investigated insecticide resistance and its mechanisms in Anopheles arabiensis across four villages in Southeast Tanzania. Mosquitoes were collected from breeding habitats and tested against permethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, pirimiphos-methyl, and bendiocarb. Mechanisms of resistance [P450s enzymes and knockdown resistance (kdr)] were investigated. Comparison of mosquito mortality between sites was performed through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey–Kramer tests. Anopheles arabiensis was highly resistant to pyrethroid and fully susceptible to bendiocarb and pirimiphos-methyl with mortality ranges of 29%−57%; 37%−65%; 34%−53%; 98%−100%; and 100% in permethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, pirimiphos-methyl, and bendiocarb respectively. Anopheles arabiensis mortality, particularly, in permethrin and deltamethrin was significantly higher in less polluted areas (Mofu and Namwawala) p < 0.001 as compared to areas with agrochemicals (Minepa) and domestic pollutants (Ifakara town) (p < 0.01). Moreover, significant involvement of P450s enzymes in pyrethroid resistance was observed while kdr mutations were not detected. The present study shows that pollution of mosquito breeding habitats might accelerate insecticide resistance which could impede the control of malaria vectors.
{"title":"Susceptibility status of the malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis to insecticides used in vector-borne diseases control in areas with heterogeneous sources of pollutants in South-East Tanzania","authors":"Deokary Joseph Matiya, A. Philbert, W. Kidima, R. Kaaya, J. Matowo","doi":"10.1080/0035919X.2022.2156934","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2022.2156934","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In malaria-endemic countries, monitoring of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in areas contaminated with different sources of pollutants is still lacking. This study investigated insecticide resistance and its mechanisms in Anopheles arabiensis across four villages in Southeast Tanzania. Mosquitoes were collected from breeding habitats and tested against permethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, pirimiphos-methyl, and bendiocarb. Mechanisms of resistance [P450s enzymes and knockdown resistance (kdr)] were investigated. Comparison of mosquito mortality between sites was performed through one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey–Kramer tests. Anopheles arabiensis was highly resistant to pyrethroid and fully susceptible to bendiocarb and pirimiphos-methyl with mortality ranges of 29%−57%; 37%−65%; 34%−53%; 98%−100%; and 100% in permethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, pirimiphos-methyl, and bendiocarb respectively. Anopheles arabiensis mortality, particularly, in permethrin and deltamethrin was significantly higher in less polluted areas (Mofu and Namwawala) p < 0.001 as compared to areas with agrochemicals (Minepa) and domestic pollutants (Ifakara town) (p < 0.01). Moreover, significant involvement of P450s enzymes in pyrethroid resistance was observed while kdr mutations were not detected. The present study shows that pollution of mosquito breeding habitats might accelerate insecticide resistance which could impede the control of malaria vectors.","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"77 1","pages":"195 - 205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44590097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
We evaluated the therapeutic potential and physicochemical characteristics of propolis samples collected from three councils, namely Khoelenya (F03), Lithipeng (F04) and Thaba-mokhele (F05), in the Mohale's Hoek district, Lesotho. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of the therapeutic potential, physicochemical characteristics and colour variation to the geographical location and botanical sources of the collected propolis samples. The collected samples presented remarkable colour variation, ranging from green (25%) to brown (58%) to grey (17%). The highest antioxidant activity was observed in green-coloured propolis samples collected from Lithipeng F04P01 and Khoelenya F03P01, with 2,2–diphenyl–1–picryl–hydrazyl–hydrate (DPPH) half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 0.21 and 0.23 mg/mL, respectively. The antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50) did not correlate completely with the total polyphenolic content (R 2 = 0.1733) and total flavonoid content (R 2 = 0.4836). Moreover, the highest antimicrobial activity was observed on grey propolis collected from Thaba-mokhele, F05P04 and F05P03, with minimum inhibitory concentration of 3.13 mg/mL for both samples, especially against Staphylococcus aureus. The qualitative phytochemical analysis detected the presence of polyphenols, alkaloids and flavonoids in all collected samples. Thus, our findings could lead to the formulation of a “local” Lesotho type of propolis that could be used as an official medicine. This could be a big marketing advantage for the Lesotho pharmaceutical and beekeeping industries.
{"title":"Therapeutic potential and physicochemical standardisation of Lesotho propolis based on geographical location and botanical sources: a pilot study in Mohale’s Hoek district","authors":"Oriel Hlokoane, Tankiso Lechesa, Letsekha Mafereka, Mosuoenyane Moshoeshoe, Relebohile Mautsoe, Monantha Hlabi, Mpolokeng Ramats’ella, Kali Mosothoane, Ts’elleng Moleko, Motseki Mohloki, Mpho Rasenyalo","doi":"10.1080/0035919X.2022.2163000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2022.2163000","url":null,"abstract":"We evaluated the therapeutic potential and physicochemical characteristics of propolis samples collected from three councils, namely Khoelenya (F03), Lithipeng (F04) and Thaba-mokhele (F05), in the Mohale's Hoek district, Lesotho. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of the therapeutic potential, physicochemical characteristics and colour variation to the geographical location and botanical sources of the collected propolis samples. The collected samples presented remarkable colour variation, ranging from green (25%) to brown (58%) to grey (17%). The highest antioxidant activity was observed in green-coloured propolis samples collected from Lithipeng F04P01 and Khoelenya F03P01, with 2,2–diphenyl–1–picryl–hydrazyl–hydrate (DPPH) half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 0.21 and 0.23 mg/mL, respectively. The antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50) did not correlate completely with the total polyphenolic content (R 2 = 0.1733) and total flavonoid content (R 2 = 0.4836). Moreover, the highest antimicrobial activity was observed on grey propolis collected from Thaba-mokhele, F05P04 and F05P03, with minimum inhibitory concentration of 3.13 mg/mL for both samples, especially against Staphylococcus aureus. The qualitative phytochemical analysis detected the presence of polyphenols, alkaloids and flavonoids in all collected samples. Thus, our findings could lead to the formulation of a “local” Lesotho type of propolis that could be used as an official medicine. This could be a big marketing advantage for the Lesotho pharmaceutical and beekeeping industries.","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"77 1","pages":"247 - 253"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41554812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-02DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2022.2162621
R. Veena, K. Janardhanan
The objective of the present study was to study the effects of bioactive total triterpenes extracted from the fruiting bodies and mycelia of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum in ameliorating doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into ten groups (numbered I–X) with six animals in each group. Animals in all groups received DOX (5 mg/kg b.wt) once daily for three alternate days (cumulative dose 15 mg/kg b.wt). Various doses of total triterpenes were given once daily for five days prior to DOX administration to groups II to IX and then DOX injection continued for three more days. Cardiac injury markers, namely creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and troponin I, in serum were assayed. Activities of endogenous antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in the cardiac tissue were determined. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis was carried out to determine the chemical profile of total triterpene. Total triterpenes downregulated DOX-induced elevated cardiac injury markers such as CK-MB, LDH and troponin I, upregulated declined SOD, CAT, GPx activities and levels of GSH and also downregulated lipid peroxidation in myocardium significantly. The results indicate that G. lucidum triterpenes prevented DOX-induced oxidative stress leading to myocardial damage in rats. The findings suggest the potential therapeutic use of G. lucidum triterpenes to ameliorate DOX-induced cardiomyopathy.
{"title":"Bioactive total triterpenes extracted from fruiting bodies and mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst ameliorate doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury in rats","authors":"R. Veena, K. Janardhanan","doi":"10.1080/0035919X.2022.2162621","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2022.2162621","url":null,"abstract":"The objective of the present study was to study the effects of bioactive total triterpenes extracted from the fruiting bodies and mycelia of the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum in ameliorating doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into ten groups (numbered I–X) with six animals in each group. Animals in all groups received DOX (5 mg/kg b.wt) once daily for three alternate days (cumulative dose 15 mg/kg b.wt). Various doses of total triterpenes were given once daily for five days prior to DOX administration to groups II to IX and then DOX injection continued for three more days. Cardiac injury markers, namely creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and troponin I, in serum were assayed. Activities of endogenous antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in the cardiac tissue were determined. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis was carried out to determine the chemical profile of total triterpene. Total triterpenes downregulated DOX-induced elevated cardiac injury markers such as CK-MB, LDH and troponin I, upregulated declined SOD, CAT, GPx activities and levels of GSH and also downregulated lipid peroxidation in myocardium significantly. The results indicate that G. lucidum triterpenes prevented DOX-induced oxidative stress leading to myocardial damage in rats. The findings suggest the potential therapeutic use of G. lucidum triterpenes to ameliorate DOX-induced cardiomyopathy.","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"77 1","pages":"237 - 245"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45761157","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-05-04DOI: 10.1080/0035919X.2022.2087116
Michael Boxriker, S. Privett, D. Richardson, Mirijam Gaertner
In 2019 we re-surveyed a site on the Agulhas Plain, South Africa, which had been part of a restoration project conducted in 2008. The site was invaded by invasive trees, mainly Australian Acacia species. In the original restoration program, the site had been burned and various treatments (i.e. sowing of competitive, fast-growing native species) were conducted to determine the effectiveness of different restoration strategies. The sowing of native species to assist the recovery process is defined as an active restoration method, whereas passive restoration only removes stressors for the ecosystem (e.g. removal of the invader) and leaves it to recover by itself. For this study, we conducted a vegetation survey at the previously restored sites and compared them with a nearby reference site where no intervention had taken place and which is characterised by near-pristine native fynbos vegetation. Secondly, we compared the new data from 2019 with older data from 2010. However, a decade after the initial restoration effort, both active and passively treated plots had not achieved the same condition (species richness, diversity, evenness) as the reference site. The results also show that active restoration is most likely unnecessary in fynbos restoration projects where there are nearby patches with native vegetation or the existing native seed bank is of sufficient size. It seems that it is more important to prevent the reinvasion of invasive alien plants so that the vegetation can recover over time without further disruption.
{"title":"Active restoration in South African fynbos – A long-term perspective from the Agulhas Plain","authors":"Michael Boxriker, S. Privett, D. Richardson, Mirijam Gaertner","doi":"10.1080/0035919X.2022.2087116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/0035919X.2022.2087116","url":null,"abstract":"In 2019 we re-surveyed a site on the Agulhas Plain, South Africa, which had been part of a restoration project conducted in 2008. The site was invaded by invasive trees, mainly Australian Acacia species. In the original restoration program, the site had been burned and various treatments (i.e. sowing of competitive, fast-growing native species) were conducted to determine the effectiveness of different restoration strategies. The sowing of native species to assist the recovery process is defined as an active restoration method, whereas passive restoration only removes stressors for the ecosystem (e.g. removal of the invader) and leaves it to recover by itself. For this study, we conducted a vegetation survey at the previously restored sites and compared them with a nearby reference site where no intervention had taken place and which is characterised by near-pristine native fynbos vegetation. Secondly, we compared the new data from 2019 with older data from 2010. However, a decade after the initial restoration effort, both active and passively treated plots had not achieved the same condition (species richness, diversity, evenness) as the reference site. The results also show that active restoration is most likely unnecessary in fynbos restoration projects where there are nearby patches with native vegetation or the existing native seed bank is of sufficient size. It seems that it is more important to prevent the reinvasion of invasive alien plants so that the vegetation can recover over time without further disruption.","PeriodicalId":23255,"journal":{"name":"Transactions of The Royal Society of South Africa","volume":"77 1","pages":"133 - 143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46663145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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