Pure and Applied Biology

The preservation of biodiversity and sustainable development are essential for tackling the world's environmental problems and advancing the long-term welfare of society. The complex relationship between biodiversity and sustainable development is examined in this abstract, which highlights the pressing need for practical conservation measures. The resilience and smooth operation of ecosystems depend heavily on biodiversity, which includes a wide range of species, environments, and genetic variations. However, increasing human activity is endangering biodiversity globally. Examples of these activities include habitat degradation, climate change, and overexploitation of resources. Achieving sustainable development goals and protecting biodiversity depend on the implementation of effective conservation measures. Ecological, economic, and social factors must be integrated into conservation efforts, involving both local populations and policymakers. Sustainable development is supported by ecosystem services that communities may secure by protecting biodiversity, including clean water, pollination, and climate regulation. In order to conserve biodiversity, improve resistance to environmental change, and support sustainable development for both present and future generations, cooperation is essential. This abstract emphasizes the vital connection between sustainable development and biodiversity conservation, underscoring the necessity of swift worldwide action.

The side effects of indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture can be summarized as disturbances in the soil reaction, development of nutrient imbalances in plants, increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, reduction in legume root nodulation and plant mycorrhizal associations, decrease in soil life and environmental hazards such as water pollution and soil humus reduction. The realization of such detrimental effects of chemical fertilizers when used continuously in large quantities in the absence of organic components has triggered interest regarding the alternatives to supply the plant nutrients in an integrated manner giving rise to Integrated Plant Nutrient System(IPNS) in which ,bio fertilizers play a major role. Environmental issues such as freshwater pollution, energy saving, and soil erosion are forcing the farmers to introduce methods of cultivation that have a lower impact on the environment. The application of environmentally friendly practices is promoted by voluntary certification schemes (e.g., Global GAP or organic farming schemes) as well as by legally binding regulations (e.g., the EU Directive 2009/128 aiming at the implementation of sustainable pest management practices). In this context, the reduced use of chemical fertilizers with increased application of organic fertilizers is considered a compulsory route to alleviate the pressure on the environment derived from agricultural practices.

Bio-remediation points to the application of microbes to debase contaminants that pose a human and environmental threat [1]. Bio-remediation methods typically require many diverse microorganisms operating in likeness or progression to achieve the bio-remediation process. In situ and ex situ (extraction and treating in different place) remediation methods are used. The versatility of microorganisms to degrade a wide collection of pollutants makes bio-remediation a technology that can be used in various soil conditions [1]. Both bacteria and fungi produce some high molecular weight bio-surfactant and emulsifi er [2]. Bio-surfactants can be classifi ed under specifi c polysaccharides, including protein, lipoproteins lipopolysaccharides, and many structural types. Bacterial strains pertaining to the genus Pseudomonas and Bacillus commonly exhibit lipopeptide bio-surfactant. Virtually every class of microorganism produce bio-surfactants [2]. Synthetic surfactants have the latent disadvantage of persisting in the environment long after applying for a remedial measure due to the xenobiotic characteristics. Also, some of the synthetic surfactants are comparatively more toxic to human health. Bio-surfactants can be regarded as a better

This article is devoted to applying bioinformatics and immunoinformatics approaches for the development of a multi-epitope mRNA vaccine against the spike glycoproteins of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in selected African countries. The study’s relevance is dictated by the fact that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began its global threat at the end of 2019 and since then has had a devastating impact on the whole world. Measures to reduce threats from the pandemic include social restrictions, restrictions on international travel, and vaccine development. In most cases, vaccine development depends on the spike glycoprotein, which serves as a medium for its entry into host cells. Although several variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged from mutations crossing continental boundaries, about 6000 delta variants have been reported along the coast of more than 20 countries in Africa, with South Africa accounting for the highest percentage. This also applies to the ...

The bacteria Vibrio cholerae causes cholera, an acute diarrheal infection that can lead to dehydration and even death. Over 100,000 people die each year as a result of epidemic diseases; vaccination has emerged as a successful strategy for combating cholera. This study uses bioinformatics tools to create a multi-epitope vaccine against cholera infection using five structural polyproteins from the V. cholerae (CTB, TCPA, TCPF, OMPU, and OMPW). The antigenic retrieved protein sequence were analyzed using BCPred and IEDB bioinformatics tools to predict B cell and T cell epitopes, respectively, which were then linked with flexible linkers together with an adjuvant to boost it immunogenicity. The construct has a theoretical PI of 6.09, a molecular weight of 53.85 kDa, and an estimated half-life for mammalian reticulocytes in vitro of 4.4 h. These results demonstrate the construct's longevity. The vaccine design was docked against the human toll-like receptor (TLR) to evaluate compatibility and effectiveness; also other additional post-vaccination assessments were carried out on the designed vaccine. Through in silico cloning, its expression was determined. The results show that it has a CAI value of 0.1 and GC contents of 58.97% which established the adequate expression and downstream processing of the vaccine construct, and our research demonstrated that the multi-epitope subunit vaccine exhibits antigenic characteristics. Additionally, we carried out an in silico immunological simulation to examine the immune reaction to an injection. Our results strongly suggest that the vaccine candidate on further validation would induce immune response against the V. cholerae infection.

Background and Purpose— CT scanning is important to identify stroke pathology and exclude mimics. Its poor availability in our environment makes the search for simple, reliable clinical-score imperative. This study aims to validate the Siriraj Stroke score (SSS) and determine the discriminant values of its parameters in the black population of African-Nigerians. Methods— A prospective multicenter study was carried out on patients that presented with stroke and had brain CT scan done within 14 days of onset. An interviewer structured questionnaire was administered and SSS computed. The stroke-type was classified and compared with CT diagnosis. Data were analyzed using Epi-info-2002. Results— 1122 patients presented with clinical features of stroke, of which only 101 (9%) could afford the cost of CT scan. Of these, 90 had CT-scan features consistent with acute stroke, 5 had cortical atrophy and 1 was normal. Thus, 96 patients were analyzed, of which 68 (71%) had cerebral ischemia and ...

This paper represents the findings of research studies that address e-commerce design and associated consumer behavior. The innovation of e-commerce has affected not only the marketplace through the facilitation of the exchange of goods and services, but also human behavior in response to the mechanisms of online services. Researchers have identified and hypothesized on relevant subject matters ranging from Web usability, marketing channels and other factors influencing online buying behavior. Though researchers have focused on what appear different aspects of online buying behavior, their studies may be shown to be interrelated and interdependent, even to the extent of revealing constructs upon which ecommerce, in terms of future design and research, could be built.

Natural plant extracts offer a promising hope in the prevention/treatment of cancer arising from genetic mutations. This study evaluated in vitro and in vivo mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of aqueous fraction of Myristica fragrans (AFMF) leaves on TA100 strain of Salmonella typhimurium and Mus musculus (Male Swiss albino mice), respectively. The antioxidant activity of AFMF against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined, followed by its phytochemical elucidation using the Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography technique (UPLC). The mutagenicity of AFMF at 4, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 µg/well was

Nutritional qualities of vegetables, Vernonia amygdalina; Amaranthus caudatum and Telfairia occidentalis, were evaluated along with the cytotoxic effects of their aqueous extracts to ascertain the potential risk that may be associated with the consumption of vegetables from unknown sources. Leaves of the plants were used for proximate analysis, while microscopic and macroscopic tests of the aqueous extracts of each of the vegetables were conducted using 0.25,

Evaluation of the concentration of soils metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Ni) from selected sites (Odo Oba, Sabo and General Areas) along a major road in Ogbomoso was made in comparison with control site, LAUTECH Campus (LC) based on contamination factor and pollution indices. The metal levels in the sites revealed that: General > Sabo > Odo Oba > LC for the analyzed metals except Fe of which highest value was obtained in the control site. Contamination indices showed that Sabo and general were considerably polluted while Odo Oba was moderately polluted relative to control. The values of pollution level index obtained for these three sites (PLI >1) indicates deterioration of site quality. Significant correlation between some of the metals (Pb, Cr and Ni) studied and average daily traffic volume showed that the contamination could be from automobile emissions. The accumulation of these metals in soil especially in the residential areas may add to the body burden of the residents. Further investigation is highly necessary to study the concentrations and health implications of these metals in residents of the linear settlements along this major road in Ogbomoso.

Many studies indicate that lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) exposure may alter bone development through both direct and indirect mechanisms, increasing the risk of osteoporosis later in life. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Pb and Cd exposure, physical growth, and bone and calcium metabolism in children of an electronic waste (e-waste) processing area. We recruited 246 children (3-8 years) in a kindergarten located in Guiyu, China. Blood lead levels (BLLs) and blood cadmium levels (BCLs) of recruited children were measured as biomarkers for exposure. Serum calcium, osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase, and urinary deoxypyridinoline were used as biomarkers for bone and calcium metabolism. Physical indexes such as height, weight, and head and chest circumference were also measured. The mean values of BLLs and BCLs obtained were 7.30 μg/dL and 0.69 μg/L, respectively. The average of BCLs increased with age. In multiple linear regression analysis, BLLs were negatively correlated with both height and weight, and positively correlated with bone resorption biomarkers. Neither bone nor calcium metabolic biomarkers showed significant correlation with cadmium. Childhood lead exposure affected both physical development and increased bone resorption of children in Guiyu. Primitive e-waste recycling may threaten the health of children with elevated BLL which may eventually cause adult osteoporosis.

In recent years, occupational and environmental exposure to toxic pollutants has increasingly contributed to declining sperm quality and increasing morbidity of human male genital diseases. This study explored the effects of electronic waste (e-waste) environmental pollutions on male genital health in Guiyu, one of the largest e-waste recycling centers in the world. We collected outpatient case information from 2001 to 2009 in Guiyu and a control hospital and performed statistical analysis on male genital diseases morbidity (MGDM). The MGDM in Guiyu and the control hospital per thousand from 2004 to 2009 were 1.410/0.403

The mechanism of lead (Pb) neurotoxicity has not been illustrated over the years. People pay more attention to dopaminergic neurotransmission, specifically dopamine receptor-2 (DRD2) Taq IA polymorphism, but no consensus has been reached. A total of 258 three-year-old children in Guiyu (exposed group) and Nanao (reference group), China were examined and their concentrations of blood lead (BPb) were determined. Cognitive and language scores of children were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, third edition (BSID-III). Genotyping for the DRD2 polymorphism was carried out using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) re-sequencing platform. The logistic stepwise regression analysis and stepwise regression analysis was used to explore associations among lead, neurodevelopment of children, and DRD2 Taq IA categories. Median values of Pb in Guiyu was higher than that of the reference group (11.30± 5.38 μg/dL vs. 5.77±2.51 μg/dL, P<0.001). Compared with the reference group, children from e-waste exposed area have lower cognitive scale scores (100±25 vs 120±20, P<0.001) and lower language scale scores (99.87±7.52 vs 111.39±7.02, P<0.001). The three kinds of genotype, A1/A1, A1/A2, and A2/A2, had no significant influences on BPb, cognitive scores and language scores (P>0.05). Exposure of inhabitants, especially children to Pb from informal e-waste recycling activities might have contributed to higher levels of BPb and reduced cognitive and language scores observed in local children, however, the result obtained showed no significant association between DRD2 polymorphism and neurodevelopment of children exposed to lead.

Wastewaters from two pharmaceutical production processes, cotrimoxazole B wastewater (BWW) and Piriton wastewater (PWW), were examined microbiologically and for physico-chemical parameters. Furthermore, the wastewaters were also screened for genotoxicity using Allium cepa assay to assess the risk associated with the discharge of untreated pharmaceutical wastewaters into the environment. The effluents induced various types of chromosomal aberrations, namely, disturbed spindle, vagrant and chromosome bridge, and also showed a dose-dependent reduction in the number of dividing cells. The mitotic inhibition ranged from 38.6 to 67.2%. The mean root length at 20% of BWW and all concentrations except 1% of PWW were significantly different from the control values (p < 0.05). The EC 50 of the root growth inhibition was 4.17 and 12.45% for PWW and BWW, respectively. The wastewater physico-chemical analysis revealed that most parameters were within the allowable limits. The wastewaters had similar microbial load index of 10 7 cfu ml-1 , indicating dense populations of bacteria, which may be due to the richness of the wastewaters in nutrients particularly sulphate, nitrate and phosphate. Coliform bacteria concentrations in the PWW and BWW wastewaters were 50 MPN/100 ml and 550 MPN/100 ml, respectively. The identified bacterial isolates included Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella sp, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus licheniformis, Yersinia sp, Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus subtilis. The resistance of the bacterial isolates ranged from 10% for gentamicin to 100% for augmentin, amoxycillin, cloxacillin and nalidixic acid. PWW isolates were more resistant. Seven patterns of multiple drug resistance ranging from 5 to 11 antibiotics were obtained amongst the isolates.

The informal processing of electronic waste or e-waste contributes to the release of high concentrations of transition metals into the ambient air. The damage caused by chromium, nickel and manganese exposure on lung function in school children from an e-waste recycling area and the role of oxidative stress in this process were evaluated. We recruited school children (n ¼ 144, 8-13 years) from an e-waste recycling area in China compared with the control. Spirometry was performed to assess lung function status. The blood levels of chromium, nickel and manganese, antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation of the subjects were examined. The concentrations of blood manganese (bMn) and serum nickel (sNi) in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in controls for all three age groups. The forced vital capacity value of boys aged 8-9 years was significantly lower than that of the control. Malondialdehyde levels and superoxide dismutase activities increased significantly in children aged 8-9 years from e-waste environment, but catalase activities declined. School children from an e-waste recycling area were exposed to high levels of the three transition metals. The accumulation of bMn and sNi may be risk factors for oxidative damage and decreased pulmonary function.

In this study, we characterized the concentration of heavy metals in PM 2.5 in the community with e-waste dismantling, Guiyu, China and assessed potential public health risk associated with heavy metal composition of PM 2.5 for local residents. Daily samples of PM 2.5 were collected with Harvard Impactors on the roof of 3-story buildings from March 2012-April 2013 in Guiyu (n = 133) and seasonal samples were collected in a reference site, Haojiang (n = 33). The concentrations of PM 2.5 mass and heavy metals were analyzed gravimetrically and by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively. The geometric mean concentrations of PM 2.5 , Pb and Cd in Guiyu were higher than in the reference area (PM 2.5 : 49.9 µg m-3 vs. 37.6 , p < 0.01; Pb: 160 ng m-3 vs. 69 ng m-3 , p < 0.001; Cd: 5.7 ng m-3 vs. 3.4 ng m-3 , p < 0.01), but Cr and Mn concentrations were not statistically different (Cr: 4.5 ng m-3 vs. 3.8 ng m-3 , p > 0.05; Mn: 17 ng m-3 vs. 16 ng m-3 , p > 0.05). The metal concentrations in PM 2.5 from Guiyu were also higher when compared to other Asian cities. We observed higher heavy metal concentrations during winter and spring than summer and fall. Human health risk assessment showed that the total potential cancer risk for both adults and children are higher than the safe acceptable range recommended by the US EPA. Furthermore, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic elements in PM 2.5 pose higher public health risk to children than adults. The results indicate that air pollution emitted from informal e-waste recycling activities might be affecting the health of local residents, especially children.

The present study examines the hydrogen peroxide scavenging, anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) that were biosynthesized using extracts obtained from spider cobweb (CB), pod (KP), seed (KS) and seed shell (KSS) of kolanut (Cola nitida). The nearly spherical shaped AgNPs, with surface plasmon resonance of 431.5-457.5 nm, were polydispersed having sizes of 3-50, 12-80, 8-50, and 5-40 nm for CB, KP, KS and KSS-AgNPs respectively. Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities of 77-99.8% were obtained using 1-20 lg/ml of AgNPs. The particles prevented the coagulation of blood, and also showed thrombolytic activities of 55.76-89.83%, with KSS-AgNPs having the highest activity. Microscopic examination of the lyzed blood clot supported the thrombolytic activities. On the other hand, silver nitrate solution showed negligible activity of 1.92%, while thrombolysis of 7.55, 8.70, 8.93 and 30.19% were obtained for the extracts of KSS, CB, KS and KP respectively. The results herein presented showed potential biomedical applications of the biosynthesized AgNPs to scavenge free radicals and for the management of blood coagulation disorders and thrombotic diseases.

Cell-free extracts of six strains of Enterococcus species obtained from fermented foods were used for the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The biosynthesized AgNPs were dark brown in colour having surface plasmon resonance in the range of 420-442 nm. The spherical shaped AgNPs had sizes of 4-55 nm, whose formations were facilitated by proteins as indicated by the presence of peaks 1,635-1,637 and 3,275-3,313 cm-1 in the FTIR spectra. The energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) showed prominent presence of silver in the AgNPs colloidal solution, while the selected area electron diffraction was typified by the face-centred crystalline nature of silver. The particles inhibited the growth of multi-drug resistant clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris, and also potentiated the activities of ampicillin, ...

The involvement of enzymes in green nanotechnology is rapidly developing and has continued to blossom in recent times. The present study examines the use of fungal xylanases from Aspergillus niger L3 (NEA) and Trichoderma longibrachiatum L2 (TEA) to biosynthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for biomedical applications. AuNPs were synthesized with indication of colour change from light yellow to purple, and surface plasmon resonance at 545 and 560 nm were obtained for NEA-AuNPs and TEA-AuNPs respectively. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that protein molecules were responsible for the capping and stabilization of the nanoparticles, which were mainly spherical (NEA-AuNPs) and flowershaped (TEA-AuNPs). The sizes of the nanoparticles ranged from 4.88 to 123.99 nm, and displayed maximum antibacterial activity of 44.3% at 100 µg/ml, and antifungal activity of 87% at 150 µg/ml. While the AuNPs scavenged DPPH by 53.79%, hydrogen peroxide was scavenged by 96%. The biosynthesized AuNPs showed excellent anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities on human blood. This study demonstrated the potential use of xylanases to synthesize AuNPs, which to the best our knowledge, is the first report of such. The biosynthesized nanoparticles displayed activities making it predisposed for potential use as excellent biomedical agents.