Introduction. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of hepatitis, liver cirrhosi... more Introduction. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV genotype E (HBV/E) is the predominant genotype in West Africa and has been linked epidemiologically with chronic and occult HBV infections as well as development of HCC. Mutations in the surface and polymerase genes of HBV have been associated with occult infection, drug resistance, vaccine escape, as well as HCC. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. There is limited data on the occurrence and patterns of mutations associated with occult infection, drug resistance, vaccine escape and HCC for HBV/E. Aim. This study characterized amino acid (aa) substitutions in the major hydrophilic (MHR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) regions of the surface and polymerase genes respectively of HBV sequences from a group of Nigerians with genotype E infection. The CpG islands of the PreC/C and PreS/S regions of these sequences were also described. Methodology. HBV surface a...
Background The World Health Organization recommends universal and quality-controlled screening of... more Background The World Health Organization recommends universal and quality-controlled screening of blood donations for the major transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs): human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis. The study objectives were to determine the seroprevalence of these TTIs among blood donors at the Provincial Hospital of Tete, Mozambique, and to assess the local pre-donation screening performance. Methods All consenting voluntary and replacement candidate blood donors were consecutively included from February to May 2009. Sera of all candidates, independent of deferral by questionnaire, were submitted to screening with quality-assured rapid or simple assays for HIV, HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), HCV and syphilis. Assays locally used by the blood bank for HBV and syphilis screening were run in parallel to quality-assured external assays supplied during the study, and all discordant samples were submitted to confirma...
Human Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a global infection with over 50% of infected children residing in ... more Human Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a global infection with over 50% of infected children residing in sub-Saharan Africa. It causes persistent anaemia under immuno-compromised states such as HIV infection, thereby complicating the course of HIV infection. This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of B19V among HIV positive children. Blood specimens were collected from HIV positive children and genomic DNA extracted and assayed for the presence of Parvovirus B19 DNA using polymerase chain reaction and the product detected by gel electrophoresis. Amplicons for positive PCR were purified and sequenced for genotype analysis. For the purpose of comparison (differences in the sequences of the NS1/VP1u region), nine HIV negative children were enrolled in this study. Two (1.3%) of the 158 HIV infected children were positive for Parvovirus B19 DNA. Analysis of the results showed a low prevalence of Parvovirus B19 among HIV positive children but a significant rela...
In 2019, 38 million people lived with HIV-1 infection resulting in 690,000 deaths. Over 50% of th... more In 2019, 38 million people lived with HIV-1 infection resulting in 690,000 deaths. Over 50% of this infection and its associated deaths occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. The West African region is a known hotspot of the HIV-1 epidemic. There is a need to develop an HIV-1 vaccine if the HIV epidemic would be effectively controlled. Few protective cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes within the HIV-1 GAG (HIV_gagconsv) have been previously identified to be functionally conserved among the HIV-1 M group. These epitopes are currently the focus of universal HIV-1 T cell-based vaccine studies. However, these epitopes’ phenotypic and genetic properties have not been observed in natural settings for HIV-1 strains circulating in the West African region. This information is critical as the usefulness of universal HIV-1 vaccines in the West African region depends on these epitopes’ occurrence in strains circulating in the area. This study describes non-synonymous substitutions within and witho...
About 37.9 million persons are infected with HIV globally resulting in 770,000 deaths. Over 50% o... more About 37.9 million persons are infected with HIV globally resulting in 770,000 deaths. Over 50% of this infection and deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa with countries like Nigeria greatly affected. The country also has one of the highest rate of new infections globally. Diverse HIV-1 subtypes have been identified in the country. Febrile persons and blood donors pose a great transmission risk in the country especially during the early stages of infection. HIV-1 rapid kits are routinely used for diagnosis among the general population and high risk groups. However, there is limited information on the usefulness of HIV rapid kits for early detection especially in areas where diverse HIV-1 subtypes circulate. In this study, the prevalence of early HIV-1 infection as well as circulating HIV-1 subtypes among febrile persons and blood donors were determined. Furthermore, the sensitivity of a widely used HIV-1 rapid antibody kit was compared with those of Antigen/Antibody ELISA based method...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
The association between household air pollution and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) amo... more The association between household air pollution and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) among children under five years of age has been well documented; however, the extent to which the microbiome within the indoor environment contributes to this association is uncertain. The home assessment of indoor microbiome (HAIM) study seeks to assess the abundance of indoor microbiota (IM) in the homes of under-five children (U-5Cs) with and without LRTI. HAIM is a hospital- and community-based study involving 200 cases and 200 controls recruited from three children’s hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria. Cases will be hospital-based patients with LRTI confirmed by a pediatrician, while controls will be community-based participants, matched to cases on the basis of sex, geographical location, and age (±3 months) without LRTI. The abundance of IM in houses of cases and controls will be investigated using active and passive air sampling techniques and analyzed by qualitative detection of bacteria...
Rotavirus genotype G12 has spread globally and has caused outbreaks across Africa. It has become ... more Rotavirus genotype G12 has spread globally and has caused outbreaks across Africa. It has become one of the most prevalent genotypes of rotavirus in Africa in recent years. To further understand the drivers for its genetic diversity and rapid spread we investigated the Bayesian phylogeny, viral evolution and population demography of Rotavirus genotype G12 in Africa.We downloaded full and partial VP7 gene sequences of Rotavirus genotype G12, from twelve African countries (n=96). We aligned the African G12 sequences with seven global reference G12 sequences. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using MEGA Vs 6, Evolutionary analysis and Bayesian Phylogeny was carried out, using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) implemented in BEAST. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the African sequences fell into lineage III diversifying into two major clades. The evolutionary rate of the African rotavirus G12 sequences was estimated to be 1,678×10-3, with 95% high posterior density interval (95...
Introduction. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of hepatitis, liver cirrhosi... more Introduction. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV genotype E (HBV/E) is the predominant genotype in West Africa and has been linked epidemiologically with chronic and occult HBV infections as well as development of HCC. Mutations in the surface and polymerase genes of HBV have been associated with occult infection, drug resistance, vaccine escape, as well as HCC. Hypothesis/Gap Statement. There is limited data on the occurrence and patterns of mutations associated with occult infection, drug resistance, vaccine escape and HCC for HBV/E. Aim. This study characterized amino acid (aa) substitutions in the major hydrophilic (MHR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) regions of the surface and polymerase genes respectively of HBV sequences from a group of Nigerians with genotype E infection. The CpG islands of the PreC/C and PreS/S regions of these sequences were also described. Methodology. HBV surface a...
Background The World Health Organization recommends universal and quality-controlled screening of... more Background The World Health Organization recommends universal and quality-controlled screening of blood donations for the major transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs): human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis. The study objectives were to determine the seroprevalence of these TTIs among blood donors at the Provincial Hospital of Tete, Mozambique, and to assess the local pre-donation screening performance. Methods All consenting voluntary and replacement candidate blood donors were consecutively included from February to May 2009. Sera of all candidates, independent of deferral by questionnaire, were submitted to screening with quality-assured rapid or simple assays for HIV, HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), HCV and syphilis. Assays locally used by the blood bank for HBV and syphilis screening were run in parallel to quality-assured external assays supplied during the study, and all discordant samples were submitted to confirma...
Human Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a global infection with over 50% of infected children residing in ... more Human Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a global infection with over 50% of infected children residing in sub-Saharan Africa. It causes persistent anaemia under immuno-compromised states such as HIV infection, thereby complicating the course of HIV infection. This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of B19V among HIV positive children. Blood specimens were collected from HIV positive children and genomic DNA extracted and assayed for the presence of Parvovirus B19 DNA using polymerase chain reaction and the product detected by gel electrophoresis. Amplicons for positive PCR were purified and sequenced for genotype analysis. For the purpose of comparison (differences in the sequences of the NS1/VP1u region), nine HIV negative children were enrolled in this study. Two (1.3%) of the 158 HIV infected children were positive for Parvovirus B19 DNA. Analysis of the results showed a low prevalence of Parvovirus B19 among HIV positive children but a significant rela...
In 2019, 38 million people lived with HIV-1 infection resulting in 690,000 deaths. Over 50% of th... more In 2019, 38 million people lived with HIV-1 infection resulting in 690,000 deaths. Over 50% of this infection and its associated deaths occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. The West African region is a known hotspot of the HIV-1 epidemic. There is a need to develop an HIV-1 vaccine if the HIV epidemic would be effectively controlled. Few protective cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes within the HIV-1 GAG (HIV_gagconsv) have been previously identified to be functionally conserved among the HIV-1 M group. These epitopes are currently the focus of universal HIV-1 T cell-based vaccine studies. However, these epitopes’ phenotypic and genetic properties have not been observed in natural settings for HIV-1 strains circulating in the West African region. This information is critical as the usefulness of universal HIV-1 vaccines in the West African region depends on these epitopes’ occurrence in strains circulating in the area. This study describes non-synonymous substitutions within and witho...
About 37.9 million persons are infected with HIV globally resulting in 770,000 deaths. Over 50% o... more About 37.9 million persons are infected with HIV globally resulting in 770,000 deaths. Over 50% of this infection and deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa with countries like Nigeria greatly affected. The country also has one of the highest rate of new infections globally. Diverse HIV-1 subtypes have been identified in the country. Febrile persons and blood donors pose a great transmission risk in the country especially during the early stages of infection. HIV-1 rapid kits are routinely used for diagnosis among the general population and high risk groups. However, there is limited information on the usefulness of HIV rapid kits for early detection especially in areas where diverse HIV-1 subtypes circulate. In this study, the prevalence of early HIV-1 infection as well as circulating HIV-1 subtypes among febrile persons and blood donors were determined. Furthermore, the sensitivity of a widely used HIV-1 rapid antibody kit was compared with those of Antigen/Antibody ELISA based method...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
The association between household air pollution and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) amo... more The association between household air pollution and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) among children under five years of age has been well documented; however, the extent to which the microbiome within the indoor environment contributes to this association is uncertain. The home assessment of indoor microbiome (HAIM) study seeks to assess the abundance of indoor microbiota (IM) in the homes of under-five children (U-5Cs) with and without LRTI. HAIM is a hospital- and community-based study involving 200 cases and 200 controls recruited from three children’s hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria. Cases will be hospital-based patients with LRTI confirmed by a pediatrician, while controls will be community-based participants, matched to cases on the basis of sex, geographical location, and age (±3 months) without LRTI. The abundance of IM in houses of cases and controls will be investigated using active and passive air sampling techniques and analyzed by qualitative detection of bacteria...
Rotavirus genotype G12 has spread globally and has caused outbreaks across Africa. It has become ... more Rotavirus genotype G12 has spread globally and has caused outbreaks across Africa. It has become one of the most prevalent genotypes of rotavirus in Africa in recent years. To further understand the drivers for its genetic diversity and rapid spread we investigated the Bayesian phylogeny, viral evolution and population demography of Rotavirus genotype G12 in Africa.We downloaded full and partial VP7 gene sequences of Rotavirus genotype G12, from twelve African countries (n=96). We aligned the African G12 sequences with seven global reference G12 sequences. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using MEGA Vs 6, Evolutionary analysis and Bayesian Phylogeny was carried out, using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) implemented in BEAST. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the African sequences fell into lineage III diversifying into two major clades. The evolutionary rate of the African rotavirus G12 sequences was estimated to be 1,678×10-3, with 95% high posterior density interval (95...
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