Baobab Index

Non-typhoidal A total of 34 presumptive Of the 34 presumptive This is the first extensive study on non-typhoidal

Shigella is a leading cause of childhood diarrheal disease and a priority target for vaccine development, particularly in low-resource settings where its true burden is often underestimated. A clear understanding of local Shigella epidemiology and risk factors is essential for guiding control strategies and vaccine introduction. We conducted a 12-month longitudinal cohort study enrolling 750 children under five years of age in a peri-urban area of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from December 2020 to March 2021, with follow-up through March 2022. Active and passive surveillance captured both symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. Stool samples (n = 2,401), including 236 from diarrheal episodes, were analyzed by conventional microbiological methods with species confirmation using the BD Phoenix M50 system. Shigella was isolated from 56 incident cases, yielding an incidence rate of 6.8 cases per 1,000 child-months (95% CI: 5.3-8.9). Shigella flexneri predominated (58.9%), followed by S. boydii (23.2%), S. sonnei (14.3%), and S. dysenteriae (3.6%). Incidence among diarrheal cases was 39.2 per 1,000 child-months (95% CI: 24.7-62.2), alongside substantial asymptomatic carriage (4.9 per 1,000 child-months). Shigellosis was strongly associated with diarrhea, predominantly mucoid rather than bloody stools. Young age was a significant predictor, particularly at 12-23 months (aHR = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.11-6.47) and 36-47 months (aHR = 2.81; 95% CI: 1.08-7.33), while use of a public water source was independently protective (aHR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.29-0.94). This study provides foundational incidence and serotype data for Shigella among young children in peri-urban Burkina Faso, informing future vaccine development and targeted public health interventions. The findings highlight the need to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene programs, improve diagnostic capacity, and enhance antimicrobial resistance surveillance to reduce Shigella transmission and impact in this population.

Influenza is a major cause of acute respiratory infections worldwide. In tropical regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, influenza circulates year-round with irregular peaks, yet genomic data guiding prevention strategies remain limited. This study characterized the genetic diversity and seasonal dynamics of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses circulating in Burkina Faso in 2024. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2024, including seven sentinel surveillance sites. Patients presenting with influenza-like illness or severe acute respiratory illness were enrolled. Respiratory specimens were tested by real-time RT-PCR. Influenza-positive samples with a cycle threshold ≤ 30 underwent whole-genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore and Illumina platforms. Phylogenetic analyses and clade assignment were performed using MEGA Version 12. Out of 2951 samples tested, 6.74% were positive for influenza viruses. Females had higher odds of influenza positivity than males (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.11-1.98). A significantly higher risk of positivity was observed in the age groups of 5-15 years (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.07-2.52; Influenza A viruses circulating in Burkina Faso in 2024 showed substantial genetic diversity, underscoring the need for continuous genomic surveillance to inform vaccine strain selection and public health strategies in tropical Africa.

Tuberculosis (TB) persists as a formidable global health challenge, particularly due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) variants that limit the effectiveness of existing therapies. These variants limit therapeutic options, prolong treatment duration and increase the risk of treatment failure. Additionally, the antitubercular drug discovery remains relatively limited; moreover, the rise in drug-resistant strains necessitates the need to identify and develop novel drug candidates that can overcome these resistance patterns. This study aims to design novel InhA inhibitors that can bind to and inhibit InhA and circumvent the resistance pathway in the KatG enzyme of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We sourced an extensive library of 276 518 natural products from the LOTUS database and screened the compounds through a series of rigorous computational approaches such as drug-likeness filtration, molecular docking, MM-GBSA analysis, and ADMET prediction. We developed a machine learning model using a Message Passing Neural Network (MPNN). The MPNN was trained to predict bioactivity profiles of 31 597 natural products against the InhA enzyme. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the stability of these interactions over 100-nanoseconds. Out of the screened compounds, four novel drug candidates exhibited strong binding affinities with binding energies of -12.204 kcal/mol, -11.926 kcal/mol, -11.624 kcal/mol, and -11.548 kcal/mol, respectively, surpassing the co-crystallized ligand (-8.895 kcal/mol), and the standard drug, Isoniazid (-12.204 kcal/mol). The top hit molecules demonstrated high and considerable structural stability during molecular dynamics simulations. Additionally, the pharmacokinetic profile of LTS0161715 exhibited low toxicity. positioning LTS0161715 for further investigation. These research findings elucidate the potential of direct InhA inhibitors, particularly LTS0161715, as a promising drug candidate for anti-tubercular drug development, while also highlighting the need for further optimization to enhance safety and efficacy.

Schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern in Nigeria. We molecularly characterized

Feed cost volatility associated with conventional lipid sources such as primarily soybean oil, palm oil, and animal fats; poses a persistent challenge to economically viable poultry production in tropical and resource-constrained regions. Mealworm oil (MWO), derived from Tenebrio molitor larvae, offers a nutritionally relevant lipid supplement with a favourable unsaturated fatty acid profile; controlled evidence for its supplementation in laying quail systems, and particularly formal economic evaluation, remain limited. This study evaluated dose-response effects of graded MWO supplementation (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%) on egg production performance, egg quality, reproductive organ morphology, and economic outcomes in Japanese quail layers (Coturnix japonica). A total of 200 eleven-week-old females were allocated to four dietary treatments (50 birds per treatment; five replicates of ten birds each) in a completely randomised design; in T1-T3, corn starch was replaced isoenergetically by MWO at 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%, respectively. Production data were collected over four weeks (weeks 12-15 of age). MWO supplementation produced dose-dependent improvements in egg production percentage, egg mass, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) across all experimental weeks; at week 15, T3 recorded an FCR of 2.57 ± 0.10 versus 4.49 ± 0.20 in T0 (P < 0.0001) and an egg production percentage of 74.24%. Albumen weight and Haugh units were significantly higher in T3 at all measurement weeks (P < 0.05), while yolk cholesterol declined progressively with increasing MWO inclusion; however, the absolute magnitude of this reduction was modest (approximately 5-9 mg/100 g). Eggshell traits were unaffected. Relative weights of the oviduct, ovary, and F-1 follicle were significantly greater in T3 at terminal assessment (week 15). A formal partial-budget analysis under local market conditions (Peshawar, Pakistan) indicated that the FCR improvement at 1.5% MWO reduced feed cost per dozen eggs from 80.98 ± 0.80 to 55.43 ± 0.76 PKR and generated the highest gross margin (ΔΠ = +727.3 PKR per replicate versus T0) despite the higher unit cost of MWO relative to corn starch. These results indicate that low-level MWO dietary supplementation has the potential to enhance quail layer performance and economic returns under similar conditions to those examined in this study. However, further validation at a commercial scale, along with re-parameterization across diverse tropical production environments, is necessary before making broader claims regarding its applicability.

We collated and analyzed information from multiple sources to assess conservation implications of the commercial trade in reptile skins from 2000 to 2020. Of > 71 million skins reported over that period, the most heavily-traded taxa were three crocodilians (Caiman crocodilus, Alligator mississippiensis, Crocodylus niloticus), three snakes (Homalopsis buccata, Cerberus rhynchops, Malayopython reticulatus) and one lizard (Varanus salvator). In total, 70% of exports were from Indonesia, Colombia, United States, Malaysia, and Argentina, and 78% of imports were from Singapore, Italy, Mexico, France, and Germany. Approximately 45% of traded animals were reported to be collected from the wild, with most others being captive-bred (37%). Traded species exhibited highly specific traits including large body size, broad distributions, and high reproductive output. The squamates in trade generally have relatively early age at maturity and large clutch sizes. Together, these life history and ecological traits make traded species amenable to sustainable use. Most reptiles in the skin trade are ranked as Least Concern by the IUCN, and reptile species traded for skins are less threatened overall than non-traded species. Despite the large volume of commercial trade in reptile skins globally, this harvesting appears to be biologically sustainable in the vast majority of cases.

Medicinal plants play an important role in the prevention and treatment of several diseases in Africa. They are the first resort for patients with Prostate Diseases (PD) as soon as the first symptoms appear in Benin; PD, particularly prostate cancer, are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and in Benin. This study aims to document the medicinal plants used by populations in southern Benin in the prevention and treatment of prostate diseases and to carry out chemical screening and larval toxicity testing on the most commonly used plants. Using a structured questionnaire, 41 herbalists and 27 traditional healers who agreed to participate in the study were interviewed on plants they use in the prevention and treatment of PD. The parts of these plants, their methods of use, and their route of administration were recorded. A triangulation was conducted on medicinal plants cited by herbalists and traditional healers in order to identify their pharmacological properties. Qualitative phytochemical screening based on colour and/or precipitation reactions and the larval toxicity test evaluating the survival of brine shrimp larvae in the presence of different extracts were carried out on the eight most commonly used plants. A total of 28 medicinal plants species belonging to 28 families and 29 genus were collected and identified. All plants were administered orally. The dominant family was Annonaceae (11%). The main species according to frequency of citation (FC = percentage of informants who cited the plant) were Caesalpinia bonduc (FC = 36%), Bambusa vulgaris (FC = 29%), and Annona muricata (FC = 21%). Decoctions were the preferred method of preparation, and roots were the most commonly used part of the plant. The plants, rich in flavonoids, tannins, and coumarins, were non-toxic. Data analysis showed that Caesalpinia bonduc was the most widely used plant in southern Benin for treating prostate diseases. This study revealed a significant diversity of medicinal plants traditionally used to treat PD in southern Benin. The predominance of Annonaceae families, the preferential use of roots in decoctions, and the richness in non-toxic bioactive metabolites support these traditional practices. Further pharmacological studies are needed to validate their therapeutic efficacy.

Multitrophic interactions can strongly influence the structure and functioning of ecosystems, but how plant diversity influences the direction and predictability of multitrophic interactions across agricultural and natural ecosystems remains unclear. Using 149 field studies across five continents, we found that, on average, increasing plant diversity tended to exert differential top-down and bottom-up effects in croplands versus grasslands and forests. Organic and nonorganic croplands exhibited 846 and 148% higher invertebrate natural enemy-to-herbivore abundance ratios under increased plant diversity, consistent with top-down control patterns where predator gains cause herbivore declines, enhancing crop outcomes. In grasslands and forests, increasing plant diversity was associated with bottom-up effects where enhanced productivity increased both herbivore and predator populations, with the enemy-to-herbivore ratio increasing 4.73% for grasslands and 21.2% for forests. Our findings suggest that biodiversity effects on productivity are not solely explained by direct plant-plant interactions and the resulting biodiversity-productivity relationship. Rather, they reveal patterns consistent with the framework of top-down and bottom-up effects, the relative balance of which may vary depending on ecosystem and management type. The magnitude of the effects of diversified farming on crop pests suggests that crop diversification may be an important avenue for managing crop pests preventatively and thereby enhancing agricultural sustainability.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate gene expression, chromatin organization, and cellular signaling. Although traditionally considered non-coding, 21% of the ~190,000 annotated lncRNA transcripts contain poorly characterized open reading frames with unknown function. We systematically identified lncRNAs encoding micropeptides (MPs) using integrated computational and experimental evidence. Expression profiles across 17 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed to identify cancer-associated and transitional lncRNAs (Tr-lncRNAs). Structural modeling using AlphaFold was further applied to predict folding. We identified 478 lncRNA genes encoding 1782 MPs (10-100 amino acids). These MPs exhibit distinct amino acid and dipeptide compositions and are enriched for specific 4-mer motifs compared with canonical proteins. A subset of lncRNAs, including TNN-AS1, PVT1, XIST, and SNHG family members, encode multiple MPs. Analysis across cancer stages identified 2399 Tr-lncRNAs, most of them were cancer type and stage specific. Among these, 314 highly confident MPs from 72 Tr-lncRNAs were further analyzed. Pan-cancer analysis suggested MP-like functions for Tr-lncRNAs such as LINC01234, HAND2-AS1, XIST, UCA1, and HOXA11-AS. While most MPs are predicted to be intrinsically disordered, 3D structural modeling revealed several MPs with stable folds, including ubiquitin-like and RNase H-like structures. Tr-lncRNA-derived MPs represent a previously underexplored class of potentially functional molecules associated with cancer clinical annotation and may serve as biomarkers for disease progression.