Baobab Index

Salinity is a growing problem for cereal cultivation because it imposes multiple stresses, including osmotic, ionic, nutritional, and oxidative constraints, on the crop. Sorghum (

Accurate and accessible diagnostics for hepatitis E virus (HEV) are essential for outbreak preparedness and surveillance, particularly in low-resource settings. Dried blood spots (DBS) are a scalable alternative to serum, but their diagnostic performance for HEV remains poorly characterised. Paired DBS and serum samples were collected from suspected HEV cases during an outbreak in Bentiu, South Sudan. HEV RNA was detected and quantified by RT-PCR, and anti-HEV IgM and IgG were measured by ELISA. DBS performance was compared to serum across assays, and associations between DBS positivity and serum viral load were analysed using logistic regression. Among 100 serum RT-PCR positive samples, 83 were positive by DBS (sensitivity 83.0%, 95% CI: 74.5-89.1), with reduced sensitivity at low viral loads (Ct > 30). All 48 serum RT-PCR negative samples were negative by DBS (specificity 100%, 95% CI: 92.6-100). DBS achieved 88.3% sensitivity (95% CI: 77.8-94.2) and 100% specificity (95% CI: 91.2-100) for IgM, while IgG sensitivity and specificity reached 95.0% (95% CI: 86.3-98.6) and 97.5%-100%, respectively. Results were consistent across DBS card types and age groups. DBS provide a practical complementary alternative to serum for HEV surveillance and outbreak investigations, particularly where conventional sampling and cold-chain transport are challenging. However, slightly reduced sensitivity at low viral loads and IgM detection limits their use as a stand-alone diagnostic approach for acute case detection Further optimisation of elution methods to increase analyte concentration, along with improved storage conditions, could enhance diagnostic sensitivity.

Marburg virus (MARV) causes a potentially highly lethal haemorrhagic fever disease that threatens global health security, and knowledge of viral persistence, long-term clinical outcomes among recovered persons and protective immunity remain limited. Existing protocols and technical guidelines provide a framework for safe sample collection, clinical monitoring and outbreak response, yet systematic approaches to investigate these aspects in African settings are scarce. This protocol describes the Partnership Research on MARV (PREMAV) following the 2024 outbreak in Rwanda. PREMAV is a longitudinal study that was initiated to investigate the persistence of MARV in body fluids of recovered persons, characterises associated clinical complications, identifies factors associated with viral persistence, classifies the protective immune response and discovers genomic variants during viral persistence. This is a protocol for a prospective cohort study that enrolled individuals who survived Marburg virus disease (MVD), individuals with natural antibodies for MARV, close contacts and low risk controls in Rwanda. Participants will undergo serial sampling of blood, urine, semen and other relevant specimens over 24 months post-recovery. This will be combined with continuous clinical assessments, and laboratory analyses will include molecular detection, serological profiling, immunological assays and genomic viral characterisation. Statistical analysis will integrate the various datasets to determine associations. This study will adhere to the Declaration of Helsinki and obtain approval from the Rwanda National Ethics Committee. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants with additional safeguards for vulnerable groups. Confidentiality will be ensured through de-identification and secure data storage. All biological samples will be handled in compliance with national and international biosafety standards. Psychosocial support will be provided to address stigma and mental health needs among survivors. The study will generate critical evidence on MARV persistence, clinical sequelae and risk factors, informing survivor care guidelines, transmission mitigation strategies and future outbreak preparedness. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, conferences and policy briefs targeting national and global stakeholders. De-identified data and genomic sequences will be curated and shared through secure platforms and public repositories in line with ethical and regulatory requirements.

In May 2026, an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV, species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense) was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with cases originating from DRC and locally transmitted cases reported in Uganda. Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreaks were previously recorded in 2007-2008 in Bundibugyo District, Uganda, and in 2012 in Isiro, DRC. Here, we generated 22 genomes from samples obtained from individuals with BVD in DRC and Uganda. These genomes form a well-supported phylogenetic cluster separate from BDBV variants associated with the 2007 and 2012 outbreaks, together with evidence for sustained human transmission. This is consistent with the emergence of a new zoonotic spillover event rather than resurgence from previously reported variants. Besides ongoing efforts in strengthening surveillance systems, community engagement, establishing Ebola treatment centers, and developing targeted medical countermeasures; our report advocates to specifically increase decentralized laboratory diagnostics capacity, with pan-Orthoebolavirus assays, including genomic sequencing capacity, for limiting further outbreak expansion, timely detection and control of future outbreaks.

Sheeppox and goatpox are systemic, contagious viral diseases of small ruminants caused by sheep and goat pox viruses of the genus capripoxvirus. These diseases cause fever, generalised skin lesions and negatively affect health, economics and welfare. Between 2011 and 2020, an average of four clinically suspected Capripox outbreaks were reported annually in Uganda through passive surveillance. However, information on the genetic characteristics of circulating capripoxviruses affecting remains limited. We conducted this study to (i) genetically characterise capripoxvirus strains associated with outbreaks in small ruminants and (ii) identify farm-level risk factors associated with the infections. Samples comprising skin scabs, nasal, ocular swabs and whole blood from were collected from clinically affected goats and sheep during suspected outbreaks reported between September 2021 to September 2022 in Nakaseke, Gomba and Kiryandongo districts. Samples were screened using conventional polymerase chain reaction [PCR] targeting the 30 kDa RNA polymerase subunit (RPO30) gene, followed by dideoxy Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis based on RP030, GPCR and P32 gene Farm level risk and factors were documented and assessed during the study. Capripoxvirus DNA was detected by PCR in 30 out of 107 samples, reflecting a true positivity rate of 28.7%. All positive samples were from goats, while none of the sheep samples tested positive. Phylogenetic analysis based on all three genes (RPO30, GPCR and P32) classified the isolates as goatpox virus and separated it from other capripoxvirus reference strains. Goatpox virus strains detected across the four outbreaks were 100% identical to each other based on phylogenetic analysis, indicating circulation of a closely related strain within the affected districts. Phylogeny showed that Uganda goatpox virus isolates clustered closely [96%-100% with i reference strains from Kenya, Ghana, Sudan, Oman, Yemen, Burkina Faso and Chad. Low farm level biosecurity characterised by poor carcass disposal methods, human traffic and co-mingling of infected and apparently healthy] as well as uncontrolled animal and animal product movement, were identified at field level as probable exposure factors. The genetic relationship between GTPV strains from outbreaks and regional reference strains underpins the transboundary nature of goat pox virus disease. Our study confirmed goatpox virus as the causative agent of outbreaks investigated between 2021-2022. Multi-gene phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship between Uganda GTPV isolates and strains in parts of Africa and Middle East. The findings provide a basis for sustained surveillance to determine diversity of GTPV strains, increased adoption of good biosecurity practices, as well as improvement in animal movement control as key measures to reduce future outbreaks.

This study aims to investigate the mutational spectrum of Among the 165 patients included, pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (P/LPVs) in Our findings provide novel insights into the genetic landscape of breast cancer in southern Tunisia, highlighting the clinical relevance of

In September 2025, West Nile virus (WNV) RNA was detected for the first time in a sheep in Zaghouan Governorate, Tunisia. Following sheep abortions, fetal specimens were analyzed and one tested positive for WNV by RT-qPCR. The generated near-complete WNV genome sequence by Oxford Nanopore Technologies belonged to Lineage 1a, previously associated with locally reported human neuroinvasive cases in the same area. Amino acid analysis of the envelope (E) protein confirmed the presence of the conserved NYS glycosylation motif (E154-E156), a characteristic feature of Euro-Mediterranean Lineage 1 WNV strains. These findings further support the endemic circulation of WNV in Tunisia and underline its significance for both animal and public health.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Dublin is a cattle-adapted serotype that poses significant health risks to humans and calves. This study determined the prevalence of Salmonella dublin in milk from dairy cows in Algeria using real-time PCR and analyzed associated risk factors. Two hundred thirty milk samples from 31 cattle farms in the Khenchela region were analyzed using real-time PCR targeting the vagC gene. A questionnaire-based survey identified potential risk factors. Results showed S. dublin detection in 9.56% (22/230) of milk samples (95% CI: 5.76-13.37%). Risk factor analysis identified poorly maintained water troughs (OR = 3.43, P < 0.05) as significant factor and younger age (< 4 years, OR = 2.22, P < 0.05) as a tendency for S. dublin positivity. These findings indicate considerable presence of S. Dublin in bovine milk in Algeria, emphasizing transmission risks to humans and calves. Real-time PCR demonstrated high sensitivity and effectiveness for detection. The identification of significant risk factors provides important indicators for necessary preventive measures, including enhanced farm hygiene, milk quality monitoring, and safer calf feeding strategies.

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally. The regulatory role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumorigenesis has emerged in various cancer types, including BC. Exosomes, acting as carriers of lncRNAs and other cargo, play a crucial role in mediating communication between cancer cells and tumor microenvironment. Nicotinamide-phosphoribosyl-transferase (NAMPT) has attracted much attention in cancer research. This study sought to explore the role of two lncRNAs interrelated with NAMPT; NAMPT-AS and SNHG5 in BC and to investigate their circulating serum exosomal levels in subjects with/without BC. Serum exosomes were isolated from BC patients and healthy controls, and the expression levels of NAMPT-AS, SNHG5 and NAMPT were measured using qRT-PCR. Serum NAMPT protein levels were quantified by ELISA. Thorough analysis of The-Cancer-Genome-Atlas (TCGA) data for BC-patients was conducted. Serum exosomal NAMPT-AS and SNHG5 levels were found to be significantly upregulated in BC patients compared to control subjects, and both of them were found to be strongly associated with each other and positively correlated with serum exosomal NAMPT. Receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC) analysis revealed that both exosomal NAMPT-AS and SNHG5 can differentiate between BC patients and control subjects. Gene-ontology, protein-protein-interaction-networks and survival analyses of TCGA data revealed distinct molecular signatures for high/low NAMPT-AS and SNHG5 BC-samples. Notably, upregulation of both lncRNAs was associated with poor prognosis and reduced overall survival. In conclusion, the results of the current study portray NAMPT-AS and SNHG5 as key interconnected molecular mediators and promising novel diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for BC.

Wheat (