Baobab Index

Can dual calcium ionophore artificial oocyte activation (AOA) after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) overcome fertilization failure and support live birth in couples with globozoospermia and prior total fertilization failure (TFF)? This retrospective cohort included 33 couples with globozoospermia and documented TFF in previous ICSI cycles without AOA who underwent 55 ICSI-AOA cycles between 2013 and 2024. AOA comprised two 8 min exposures to 10 µmol/l A23187 separated by an 8 min interval in fresh culture medium. Primary outcomes were fertilization rate and live birth rate per embryo transfer. Secondary outcomes included blastulation rate, clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer and cumulative live birth rate per couple. Among 560 metaphase II oocytes, 402 fertilized normally (71.8%); 317 developed into day 3 embryos (78.9% of 2 pronuclear zygotes) and 195 into blastocysts (48.5%). Fifty-eight embryo transfers involving 142 embryos produced 41 gestational sacs (implantation rate 28.9%), 34 clinical pregnancies (58.6% per embryo transfer), 8 miscarriages (23.5% of clinical pregnancies) and 26 deliveries with at least one live birth (44.8% per embryo transfer), resulting in 35 live-born infants. Seven couples had two live-birth deliveries; overall, 19 of 33 couples achieved at least one live birth (cumulative live birth rate 57.6%). In exploratory unadjusted analyses, the median fertilization rate was higher with ejaculated than surgically retrieved spermatozoa (80.0% [IQR 70.2-86.0%] versus 60.0% [IQR 46.5-73.2%]; P = 0.009). Dual calcium ionophore AOA after ICSI in couples with globozoospermia and prior TFF was associated with adequate fertilization efficiency, satisfactory embryo development competence and a favourable cumulative live-birth rate. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm optimal activation strategies and long-term offspring safety.

Microbial communities shape life at every stratum of environmental hierarchy, ranging from a wide spectrum of functionalities such as nutrient cycling processes that support ecosystem functioning in soil biome to those of intricate balance between disease causal and responsive immune defenses in animals. This review explores the roles of microbial niches in shaping pathogen persistence, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dissemination, and host-microbe interactions at the human-animal-environment interface. Emphasis is placed on microbial community assembly, environmental drivers of pathogen survival, zoonotic reservoirs, and the contribution of metagenomics and genome-resolved approaches, including metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). We examine how microbial diversity is structured by environmental factors, host behaviors, and microbial interactions, with particular attention to the conditions that allow pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes to emerge or persist. The review highlights how abiotic and biotic factors regulate microbial succession and disease spread across interconnected ecosystems. Literature used in this review was retrieved through a comprehensive search of peer-reviewed publications using major scientific databases using relevant search terms. Findings from this review demonstrate that microbial niches are not passive habitats but dynamic systems that regulate microbial adaptation, pathogen invasion, and ecosystem resilience. Recent advances in metagenomics, genome-resolved metagenomics, and MAG reconstruction and multi-omics technologies have improved the detection and characterization of unculturable microorganisms, antimicrobial resistance genes, and complex microbial interactions. Nevertheless, important knowledge gaps remain regarding how microbial communities respond to environmental pressures and how these responses influence pathogen persistence and antimicrobial resistance dissemination. Therefore, sustained investment in interdisciplinary One Health and MAG-based research, especially in under-resourced regions, will assist in building a resilient and equitable preparedness against emerging infectious diseases and AMR threats.

Unusual DS-1-like G3P[8] rotavirus strains have emerged and spread rapidly across several countries. In Africa, however, reports of these strains and available whole-genome data remain limited, and their evolutionary relationships across the continent are not yet fully understood. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete genome of a DS-1-like G3P[8] strain (RVA/Human-wt/KEN/KCH1748/2020/G3P[8]) detected in a child with acute gastroenteritis in Kenya. Strain KCH1748 possessed an unusual genotype constellation: G3-P[8]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A2-N2-T2-E2-H2. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 10 of the 11 genomic segments of strain KCH1748 were closely related to those of other East African DS-1-like G3P[8] strains from Kenya and Tanzania within the globally circulating DS-1-like G3P[8] lineage, suggesting that it may be derived from this globally emerging lineage. In contrast, the VP1 gene of strain KCH1748 was closely related to those of Ghanaian G9P[4] strains, sharing a common branch with Beninese DS-1-like G3P[8] and G2P[4] strains, suggesting a VP1 intragenogroup reassortment event involving African RVA strains. This study provides the first comprehensive whole-genome evolutionary characterization of a DS-1-like G3P[8] strain identified in Kenya. Our findings contribute to understanding the evolutionary dynamics and genomic diversification of emerging DS-1-like G3P[8] strains in Africa.

High-dimensional gene expression datasets in chemometric and biomedical research present significant challenges for machine learning because the number of genes greatly exceeds the number of available samples, increasing the risk of overfitting and reducing classification reliability. Existing gene selection methods are often sensitive to noise and outliers, leading to unstable feature subsets and degraded classification performance. To address these limitations, this study proposes a Robust Masked Painter (RMP) framework that integrates robust measures of location and dispersion, namely the Median and the Rousseeuw & Croux statistic (Qn), for reliable gene selection. The proposed framework operates in two stages. First, we identify informative genes using a round-robin strategy with a greedy search algorithm and robust core intervals to reduce the influence of noise and outliers. Second, Dominant Class (DC) analysis and Overlapping Scores (

Breast cancer remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality in Africa, where late-stage diagnosis, limited access to specialised care, and underrepresentation in biomedical research continue to impede improvements in patient outcomes. At the same time, rapid advances in tumour biology, molecular diagnostics, and precision oncology are fundamentally reshaping our understanding of breast cancer globally. This review examines recent developments in breast cancer clinical research, highlighting how these developments are shaping the future of diagnostics and targeted therapeutics. We further discuss emerging technologies, including multi-omics, liquid biopsy, and artificial intelligence, and consider their potential to advance precision oncology. Importantly, we evaluate these advances within the African context, where limited molecular data, restricted access to diagnostic infrastructure, and resource constraints continue to challenge clinical implementation. Improving outcomes across the continent will require more than the adoption of emerging technologies; it will depend on generating African-relevant biological evidence, expanding representation in genomic research, and integrating molecular, clinical, and environmental data to develop equitable, context-specific precision medicine strategies. Such an approach offers the potential to transform breast cancer management while reducing longstanding disparities in cancer care across Africa.

Non-O1/non-O139

Botanical insecticides are increasingly being investigated as alternatives to synthetic pesticides for stored-grain protection. This review critically evaluates

Antimicrobial-resistant

Closely related

Cloacal swabs were collected from 12 Eurasian goshawk chicks during routine veterinary inspections to evaluate the gut-associated virome of goshawks used for falconry. The material was used for metagenomic screening with high-throughput sequencing. Sequences belonging to several viral families (