Search Results (720)

Backgrounds/Objectives: Probiotics confer health-promoting and immunomodulatory effects on the host. However, a lot remains to be understood regarding their safety profile, characteristics and functional mechanisms. This study was conducted to comprehend the functional mechanisms of Limosilactobacillus reuteri isolated from chickens and characterize some of its uncharacterized proteins (hypothetical proteins). Methods: The chicken-isolated Limosilactobacillus reuteri genome, sequenced using Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology, was explored for proteome comparison analyses, comprehensive antibiotic resistance analysis, interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression across various conditions as well as IL-4-inducing potential. Results: Five antibiotic resistance-associated genes were found. Hypothetical proteins labeled QHPv.2.1, QHPv.2.12 and QHPv.2.16 induced IL-4, but QHPv.2.12 was not immunogenic. Immunogenic IL-4-inducing mutants from QHPv.2.1 (0.7013) and QHPv.2.16 (0.7040) had the best support vector machine (SVM) values, which were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the rest of the group, followed by those from QHPv.2.12 (0.4587). QHPv.2.5 (0.0560) had the lowest value. QHPv.2.1 (5484.71) and QHPv.2.16 (5491.05) had significantly (p < 0.05) larger molecular weights (MWs), followed by QHPv.2.12 (5302.05). The lowest value was obtained for QHPv.2.7 (3386.74). Conclusions: This explorative study revealed the IL-4 inducing capacity of the hypothetical proteins of L. reuteri and their mutants, as well as identified heat and cold shock proteins associated with L. reuteri. Full article

Reliable and harmonised soil information remains critically limited across Africa, constraining soil monitoring, climate-resilient agriculture, and evidence-based land management. Existing soil resources are often fragmented, spatially uneven, outdated, or derived from legacy observations, limiting their usefulness for contemporary continental-scale assessment. The Soils4Africa project implemented a coordinated field campaign across 33 African countries between 2022 and 2025 to establish a harmonised soil monitoring framework for agricultural lands. Using a hierarchical probabilistic sampling design, 24,951 soil samples were collected from 14,311 locations, supported by standardised field protocols, digital data capture, QR-based sample traceability, and centralised quality control. This paper presents the conceptual, operational, and data-management framework underpinning the survey and reports baseline field observations on farming systems, land management, vegetation structure, and soil physical constraints. The framework achieved more than 70% of planned sampling coverage despite major logistical, environmental, and security-related constraints. Baseline observations show that African agricultural landscapes remain dominated by smallholder systems, low external input use, limited soil and water conservation, and widespread dependence on rainfed production. Field indicators also reveal sparse woody vegetation cover and common physical constraints, including compaction, coarse fragments, shallow effective rooting depth, and subsoil barriers. Unlike earlier continental resources based largely on legacy profiles or site-based surveillance, Soils4Africa provides a contemporary, harmonised, spatially structured field-survey framework designed to support future laboratory-based soil assessment, digital soil mapping, land suitability analysis, and long-term soil monitoring. The study therefore provides a scalable model for coordinated soil monitoring across diverse African agroecosystems and establishes an operational baseline for subsequent analytical studies. Full article

Background: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical cancer, particularly in settings with high-risk sexual behaviours and limited preventive care. HPV prevalence peaks in adolescence and early adulthood due to early sexual initiation, multiple partners, inconsistent condom use, anal intercourse, and oral–genital contact. To assess the prevalence and associated risk factors for high-risk HPV infections among female students in Benin City, Nigeria. A faith-based college in Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 female nursing students. Self-collected genital swabs were analysed using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR to detect 14 high-risk HPV types. Participants completed a structured questionnaire on sexual behaviour, contraceptive use, and HPV knowledge. Results: The overall high-risk HPV prevalence was 45/133 (33.8%), with 39 (29.3%) presenting multiple infections. HPV66, 58, and 56 were the most common types detected. Significant associations were observed with oral contraceptive use (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.01–9.97) and abnormal vaginal discharge (p = 0.028). Conclusions: The predominance of HPV66, HPV58, and HPV56 highlights the increasing importance of non-vaccine HPV genotypes and shows the need for targeted screening and vaccination. Associations with abnormal vaginal discharge and oral contraceptive use emphasize the importance of sexual health education and routine gynaecological care among young women. This study underscores the need for targeted HPV screening, vaccination, and sexual health education to reduce cervical cancer risk among young women in Nigeria. Full article

Rural communities face persistent challenges in accessing timely, culturally relevant, and trustworthy health information due to inadequate communication infrastructures, workforce shortages, and infrastructural constraints. As generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools become increasingly accessible, rural serving organizations are often pushed to explore their use to expand communication reach and reduce staff burden through funding incentives, vendor offerings, and policy signals, even when adoption is misaligned with local capacity or priorities. However, guidance is lacking on how rural systems should approach GenAI adoption in ways that strengthen, rather than undermine, trust and equity. This Opinion offers a systems-oriented and community-centered perspective on rural GenAI readiness by distinguishing between non-agentic applications that support human communicators and agentic systems that introduce varying degrees of autonomy. We propose a staged maturity framework tailored to rural health communication ecosystems, outlining opportunities, risks, and governance needs at each stage of adoption. By centering on rural context, communication trust, and system readiness, this Opinion aims to support the intentional, ethical, and sustainable integration of GenAI into rural health communication systems. Full article

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is a legume valued in several countries for its nutritional quality, low input requirements, and economic profitability. However, cowpea productivity is significantly constrained by anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum species. Enhancing host resistance through the introgression of resistance alleles from landraces and wild relatives offers a promising strategy for durable disease management. This study evaluated 20 cowpea landraces and 18 V. unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana accessions for resistance to anthracnose under natural field infection. The cultivars Ife Brown and V. vexillata line TVNu-428 were included as susceptible and resistant checks, respectively. The experiment was laid in an alpha lattice design (8 × 5) with three replications arranged. Anthracnose symptoms characterized by enlarged light-brown lesions surrounded by reddish-brown halos were produced on all the accessions and the symptoms progressed throughout the assessment period. Five V. unguiculata ssp. dekindtiana accessions (TVNu-113, TVNu-1506, TVNu-1222, TVNu-420, and TVNu-136) and three cowpea landrace accessions (TVu-14076, TVu-17556, and TVu-17567) were identified as promising sources of anthracnose resistance. These accessions represent valuable genetic resources for broadening the cowpea resistance gene pool and support the strategic utilization of wild cowpea germplasm in breeding programs. Full article

The subject of CO₂ subsurface storage security has never been more critical, and there is a need to explore the injection of functional materials that are capable of providing both conformance control and in situ CO₂ adsorption, thereby improving overall formation storage integrity. Herein, a molecular dynamics simulation method was used to investigate the adsorptive tendency of two variants of interpenetrating network (IPN) composite materials comprising amine-stabilized hydrophobically modified cellulose sulphates and methylene bisacrylamide crosslinked polyacrylamide. Using the COMPASS III force field and Metropolis Monte Carlo, the diffusivity and adsorption isotherms for CO₂ were determined in the IPN gels, respectively. The results indicate that the two interpenetrating networks D-I-AM-MBA-G-Cl and D-II-AM-MBA-G-Cl demonstrated reasonable CO₂ adsorption. In saline conditions, the adsorption was further enhanced with diffusion coefficients of 4.87 × 10⁻⁴ cm²/s and 2 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s. The adsorption isotherm of D-I-AM-MBA-G-Cl closely fits the Sips equation, with a regression coefficient of 0.9996, while that of D-II-AM-MBA-G-Cl follows the Temkin isotherm with an R² value of 0.9885. This study revealed that carefully designed plugging agents with strong CO₂ adsorption tendencies can aid in the improvement of the geosequestration integrity of subsurface formations. Full article

Cancer represents one of the major public health issues in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with increasing incidence and mortality rates as a result of late diagnosis, limited healthcare infrastructure, and financial difficulties. Traditional medicine plays an important role in healthcare across different populations in SSA, as more than 80% of the population depend on indigenous plant-based remedies for treating or managing different ailments, including cancer. This study aimed to document medicinal plants traditionally used to treat cancer in SSA. A systematic search of all documents available in the last two decades (2006–2026) was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. After screening studies using the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 55 studies met the eligibility requirements and were selected for analysis based on their relevance to the topic, geographic scope, and reported applications in cancer management. The scientific names of the identified plant species and their taxonomic authorities were verified using the Plants of the World Online database. A total of 556 species, belonging to 110 families, were recorded as medicinal plants used to treat various forms of cancer in SSA. The top five families with the most frequently used plants were Fabaceae (51 species), Asteraceae (34 species), Euphorbiaceae (25 species), Apocynaceae (22 species) and Lamiaceae (22 species). Frequently cited plants include Kigelia africana, Annona muricata, Adansonia digitata, Carica papaya, and Tamarindus indica. A total of 11 plant parts were documented, with leaves (41.20%), roots (18.75%), and bark (17.25%) being the dominant plant parts utilised. The primary methods of preparation were decoction (38.23%), powdering and grinding (14.51%), and infusion and tea preparation (49.73%), while the main modes of administration were oral (66.88%) and topical (26.46%). The results show that traditional medicinal plants hold significant potential as sources of novel anticancer drugs in SSA. However, a significant gap exists between ethnobotanical knowledge, laboratory research, and clinical application. Rigorous pharmacological and toxicity evaluations and well-designed clinical trials on the identified medicinal plants are needed to integrate effective and safe plant-based therapies into evidence-based oncology. Full article

This paper examines the unresolved case of a Nigerian singer/rapper, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (Mohbad), aged 27, whose tragic death occurred on 12 September 2023. His death sparked public outcry and calls for justice, resulting in massive protest movements in Nigeria and the Diaspora. Alaroye, a foremost indigenous language newspaper, has consistently deployed its platform to advocate for justice for the deceased rapper. Using the Agenda-setting Theory, this study examines, through key informant interviews, the external events that caused public opinion on the clamour for justice for Mohbad to wane, which impeded the newspaper’s agenda-setting capacity. This paper explores Alaroye’s coverage of the circumstances surrounding the death of Mohbad and the need to galvanise justice for him. Through a content analysis of the Alaroye online newspaper, 62 newspaper stories were purposively sampled within the time frame of the incident (September 2023 to August 2024). Although Alaroye’s reports on the happenings surrounding Mohbad’s death created public awareness and debate, key informants explain that public opinion on the issue could not stimulate justice for the deceased due to political, economic, and other associated factors. Full article

Although apartheid ended in 1994, its legacy continues to shape South Africa’s higher education system, reinforcing disparities in access, funding, and representation. This study aims to critically examine how apartheid diplomacy has influenced higher education and asks: how do its strategies continue to shape academic practices, institutional relationships, and systemic inequalities in post-apartheid South Africa? It conceptualises apartheid diplomacy as the use of education to entrench racial hierarchies, reproduce class domination, and suppress indigenous knowledge. Grounded in Marxist and Weberian class theories and Crenshaw’s intersectionality framework, the analysis traces how apartheid-era policies institutionalised systemic inequalities and how these legacies persist within institutions. A scoping review was conducted using five databases (EMBASE, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus) between January 2007 and April 2025, guided by PRISMA ScR and Arksey and O’Malley’s six-stage framework. Of 75 articles retrieved, 15 met the inclusion criteria. Findings reveal that apartheid diplomacy shaped academic governance, resource distribution, and knowledge production, leaving enduring inequities despite ongoing reforms. Transformation efforts, including financial aid schemes, equity policies, and curriculum debates, have achieved progress but remain constrained by structural, cultural, and intersectional barriers. The study underscores that achieving lasting equity requires continuous policy interventions, inclusive leadership, and curriculum decolonisation, alongside advocacy and interdisciplinary research. It reframes higher education as a diplomatic arena where equity and epistemic justice are negotiated, offering an original lens for understanding and dismantling apartheid’s enduring influence on South African academia. Full article

Logistics, as a vital component of economic growth, relies on fossil fuel burning, which accelerates carbon emissions into the atmosphere and harms the environment. Logistics, encompassing transportation, warehousing, and supply chain operations, is among the fastest-growing sources of carbon emissions globally, contributing significantly to GHG emissions. Climate change causes forced migration, extinctions, natural disasters, and health problems that disrupt the ecosystem’s dynamics. This work aims to critically examine the current palliative measures to limit the negative impact on global climate change while also methodically examining various aspects of the human world affected by the growing rate of carbon emissions globally, as the world turns to low-carbon economics as a powerful and inventive way to mitigate the climate crisis from carbon emissions. Under themes such as climate impacts, ecological disruption, socioeconomic ramifications, health implications, and mitigation techniques, a broad range of integrated publications focused on logistics and climate-related concerns were examined. The final section of the document emphasises the significance of zero emissions and outlines the regulations set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It also makes a strong case for investing in sustainable and cutting-edge technologies in order to quickly achieve favourable global climate conditions. Full article

The rising threat of antimicrobial resistance necessitates the search for novel bioactive molecules from natural sources. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antibacterial potency, and molecular docking interactions of Citrus aurantium peel ethanol extract against Escherichia coli outer-membrane and topoisomerase proteins and Staphylococcus aureus toxins as drug target proteins. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical compositions were examined using standard analytical methods, chemical compounds were evaluated and qualified using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and antibacterial effects were investigated in silico and validated in vitro. Qualitative and quantitative analyses revealed high concentrations of flavonoids (4.54 ± 0.11%), alkaloids (1.6 ± 0.03%), terpenoids (1.35 ± 0.01%), tannins (1.02 ± 0.05%), phenols (0.97 ± 0.07%), and saponins (0.80 ± 0.01%). GC–MS profiling identified several dominant compounds, including β-D-glucopyranose, neo-inositol, 8-(2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-7-methoxy-2H-chromen-2-one, and D-allose. In silico docking studies against bacterial druggable proteins (PDB IDs: 4C56 and 3MFG, which are S. aureus toxins; 1BXW and 3FV5, which are E. coli outer-membrane and topoisomerase proteins) revealed strong binding affinities (−6.477 to −8.774 kcal/mol), comparable to standard antibiotics. ADMET predictions confirmed favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles, with most lead compounds displaying high intestinal absorption, low hepatotoxicity, and compliance with Lipinski’s rule of five. The extract exhibited stronger antibacterial activity, producing inhibition zones of 25.11 ± 0.017 and 23.04 ± 0.25 mm against clinical isolates of S. aureus and E. coli, respectively, at a concentration of 10 mg/mL, comparable to ciprofloxacin (30.35 ± 0.26 mm). These findings highlight C. aurantium peel phytoconstituents as promising scaffolds for antibacterial drug development and justify further in vivo validation for combating multidrug-resistant pathogens. Full article

This field study examined extant aquatic food production and marketing in the three coastal states of Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo before IMTA across 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs)/Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). Marketing mix practices in coastal aquatic food systems were explored through a structured, qualitative assessment using a multi-value chain perspective. Monthly sales volumes most frequently fell within the range of 1–5 tonnes. The local market was dominant, with some sales in the international markets. Respondents asserted that post-harvest processing was diverse, and some were satisfied with the technology available to preserve their products. Cold storage practices across coastal states were hindered by unreliable power supply. Zero-level channel distribution dominated among traders, with over 90% relying on word-of-mouth (WOM) to promote their products. Consumers showed a strong preference for the quality of local products and expressed openness to incorporating seaweed into their purchases. Health benefits, taste, and other reasons for purchase decisions varied significantly across the state χ² (df = 8, n = 300) = 92.39, p < 0.001. These findings provide a baseline for IMTA in Nigeria, highlighting existing strengths, market dynamics, and infrastructure gaps that must be addressed to support sustainable integration. Full article

This study evaluates β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and malonic acid functionalized pine sawdust biochar for organic pollutant removal, benchmarking efficacy against commercial Norit GSX activated carbon for sustainable water treatment. Characterization revealed that β-CD modification successfully developed porous structures, with Sawdust Activated Carbon (SDAC) and Norit GSX Activated Carbon (GSXAC) achieving Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface areas of 438.36 m²/g and 1223.79 m²/g, respectively. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies demonstrated the superiority of β-CD-modified materials over traditional acid-functionalized variants. The adsorption kinetics were exceptionally well-described by the Pseudo-Second-Order model R² > 0.99, indicating that the process is governed by chemical interactions rather than simple physical attachment. In contrast, the Pseudo-First-Order and Elovich models provided poor descriptions of the system (R² = 0.54 and 0.11, respectively). An isotherm analysis further confirmed the heterogeneous nature of the SDAC surface, with the Freundlich model exhibiting an excellent fit (R² > 0.99) and an n value of 0.79. For GSXAC, the Freundlich model also outperformed the Langmuir model, yielding a K_F of 441.72 mg/g and n = 0.77, reflecting high adsorption intensity on a heterogeneous surface. The comparative advantage of β-CD is in line with its unique truncated cone structure, which is consistent with guest–host inclusion complex formation, multi-modal hydrogen bonding, and enhanced pH resilience. These findings validate β-CD-modified sawdust-derived adsorbents as potential, sustainable, high-capacity alternatives to industrial-grade carbons. Full article

The study of airborne pollen and spores in regions, communities, and campuses has gained importance in Nigeria in recent times. Aerospora sampling was carried out from November 2012 to February 2013 on the University of Ibadan campus Watch Tower. The Tower is the tallest building on campus, standing at 35 m. An Aero sampler was used to collect aeropalynomorphs monthly at the site. The recovered residues were acetolysed and studied microscopically. Meteorological data for this location were obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for the prevailing weather conditions. Statistical analysis using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between airborne pollen and spores and meteorological parameters. A variety of palynomorphs, characteristic of rainforest, secondary/open forest, savanna, and freshwater vegetation types, were recovered. The dominant ones belonged to the Arecaceae, Anacardiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, and Poaceae families, as well as fungal spores. Pollen counts with meteorological data revealed variations in palynomorph types and concentrations that reflected the influence of the aerosampler location, weather parameters, and the degree of human activities on the floral composition. This work is the first aero-sampling on the University of Ibadan campus and a contribution to the aeropalynological data of campuses across Southwest Nigeria. Full article

Snakebite envenoming is a major yet neglected tropical disease in sub-Saharan Africa, where antivenom efficacy is critically limited by intraspecific venom variation shaped by local ecological pressures. Nigeria’s sharply contrasting Sudan Savanna (North) and Lowland Rainforest (South) provide an ideal natural system to investigate this variation, yet a comparative analysis of its medically important snakes has been lacking. We conducted an integrated proteomic and functional characterization of venoms from the puff adder (Bitis arietans) and black-necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis) collected in Kaduna (North) and Ibadan (South). Using high-resolution LC-MS/MS, SDS-PAGE, and biochemical assays (phospholipase A₂, protease, fibrinogenolytic, hemolytic, and coagulation activities), we mapped region-specific venom compositions and characterized their functional activities. Bitis arietans displayed region-associated divergence: southern venom was enriched in serine proteases, whereas northern venom was dominated by lectins and distinct snake venom metalloproteinase isoforms. Naja nigricollis showed a conserved phospholipase A₂/three-finger toxins backbone, yet southern venoms exhibited elevated snake venom metalloproteinase III and L-amino acid oxidase. These molecular differences manifested functionally, with southern B. arietans venom showing higher protease activity than northern B. arietans, whereas southern and northern N. nigricollis venom exhibited similar protease activity but enhanced phospholipase A₂ activity in southern N. nigricollis. This work provides the first integrated proteomic and functional comparison of venoms from northern and southern Nigerian venom sample of B. arietans and N. nigricollis. While based on a limited number of individuals, the observed differences should be considered preliminary and indicative of potential regional trends rather than population-level characteristics. Full article