Research Publications (Applied Sciences)
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Item A metagenomic investigation of the faecal RNA virome structure of asymptomatic chickens obtained from a commercial farm in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024-06) Nwokorogu, Vivian C.; Pillai, Santhosh; San, James E.; Pillay, Charlene; Nyaga, Martin M.; Sabiu, SaheedVirome studies on birds, including chickens are relatively scarce, particularly from the African continent. Despite the continuous evolution of RNA viruses and severe losses recorded in poultry from seasonal viral outbreaks, the information on RNA virome composition is even scantier as a result of their highly unstable nature, genetic diversity, and difficulties associated with characterization. Also, information on factors that may modulate the occurrence of some viruses in birds is limited, particularly for domesticated birds. Viral metagenomics through advancements in sequencing technologies, has enabled the characterization of the entire virome of diverse host species using various samples.Methods
The complex RNA viral constituents present in 27 faecal samples of asymptomatic chickens from a South African farm collected at 3-time points from two independent seasons were determined, and the impact of the chicken's age and collection season on viral abundance and diversity was further investigated. The study utilized the non-invasive faecal sampling method, mRNA viral targeted enrichment steps, a whole transcriptome amplification strategy, Illumina sequencing, and bioinformatics tools.Results
The results obtained revealed a total of 48 viral species spanning across 11 orders, 15 families and 21 genera. Viral RNA families such as Coronaviridae, Picornaviridae, Reoviridae, Astroviridae, Caliciviridae, Picorbirnaviridae and Retroviridae were abundant, among which picornaviruses, demonstrated a 100% prevalence across the three age groups (2, 4 and 7 weeks) and two seasons (summer and winter) of the 27 faecal samples investigated. A further probe into the extent of variation between the different chicken groups investigated indicated that viral diversity and abundance were significantly influenced by age (P = 0.01099) and season (P = 0.00099) between chicken groups, while there was no effect on viral shedding within samples in a group (alpha diversity) for age (P = 0.146) and season (P = 0.242).Conclusion
The presence of an exceedingly varied chicken RNA virome, encompassing avian, mammalian, fungal, and dietary-associated viruses, underscores the complexities inherent in comprehending the causation, dynamics, and interspecies transmission of RNA viruses within the investigated chicken population. Hence, chickens, even in the absence of discernible symptoms, can harbour viruses that may exhibit opportunistic, commensal, or pathogenic characteristics.Item Transferrin levels are associated with malnutrition markers in hemodialysis patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.(Informa UK Limited, 2024-03) Benjamin, Sherilene; Assounga, AlainINTRODUCTION: Malnutrition is a global phenomenon and may be contributing to the increasing size of the hemodialysis (HD) population in South Africa and is affecting morbidity and clinical outcomes. Our study assessed whether transferrin could be a possible marker for malnutrition in the HD population. METHODS: Clinical parameters (including skinfold thickness and mid-upper arm circumference [MUAC]) and laboratory markers (including transferrin and hemoglobin) were measured during a six-month period in a sample of 59 HD patients. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis showed that MUAC (p = 0.027) as well as skinfold thickness (p = 0.021) had a significant association with transferrin levels within the HD participants. There was no significant association between transferrin levels or MUAC with hemoglobin levels (p = 0.075). Furthermore, the study found that decreased transferrin levels (< 2.15 g/dL to 3.80 g/dL) were closely related to malnutrition in the malnutrition distribution groups within the study, with 97.7% of HD participants being classified in one of the malnutrition groups. CONCLUSION: Thus, transferrin levels are a valuable marker for malnutrition within the HD patient population and can be included along with clinical assessment parameters such as MUAC and skinfold thickness as primary indicators for malnutrition.Item Antibodies to erythropoietin are associated with erythropoietin resistance in hemodialysis patients in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)(Medknow, 2020) Benjamin, Sherilene; Adam, Jamila; Krishna, Suresh Babu Naidu; Assounga, Alain G.Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is a glycoprotein and biological equivalent to the endogenous compound administered to treat anemia of end-stage renal disease patients. Resistance to rHuEPO has been reported, whereby patients require higher and higher doses of rHuEPO to maintain an adequate hemoglobin level. In this study, assessment of native and administered erythropoietin (EPO), antibody and hemoglobin levels was carried out on a sample of patients with renal failure on hemodialysis (HD). This is a randomized controlled trial where consecutive subjects attending HD units at Addington Hospital and King Edward Hospital, Durban (South Africa) were included until the target number was reached. Forty patients with renal failure on HD and receiving recombinant EPO Beta (Recormon) for treatment of anemia via the subcutaneous route in weekly doses of 2000 IU, 4000 IU, 6000 IU, 8000 IU, 12,000 IU, or 18,000 IU according to the severity of the anemia were included after obtaining informed consent. Also included in the study were 10 HD patients not on rHuEPO therapy and 10 healthy individuals from the Durban University of Technology, recruited as described above to form the control group. ELISA was used to measure serum levels of EPO as well as antibodies to EPO. Results were analyzed by descriptive, inferential methods and by logistic regression analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 22.0. Antibodies to EPO were found in almost all patients who were receiving EPO. The highest levels of antibody to EPO were found to be associated with patients receiving the highest weekly dose of EPO (18,000 IU). Logistic regression analysis also revealed that serum levels of EPO, gender or age were not associated with any significant variation of serum antibody level. High levels of serum antibodies to EPO are a risk factor for EPO resistance.Item Development of an energy-dense biscuit suitable for primary school learners for the South African National School Nutrition Programme(African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 2021) Hassanally, Saffia; Naicker, Ashika; Singh, EvonneSouth Africa has a well established National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). Despite rescheduling the mealtime to two hours after the start of the school day to accommodate learners who come to school on an empty stomach, a gap still exists as many children start their learning day with low energy and concentration levels. A cost-effective, energy-dense snack served at the start of the school day can be a solution to sustain learners until the main meal is served. Cross-sectional surveys were used to determine the snack preferences of children and the product development process was used to develop a suitable snack. An energy-dense peanut butter biscuit was developed based on those surveys as well as a scoping review of previous snack studies. The energy-dense developed product provided 1388kJ (61.0%) of energy from fat, 688kJ (30.2%) of energy from carbohydrates and 201kJ (8.8%) of energy from protein per 100g. The biscuit conformed to microbial testing standards. Shelf-life analysis projected a shelf-life of five weeks fresh and five months in food grade packaging. Sensory results showed that there was no significant difference in sensory scores across gender (p=0.691) and age (p=0.706). More of the learners (n=56, 69.1%) found the biscuit to be ‘Super good’ than the other ratings (p<.0005). When compared with similar biscuit products currently on the market, it was found that the developed biscuit was the most reasonably priced. The developed biscuit has the potential to serve as a solution to hidden hunger for children that come to school on an empty stomach. This versatile snack solution has potential for continuity of use even during periods of national crisis as with COVID-19, when learners’ nutritional needs may be most vulnerable.Item Identifying factors that affect the probability of being cured from MDR-TB disease, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa : a competing risks analysis(Scientific Research Publishing, Inc., 2022) Mbona, Sizwe Vincent; Mwambi, Henry; Chifurira, RetiusFour decentralised sites are located in rural areas and one centralised hospital in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Objective: To analyse risk factors associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) using com peting risks analysis. Understanding factors associated with MDR-TB and obtaining valid parameter estimates could help in designing control and in tervention strategies to lower TB mortality. Method: A prospective study was performed using a competing risk analysis in patients receiving treatment for MDR-TB. The study focused on 1542 patients (aged 18 years and older) who were diagnosed of MDR-TB between July 2008 and June 2010. Time to cure MDR-TB was used as the dependent variable and time to death was the com peting risk event. Results: The Fine-Gray regression model indicated that base line weight was highly significant with sub-distribution hazard ration (SHR) = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.02. This means that weight gain in a month increased chances of curing MDR-TB by 2%. Results show that lower chances to cure MDR-TB were among patients between 41 to 50 years compared to those pa tients who were between 18 to 30 years old (SHR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.61 - 1.06). The chances of curing MDR-TB in female patients were low compared to male patients (SHR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.68 - 1.03), however this was not sig nificant. Furthermore, HIV negative patients had higher chances to cure MDR-TB (SHR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.85 - 1.35) compared to HIV positive pa tients. Patients who were treated in the decentralised sites had lower chances to be cured of MDR-TB (SHR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.07 - 0.54) as compared to pa tients who were treated in the centralised hospital. Conclusion: Identifying key factors associated with TB and specifying strategies to prevent them can reduce mortality of patients due to TB disease, hence positive treatment out comes leading to the goal of reducing or end TB deaths. Urgent action is re quired to improve the coverage and quality of diagnosis, treatment and care for people with drug-resistant TB.Item The antimosquito properties of extracts from flowering plants in South Africa(NCBI, 2013) Chalannavar, Raju K.; Hurinanthan, Vashka; Singh, Alveera; Venugopala, Katharigatta Narayanaswamy; Gleiser, Raquel M.; Baijnath, Himansu; Odhav, BhartiExtracts of selected flowering plants, which are considered eco-friendly, are used for the treatment of numerous ailments and vector control worldwide. This has resulted in approximately 25 per cent of currently used drugs being derived from herbal sources. The aqueous and methanolic extracts of twelve plant species, Psidium guajava (pink fruit), Psidium guajava (white fruit), Psidium cattleianum var. cattleianum, Psidium guineense and Psidium X durbanensis, Achyranthes aspera, Alternanthera sessilis, Guilleminea densa, Capparis tomentosa, Leonotis leonurus, Dichrostachys cinerea and Carpobrotus dimidiatus, were tested for insecticidal activity, including larvicidal, adulticidal and repellent activities against the adult female mosquito, Anopheles arabiensis. The extracts of P. guajava (white fruit), C. tomentosa, L. leonurus,D. cinerea, and C. dimidiatus exerted a pronounced inhibitory effect on adult insects, while those of P. guajava (pink fruit), P. X durbanensis, P. cattleianum var. cattleianum, P. guineense, A. aspera, A. sessilis, and G. densa were ineffective and failed to satisfy the criteria set by the World Health Organization. In the tests for repellency against An. arabiensis, all the tested aqueous and methanolic plant extracts except those of A. sessilis repelled 80-100% of mosquitoes. The most effective mosquito repellents were the methanol and aqueous extracts of P. guajava (pink fruit), P. X durbanensis, P. cattleianum var. cattleianum, P. guineense, G. densa,L. leonurus and D. cinerea, which are potential sources of cost effective mosquito repellents to be utilized in malarial endemic areas.Item Xylanase superproducer : genome sequence of a compost-loving thermophilic fungus, thermomyces lanuginosus strain SSBP(American Society for Microbiology, 2013-06-20) Mchunu, Nokuthula Peace; Permaul, Kugen; Rahman, Ahmad Yamin; Saito, Jennifer A.; Singh, Suren; Alam, MaqsudulWe report here the draft genome sequence of Thermomyces lanuginosus strain SSBP, which was isolated from soil in South Africa. This fungus produces the largest amount of xylanase ever reported in the literature.