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"Guy, Roger"
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Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of plants consumed by western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in Gabon
Zoopharmacognosy is the study of the self-medication behaviors of non-human animals that use plant, animal or soil items as remedies. Recent studies have shown that some of the plants employed by animals may also be used for the same therapeutic purposes in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Ceiba pentandra , Myrianthus arboreus , Ficus subspecies (ssp.) and Milicia excelsa bark crude extracts (BCE), plants consumed by western lowland gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ) in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park (MDNP) and used in traditional medicine, and then to characterize their phytochemical compounds. DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl), phosphomolybdenum complex and β-carotene bleaching methods were used to assess antioxidant activity. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the diffusion method, while minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were assessed using the microdilution method. The highest level of total phenolics was found in Myrianthus arboreus aqueous extract [385.83 ± 3.99 mg [gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g]. Total flavonoid (134.46 ± 3.39) mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 g of extract] were highest in Milicia excelsa , tannin [(272.44 ± 3.39) mg tannic acid equivalent (TAE)/100 g of extract] in Myrianthus arboreus and proanthocyanidin [(404.33 ± 3.39) mg apple procyanidins equivalent (APE)/100 g of extract] in Ceiba pentandra . Ficus ssp. (IC 50 1.34 ±3.36 μg/mL; AAI 18.57 ± 0.203) ethanolic BCE and Milicia excelsa (IC 50 2.07 ± 3.37 μg/mL; AAI 12.03 ± 0.711) showed the strongest antioxidant activity. Myrianthus arboreus ethanolic BCE (73.25 ± 5.29) and Milicia excelsa aqueous BCE (38.67 ± 0.27) showed the strongest percentage of total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Ceiba pentandra ethanolic BCE (152.06 ± 19.11 mg AAE/g) and Ficus ssp aqueous BCE (124.33 ± 39.05 mg AAE/g) showed strongest relative antioxidant activity (RAA). The plant BCE showed antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant (MDR) E . coli (DECs) isolates, with MICs varying from 1.56 to 50 mg/mL and inhibition diameters ranging from 7.34 ± 0.57 to 13.67 ± 0.57mm. Several families of compounds were found, including total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and proanthocyanidins were found in the plant BCEs. The plant BCEs showed antioxidant activities with free radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities against 10 MDR E . coli (DECs) isolates, and could be a promising novel source for new drug discovery.
Journal Article
A Test-and-Not-Treat Strategy for Onchocerciasis in Loa loa–Endemic Areas
Treatment of onchocerciasis or lymphatic filariasis has been thwarted by concerns of serious complications related to the presence of
L. loa
infection. This report shows that leveraging digital technology allows ivermectin to be safely administered in large communities in Cameroon.
Journal Article
St. Eom in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin
Self-taught Georgia artist Eddie Owens Martin (1908-86), known as St. EOM, created a visionary art site called Pasaquan in the mid-1950s in Marion County, Georgia. Covering seven acres, this evocative and fanciful site has captured the imaginations of thousands of visitors. Pasaquan includes six buildings connected by concrete walls, all of which are adorned with the artist's vibrant, psychedelic folk art of bold, transfixing patterns, spiritual and tribal imagery, and exuberant depictions of nature. According to St. EOM, his art arose from a vision he experienced in his mid-twenties, while suffering from a high fever. The first of many visionary experiences, it featured a godlike being who offered to be Martin's spiritual guide. Subsequent visions inspired him to begin making art and, eventually, to create a spiritual compound dedicated to a peaceful future for humankind. St. EOM enlarged his house to twice its original size by adding a long rear section covered inside and out with his rainbow-hued murals, mandalas, and relief sculptures. On the grounds he built a series of structures including a circular dance platform, some small temples, several totems, and a two-story pagoda, all in his wildly ornamental style. He also created more than two thousand freestanding pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and drawings. In the thirty years since St. EOM's death, the Pasaquan Preservation Society worked to preserve the compound, which had fallen into neglect. In 2014 the Kohler Foundation and Columbus State University partnered with the society to restore the visionary art site for future generations. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Book
A Zassenhaus Lemma for Digroups
In this paper, we construct a quotient structure on digroups. This construction yields a new functor from the category of digroups to the category of groups. We obtain a modular property for digroups and use it to prove an analogue of the Zassenhaus lemma in this framework.
Journal Article
Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors among students living on campus in South-eastern Gabon
Background
The Hepatitis B-virus is the etiological agent of an infection that affects liver functions and potentially causes disorders. Approximately, 300 million people are living with acute or chronic HBV-infections worldwide, and only a fraction of them have access to medical care. The sub-Saharan African (SSA) regions house around 80 million of reported infection cases, and certain SSA-groups like pregnant women and drug-addict are among the most vulnerable. In as much as there is insufficient national data on young adult groups, this study aims to determine HBV-prevalence and associated factors of infections within a student population in the Southeastern part of Gabon.
Methods
A university-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Gabonese students from March to July 2023. Laboratory assessment of HBV-markers was done to estimate infection status of on-campus students. Furthermore, chi-squared and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine association between variables.
Results
With an infection sero-prevalence rate of 5.6% from a total of 462 participants, mostly undergraduates, 26- and 184-samples tested positive for HBsAg- and Anti-HBc-markers, respectively. Viral loads were then detected for 13 of those positive for HBsAg-markers. Several factors were associated with having Anti-HBc markers, whereas the use of condom was determinant in acquiring HBsAg-markers. The odds of having contact with HBsAg-markers were significant with regular alcohol consumption. While the odds of having Anti-HBc-markers were significantly increased in older students, in those sharing shaped materials (2-folds), and even higher in those having HBV-family history (6-folds).
Conclusion
This screening effort demonstrated that HBV is circulating among Gabonese students and highlighted possible associated factors. Preventive measures should be elaborated including mass screening to identify and treat HBV-carriers, raising awareness on the necessity of adopting safe behaviors and lifestyles among other learners and young adults living on- and off-campus.
Journal Article
High level of intrinsic phenotypic antimicrobial resistance in enterobacteria from terrestrial wildlife in Gabonese national parks
Data on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae in African wildlife are still relatively limited. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of phenotypic intrinsic and acquired antimicrobial resistance of enterobacteria from several species of terrestrial wild mammals in national parks of Gabon. Colony culture and isolation were done using MacConkey agar. Isolates were identified using the VITEK 2 and MALDI-TOF methods. Antibiotic susceptibility was analysed and interpreted according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing guidelines. The preliminary test for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae was performed by replicating enterobacterial colonies on MacConkey agar supplemented with 2 mg/L cefotaxime (MCA+CTX). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was confirmed with the double-disc synergy test (DDST). The inhibition zone diameters were read with SirScan. Among the 130 bacterial colonies isolated from 125 fecal samples, 90 enterobacterial isolates were identified. Escherichia coli (61%) was the most prevalent, followed by Enterobacter cloacae (8%), Proteus mirabilis (8%), Klebsiella variicola (7%), Klebsiella aerogenes (7%), Klebsiella oxytoca (4%), Citrobacter freundii (3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1%) and Serratia marcescens (1%). Acquired resistance was carried by E . coli (11% of all E . coli isolates) and E . cloacae (3% of all E . cloacae ) isolates, while intrinsic resistance was detected in all the other resistant isolates (n = 31); K . variicola , K . oxytoca , K . pneumoniae , E . cloacae , K . aerogenes , S . marcescens and P . mirabilis ). Our data show that most strains isolated in protected areas in Gabon are wild type isolates and carry intrinsic resistance rather than acquired resistance.
Journal Article
Influence of the Microbiome Metagenomics and Epigenomics on Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the major causes of cancer deaths worldwide. The disease is seldomly detected early and this limits treatment options. Because of its heterogeneous and complex nature, the disease remains poorly understood. The literature supports the contribution of the gut microbiome in the carcinogenesis and chemoresistance of GC. Drug resistance is the major challenge in GC therapy, occurring as a result of rewired metabolism. Metabolic rewiring stems from recurring genetic and epigenetic factors affecting cell development. The gut microbiome consists of pathogens such as H. pylori, which can foster both epigenetic alterations and mutagenesis on the host genome. Most of the bacteria implicated in GC development are Gram-negative, which makes it challenging to eradicate the disease. Gram-negative bacterium co-infections with viruses such as EBV are known as risk factors for GC. In this review, we discuss the role of microbiome-induced GC carcinogenesis. The disease risk factors associated with the presence of microorganisms and microbial dysbiosis are also discussed. In doing so, we aim to emphasize the critical role of the microbiome on cancer pathological phenotypes, and how microbiomics could serve as a potential breakthrough in determining effective GC therapeutic targets. Additionally, consideration of microbial dysbiosis in the GC classification system might aid in diagnosis and treatment decision-making, taking the specific pathogen/s involved into account.
Journal Article