Browsing by Author "Ademowo, O. G."

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An exegesis of bacteriophage therapy: An emerging player in the fight against anti-microbial resistance
(AIMS Press, 2020) Adesanya, O.; Oduselu, T.; Akin-Ajani, O.; Adewumi, O. M.; Ademowo, O. G.
Bacteriophages (simply referred to as Phages) are a class of viruses with the ability to infect and kill prokaryotic cells (bacteria), but are unable to infect mammalian cells. This unique ability to achieve specific infectiousness by bacteriophages has been harnessed in antibacterial treatments dating back almost a decade before the antibiotic era began. Bacteriophages were used as therapeutic agents in treatment of dysentery caused by Shigella dysenteriae as far back as 1919 and in the experimental treatment of a wide variety of other bacterial infections caused by Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp. etc, with varying degrees of success. Phage therapy and its many prospects soon fell out of favour in western medicine after the Second World War, with the discovery of penicillin. The Soviet Union and other countries in Eastern Europe however mastered the craft of bacteriophage isolation, purification and cocktail preparation, with phage-based therapeutics becoming widely available over-the-counter. With the recent rise in cases of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections, the clamour for a return to phage therapy, as a potential solution to the anti-microbial resistance (AMR) crisis has grown louder. This review provides an extensive exposé on phage therapy, addressing its historical use, evidences of its safety and efficacy, its pros and cons when compared with antibiotics, cases of compassionate use for treating life-threatening antibiotic-resistant infections, the limitations to its acceptance and how these may be circumvented.
Evaluation of paracheck - Pf™ rapid malaria diagnostic test for the diagnosis of malaria among HIV-positive patients in Ibadan, South-Western Nigeria
(Taylor and Francis, 2013) Falade, C. O.; Adesina-Adewole, B.; Dada-Adegbola, H. O.; Ajayi, I. O.; Akinyemi, J. O.; Ademowo, O. G.; Adewole, I. F.; Kanki, P.
Febrile illnesses occur frequently among HIV positive patients and these are often treated presumptively as malaria in endemic areas. Parasite-based diagnosis of malaria will eliminate unnecessary treatment, reduce drug–drug interactions and the chances for the emergence of drug resistant Plasmodium. We evaluated finger prick blood samples from 387 people living with HIV (PLWHIV) and suspected of having malaria by expert microscopy and Paracheck-Pf TM – a histidine-rich protein-II based malaria rapid diagnostic test. The study was conducted at the PEPFAR supported AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) Clinic of the University College Hospital Ibadan, southwest Nigeria. Outcome parameters were prevalence of malaria parasitemia, sensitivity and specificity of Paracheck-Pf as well as the positive and negative predictive values for Paracheck-Pf using microscopy of Giemsa-stained blood film as gold standard. Malaria parasites were detected in 19.1% (74/387) of enrollees by microscopy and 19.3% (74/383) by Paracheck-Pf. Geometric mean parasite density was 501/µl (range 39–749 202/µl). Sensitivity and specificity of Paracheck-Pf at all parasite densities were 55.4% and 89.3% while corresponding figures at parasite densities ≥200/µl were 90.9% and 90.3%. Sensitivity and specificity at parasite densities ≥500/µl was 97.6% and 90.3%. Positive and negative predictive values for parasite density ≥200/µl were 55.4% and 98.7%, respectively. Paracheck-pf was found to be a useful malaria diagnostic tool at parasite densities ≥200/µl facilitating appropriate clinical management.
GC-MS profiling and evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of methanolic extract and fractions of the leaves of solanum dasyphyllum schumach and thonn
(West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, 2023) Oyinloye, O. E.; Alabi, O. S.; Ademowo, O. G.
Background: Solanum dasyphyllum is a plant with several ethno-medicinal uses and to date, there is little scientific validation of its folkloric claims compared to other species of the Solanaceae family. Objective: This study determined the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of methanol extract and fractions of the leaves of S. dasyphyllum and identified the phyto-constituents using GC-MS technique. Methods: Crude methanolic extract of S. dasyphyllum leaves were subjected to Phytochemical screening and liquid-liquid fractionation. Crude extracts and fractions were subjected to antimicrobial screening, including minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations (MBC/MFC) determination, time-kill kinetics study, antioxidant activity and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) analysis. Results: Phytochemicals present included flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, cyanogenic glycosides, tannins and reducing sugars. Antimicrobial activities were recorded against all the isolates (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus spp., Candida albicans and Penicillium spp.) with MIC between 0.25 and >4 mg/mL, MBC of 1 and >4 mg/mL and MFC of 0.5 and >4 mg/mL. Time-kill kinetics study showed dichloromethane and ethylacetate fractions to be bactericidal. Crude extract displayed moderate antioxidant (IC50 = 425.51μg/mL) and GC-MS analysis showed 29 metabolites, including phenols and polyphenols derivatives, benzofuranone derivative and esters of decanoic acid derivatives, all of which are known to have anti-infective and anti-oxidant properties. Conclusion: This study therefore elucidates the potentials of the Solanum dasyphyllum plant as a good source of bioactive compounds including those with anti-infective and antioxidant properties.
Perceptions and recommendations by scientists for a potential release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Nigeria
(Biomed Central Ltd, 2014) Okorie, P. N.; Marshall, J. M.; Akpa, O. M.; Ademowo, O. G.
Background: The use of genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs) for the control of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases has been proposed in malaria-endemic countries, such as Nigeria, which has the largest burden in Africa.Scientists are major stakeholders whose opinions and perceptions can adversely affect the success of the trials of GMMs if they are not involved early. Unfortunately, information on the awareness of Nigerians scientists and their overall perception of the GMMs is practically non-existent in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed at understanding how receptive Nigerian scientists are to a potential release of GMMs for the control of malaria. Methods: The sample consisted of 164 scientists selected from academic and research institutions in Nigeria. Data were collected from participants using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Questions were asked about the cause and prevention of malaria, genetic modification and biotechnology. Specific questions on perception and acceptable conditions for the potential release of GM mosquitoes in Nigeria were also covered. Results: All participants cited mosquitoes as one of several causes of malaria and used various methods for household control of mosquitoes. The main concerns expressed by the scientists were that GMMs can spread in an uncontrolled way beyond their release sites (89%) and will mate with other mosquito species to produce hybrids with unknown consequences (94.5%). Most participants (92.7%) agreed that it was important that before approving the release of GMMs in Nigeria, there had to be evidence of contingency measures available to remove the GMMs should a hazard become evident during the course of the release. In general, a majority (83.5%) of scientists who participated in this study were sceptical about a potential release in Nigeria, while 16.5% of the participants were in support. Conclusions: Although a majority of the participants are sceptical about GMMs generally, most encourage the use of genetic modification techniques to make mosquitoes incapable of spreading diseases provided that there are contingency measures to remove GMMs if a hazard becomes evident during the course of the release.