Chiaka Anumudu - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Chiaka Anumudu

African journal of medicine and medical sciences, 2001

This short report describes the results of a rapid, simple and cost effective immunodiagnostic te... more This short report describes the results of a rapid, simple and cost effective immunodiagnostic test for malaria in Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 77% patients presenting at the children outpatient clinic, University College Hospital with malaria symptoms were screened for malaria parasites by microscopy using Giemsa stain and by the immunochromatographic card test. The immunodiagnostic test had a sensitivity of 93.1% and a specificity of 95.8%, making a good alternative for malaria diagnosis especially in rural areas without electricity, where microscopy is not possible, and a decision is to be made on when to start treatment.

PeerJ

Discovery of T and B memory cells capable of eliciting long-term immunity against schistosomiasis... more Discovery of T and B memory cells capable of eliciting long-term immunity against schistosomiasisis is important for people in endemic areas. Changes in schistosomes environment due to developmental cycle, induces up-regulation of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) which assist the parasite in coping with the hostile conditions associated with its life cycle. This study therefore focused on exploring the role of HSPs in urogenital schistosomiasis to develop new multi-epitope subunit vaccine against the disease using immunoinformatic approaches. The designed subunit vaccine was subjected to in silico antigenicity, immunogenicity, allergenicity and physicochemical parameters analysis. A 3D structure of the vaccine construct was predicted, followed by disulphide engineering for stability, codon adaptation and in silico cloning for proper expression and molecular protein–protein docking of vaccine construct in the vector against toll-like receptor 4 receptor, respectively. Consequently, a 493 a...

Journal of Educational and Social Research

Metacognition consists of knowledge of cognition (metacognitive knowledge) and regulation of cogn... more Metacognition consists of knowledge of cognition (metacognitive knowledge) and regulation of cognition (metacognitive regulatory skills). The growing emphasis on student/learner-centered teaching at various educational levels including universities has led to recommendations for increased use of metacognitive strategies in traditional classrooms and online classrooms. This study examined metacognitive awareness among university students. The study population included 210 undergraduates and postgraduates studying biology or genetics among their regular courses in the university. Participants provided responses to the 52-item Metacognitive Awareness Inventory (MAI) instrument that captures self-assessed level of agreement to items assessing metacognitive knowledge and metacognitive regulatory skills. We conducted statistical analysis on the data collected. Mean self-assessed MAI scores was 79.9% (41.6/52), with metacognitive regulation scores of 80.1% (28.0/35) higher than metacogniti...

Journal of Behavioral Health

PLoS neglected tropical diseases, Apr 1, 2018

Metabolic fingerprinting analysis can offer insights into underlying reactions in a biological sy... more Metabolic fingerprinting analysis can offer insights into underlying reactions in a biological system; hence it is crucial to the understanding of disease pathogenesis and could provide useful tools for discovering biomarkers. We sought to examine the urine and plasma metabolome in individuals affected by urogenital schistosomiasis and its associated-bladder pathologies. Blood and midstream urine were obtained from volunteers who matched our inclusion criteria among residents from Eggua, southwestern Nigeria. Samples were screened by urinalysis, microscopy, PCR and ultrasonography, and categorised as advanced (urogenital schistosomiasis associated-bladder pathologies), infection-only (urogenital schistosomiasis alone) and controls (no infection and no pathology). Metabolites were extracted and data acquired with ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Thermo Q-Exactive orbitrap HRMS. Data was analysed with MetaboAnalyst, Workflow4Metabolomics, HMDB, LipidMaps and o...

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2018

Chronic schistosomiasis and arsenic exposure through drinking water are some of the risk factors ... more Chronic schistosomiasis and arsenic exposure through drinking water are some of the risk factors for bladder cancer. To determine the association of schistosomiasis and arsenicosis with bladder pathologies, 122 individuals from Eggua in southwest Nigeria were recruited for this study. Prevalence of schistosomiasis was determined by urine microscopy and PCR. Total urinary arsenic concentration and arsenic levels in three different water sources in the community were assessed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Bladder pathologies were investigated by ultrasonography. The data collected were evaluated with chi-square (χ2) and ANOVA tests to examine the relationships among demographic factors, infection, bladder pathologies and urinary arsenic concentrations. The prevalence and mean intensity of schistosomiasis were 21.3% and 20.7 eggs/10 mL urine, respectively. Arsenic concentration in two of the water sources, River Yewa (0.46 mg/L) and borehole (0.52 mg/L), were above the WHO s...

Bladder cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands), Jan 26, 2018

The variant/gene candidate approach to explore bladder cancer (BC) genetic susceptibility has bee... more The variant/gene candidate approach to explore bladder cancer (BC) genetic susceptibility has been applied in many studies with significant findings reported. However, results are not always conclusive due to the lack of replication by subsequent studies. To identify all epidemiological investigations on the genetic associations with BC risk, to quantify the likely magnitude of the associations by applying metaanalysis methodology and to assess whether there is a potential for publication/reporting bias. To address our aims, we have catalogued all genetic association studies published in the field of BC risk since 2000. Furthermore, we metaanalysed all polymorphisms with data available from at least three independent case-control studies with subjects of Caucasian origin analyzed under the same mode of inheritance. The characterization of the genetic susceptibility of BC is composed of 28 variants, GWAS contributing most of them. Most of the significant variants associated with BC r...

PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2017

Schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease that is characterized by continued inflam... more Schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease that is characterized by continued inflammatory challenges to the exposed population and it has been established as a possible risk factor in the aetiology of bladder cancer. Improved diagnosis of schistosomiasis and its associated pathology is possible through mass spectrometry to identify biomarkers among the infected population, which will influence early detection of the disease and its subtle morbidity. A high-throughput proteomic approach was used to analyse human urine samples for 49 volunteers from Eggua, a schistosomiasis endemic community in South-West, Nigeria. The individuals were previously screened for Schistosoma haematobium and structural bladder pathologies via microscopy and ultrasonography respectively. Samples were categorised into schistosomiasis, schistosomiasis with bladder pathology, bladder pathology, and a normal healthy control group. These samples were analysed to identify potential protein biomarker...

PLoS neglected tropical diseases, Nov 1, 2017

Journal of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Research

Scientific efforts in the eradication of neglected tropical diseases, such as those caused by the... more Scientific efforts in the eradication of neglected tropical diseases, such as those caused by the parasitic helminthes, can be improved if a database of key virulence factors directly implicated in pathogenesis is available. As a first step towards creating SchistoVir, a database of virulence protein factors in schistosomes, in this study, we curated, annotated and aligned sequences of twenty virulence factors identified from the literature, using several bioinformatics tools including UniProtKB, SchistoDB, VirulentPred, InterProScan, ProtScale, MotifScan, TDRtarget, SignalP, MODBASE, PDB and MUSCLE. Among the protein entries, the most frequently occurring amino acid residues were lysine, serine, leucine, glutamine, glycine and cysteine in order of magnitude. Although sequence repeat regions (SRRs) of significant value were identified manually in fifty percent of the proteins (while dipeptide repeats (DiPs) and single amino acid repeats (SAARs) were not), nevertheless, seventy-two percent of the protein entries were classified as virulent by the prediction model, VirulentPred. Most of the entries (eighty percent) did not have target compounds based on the database of available chemical compounds at TDRtargets. Fourteen of the twenty entries (seventy percent) had more than 30 consecutively negative amino acid residues based on the ProtScale's Kyte and Doolittle hydrophobicity plot. Hence, they would be hydrophobic enough to be transmembrane in location or secretory in nature. Only 7 (tyrosinase, serine protease1, Tspan-1, VAL4, cathepsin b and L and calreticulin) had cleavage sites and signal peptides, while none had a significant signal anchor probability. The annotations and characterization provided by this work and the development of a SchistoVir database will aid in further research of schistosome pathogenesis and control.

PLOS ONE

Erythrocyte-binding antigens (EBAs) and P. falciparum reticulocyte-binding homologue proteins (Pf... more Erythrocyte-binding antigens (EBAs) and P. falciparum reticulocyte-binding homologue proteins (PfRhs) are two important protein families that can vary in expression and utilization by P. falciparum to evade inhibitory antibodies. We evaluated antibodies at repeated timepoints among individuals living in an endemic region in Nigeria over almost one year against these vaccine candidates. Antibody levels against EBA140, EBA175, EBA181, PfRh2, PfRh4, and MSP2, were measured by ELISA. We also used parasites with disrupted EBA140, EBA175 and EBA181 genes to show that all these were targets of invasion inhibitory antibodies. However, antigenic targets of inhibitory antibodies were not stable and changed substantially over time in most individuals, independent of age. Antibodies levels measured by ELISA also varied within and between individuals over time and the antibodies against EBA181, PfRh2 and MSP2 declined more rapidly in younger individuals (15 years) compared with older (>15). The breadth of high antibody responses over time was more influenced by age than by the frequency of infection. High antibody levels were associated with a more stable invasion inhibitory response, which could indicate that during the long process of formation of immunity, many changes not only in levels but also in functional responses are needed. This is an important finding in understanding natural immunity against malaria, which is essential for making an efficacious vaccine.

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Background Human schistosomiasis is a highly prevalent neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by... more Background Human schistosomiasis is a highly prevalent neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by Schistosoma species. Research on the molecular mechanisms influencing the outcomes of bladder infection by Schistosoma haematobium is urgently needed to develop new diagnostics, therapeutics and infection prevention strategies. The objective of the research study was to determine the microbiome features and changes in urine during urogenital schistosomiasis and induced bladder pathologies. Methodology Seventy participants from Eggua, southwestern Nigeria provided morning urine samples and were screened for urogenital schistosomiasis infection and bladder pathologies in a cross-sectional study. Highthroughput NGS sequencing was carried out, targeting the 16S V3 region. Filtered reads were processed and analyzed in a bioinformatics pipeline.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2016

Chromolaena odorata, Tithonia diversifolia and Lawsonia inermis are medicinal plants used in trea... more Chromolaena odorata, Tithonia diversifolia and Lawsonia inermis are medicinal plants used in treating malaria in traditional medicine system. Previous studies however showed that their dichloromethane, methanol (1:1) extracts were more active against Plasmodium parasite than the aqueous extracts. To determine the in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of dichloromethane, methanol (1:1) extracts of Chromolaena odorata, Tithonia diversifolia and Lawsonia inermis in combination and evaluate their safety using acute limit toxicity test. Dichloromethane, methanol (1:1) extracts of Chromolaena odorata, Tithonia diversifolia and Lawsonia inermis leaves were combined at ratios 1:1, 1:3, 3:1, 1:5 and 5:1 using in vitro semi-automated microdilution technique against P. falciparum Chloroquine sensitive (D6) and Chloroquine resistant (W2) strains, with chloroquine and artemisinin as controls. The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the crude extracts was carried out singly, and in combination at the different combination ratios on Plasmodium berghei Anka infected Swiss albino mice using Peters&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; 4-day suppressive test. Acute toxicity test was done in mice at 5000mg/kg. The in vitro combination of L. inermis and T. diversifolia (1:1) extracts against P. falciparum showed the highest synergy with IC50 of 0.43±0.02µg/mL and 2.55±0.19µg/mL against D6 and W2 respectively; while the combination of C. odorata with T. diversifolia and L. inermis were antagonistic. A synergy with chemosuppression of 83.6% against P. berghei infected mice was observed in L. inermis and T. diversifolia (1:1) treated animals. In contrast to the in vitro result, combination of C. odorata with T. diversifolia and L. inermis showed some degrees of synergy in vivo. Extracts were not toxic at the concentration tested. These findings rationalized the use of these plants in combination as antimalarials in traditional medicine. However, the combination of Chromolaena odorata with other medicinal plants should be used with caution because of its possible antagonistic effect.

Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jan 18, 2014

World Health & Population, 2016

Acid phosphatase (ACP) activity was demonstrated in blood stream form of Trypanosome brucei bruce... more Acid phosphatase (ACP) activity was demonstrated in blood stream form of Trypanosome brucei brucei harvested from infected Wister rats by Ion Exchange DEAE Cellulose 52 chromatography. Whole parasite extract (WPE) and Excretory Secretory Extract (ESE) were prepared and analyzed for acid phosphatase activity. A higher ACP activity (85.5 µmol/min) was recorded in WPE compared to ESE (36.8 µmol/min). ACP activity in ESE is suggestive of the presence of a cell rich enzyme. Phase separation of the extracts using the detergent Triton X-114 (TX-114), resulted in protein partitioning into aqueous and detergent phases. ACP activity was higher in the detergent phases (56.2 µmol/min and 28.8 µmol/min) of WPE and ESE respectively. ACP activity recorded in the aqueous phases of WPE and EPE was 27.8 and 7.6 µmol/min respectively. On a Size Exclusion chromatography column using Sephacryl-300, ESE emerged as five distinct protein peaks. ACP activity of the eluted fractions showed two peaks of relative molecular weights 195 and 325 KD. This study shows that T. brucei releases acid phosphatase extracellularly via a yet to be determined mechanism. Acid phosphatase activity in ESE is indicative of a soluble enzyme within the cell matrix which may also play an important role in the pathology of African Trypanosomiasis.

African health sciences

Background: Some MSP-1 19 specific antibodies that inhibit merozoite invasion also inhibit the se... more Background: Some MSP-1 19 specific antibodies that inhibit merozoite invasion also inhibit the secondary processing of MSP-1. However the binding of these inhibitory antibodies can be blocked by another group of antibodies, called blocking antibodies, which recognize adjacent or overlapping epitopes, but themselves have no effect on either MSP-1 processing or merozoite invasion. These antibodies have been reported to be present in individuals living in a malaria endemic area. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from children shown to have processing inhibitory, blocking, and neutral antibodies in a previous study. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was used to determine the total IgG, IgM and IgG subtypes. Results: There was a significant difference in anti-MSP-1 19 IgG, while there was no significant difference in the anti-MSP-1 19 IgM. Only anti MSP-1 19 IgG1, amongst the IgG subtypes was significantly different between the groups. Conclusion: This study shows that antibo...

Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 2013

Residual levels of lead, chromium, cadmium and zinc in water and fish tissue from Ubeji River, Wa... more Residual levels of lead, chromium, cadmium and zinc in water and fish tissue from Ubeji River, Warri and blood samples from residents of Ubeji were analysed. Control water and fish samples were obtained from Eleyele River and blood from residents of Ibadan. All the samples collected were digested using a modified procedure from the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and were subsequently analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Levels of lead and cadmium in Ubeji river were significantly higher than levels in Eleyele River. Fifty fish samples from five species (Citharinus citharus, Liza falcipinis, Brycinus macrolepidotus, Polydactylus quadrifilis and Tilapia zilli) were analysed. Lead concentration (ppm) was highest in C. citharus (76.07±161.48) and least in T. zilli (23.16±26.30). Chromium was not detected in B. macrolepidotus, P. quadrifilis and T. zilli. Concentrations of all heavy metals detected, except zinc, in the fish species were higher than WHO permissible limit. Lead, Cadmium and Zinc concentrations in the tissues of the control fish were significantly lower (p>0.05) than those recorded in fish from Ubeji River. There were no statistically significant differences in heavy metal concentration in fish gills and muscle (p>0.05). Lead and cadmium levels in Ubeji river significantly exceeded (p=0.0 and p=0.012) the permissible limits for aquaculture and drinking. Levels of Chromium (1737.17±2996.01), Zinc and Lead (149.35±188.28 and 123.49±350.85 respectively) were significantly high (p<0.05) in the 101 human blood samples screened, while concentrations of Cadmium was comparatively low (10.11±10.71). Lower levels of cadmium, zinc and lead (8.54± 7.49, 79.89±62.65 and 53.46±57.17, respectively) were recorded for the control samples from Ibadan. This study highlights the high levels of heavy metals in the Ubeji River and suggests the need for interventions to stem the tide of pollution in the river. It would also be important to assess health problems that may arise as a result of contact and continuous use of the water. @ JASEM