Department of Biological Sciences

A temperature below or above the optimum can reduce the rate of photosynthesis in higher plants, which in turn decreases metabolite precursor pools for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of seasonal changes in water temperature on α-tocopherol accumulation in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits from an aquaponic system. A portable dissolved oxygen meter was used to measure water temperature and high-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the levels of α-tocopherol accumulation. Temperature of the fish water ranged from 8.3 °C to 13.8 °C in winter and from 20.2 °C to 25.8 °C in summer. Water temperature in winter was significantly different (p < 0.05) from that in summer. α-Tocopherol accumulation in pepper fruits differed significantly (p < 0.05) between winter (0.77 ± 0.13%) and summer (1.64 ± 0.21%). Changes in water temperature due to seasonality caused variations in α-tocopherol accumulation in pepper fruits, with fruits in the warmer season (summer) showing a higher accumulation of α-tocopherol. The warmer season is therefore a better period for α-tocopherol biosynthesis.

Advanced therapies infrequently achieve complete fistula closure in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The primary objective of the STOMP2 clinical trial was to determine whether the implantable autologous cell therapy AVB-114 is effective in inducing remission of persistent Crohn's perianal fistulas versus standard of care. Eligible patients had a single perianal fistula tract and had failed previous treatment or had documented medication intolerance to biologic or conventional CD therapy. All enrolled subjects underwent surgical fistula optimization and adipose tissue biopsy collection (to manufacture AVB-114) followed by 1:1 randomization to either standard of care (repeat fistula optimization including seton replacement) or AVB-114 implantation. The primary end point was combined fistula remission at 36 weeks, defined as closure of the external opening, no drainage of fluid despite gentle finger compression, and no collections >2 cm in at least 2 of the 3 dimensions on MRI. Subjects at 14 US sites were equally randomized to SoC (N = 24) or AVB-114 (N = 24). Week 36 combined remission was 8.3% and 45.8% for subjects randomized to SoC and AVB-114, respectively (38% difference, 95% CI 11%-60%; P = 0.0078). At week 36, MRI revealed no subjects with collections >2 cm, radiological improvement (≥50% decrease in the Magnetic Resonance Novel Index for Fistula Imaging in Crohn's Disease (MAGNIFI-CD) score from baseline) in 1 SoC subject and 3 AVB-114 subjects, and radiological healing (complete resolution of T2-weighted hyperintensity in fistula tract) in 2 SoC subjects and 5 AVB-114 subjects. Through week 36, there were 40 and 56 treatment emergent adverse events for SoC and AVB-114, respectively. There were no serious treatment emergent adverse events in the AVB-114 group through week 36. A significantly higher proportion of patients treated with AVB-114 achieved combined remission vs SoC, and the treatment was well tolerated. These data support the safety and efficacy of AVB-114 in persistent Crohn's perianal fistulas.

Amine tris-(phenolate) (usually abbreviated as tpa) ligands have drawn much interest as ligands for early transition metals, because they create stable complexes with broad catalytic applications in oxygen transfer reactions, polymerization, and other organic/organometallic fields of chemistry. Over the last 10 years, attention has been given to synthesizing tpa ligands with steric and electronic modifications, enabling fine-tuning of selectivity and reactivity in early and late transition metal complexes. Despite initial studies predominantly focusing on early transition metal complexes with tpa ligands in a broad sense, the field has expanded to late transition metals, uncovering new opportunities in catalysis, chirality transfer, polymerization, and oxygen transfer reactions. This review emphasizes early transition metals with tpa ligands and highlights their synthesis, application, and recent advancements after 2020 to the present, while also exploring the emerging development of late transition metal complexes and their applications in catalysis and synthetic reactions.

Aim: The study assess the nutritional impact of intestinal parasitic infections on schoolchildren in Mashi Local Government Area (LGA), Katsina, Nigeria. Study Design: A cross-sectional study carried out between February to July 2024. Methodology: Four hundred schoolchildren were randomly selected from four public primary schools. Faecal samples were examined using formol-ether concentration technique. Anthropometric indices were used as indicators of nutritional status. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 38%. The species recorded were Schistosoma mansoni (29.4%), Hookworm (22.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (13.1%), Strongyloides stercoralis (11.8%), Trichuris trichiura (11.1%), Entamoeba histolytica (7.8%), Hymenolepis nana (7.8%), Giardia lamblia (4.6%), Taenia species (2.6%), Cryptosporidium spp. (2.0%), Enterobius vermicularis (1.3%), and Balantidium coli (0.65%). 14.4% of infected children harbored more than one parasite, indicating polyparasitism. Nutritional status indicators showed chronic and acute malnutrition among the study participants, with all schools having negative Height-for-Age Z-scores (HAZ), Weight-for-Age Z-scores (WAZ) and BMI-for-Age Z-scores (BAZ) showed statistically significant variation across the schools. Stunting is the most critical problem, with 81.3% of the children stunted, followed by underweight 47.3%, Wasting is relatively less prevalent, affecting 14.3%. There was no variation between prevalence of the three types of malnutrition in infected and non-infected children. For stunting, 82.2% of infection-negative children and 79.7% of infection-positive children were stunted, with no significant difference (AOR = 0.87, p = 0.62). Similarly, the prevalence of underweight was virtually identical between infected (46.4%) and non-infected children (47.8%), with no significant association (AOR = 0.99, p = 1.00). For wasting, infection-positive children had a slightly higher prevalence (15.0%) compared to infection-negative children (13.8%), but the difference was not statistically significant (AOR = 1.04, p = 0.89). Conclusion: The study found moderate prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among the study population. High burden of malnutrition was observed, characterized by widespread chronic malnutrition as evidence by high level of stunting, presence of acute malnutrition reflected by wasting, with underweight highlighting the combined effects of both conditions. There was no association between the presence of intestinal parasitic infections and malnutrition in the study population. The findings highlight the need for combined deworming and urgent nutritional interventions.

Hookworm infection remains a significant public health concern in many developing countries, particularly among school-aged children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of hookworm infection among school children in Dutsin-Ma town, Katsina State, Nigeria. A total of 332 stool samples were collected from children attending both public and private schools. The samples were examined using the formalin-ether method followed by microscopic identification of hookworm ova. The overall prevalence of hookworm infection was 35.5% (118/332). Prevalence was higher in males (38.8%) compared to females (30.5%), it suggests a possible gender-based variation. Similarly, prevalence appeared to increase with age, but these trends were not statistically significant (p= 0.976). In Odds ratio, among the various factors assessed, handwashing before eating had a statistically significant protective effect against hookworm infection (OR = 0.342, p = 0.030), indicating the relevance of hygiene practice. On the other hand, playing barefoot was associated with higher odds of infection (OR = 1.832, p = 0.080), although the result was not statistically significant. The findings emphasize the moderate prevalence of hookworm infection among school children in the study area and suggest that age and hygiene behaviors may influence infection risk. These results highlight the need for integrated control strategies, including regular deworming, health education, and improved hygiene and sanitation in schools.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an escalating global health threat, with environmental reservoirs playing a substantial yet often under recognized role in its emergence and dissemination. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) enter the environment through various pathways, including anthropogenic activities, agricultural practices, and industrial processes. These contaminants infiltrate natural ecosystems such as soil, water, and air, where they may persist, proliferate, and transfer resistance genes to native microbial communities. Resistant microorganisms endanger both human and animal health and contribute to ecological and public health disturbances. This review focuses on how AMR spreads through the environment, emphasizing sources such as wastewater, soil, industry, and air. It also discusses current methods for detecting AMR in environmental matrices, encompassing traditional culture-based approaches, molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for rapid gene identification, metagenomics for comprehensive microbial community analysis, and biosensors for real-time, in situ detection. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the importance of environmental monitoring in identifying AMR hotspots, elucidating transmission pathways, assessing public health impacts, informing policy development, and guiding future research. The results indicate that environmental AMR noticeably drives the persistence and spread of resistance in both healthcare and community settings. Dealing with this issue requires strengthening monitoring systems through standardized protocols and advanced technologies. Governments and relevant stakeholders should prioritize the identification and control of AMR hotspots, such as wastewater treatment plants, agricultural runoff zones, and industrial discharge sites, to control the spread of resistance and safeguard public health.

A green, water-based extraction method was validated for quantifying clothianidin residues in greenhouse-grown sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) using LC–MS/MS. The method showed excellent linearity (R2 = 0.9947), precision (RSDr = 10.66%, RSDR = 14.31%), recoveries of 86.1–91.6%, and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.002 mg/kg. Clothianidin dissipation followed first-order kinetics, with half-lives of 2.91 days at the recommended dose and 2.61 days at double the dose. Preharvest intervals (PHIs) estimated from the kinetic model were 8.2–9.5 days at the EU MRL of 0.04 mg/kg and 14.0–14.7 days at the EU default MRL of 0.01 mg/kg. Dietary exposure based on terminal residues was negligible (maximum HQc = 0.006%). Postharvest washing (10 min, ∼25 °C) reduced residues; 1% NaHCO3 removed ≈ 60%, while vinegar and the NaHCO3–vinegar mixture had intermediate effects, and tap water was the least effective. Vinegar, NaHCO3, and their mixture also lowered total antioxidant capacity (TAC), consistent with losses of water-soluble phenolics. 1% NaHCO3 washing is supported as a practical household step to reduce residues, and reporting PHIs at both 0.01 and 0.04 mg/kg facilitates current compliance and historical comparability.

Management of penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) remains challenging, with limited effective treatment options. Preclinical studies have shown that combining a PD-1 inhibitor with a PARP inhibitor may produce synergistic antitumor activity. This phase II trial will evaluate the combination of niraparib (PARP inhibitor) with dostarlimab (PD-1 inhibitor) in patients with recurrent or refractory stage III or IV PSCC. The primary endpoint will be the objective response rate (ORR) assessed using iRECIST. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety will be included as secondary endpoints. A first stage cohort of 15 patients will be enrolled; if the ORR exceeds 13%, enrollment will be expanded to include an additional 10 patients in the second stage. If successful, this combination could represent a novel therapeutic strategy for advanced platinum refractory PSCC.Clinical trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT05526989.