Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1396
2024-03-28T11:20:46ZSouth-to-south mentoring as a vehicle for implementing sustainable health security in Africa
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1846
South-to-south mentoring as a vehicle for implementing sustainable health security in Africa
Okanya, Patrick W.; Norlock, Stephanie Marie; Trataris, Anastasia
Background: While sustainability has become a universal precept in the development of global health security
systems, supporting policies often lack mechanisms to drive policies into regular practice. ‘On-paper’ norms and
regulations are to a great extent upheld by frontline workers who often lack the opportunity to communicate their
first-hand experiences to decisionmakers; their role is an often overlooked, yet crucial, aspect of a sustainable global
health security landscape. Initiatives and programs developing transdisciplinary professional skills support the
increased bidirectional dialogue between these frontline workers and key policy- and decisionmakers which may
sustainably narrow the gap between global health security policy design and implementation.
Methods: The International Federation of Biosafety Associations’ (IFBA) Global Mentorship Program recruits
biosafety and biosecurity champions across Africa to provide local peer mentorship to developing professionals in
their geographic region. Mentors and mentees complete structured one year program cycles, where they are
provided with written overviews of monthly discussion topics, and attend optional virtual interactive activities.
Feedback from African participants of the 2019–2020 program cycle was collected using a virtual Exit Survey, where
aspects of program impact and structure were assessed.
Results: Following its initial call for applications, the IFBA Global Mentorship Program received considerable interest
from professionals across the African continent, particularly in East and North Africa. The pilot program cycle
matched a total of 62 individuals from an array of professional disciplines across several regions, 40 of which were
located on the African continent. The resulting mentorship pairs shared knowledge, skills, and experiences towards
translating policy objectives to action on the front lines. Mentorship pairs embraced multidisciplinary approaches to
harmonize health security strategies across the human and animal health sectors. South-to-South mentorship
therefore provided mentees with locally relevant support critical to translation of best technical practices to local
capacity and work.
Conclusion: The IFBA’s South-to-South Global Mentorship Program has demonstrated its ability to form crucial links
between frontline biosafety professionals, laboratory workers, and policy- and decision-makers across several
implicated sectors. By supporting regionally relevant peer mentorship programs, the gap between health security
policy development and implementation may be narrowed.
2023-03-07T00:00:00ZCoenzyme Q10 Ameliorates potassium cyanide-induced toxicosis in a mouse model
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1845
Coenzyme Q10 Ameliorates potassium cyanide-induced toxicosis in a mouse model
Okanya, Patrick W.; Biwott, Kipchumba; Gitaua, Grace Wairimu
Potassium cyanide (KCN) is one of the most lethal and feared poison; which devastates
cellular respiration resulting in death due to hypoxia. Several antidotes exist, but most
face major limitations of safety and efficacy. Moreover, there is a need for new strategies
to minimize post-exposure pathological sequel, which includes harmful oxidant and in-
flammatory changes. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a powerful antioxidant, which has shown
efficacy against chemical-induced toxicity. In the present study, the potential protective ef-
fect of CoQ10 against KCN-induced toxicosis was evaluated. Female Swiss white mice (3–4
weeks old) were divided into three treatment groups. The first group was used as the con-
trol, the second group was supplemented with 200 mg/kg of CoQ10 for one month before
administration with 8 mg/kg of KCN. For this group, co-administration of CoQ10 and KCN
was continued to the end of the experiment. The third group was administered 8 mg/kg
of KCN. The experiment was terminated after 42 days post-treatment to enable investiga-
tions into the effect of KCN and CoQ10 on various physiological, biochemical, and cellular
processes. The results of this study showed that KCN severely impaired the health of mice,
more so, the neurological integrity. KCN-driven depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH) was
noted in the liver and brain. This constitutes a characteristic impairment of the antioxidant
capacity due to the induction of severe oxidative stress. CoQ10 significantly reinforced the
neurological integrity and restored cellular glutathione (reduced form) in both the liver
and brain, a clear indication of reduced oxidative stress. Remarkably, KCN-induced ane-
mia, leukocytosis, and suppression of platelets were reversed by CoQ10 supplementation.
Moreover, histopathological analysis revealed that CoQ10 supplementation blocked KCN-
driven liver, kidney, and brain inflammation, and characteristic hypoxia-induced lesions.
These findings open possibilities for further scrutiny and development of adjunct therapy
utilizing CoQ10 to treat KCN poisoning.
2023-03-07T00:00:00ZScreening and Characterization of Hydrocarbonoclastic Bacteria Isolated from Oil-contaminated Soils from Auto Garages
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1844
Screening and Characterization of Hydrocarbonoclastic Bacteria Isolated from Oil-contaminated Soils from Auto Garages
Okanya, Patrick; Mbatia, Betty Nyambura; Muge, Edward Kirwa
Release of petroleum oil and its products into the environment is a worldwide concern. The present study focused
on isolation, molecular identification, morphological and biochemical characterization of bacteria possessing hydrocarbon-
degrading properties. The study also aimed at optimizing appropriate culture conditions for the isolates as well as screening for
alkane hydroxylase enzyme. Out of twenty one microbes isolated, nine were selected based on their ability to utilize different
hydrocarbons. The isolates were observed to mineralize heating oil, hexane, octane, toluene and diesel oil. PCR amplification
of 16S rDNA gene revealed that the isolates belong to six different genera; Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Klebsiella,
Enterobacter, Salmonella and Ochrobactrum. Based on their ability to degrade diesel oil, three isolates were selected and their
growth conditions optimized. Optimum degradation was recorded at less than 1% substrate concentration, pH 7 and
temperature range of between 30°C and 37°C and using yeast extract as nitrogen source. GC-MS analyses confirmed their
diesel oil degrading properties. Alkane hydroxylase gene from one of the isolates (isolate 1C) was successfully amplified
indicating its catabolic capabilities in degrading alkanes. Overall, the characterized isolates may constitute potential candidates
for biotechnological application in environmental cleanup of petroleum contaminants.
2023-03-06T00:00:00ZRotavirus prevalence and seasonal distribution post vaccine introduction in Nairobi county Kenya
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1843
Rotavirus prevalence and seasonal distribution post vaccine introduction in Nairobi county Kenya
Okanya, Patrick; Mbatia, Betty; Gikonyo, Joshua
Rotaviruses are one of the leading etiological agents of gastroenteritis in young children, for which a monovalent G1P(8) vaccine has been provided
for free in Kenyan since July 2014. The main objective was to estimate the post vaccine prevalence and seasonal distribution of rotavirus diarrhea in
children less than 5 years in Nairobi County, Kenya. Rotavirus positive samples were collected from children below 5 years of age in two hospitals
within Nairobi County where vaccination status was card-confirmed. The children were examined and the demographic and clinical profiles of the
children were recorded. Fecal specimens were analyzed for rotavirus antigen using an ELISA kit, followed by characterization by PAGE. Out of the
total 323 samples, 49 had detectable rotavirus infection, representing 15.2% prevalence. Age distribution of rotavirus prevalence was as follows: ≤
6 months-8.5%, 7-12 months-27.4%, 13-24 months - 41.4%, 25-36 months - 16.4% while 36-65 months had 6.3%. Rotavirus diarrhea was more
common in wet and cold months of the year, the highest prevalence being observed in August (24.5%), 12.3% in both July and March, while April
scored a prevalence of 10.2%. Out of the 49 rotavirus positive children, 48 had vomiting and abdominal cramps while all had fever and watery stool.
The prevalence of Rotaviral diarrhea in children less than 5 years in Nairobi County Kenya has greatly reduced following the vaccine introduction and
is more common during the wet and cold seasons of the year.
2023-03-06T00:00:00Z