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  AJPT - Abstracts from the 2nd Medical and Veterinary Viral Research in Kenya (MVVR-K2) Symposium (October, 2012)

  Vol. 1 No. 4 (2012)

  These are selected Abstracts from the 2nd Medical and Veterinary Viral Research in Kenya (MVVR-K2) Symposium held on October 18th - 19th, 2012, at the Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. The essence of this collection is to advance the understanding of viral and bacterial pathogen dynamics within the East African region. The scope spans several critical areas of public health and biomedical research:

  Respiratory and Enteric Viruses: Multiple studies focus on the genetic characterization, evolutionary pressure, and circulating strains of influenza viruses, human parainfluenza viruses, human adenovirus, and enteroviruses. Arbovirus and Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Surveillance: A significant portion of the issue maps out surveillance infrastructure, outbreak responses, and seroprevalence for high-consequence pathogens including Rift Valley fever, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, Dengue, West Nile, and Bunyamwera viruses. Retroviral Infections and Co-infections: Research in this area examines vertical transmission factors of HIV-1, the long-term impacts of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on pediatric cohorts, and the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B co-infection among HIV-positive patients. Advanced Methodologies and Modeling: The issue expands beyond traditional clinical research to highlight cutting-edge tools, including spatial modeling frameworks for disease transmission mapping and analysis pipelines for metagenomics sequencing data. 

  Overall, this issue serves as a vital repository of localized epidemiological data, providing actionable insights for public health officials, clinicians, and researchers working to mitigate the disease burden in East Africa.

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  African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

  Vol. 1 No. 3 (2012)

  This issue brings together interdisciplinary research focusing on vector control, infectious disease co-infections, ethno pharmacology, and medical genetics. The studies presented bridge laboratory-based drug and pesticide discovery with clinical investigations into viral dynamics and complex genetic disorders.

  A significant portion of the research is dedicated to natural product chemistry and its applications in public health and therapeutics. One study evaluates the environmental health potential of Mundulea sericea plant extracts as a natural larvicide against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a primary vector for viruses like Dengue and Zika. In tandem, the pharmacological properties of Boophane disticha are explored through laboratory assessments of its antioxidant capabilities, potential to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (an enzyme linked to Alzheimer's disease), and safety profile via cytotoxicity testing.

  The remaining articles address clinical health challenges and diagnostic genetics. The issue features a critical public health study from Tigoni, Kenya, examining how co-infection with HIV and HPV impacts both cervical lesion severity and the distribution of HPV genotypes in women. Finally, the collection highlights advancements in medical diagnostics, showcasing the clinical application of whole-genome array technology to investigate and characterize patients presenting with a Prader-Willi-like genetic phenotype.

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  African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

  Vol. 1 No. 2 (2012)

  This issue brings together a collection of studies focused on infectious disease management, public health service evaluation, and preclinical drug evaluation. The articles address critical healthcare challenges in East Africa—particularly Kenya—ranging from the efficacy of global health recommendations to the development of novel therapeutic options and diagnostics.

  A key focus of the issue is the evaluation of current public health interventions and disease surveillance. Researchers analyze the genetic makeup of influenza strains circulating in Kenya to determine if the World Health Organization’s recommended vaccine formulations were a match for the local population during the 2010–2011 season. In another vital public health study, the issue examines the quality of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services and the uptake of antiretroviral prophylaxis among HIV-positive pregnant women in the Kakamega District, identifying key operational gaps and successes in maternal care.

  The remaining research shifts toward pharmacology, diagnostics, and drug resistance. One study explores the challenging issue of antimalarial drug resistance, detailing how resistant strains of the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei show cross-resistance to primaquine, while remaining susceptible to atovaquone. Additionally, the issue features natural product research demonstrating the glucose-lowering efficacy of Momordica charantia (Karela) extracts in diabetic models, alongside a diagnostic study assessing various animal sources of antibodies to develop an ELISA detection test for chloramphenicol.

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  African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics

  Vol. 1 No. 1 (2012)

  This issue showcases a diverse range of translational biomedical research, molecular epidemiology, and ethnopharmacology, with a strong focus on addressing localized health challenges in East Africa. By bridging clinical genetic research with laboratory-based drug discovery, the included studies offer valuable insights for both public health surveillance and natural medicine.

  A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to infectious diseases and host genetics. Researchers highlight critical evolutionary changes in local viral dynamics by tracking a unique genetic reassortment event between seasonal and pandemic influenza strains in Kenya. Complementing this epidemiological work is a clinical study investigating immunogenetics, which explores how specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) variations influence a woman's susceptibility or resistance to HPV-linked cervical neoplasia.

  The issue also heavily features experimental pharmacology and drug discovery from natural sources. Investigative studies evaluate the therapeutic potential of organic extracts from the marine sea urchin Tripneustes gratilla for antimicrobial activity, alongside the in vivo antimalarial efficacy and safety of the medicinal plant Clausena anisata. Finally, the collection addresses experimental methodology, exploring the unpredictable glycemic patterns in chemical-induced diabetic animal models to help researchers improve the reliability of metabolic disease research.