Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Tumor necrosis factor-Alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) are involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary TB (PTB). However, the co...Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Tumor necrosis factor-Alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) are involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary TB (PTB). However, the contribution of polymorphisms of these cytokines to PTB susceptibility needed more investigation across geographic regions and ethnic groups. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the TNF-α-308 G/A and IL-8-251T/A polymorphisms with PTB risk in the Congolese population. Methods: This case-control study included 150 PTB patients and 160 control subjects. Blood samples were collected from all participants and were used for the TNF-α-308 G/A and IL-8-251T/A genotyping by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to estimate the potential polymorphism associations. A P level of Results: A significant difference was found between PTB patients and controls regarding the TNF-α-308AA genotype (P = 0.035) distribution. Moreover, this genotype was associated with risk to TB (OR = 7.19, 95% CI = 0.85 - 60.65, P = 0.035). The A allele was significantly more frequent in PTB patients than in controls, and was associated with risk to PTB (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.05 - 2.68, P = 0.014). Regarding the IL-8-251T/A gene, TA and AA genotypes were significantly more frequent in PTB patients compared to controls, and were associated with increased risk to PTB (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 0.97 - 7.18, P = 0.031 and OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.13 - 7.98, P = 0.014, respectively). However, the IL-8-251 A allele was not associated to PTB susceptibility (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.15 - 0.44). Conclusion: TNF-α-308G/A and IL-8-251T/A polymorphisms may be associated to PTB susceptibility in the Congolese population, and the AA genotype of both cytokines could be a risk factor.展开更多
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a public health problem and is highly endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and potential risk factors of hepatitis C virus in pre...Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a public health problem and is highly endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and potential risk factors of hepatitis C virus in pregnant women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving pregnant women who attended at seven antenatal clinics in Pointe Noire, from June to November 2018. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain participants data. Samples were screened for HCV infection by using 4th ELISA methods and data analysis was done by Epi-info version 7.0 statistical software. Results: A total of 150 pregnant women were included, out of which 11 (7.3%) were positive for HCV. The high proportion of HCV was found in age group 25 - 34 years (45.4%), educated (81.1%), professional (36.4%) and 54.6% were in second trimester gestational stage. Moreover, 54.6% of HCV positive patients had scarification and 45.5% had a history of surgery. There was not a statistically significant association between demographics characteristics, risks factors and HCV seropositivity (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of HCV infection and confirmed that this infection is a public health problem in pregnant women in Pointe Noire.展开更多
Fermented beverages have continued to give more surprises in terms of the presence of biomolecules and the diversity of microorganisms that may be contained. Republic of Congo is home to a panoply of fermented foods a...Fermented beverages have continued to give more surprises in terms of the presence of biomolecules and the diversity of microorganisms that may be contained. Republic of Congo is home to a panoply of fermented foods and beverages that are still not yet studied. This is the case of plantain wine fluently called banana wine. Within this framework, this work aims to study the role of Biosurfactant-like Biomolecules secreted during fermentation of plantain wine. Using MRS medium, 15 isolates bacteria have been found. 100% are able to secrete biosurfactant and 66.66% are extractible biosurfactants. 33% of isolates have been associated to Lactobacillus plantarum (Is2, Is9, Is12 and Is13) by using a one-step multi-plex PCR that targets genes encoding for bacteriocins. Biosurfactants secreted by L. plantarum play an important role in the preservation of banana wine. The biosurfactants extracted with chloroform and ammonium sulphate are able to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria including Shigella flexneri, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphy-lococcus aureus.展开更多
Household wastewater is a source of pollution and can present health risks when discharged into the environment. Thus, samples of household wastewater from a few neighborhoods in Brazzaville were analyzed for microbio...Household wastewater is a source of pollution and can present health risks when discharged into the environment. Thus, samples of household wastewater from a few neighborhoods in Brazzaville were analyzed for microbiological quality. The various samples were cultured for isolation on solid media using conventional microbiological methods. The bacteria isolated were identified by the <i>Enterobacter</i> System gallery. Sensitivity tests were performed using the standard antibiotic susceptibility test by diffusion on Mueller Hinton medium. At the end of the analysis, 51 <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> were isolated and identified. They included: 8 (15.68%) <i>Escherichia coli</i>, 8 (15.68%) <i>Salmonella spp.</i>, 8 (15.68%) <i>Shigella spp.</i>, 8 (15.68%) <i>Klebsiella spp.</i>, 5 (9.80%) <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i>, 8 (15.68%) <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i>, 3 (5.90%) <i>Arizona spp.</i>, 3 (5.90%) <i>Proteus spp</i>. The results obtained show that the bacteria tested showed total resistance to the following antibiotics: amoxicillin, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, cloxacillin and nalidixic acid. On the other hand, imipenem, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, cefftriazone and kanamycin were the most active antibiotics with low levels of resistance. The low resistance rates observed for imipenem, cefotaxime, cefuroxime and cefftriazone show that these antibiotics can be used for the treatment of infections caused by household wastewater bacteria.展开更多
文摘Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Tumor necrosis factor-Alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) are involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary TB (PTB). However, the contribution of polymorphisms of these cytokines to PTB susceptibility needed more investigation across geographic regions and ethnic groups. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the TNF-α-308 G/A and IL-8-251T/A polymorphisms with PTB risk in the Congolese population. Methods: This case-control study included 150 PTB patients and 160 control subjects. Blood samples were collected from all participants and were used for the TNF-α-308 G/A and IL-8-251T/A genotyping by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to estimate the potential polymorphism associations. A P level of Results: A significant difference was found between PTB patients and controls regarding the TNF-α-308AA genotype (P = 0.035) distribution. Moreover, this genotype was associated with risk to TB (OR = 7.19, 95% CI = 0.85 - 60.65, P = 0.035). The A allele was significantly more frequent in PTB patients than in controls, and was associated with risk to PTB (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.05 - 2.68, P = 0.014). Regarding the IL-8-251T/A gene, TA and AA genotypes were significantly more frequent in PTB patients compared to controls, and were associated with increased risk to PTB (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 0.97 - 7.18, P = 0.031 and OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.13 - 7.98, P = 0.014, respectively). However, the IL-8-251 A allele was not associated to PTB susceptibility (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.15 - 0.44). Conclusion: TNF-α-308G/A and IL-8-251T/A polymorphisms may be associated to PTB susceptibility in the Congolese population, and the AA genotype of both cytokines could be a risk factor.
文摘Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a public health problem and is highly endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and potential risk factors of hepatitis C virus in pregnant women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving pregnant women who attended at seven antenatal clinics in Pointe Noire, from June to November 2018. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain participants data. Samples were screened for HCV infection by using 4th ELISA methods and data analysis was done by Epi-info version 7.0 statistical software. Results: A total of 150 pregnant women were included, out of which 11 (7.3%) were positive for HCV. The high proportion of HCV was found in age group 25 - 34 years (45.4%), educated (81.1%), professional (36.4%) and 54.6% were in second trimester gestational stage. Moreover, 54.6% of HCV positive patients had scarification and 45.5% had a history of surgery. There was not a statistically significant association between demographics characteristics, risks factors and HCV seropositivity (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of HCV infection and confirmed that this infection is a public health problem in pregnant women in Pointe Noire.
文摘Fermented beverages have continued to give more surprises in terms of the presence of biomolecules and the diversity of microorganisms that may be contained. Republic of Congo is home to a panoply of fermented foods and beverages that are still not yet studied. This is the case of plantain wine fluently called banana wine. Within this framework, this work aims to study the role of Biosurfactant-like Biomolecules secreted during fermentation of plantain wine. Using MRS medium, 15 isolates bacteria have been found. 100% are able to secrete biosurfactant and 66.66% are extractible biosurfactants. 33% of isolates have been associated to Lactobacillus plantarum (Is2, Is9, Is12 and Is13) by using a one-step multi-plex PCR that targets genes encoding for bacteriocins. Biosurfactants secreted by L. plantarum play an important role in the preservation of banana wine. The biosurfactants extracted with chloroform and ammonium sulphate are able to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria including Shigella flexneri, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphy-lococcus aureus.
文摘Household wastewater is a source of pollution and can present health risks when discharged into the environment. Thus, samples of household wastewater from a few neighborhoods in Brazzaville were analyzed for microbiological quality. The various samples were cultured for isolation on solid media using conventional microbiological methods. The bacteria isolated were identified by the <i>Enterobacter</i> System gallery. Sensitivity tests were performed using the standard antibiotic susceptibility test by diffusion on Mueller Hinton medium. At the end of the analysis, 51 <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> were isolated and identified. They included: 8 (15.68%) <i>Escherichia coli</i>, 8 (15.68%) <i>Salmonella spp.</i>, 8 (15.68%) <i>Shigella spp.</i>, 8 (15.68%) <i>Klebsiella spp.</i>, 5 (9.80%) <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i>, 8 (15.68%) <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i>, 3 (5.90%) <i>Arizona spp.</i>, 3 (5.90%) <i>Proteus spp</i>. The results obtained show that the bacteria tested showed total resistance to the following antibiotics: amoxicillin, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, cloxacillin and nalidixic acid. On the other hand, imipenem, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, cefftriazone and kanamycin were the most active antibiotics with low levels of resistance. The low resistance rates observed for imipenem, cefotaxime, cefuroxime and cefftriazone show that these antibiotics can be used for the treatment of infections caused by household wastewater bacteria.
