Open Access Research Paper

Basal stem rot (BSR) is one of the most destructive diseases affecting oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), causing severe yield losses, economic damage, and premature palm mortality in affected plantations. The disease is primarily associated with fungal pathogens belonging to genus Ganoderma. While BSR has been extensively studied in Southeast Asia, little attention has been given to the disease in Africa despite the crops’ origin on the continent. Recent reports from several African countries suggest that BSR incidence may be increasing, raising concerns regarding its potential impact on the sustainability of oil palm production systems. This review synthesizes current knowledge on BSR of oil palm in Africa with emphasis on pathogen diversity, epidemiology, and management strategies. Available evidence indicates that multiple Ganoderma species are associated with BSR in Africa, with Ganoderma ryvardenii identified as one of the principal causal agents. However, the diversity, distribution, and population structure of African Ganoderma species remain poorly understood due to limited molecular studies. The epidemiology of BSR in African plantations is influenced by multiple interacting factors including plantation age, soil conditions, environmental variables, and management practices. Current management approaches rely largely on cultural practices, although these measures often provide only short-term control. Emerging strategies including biological control, host resistance breeding, and early detection technologies offer promising paths for sustainable disease management. However, limited research and majority plantations under smallholders significantly contribute to knowledge gaps elucidated regarding BSR in Africa. Addressing these gaps are essential for safeguarding the future oil palm production in Africa.

This study investigates the comparative antibacterial and antioxidant potentials of the pulp and peel of unripe Carica papaya L. fruit. Methanol and acetone extracts of both parts were evaluated for their activity against multiple drug-resistant bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Salmonella sp., and Shigella sp.) using the disc diffusion method. The peel exhibited a higher antibacterial activity with a maximum zone of inhibition of 16.2 mm compared to the pulp’s 14.4 mm; however, standard Kanamycin (30μg/disc) showed >30 mm. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from 200-300 mg/ml for peel and 250-350 mg/ml for pulp, while minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was also lower in peel (500-600 mg/ml) than pulp (550-700 mg/ml). Furthermore, the peel demonstrated superior antioxidant activity with a DPPH scavenging rate of 23.02%, compared to the pulp’s 5.34%, although ascorbic acid exhibited 100% scavenging at 100μg/ml. Peel also showed a lower IC50 value (61.035 µg/ml) than pulp (150.466 µg/ml) in DPPH assay, while ascorbic acid had an IC50 of 37.062 µg/ml. Total phenolic content was higher in peel (32.50 mgL-1 GAE/g dry material) than pulp (21.25 mgL-1 GAE/g dry material). These findings suggest that papaya peel is richer in bioactive compounds and could be effectively utilized for its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, highlighting its potential as a valuable natural resource rather than being wasted.

Terrestrial mollusks play a key role in litter decomposition and are also excellent bioindicators of environmental quality. The aim of this study was to investigate variation in microhabitats and seasonal changes in terrestrial molluscs. Sampling was used using the quadrat methode. The different strata were microhabitats such as in the soil (IS), on the sol and/or in litter (S/L), on wood or tree trunks (W/T) and on leaves (L). Results showed that species richness was highest in S/L (1-15 species) and IS (1-11 species), while it remained low on leaves (1-2 species). Communities were relatively even in DS and S/L, with median equitability values exceeding 0.8. Most microhabitats were dominated by Subulinidae, in DS, S/L and W/T, with abundances of 85.48% in IS, 76.51% in S/L and 93.50% in W/T. Taxonomic richness was high in S/L and IS in all seasons. In S/L microhabitats, the equitable distribution of molluscs was greater in all seasons except the dry season, when it was greater on leaves. This study shows that the type of microhabitat and the season have a considerable influence on the composition and diversity of molluscs. Therefore, in order to maintain this diversity, it is important to protect these microhabitats through forest conservation.

Protein glycosylation is a covalent attachment of complex oligosaccharides to proteins and lipids, is a ubiquitous and essential post-translational modification (PTM) that significantly expands the functional diversity of the proteome. While fundamental to processes such as protein folding, trafficking, and signal transduction, disruptions in normal glycosylation are increasingly recognized as central drivers of immune dysregulation and tissue damage. This review provides an overview of N- & O-linked glycosylation mechanisms and evaluates their profound influence on protein stability, activity, and the pathophysiology of common autoimmune disorders. This review focus on recent literature, focusing on the pathways of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, alongside advancements in mass spectrometry-based glycomics, to explore the relationship between altered glycan structures and clinical disease states. Specific glycans are identified as hallmarks of various conditions: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) agalactosylation in Rheumatoid Arthritis and IBD; increased sialylation and N-glycan bisection in Type 1 Diabetes; and elevated N-acetylglucosamine in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; in Celiac Disease, we highlight the mechanistic role of galactose-deficient IgA1 and the mislocalization of the receptor in facilitating pathogenic antigen trafficking serving as sensitive biomarkers for disease activity and treatment adherence, glycan alterations actively modulate the inflammatory milieu. These glycosylation pathways offer a promising frontier for therapeutic intervention. Continued integration of glycomics into personalized medicine is essential for improving the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy for patients suffering from multisystemic autoimmune diseases.

This study evaluated the effects of integrated nutrient management on the growth, ear characteristics, and yield performance of different sweet corn varieties under field conditions in Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. The experiment was conducted using a 3 × 5 factorial arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Three sweet corn varieties namely Macho F1, Purple Corn, and Glutinous Corn were tested under five fertilizer treatments consisting of different combinations of vermicompost, Humus Plus, and complete fertilizer. Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, and stem girth were measured at 30 and 60 days after sowing (DAS), while yield and yield components were evaluated at harvest. Results showed that both variety and fertilizer treatment significantly influenced vegetative growth, ear characteristics, and yield performance. Integrated nutrient management and vermicompost-based treatments generally produced superior plant growth compared with sole organic fertilization. Macho F1 treated with 100% vermicompost recorded the tallest plants, greatest leaf production, and superior stem development during later growth stages. Purple Corn fertilized with 100% complete fertilizer produced the highest yield at 12.69 t/ha and the heaviest ear weight per plot. In contrast, treatments relying solely on Humus Plus generally resulted in lower growth performance and reduced yield, particularly in Glutinous Corn. Ear length and ear circumference were also improved under integrated and vermicompost treatments, while the highest number and weight of marketable ears were observed in Macho F1 under vermicompost and complete fertilizer applications. The findings indicate that balanced nutrient management combining organic and inorganic fertilizers enhances nutrient availability, improves crop growth, and increases sweet corn productivity under field conditions.

The increasing environmental and health concerns associated with synthetic pigments have intensified the search for sustainable and biologically derived alternatives. Actinomycetes are recognized as promising producers of natural pigments; however, pigment production by rare actinomycete genera remains underexplored. In the present study, a pigment-producing actinomycete isolated from mangrove sediment was identified as Pseudonocardia alni based on morphological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses (GenBank accession no. PP296388). Pigment production was optimized by evaluating physicochemical parameters including pH, temperature, and salinity. The feasibility of agro-waste substrates for cost-effective pigment production was assessed through solid-state fermentation. Among the tested substrates, tapioca peel supported the highest pigment yield (1.388 ± 0.034), followed by groundnut oil cake and coconut oil cake, with statistically significant differences among substrates (p < 0.05). The extracted pigment exhibited a characteristic visible absorption maximum in UV–Visible spectroscopy, indicating a conjugated chromophore, while FTIR analysis revealed aromatic, hydroxyl, carbonyl, and nitrogen-containing functional groups. The pigment showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of Pseudonocardia alni as a sustainable source of a bioactive pigment and highlights agro-waste valorization as an effective strategy for eco-friendly pigment production.

The flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum (Cloves) are a well-known spice, prescriped for treatment from some microbial diseases since ancient civilizations and in traditional medicine today. In the currenrt investigation, the methanolic extract of cloves was tested against 4 Gram-positive bacteria , namely Bacillus cereus ATCC10876, Staphylococcus saprophyticus ATCC 43867, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228. In addition to 5 strains of Gram-negative bacteria , namely Proteus vulgaris ATCC 6380, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 27736, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028, Shigella flexneri ATCC 12022 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, using two diffusion methods (Cup-plate and disc diffusion methods), besides MIC and MBC testings. The extract showed noticable dose-dependant antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains with varied degrees, and there was no significant differences between the results of the cup-plate diffusion assay and the disc-diffusion assay. Moreover, MIC values were between 3.9 to 125 mg/ml, and MBC values ranged between 7.8 to 125 mg/ml, which was higher than the MIC’s, the MBC/MIC ratio indicating that the extract has a bactericidal attitude, which makes it suitable source for the formulation of new antibacterial drugs.

Septicemia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric populations and poses a significant global public health challenge due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Blood culture is the gold standard for diagnosis and provides essential data for guiding empirical antibiotic therapy. In Senegal, limited data are available on the bacteriological profile of bloodstream infections at the Centre Hospitalier National d’Enfants Albert Royer (CHNEAR), the national pediatric referral center. This retrospective descriptive study with analytical components examined bacteria isolated from blood cultures between January 1 and December 31, 2023. Patient and laboratory data were retrieved from registers and a local database (FileMaker Pro Advanced 11.0 v1). Blood cultures were processed using the BACT/ALERT system. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer method and analyzed with the ADAGIO system. Data were extracted into Microsoft Excel 2013 and analyzed using STATA version 14.0. A total of 1,104 blood culture bottles were analyzed, primarily from the emergency department. The mean patient age was 17.67 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.32. The overall positivity rate was 26.81%, yielding 296 bacterial isolates. The predominant organisms were Staphylococcus spp. (43.77%), Klebsiella spp. (13.47%), Pseudomonas spp. (10.77%), and Escherichia spp. (10.10%). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains accounted for 38 isolates, mainly Klebsiella pneumoniae (47.37%), while 40.68% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). These findings highlight moderate but concerning levels of antibiotic resistance. Strengthening local AMR surveillance and implementing targeted interventions aligned with the One Health approach are essential to improving septicemia management and reducing mortality.