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Browsing Genetics by Author "Adeleke, Matthew Adekunle."
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Item Designing T-cell epitope-based vaccine against Eimeria infection in chicken using immunoinformatics approach.(2021) Madlala, Thabile.; Adeleke, Matthew Adekunle.; Okpeku, Moses.Chicken coccidiosis is the most significant ubiquitous, intestinal parasitic disease known to infect chickens globally. It is recognised for incurring significant production loss to the poultry industry, caused by single or multiple Eimeria spp. infections which threaten chicken welfare and productivity. The emergence of drug resistance in parasites and pathogenicity reversion has put pressure on the poultry industry to reduce chemoprophylactic drugs and live vaccines as preventive measures against coccidiosis. Recombinant DNA vaccines have shown promising results as an alternative option, but complete protection has not been reported highlighting the need for the design of new vaccine against this disease. In this study, Eimeria antigens Immune Mapped Protein-1(IMP1) and Microneme Protein-2(MIC2) were explored using reverse vaccinology and immunoinformatics tool to predict and design potential multiepitope vaccine candidate against coccidiosis. A total of 28 and 19 antigenic T-cell epitopes were predicted and used to construct two multiepitope vaccines with 610 and 512 amino acids for IMP1 and MIC2, respectively. The produced vaccines exhibited favoured characteristics for an ideal vaccine candidate; they were antigenic (Vaxijen score of 0.5989 and 0.5103), immunogenic (scores: 10.15 and 9 419), thermostable (instability index <40 ), and non-allergic. The presence of IFN-gamma and IL-4 inducing epitopes in the constructed vaccine enables vaccine to trigger a cellular and humoral response within the host. Molecular docking of designed vaccines with toll-like receptors (TLR4 and TLR5) to determine vaccine interaction and stability was confirmed by molecular dynamics simulation root-mean square deviation (RMDS) and root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) analysis. The designed vaccines induced immune response through production of cytokines and antibodies associated with tertiary response. When exposed to online immune simulation C-ImmSim, both vaccines produced potent immune response through production of IgG, Tc and Th cell and memory Bcells. The constructed multiepitope vaccine in this present study is highly promising and as such further experimental work should be done to confirm its suitability against chicken coccidiosis.Item Genetic characterization of resistance and virulence genes in Enterococcus species from animal isolates in Durban.(2018) Eberechi, Phoebe Nnah.; Adeleke, Matthew Adekunle.; Zishiri, Oliver Tendayi.Misuse of antimicrobials in animal agriculture has given rise to strains of bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. Enterococci bacteria have emerged among such antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria and infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria is one of the world’s critical health challenge. Enterococci are gut commensal bacteria but are currently confirmed pathogenic bacteria responsible for so many hospital-acquired infections like urinary tract infections. The aim of this research was to detect the occurrence of Enterococcus species in chickens, cats, and dogs; their phenotypic and genotypic resistance to antibiotic drugs and virulence genes. Isolation of Enterococcus species was done using microbiological culture methods and confirmed using specific primers through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Presumptive Enterococcus growth on bile esculin agar was positive for 94% of all the isolates. Overall, 77.3% of the isolates were positive for Tuf gene (Enterococcus genus-specific gene). Enterococcus faecalis was detected at a higher frequency (40.4%; P <0.05) compared to Enterococcus faecium (8.5%). All the Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to High-Level Gentamicin on antimicrobial susceptibility test. Enterococcus species in chickens exhibited higher resistance to the antibiotics than the pets. Highest resistance was observed in Quinupristin/Dalfopristin (89.4%) followed by Vancomycin (87.9%), Rifampicin (85%), Ampicillin (76.6%), Erythromycin (72.3%), and Tetracycline (64.5%). Chloramphenicol (24.8%), High-Level Streptomycin Resistance (24.1%), and Ciprofloxacin (14.2%). Eighty-four percent (84%) of the Enterococcus isolates expressed multidrug resistance (MDR). Three of the four resistance genes screened were detected: 21.3%, 7.8% and 4.3% for Kanamycin, Streptomycin, and Vancomycin resistance genes respectively. Gentamicin resistance gene was absent in all the isolates. PCR detection of virulence gene showed highest prevalence in EfaA gene at 88.7% frequency followed by GelE (82.3%), ccf (81.6%), Esp (26.2%) and CylA (25.5%). All E. faecalis and E. faecium detected harbored multiple virulence genes. These findings show that chickens, cats, and dogs can be colonized by pathogenic Enterococci which harbor resistance and virulence genes and are multidrug resistant. It is therefore important that antibiotics are used prudently in animal husbandry to mitigate emergence and transfer of Enterococci pathogens to humans via food chain and direct contact of pets by their owners.Item Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and its antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in pet dogs of Durban: the risks of reservoir populations.(2017) Brouckaert, Mary-Anne Frances.; Adeleke, Matthew Adekunle.; Zishiri, Oliver Tendayi.Abstract available in pdf.