Plantibodies in human and animal health: a review.

Background: Antibodies are essential part of vertebrates’ adaptive immune system; they can now be produced by transforming plants with antibody-coding genes from mammals/humans. Although plants do not naturally make antibodies, the plant-derived antibodies (plantibodies) have been shown to function in the same way as mammalian antibodies. Methods: PubMed and Google search engines were used to download relevant publications on plantibodies in medical and veterinary fields; the papers were reviewed and findings qualitatively described. Results: The process of bioproduction of plantibodies offers several advantages over the conventional method of antibody production in mammalian cells with the cost of antibody production in plants being substantially lesser. Contrary to what is possible with animal-derived antibodies, the process of making plantibodies almost exclusively precludes transfer of pathogens to the end product. Additionally, plants not only produce a relatively high yield of antibodies in a comparatively faster time, they also serve as cost-effective bioreactors to produce antibodies of diverse specificities. Conclusion: Plantibodies are safe, cost-effective and offer more advantages over animal-derived antibodies. Methods of producing them are described with a view to inspiring African scientists on the need to embrace and harness this rapidly evolving biotechnology in solving human and animal health challenges on the continent where the climate supports growth of diverse plants.

Bonafide, type-specific human papillomavirus persistence among HIV-positive pregnant women: predictive value for cytological abnormalities, a longitudinal cohort study

This study investigated the rate of human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence, associated risk factors, and predictors of cytological alteration outcomes in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected pregnant women over an 18-month period. HPV was typed through L1 gene sequencing in cervical smears collected during gestation and at 12 months after delivery. Outcomes were defined as nonpersistence (clearance of the HPV in the 2nd sample), re-infection (detection of different types of HPV in the 2 samples), and type-specific HPV persistence (the same HPV type found in both samples). An unfavourable cytological outcome was considered when the second exam showed progression to squamous intraepithelial lesion or high squamous intraepithelial lesion. Ninety patients were studied. HPV DNA persistence occurred in 50% of the cases composed of type-specific persistence (30%) or re-infection (20%). A low CD4+ T-cell count at entry was a risk factor for type-specific, re-infection, or HPV DNA persistence. The odds ratio (OR) was almost three times higher in the type-specific group when compared with the re-infection group (OR = 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 0.43-22.79). Our findings show that bonafide (type-specific) HPV persistence is a stronger predictor for the development of cytological abnormalities, highlighting the need for HPV typing as opposed to HPV DNA testing in the clinical setting.

A novel method to determine new potent angiotensin inhibitor, azilsartan, in human plasma via micelle-enhanced spectrofluorimetry using cremophor RH 40

Purpose: To develop a micelle-enhanced spectrofluorimetric method for the assay of azilsartan (AZL) in bulk form and spiked human plasma without the need for derivatization procedure. Method: The proposed method was based on studying the fluorescence behavior of AZL in Cremophor RH 40 (Cr RH 40) micellar system. The fluorescence intensity was measured at 371 nm after excitation at 264 nm. The proposed procedure was validated according to International Council on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Results: In aqueous solution, the fluorescence intensity of AZL was greatly enhanced by more than 3- fold in the presence of Cr RH 40. The fluorescence –concentration plot was linear over the range of 10 – 500 ng.mL-1, with a limit of detection of 3.287 ngmL-1. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of AZL in pure powder form and spiked human plasma. The mean recovery of AZL in spiked human plasma using the proposed method was 90.54 ± 1.17 %. Conclusion: The suggested method is highly sensitive and simple, and can easily be applied for the quantification of AZL in pure powder form as well as in biological fluids such as plasma.