This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.

Unclaimed
George Obiero
Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi, 30197, Nairobi 00100, Kenya

Basic Info

Basic Info is private.

Honors and Awards

The user has no records in this section


Career Timeline

The user has no records in this section.


Short Biography

The user biography is not available.
Following
Followers
Co Authors
The list of users this user is following is empty.
Following: 0 users

Feed

Journal article
Published: 24 March 2021 in Plants
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa, is the sole insect vector of banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), the causal agent of banana bunchy top disease. The aphid acquires and transmits BBTV while feeding on infected banana plants. RNA interference (RNAi) enables the generation of pest and disease-resistant crops; however, its effectiveness relies on the identification of pivotal gene sequences to target and silence. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an essential enzyme responsible for the hydrolytic metabolism of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in animals. In this study, the AChE gene of the banana aphid was targeted for silencing by RNAi through transgenic expression of AChE dsRNA in banana and plantain plants. The efficacy of dsRNA was first assessed using an artificial feeding assay. In vitro aphid feeding on a diet containing 7.5% sucrose, and sulfate complexes of trace metals supported aphid growth and reproduction. When AChE dsRNA was included in the diet, a dose of 500 ng/μL was lethal to the aphids. Transgenic banana cv. Cavendish Williams and plantain cvs. Gonja Manjaya and Orishele expressing AChE dsRNA were regenerated and assessed for transgene integration and copy number. When aphids were maintained on elite transgenic events, there was a 67.8%, 46.7%, and 75.6% reduction in aphid populations growing on Cavendish Williams, Gonja Manjaya, and Orishele cultivars, respectively, compared to those raised on nontransgenic control plants. These results suggest that RNAi targeting an essential aphid gene could be a useful means of reducing both aphid infestation and potentially the spread of the disease they transmit.

ACS Style

Temitope Jekayinoluwa; Jaindra Tripathi; Benjamin Dugdale; George Obiero; Edward Muge; James Dale; Leena Tripathi. Transgenic Expression of dsRNA Targeting the Pentalonia nigronervosa acetylcholinesterase Gene in Banana and Plantain Reduces Aphid Populations. Plants 2021, 10, 613 .

AMA Style

Temitope Jekayinoluwa, Jaindra Tripathi, Benjamin Dugdale, George Obiero, Edward Muge, James Dale, Leena Tripathi. Transgenic Expression of dsRNA Targeting the Pentalonia nigronervosa acetylcholinesterase Gene in Banana and Plantain Reduces Aphid Populations. Plants. 2021; 10 (4):613.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Temitope Jekayinoluwa; Jaindra Tripathi; Benjamin Dugdale; George Obiero; Edward Muge; James Dale; Leena Tripathi. 2021. "Transgenic Expression of dsRNA Targeting the Pentalonia nigronervosa acetylcholinesterase Gene in Banana and Plantain Reduces Aphid Populations." Plants 10, no. 4: 613.

Journal article
Published: 12 October 2020 in BMC Veterinary Research
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Background Identification of risk factors is crucial in Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control especially in endemic countries. In Rwanda, almost all outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) have started in Eastern Rwanda. Identifying the risk factors in this area will support government control efforts. This study was carried out to identify and map different risk factors for the incursion, spread and persistence of FMDV in Eastern Rwanda. Questionnaires were administered during farm visits to establish risk factors for FMD outbreaks. Descriptive statistical measures were determined and odds ratios were calculated to determine the effects of risk factors on the occurrence of FMD. Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) was used to produce thematic maps on the proportion of putative risk factors for FMD per village. Results Based on farmers’ perceptions, 85.31% (with p < 0.01) experienced more outbreaks during the major dry season, a finding consistent with other reports in other parts of the world. Univariate analysis revealed that mixed farming (OR = 1.501, p = 0.163, CI = 95%), and natural breeding method (OR = 1.626; p = 0.21, CI = 95%) were associated with the occurrence of FMD indicating that the two risk factors could be responsible for FMD outbreaks in the farms. The occurrence of FMD in the farms was found to be significantly associated with lack of vaccination of calves younger than 12 months in herds (OR = 0.707; p = 0.046, CI = 95%). Conclusions This is the first study to describe risk factors for persistence of FMDV in livestock systems in Rwanda. However, further studies are required to understand the role of transboundary animal movements and genotypic profiles of circulating FMDV in farming systems in Rwanda.

ACS Style

Jean Claude Udahemuka; Gabriel Oluga Aboge; George Ogello Obiero; Phiyani Justice Lebea; Joshua Orungo Onono; Massimo Paone. Risk factors for the incursion, spread and persistence of the foot and mouth disease virus in Eastern Rwanda. BMC Veterinary Research 2020, 16, 1 -10.

AMA Style

Jean Claude Udahemuka, Gabriel Oluga Aboge, George Ogello Obiero, Phiyani Justice Lebea, Joshua Orungo Onono, Massimo Paone. Risk factors for the incursion, spread and persistence of the foot and mouth disease virus in Eastern Rwanda. BMC Veterinary Research. 2020; 16 (1):1-10.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jean Claude Udahemuka; Gabriel Oluga Aboge; George Ogello Obiero; Phiyani Justice Lebea; Joshua Orungo Onono; Massimo Paone. 2020. "Risk factors for the incursion, spread and persistence of the foot and mouth disease virus in Eastern Rwanda." BMC Veterinary Research 16, no. 1: 1-10.

Journal article
Published: 24 June 2020 in Plants
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Banana and plantain are among the foremost staple food crops providing food and livelihood to over 500 million people in tropical countries. Despite the importance, their production is hampered due to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Plant tissue culture techniques such as somatic embryogenesis and genetic transformation offer a valuable tool for genetic improvement. Identification and quantification of phytochemicals found in banana and plantain are essential in optimizing in vitro activities for crop improvement. Total antioxidants, phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins were quantified in various explants obtained from the field, as well as in vitro plants of banana and plantain cultivars. The result showed genotypic variation in the phytochemicals of selected cultivars. The embryogenic cell suspensions were developed for three farmer-preferred plantain cultivars, Agbagba, Obino l’Ewai, and Orishele, using different MS and B5-based culture media. Both culture media supported the development of friable embryogenic calli (FEC), while MS culture media supported the proliferation of fine cell suspension in liquid culture media. The percentage of FEC generated for Agbagba, Obino l’Ewai, and Orishele were 22 ± 24%, 13 ± 28%, and 9 ± 16%, respectively. Cell suspensions produced from FECs were successfully transformed by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation with reporter gene constructs and regenerated into whole plants.

ACS Style

Temitope Jekayinoluwa; Jaindra Nath Tripathi; George Obiero; Edward Muge; Leena Tripathi. Phytochemical Analysis and Establishment of Embryogenic Cell Suspension and Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation for Farmer Preferred Cultivars of West African Plantain (Musa spp.). Plants 2020, 9, 789 .

AMA Style

Temitope Jekayinoluwa, Jaindra Nath Tripathi, George Obiero, Edward Muge, Leena Tripathi. Phytochemical Analysis and Establishment of Embryogenic Cell Suspension and Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation for Farmer Preferred Cultivars of West African Plantain (Musa spp.). Plants. 2020; 9 (6):789.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Temitope Jekayinoluwa; Jaindra Nath Tripathi; George Obiero; Edward Muge; Leena Tripathi. 2020. "Phytochemical Analysis and Establishment of Embryogenic Cell Suspension and Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation for Farmer Preferred Cultivars of West African Plantain (Musa spp.)." Plants 9, no. 6: 789.

Abstract
Published: 16 January 2020 in Proceedings
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is one of the world’s invasive species. Banana aphid (Pentalonianigronervosa) is found in all banana producing areas and it is the insect pest known to transmit BBTV causing banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) in bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) and can cause a significant yield loss of up to 100% in severe cases. Controlling the spread of BBTD has been very challenging since there is no known endogenous gene in the Musa germplasm that could confer resistance to BBTV. Excessive dependence on insecticides for disease control is detrimental to the environment and off-target-organisms. The objective of this study was to use RNA interference (RNAi) targeting the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene in banana aphid to develop resistance against aphids in farmer preferred plantain cultivars. This could help sustain smallholder farmers in areas where BBTD is an epidemic. To achieve this, plantain cultivars were initiated using plant tissue culture techniques and rapidly multiplied using Temporary Immersion Bioreactor. This was followed by generation of embryogenic cell suspension (ECS), Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of banana and plantain ECS using a RNAi plasmid construct and molecular characterization of putative transgenic lines. Agro-infected ECS of banana and plantain cultivars were regenerated on selective medium and produced several transgenic lines. Molecular characterization confirmed the presence of transgene in about 80% transgenic lines. Preliminary glasshouse screening of transgenic lines showed reduction in population of banana aphids in comparison to control non-transgenic plants. This is the first report on using RNAi targeting AChE gene for developing transgenic plantain that are resistant to banana aphids.

ACS Style

Temitope Jekayinoluwa; Jaindra Nath Tripathi; George Obiero; Edward Muge; James Dale; Leena Tripathi. Developing Plantain for Resistance to Banana Aphids by RNA Interference. Proceedings 2020, 36, 54 .

AMA Style

Temitope Jekayinoluwa, Jaindra Nath Tripathi, George Obiero, Edward Muge, James Dale, Leena Tripathi. Developing Plantain for Resistance to Banana Aphids by RNA Interference. Proceedings. 2020; 36 (1):54.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Temitope Jekayinoluwa; Jaindra Nath Tripathi; George Obiero; Edward Muge; James Dale; Leena Tripathi. 2020. "Developing Plantain for Resistance to Banana Aphids by RNA Interference." Proceedings 36, no. 1: 54.