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Dr. Edward Muge
University of Nairobi

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0 Biochemistry
0 Bioinformatics
0 Biotechnology
0 Plants
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Journal article
Published: 26 April 2021 in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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The development of novel anti-infectives against Kinetoplastids pathogens targeting proteins is a big problem occasioned by the antigenic variation in these parasites. This is also a global concern due to the zoonosis of these parasites, as they infect both humans and animals. Therefore, we need not only to create novel antibiotics, but also to speed up the development pipeline for these antibiotics. This may be achieved by using novel drug targets for Kinetoplastids drug discovery. In this study, we focused our attention on motifs of rRNA molecules that have been created using homology modeling. The RNA is the most ambiguous biopolymer in the kinetoplatid, which carries many different functions. For instance, tRNAs, rRNAs, and mRNAs are essential for gene expression both in the pro-and eukaryotes. However, all these types of RNAs have sequences with unique 3D structures that are specific for kinetoplastids only and can be used to shut down essential biochemical processes in kinetoplastids only. All these features make RNA very potent targets for antibacterial drug development. Here, we combine in silico methods combined with both computational biology and structure prediction tools to address our hypothesis. In this study, we outline a systematic approach for identifying kinetoplastid rRNA-ligand interactions and, more specifically, techniques that can be used to identify small molecules that target particular RNA. The high-resolution optimized model structures of these kineoplastids were generated using RNA 123, where all the stereochemical conflicts were solved and energies minimized to attain the best biological qualities. The high-resolution optimized model’s structures of these kinetoplastids were generated using RNA 123 where all the stereochemical conflicts were solved and energies minimized to attain the best biological qualities. These models were further analyzed to give their docking assessment reliability. Docking strategies, virtual screening, and fishing approaches successfully recognized novel and myriad macromolecular targets for the myxobacterial natural products with high binding affinities to exploit the unmet therapeutic needs. We demonstrate a sensible exploitation of virtual screening strategies to 18S rRNA using natural products interfaced with classical maximization of their efficacy in phamacognosy strategies that are well established. Integration of these virtual screening strategies in natural products chemistry and biochemistry research will spur the development of potential interventions to these tropical neglected diseases.

ACS Style

Harrison Mwangi; Edward Muge; Peter Wagacha; Albert Ndakala; Francis Mulaa. Methods for Identifying Microbial Natural Product Compounds that Target Kinetoplastid RNA Structural Motifs by Homology and De Novo Modeled 18S rRNA. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2021, 22, 4493 .

AMA Style

Harrison Mwangi, Edward Muge, Peter Wagacha, Albert Ndakala, Francis Mulaa. Methods for Identifying Microbial Natural Product Compounds that Target Kinetoplastid RNA Structural Motifs by Homology and De Novo Modeled 18S rRNA. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22 (9):4493.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Harrison Mwangi; Edward Muge; Peter Wagacha; Albert Ndakala; Francis Mulaa. 2021. "Methods for Identifying Microbial Natural Product Compounds that Target Kinetoplastid RNA Structural Motifs by Homology and De Novo Modeled 18S rRNA." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 9: 4493.

Journal article
Published: 24 March 2021 in Plants
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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: 24 June 2020 in Plants
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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.

Journal article
Published: 27 February 2020 in Food Research
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The processing of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam) yields a considerable amount of bio-waste. Accumulation of this waste is considered a health risk because it is a potential source of air and water pollution. Recycling of the unutilized fruit parts, therefore, reduces the quantity and the impact of the bio-waste released to the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the phytochemical profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts from three fruit parts (peel, fiber and the core) of jackfruit sampled from the coastal region of Kenya. Different extraction techniques and solvents were tested. The highest phenolic and flavonoid content of the peels, fiber and the core were obtained from methanol extracts following a 48-hour incubation. The values were recorded at 17.07±5.16 mg/g, 23.28±4.73 mg/g, and 15.68±3.74 mg/g for the phenolics and 28.55±12.42 mg/g, 35.4±9.53 mg/g and 36.23±2.54 mg/g for the flavonoids, respectively. The highest tannin content was obtained from distilled water extracts following homogenization recorded at 10.82±2.63 mg/g, 10.39±4.10 mg/g and 10.52±1.05 mg/g for peels, fiber and core, respectively. The fiber extracts gave the highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity followed by the core at 61.51±29.90% and 51.06±33.39%, respectively. The antioxidant activity was highest for methanol fiber extracts at 61.51±29.90% for DPPH radical scavenging activity and 7.94±4.56 mg/mL for reducing power assay. The best antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis (Xam) was obtained from Ethyl acetate extracts showed. The unutilized jackfruit parts, therefore, are a potential source of natural antioxidants as well as antibacterial, for agriculture and food industry

ACS Style

A.A. Adan; R.A. Ojwang; Edward Muge; B.K. Mwanza; E.N. Nyaboga. Phytochemical composition and essential mineral profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of unutilized parts of jackfruit. Food Research 2020, 4, 1125 -1134.

AMA Style

A.A. Adan, R.A. Ojwang, Edward Muge, B.K. Mwanza, E.N. Nyaboga. Phytochemical composition and essential mineral profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of unutilized parts of jackfruit. Food Research. 2020; 4 (4):1125-1134.

Chicago/Turabian Style

A.A. Adan; R.A. Ojwang; Edward Muge; B.K. Mwanza; E.N. Nyaboga. 2020. "Phytochemical composition and essential mineral profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of unutilized parts of jackfruit." Food Research 4, no. 4: 1125-1134.

Journal article
Published: 30 January 2020 in Applied Soil Ecology
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Symbiotic nitrogen fixing Rhizobium species have been reported to trigger induced resistance reactions that are inhibitive to aboveground antagonists. We tested the hypothesis that root infection by nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium triggers enzyme-mediated induced resistance reactions, which lead to the production of defensive compounds that suppress aboveground colonization by foliar pests. An experiment was conducted using common bean Phaseolus vulgaris, comprising of factorial treatments of Rhizobium inoculation (with or without), C. lindemuthianum (with or without) and soil type (solarized and non-solarized). Anthracnose disease incidence was higher in plants under dual inoculation with C. lindemuthianum and Rhizobium than in plants inoculated with C. lindemuthianum alone (p < 0.05). Concentrations of N-based compounds in the form of total protein and the enzymes, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and lipid peroxidase were higher in rhizobial plants, while that of catalase enzyme and the C-based compounds namely flavonoids, tannins and phenols were lower. Plant size and growth duration were not different between the treatments (p > 0.05). Soil pH, organic carbon and the concentration of nutrients (N, P, Na, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu) in solarized soil were higher than in non-solarized soil, while Fe and K were lower. There was no evidence to support induced resistance since anthracnose disease was high in Rhizobium inoculated plants. High disease incidence without reduction in plant growth can be interpreted as host plant tolerance. In conclusion, Rhizobium infection of common bean enhances the production of N-based nutritive compounds, while limiting the production of C-based organic compounds associated with plant resistance, thereby promoting host plant suitability to C. lindemuthianum, and possibly enhancing host plant tolerance to the pathogen.

ACS Style

Edwin Karoney; Dennis M.W. Ochieno; Danstone L. Baraza; Edward K. Muge; Evans N. Nyaboga; Victoria Naluyange. Rhizobium improves nutritive suitability and tolerance of Phaseolus vulgaris to Colletotrichum lindemuthianum by boosting organic nitrogen content. Applied Soil Ecology 2020, 149, 103534 .

AMA Style

Edwin Karoney, Dennis M.W. Ochieno, Danstone L. Baraza, Edward K. Muge, Evans N. Nyaboga, Victoria Naluyange. Rhizobium improves nutritive suitability and tolerance of Phaseolus vulgaris to Colletotrichum lindemuthianum by boosting organic nitrogen content. Applied Soil Ecology. 2020; 149 ():103534.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Edwin Karoney; Dennis M.W. Ochieno; Danstone L. Baraza; Edward K. Muge; Evans N. Nyaboga; Victoria Naluyange. 2020. "Rhizobium improves nutritive suitability and tolerance of Phaseolus vulgaris to Colletotrichum lindemuthianum by boosting organic nitrogen content." Applied Soil Ecology 149, no. : 103534.

Abstract
Published: 16 January 2020 in Proceedings
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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.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2012 in AIDS Research and Therapy
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CCR5 antagonists have clinically been approved for prevention or treatment of HIV/AIDS. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with the highest burden of HIV/AIDS are due to adopt these regimens. However, HIV-1 can also use CXCR4 as a co-receptor. There is hence an urgent need to map out cellular tropism of a country’s circulating HIV strains to guide the impending use of CCR5 antagonists.

ACS Style

Veronica Wambui; Michael Kiptoo; Joyceline Kinyua; Irene Odera; Edward Muge; Peter Muiruri; Raphael Lihana; Peter Kinyanjui; Elijah M Songok. Predicted HIV-1 coreceptor usage among Kenya patients shows a high tendency for subtype d to be cxcr4 tropic. AIDS Research and Therapy 2012, 9, 22 -22.

AMA Style

Veronica Wambui, Michael Kiptoo, Joyceline Kinyua, Irene Odera, Edward Muge, Peter Muiruri, Raphael Lihana, Peter Kinyanjui, Elijah M Songok. Predicted HIV-1 coreceptor usage among Kenya patients shows a high tendency for subtype d to be cxcr4 tropic. AIDS Research and Therapy. 2012; 9 (1):22-22.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Veronica Wambui; Michael Kiptoo; Joyceline Kinyua; Irene Odera; Edward Muge; Peter Muiruri; Raphael Lihana; Peter Kinyanjui; Elijah M Songok. 2012. "Predicted HIV-1 coreceptor usage among Kenya patients shows a high tendency for subtype d to be cxcr4 tropic." AIDS Research and Therapy 9, no. 1: 22-22.