The Scholars
of the WANIDA network
Study program :
M. Tech Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics
Affiliated ACE :
African Center of Excellence for Mycotoxins and Food Safety (Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria).
Thesis title:
Development of a Lassa fever therapy based on the mechanisms of West African medicinal plants.
Start-up year:
2020
Problem statement:
Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease, zoonotic and transmitted by the rodent commonly known as the Multimammate rat, with a case-fatality rate of 1% but could reach 15% in hospitalized patients (Tewogbola et al. 2020). It is particularly severe in late pregnancy, with maternal death or fatal loss occurring in 30 and 85% of cases respectively in the third trimester (WHO, 2019). According to WHO (2020), around 58 million people are exposed to this disease, with an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 cases and 5,000 deaths per year in West Africa. It is a public health concern in West Africa as LF is endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria (Africa CDC, 2020).
Expected result:
The aim of the planned study is to develop an effective and safe therapy from medicinal plants native to West Africa for the effective treatment of Lassa fever. The study aims to :
- Identify an effective plant extract that can be standardized and used as an herbal remedy for the treatment of Lassa fever.
- Generate hits from which leads can be obtained.
- Optimizing leads to produce putative drug candidates.
Impact :
The Lassa fever is an endemic disease that can be fatal when the patient is hospitalized. Its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. It is therefore difficult to detect, which can lead to serious illness. Early detection coupled with locally manufactured and more effective medicines will benefit the localized populations in our communities. This research will serve as the basis on which subsequent studies will be built.
Supervisor:
Emmanuel Ogbadoyi (African Center of Excellence for Mycotoxins and Food Safety)