The Scholars

of the WANIDA network

WANIDA > Scholars > Youssouf Mfopit Mouliom

Affiliated project: African Center of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology ACE-NTDFB, ABU-Zaria, Nigeria.

CEA affiliates: Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, Cameroon

Supervisor: Prof Junaidu Kabir ACE-NTDFB
junabir@gmail.com

Thesis co-supervisor: Prof Nasiru Shuaibu ACE-NTDFB
nshuaibu@yahoo.com

Other contributors to thesis supervision: Dr Balogun Emmanuel and Prof Soerge Kelm
oluwadareus@yahoo.com

WANIDA > Scholars > Youssouf Mfopit Mouliom

Start date: January1, 2021
Anticipated date of thesis defense: Oct 25, 2023
ORCID profile: 0000-0003-3395-724X

Project title: Identification of a novel sialidase from Paenibacillus sp. isolated from the midgut of the tsetse fly (Glossina sp.).

Summary of scientific project: Tsetse flies are vectors of African trypanosomiasis, which affects both humans and animals. Past and current control measures are limited by numerous challenges such as antigenic variation and drug resistance. In the absence of an effective vaccine, an alternative strategy is to make the fly refractory to trypanosome infection. Intestinal microorganisms are of interest because they can control disease transmission in their hosts. The establishment of trypanosome infection relies on the activity of trans-sialidases. The objectives of the study were to identify and characterize tsetse fly gut bacteria, and to isolate, clone and characterize recombinant sialidase from tsetse fly gut bacteria. 1,048 tsetse flies were collected in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.

Summary of results obtained :

  • Five genera of bacteria were isolated from tsetse fly intestines (Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Paenibacillus, Bacillus).
  • The prevalence of 3 tsetse symbiotic bacteria (Sodalis glossinidius, Spiroplasma sp., Wolbachia) was determined in 4 countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.
  • The whole genome of 2 bacterial isolates was sequenced (Pseudomonas sp., Paenibacillus sp.).
  • The sialidase gene was isolated from Paenibacillus sp. and successfully cloned, expressed and purified.
  • Recombinant sialidase has been characterized.

Perspective after completion of thesis:
Finalization of remaining manuscripts. Continue research using other methods and growth conditions to isolate other existing members of the tsetse microbiota and carry out molecular characterization of tsetse symbiotic bacteria. Continue characterization of sialidases.

Scientific publications :
Mfopit et al, 2023. EJMED 5(4), 94-99
Mfopit et al., 2023. BMC Microbiol. 23(1)

Contribution/value added to affiliated project:
Finding a gene that could be inserted into the genome of the symbiotic bacterium Sodalis glossinidius to express sialidase. The recombinant symbionts could then be reintroduced into the tsetse population, where they could then increase the flies' refractoriness to trypanosomes. The modified symbiont could then be driven out of the tsetse population by the symbiont's cytoplasmic incompatibility. Wolbachia.