Ganiyu Arinola

University of Ibadan · Department of Chemical Pathology & Immunology

Cite this article as: Arinola OG, Onifade AA, Edem VF, Yaqub SA, Rahamon SK. Elucidating the immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection: Drivers of recovery and discovery. Niger J Immunol 2022; 3:12-27.

The haemocytometric changes and possible interplay with duration of hospital stay, gender and age in Nigerians with COVID-19 were determined in this study. Routine haemocytometry was evaluated using a standard method and thereafter, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR); a marker of inflammation was calculated. Neutrophil percentage, total white blood...

Introduction and aim. Following the use of repurposing drugs to successfully manage coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in an Infectious Diseases Center (IDC) in Nigeria, it was imperative to assess haematological changes and metabolic alterations in these patients which may inform recommendations for future use. Material and methods. Bloo...

Background Intestinal helminth infection is associated with altered immune responses and deranged micronutrient status in infected children. There is no information on the status of serum cytokine levels and micronutrient status in Ascaris lumbricoides infected Nigerian school children at pre- and post- albendazole anti-helminthic treatment. Aim T...

Background: Considerable information is available on the role of micronutrient Zinc in many aspects of immune function and protection of cell membranes from oxidative damage in diseased states. To our knowledge, there are no reports relating Zinc levels with different stages neutralizing antioxidant enzymes and cellular immune processes (leucocyte...

The challenges associated with adequate deployment of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) in developing countries underscores the important role of simple but sensitive and specific serological testing kits in COVID-19 diagnosis. Presently, there are a number of point-of-care tests for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV...

Background: Reports continue to show that lifestyle modification is cornerstone in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, lifestyle and cultural patterns vary significantly across communities thereby necessitating the need for tailored dietary interventions to achieve optimal glycemic control. Presently, few prospective studies...

Background: There is both higher mortality and morbidity from cancer in low and medium income countries (LMICs) compared with high income countries (HICs). Clinical trial activities and development of more effective and less toxic therapies have led to significant improvements in morbidity and mortality from cancer in HICs. Unfortunately, clinical...

Background: There is both higher mortality and morbidity from cancer in low and medium income countries (LMICs) compared with high income countries (HICs). Clinical trial activities and development of more effective and less toxic therapies have led to significant improvements in morbidity and mortality from cancer in HICs. Unfortunately, clinical...

Background: There is both higher mortality and morbidity from cancer in low and medium income countries (LMICs) compared with high income countries (HICs). Clinical trial activities and development of more effective and less toxic therapies have led to significant improvements in morbidity and mortality from cancer in HICs. Unfortunately, clinical...

Background and Objectives: The need for additional markers for differential diagnosis of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and drug sensitive M.tb have been raised by previous studies. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-á) produced by monocyte/macrophage, neutrophilic and lymphocytic linkage plays a central role in effective immunity t...

Background and Objectives: The need for additional markers for differential diagnosis of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and drug sensitive M.tb have been raised by previous studies. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-á) produced by monocyte/macrophage, neutrophilic and lymphocytic linkage plays a central role in effective immunity t...

Adequate nutrition is essential for normal growth of children but helminth infection is proposed to cause nutritional deficiencies. This study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of helminth infected school aged children in semi-urban communities of South-West Nigeria. Two hundred children from primary schools in Akinyele Local Governm...

Mercuric chloride is an environmental pollutant that affects the nervous systems of mammals. Oxidative damage is one of the mechanisms of its toxicity, and antioxidants should mitigate this effect. A vegetable with antioxidant activity is Launaea taraxacifolia, whose ethanolic extract (EELT) was investigated in this experiment to determine its effe...

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a 12-month dietary modification on indices of inflammation and pro-thrombosis in adults with metabolic syndrome (MS). Materials and methods: This longitudinal study involved 252 adults with MS recruited from the Bodija market, Ibadan and its environs. Participants were placed on 20%, 30% and 50% cal...

A primary goal of The Consortium on Asthma among African-ancestry Populations in the Americas (CAAPA) is to develop an ‘African Diaspora Power Chip’ (ADPC), a genotyping array consisting of tagging SNPs, useful in comprehensively identifying African specific genetic variation. This array is designed based on the novel variation identified in 642 CA...

Aim: To provide information on the susceptibility of cigarette smokers to oral diseases. This was achieved by assessing the degree of salivary oxidative stress markers in smokers with or without periodontitis. We measured salivary concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), myeloperoxidase (MPx) activity, enzymatic antioxi...

BACKGROUND Asthma is a complex disease with striking disparities across racial and ethnic groups, which may be partly attributable to genetic factors. One of the main goals of the Consortium on Asthma among African-ancestry Populations in the Americas (CAAPA) is to discover genes conferring risk to asthma in populations of African descent. METHODS...

Exposure to smoke from biomass fuel causes chronic diseases, but the mechanism underlying negative effects of household air pollution (HAP) is not exactly understood. The basis of the impact of HAP on maternal and fetal health was assessed by determining the levels of teratogenic heavy metals [Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg)] and micronutrients associated...

Background In 2014, the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) reported that the highest prevalence of symptoms of severe asthma was found in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Nigeria. While exposure to biomass fuel use may be an important risk factor in the development of asthma, its association with...

Background: Exposure to household air pollution (HAP) has been linked to systemic inflammation. We determined the impact of transition from traditional firewood/kerosene stove to bioethanol-burning stove on inflammatory biomarkers in pregnant Nigerian women. Methods: Women (n=324), cooking with kerosene/firewood, were recruited during their firs...

Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of diarrheal episodes among children of low income countries of the world and its high prevalence among Nigerian children has been reported. Vaccination holds the best hope for reduction of rotavirus-associated mortality and morbidity but study on Rota virus immunogenicity in helminth infected subjects in Nige...

The African Diaspora in the Western Hemisphere represents one of the largest forced migrations in history and had a profound impact on genetic diversity in modern populations. To date, the fine-scale population structure of descendants of the African Diaspora remains largely uncharacterized. Here we present genetic variation from deeply sequenced g...

To characterize the extent and impact of ancestry-related biases in precision genomic medicine, we use 642 whole-genome sequences from the Consortium on Asthma among African-ancestry Populations in the Americas (CAAPA) project to evaluate typical filters and databases. We find significant correlations between estimated African ancestry proportions...

Background: Approximately 70% of rural Nigerian households rely on biomass fuels for cooking. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) estimates the prevalence of current wheeze among children in Nigeria to have risen from 10.7% in 1999 to approximately 20% in 2014. Objective: To examine the effects of biomass smoke expo...

Tuberculosis(TB)-specific host biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring of treatment response have been identified as priorities for TB research. Macrophage and T cell lymphocytes play vital roles in Mycobacterium tuberculosis immune response and their associated biomarkers could form good candidates for diagnosis and treatment monitoring. The enzym...

Folic acid, vitamins and Zinc play essential role in DNA methylation but alcohol consumption is known to affectthe levels of these micronutrients leading to risk of developing various illnesses and certain cancers. This study determinedthe levels of DNA methylation dependent-micronutrients (folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, zinc and selenium) andhom...

Background: There is little information on the possible impact of drugs used in the treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) on glycaemic levels. This study therefore assessed changes in glycated haemoglobin levels in patients with MDR-TB.Materials and Methods: This longitudinal study involved 21 MDR-TB patients who were followed up...

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are known to cause abnormal thyroid function. There is little information on whether HIV infection aggravates alteration of thyroid function in patients with MDR-TB. Objectives: This study was carried out to determine if HIV co-infection alters serum levels of thyroid...

Background 3 billion people cook, heat, and light their homes using polluting fuels such as biomass and kerosene. Household air pollution is a known risk factor for acute lower respiratory tract infections and non-communicable diseases including stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Exposure to household air pollution has...

Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strain resistant to both rifampicin and isoniazid. Nigeria has an estimated MDR-TB rate of 2.9% and 14.3% among new and relapse cases respectively and is ranked among 4 high burden African countries for MDR-TB. Malnutrition has been implicated in the progressio...

Background: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are particularly susceptible to pneumococcal infection. Administration of the 13-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine which is now available in Nigeria may help to reduce the incidence. Objectives: To determine the serum level of pneumococcal-specific IgG (PIgG) in a cohort of patients with SC...

Background: Pituitary and gonadal dysfunctions resulting from increased adiposity leading to disturbances of sexual and reproductive functions have been reported in males with metabolic syndrome (MS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The aim of this study was to evaluate sexual dysfunction, leptin, and reproductive hormones in Nigerian males wit...

Background: The prevalence of helminth infection, which is known to affect nutritional status of the host, varies with age. The complex interplay between ages, nutrient requirements, and infection necessitated the need to recommend micronutrient supplementation during helminth infection among different age groups. Objective: The aim of this study w...

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited chronic hematological disorder, with inflammatory responses arising from different pathways. Information is scarce about the levels of acute-phase reactants and essentials trace elements in HbSS Nigerian children. Understanding of these will further elucidate the pathophysiology of SCD, which ma...

Background: Prolonged exposure to organophosphate pesticides (Op) has been associated with various diseases. However, there is little information on which group of exposed farm workers that is more affected. This study therefore determined indices of hepatic and renal function in pesticide applicators and farmers exposed to Op. Subjects and Method...

Background: Reports have clearly indicated the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of organophosphate pesticides (Op) toxicity. However, there is dearth of information on which group of the farm workers is more at risk of Op-induced oxidative stress. Aim: This study determined serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), gluta...

Background: Considerable overlap exists in the value of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) in both prostate cancer (Pca) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Developing an effective biochemical screening test that will complement PSA assay could reduce the associated cost of care and give timely attention to prostate cancer patients even when...

Experimental studies have shown numerous health disorders associated with occupational exposure to organophosphate pesticides but evidence of impaired immune functions by pesticides in humans is scarce. This study determined complete blood count (CBC), serum immunoglobulin classes (IgE, IgA, IgM, IgG),acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and skin s...

Dichlorvos (DDVP), an organophosphorus pesticide is a volatile compound which enters the human body through oral, dermal and inhalational routes and is excreted via the kidney. This study assessed the effects of DDVP on the histology of the kidney. Twenty five male rats (75.05 ± 5.55 g) were divided into 5 groups of 5 rats per group as follows: Une...

Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients are prone to require long-term frequent blood transfusion because of chronic haemolysis and overlapping hyper-haemolysis. Hence, they become vulnerable to iron overload and its complications. On the other hand, iron deficiency has been documented among un-transfused SCA cases. Thus, there is a need to...

Aim: To assess the prevalent components of metabolic syndrome (MSC) and their related determinants of lipid metabolism in the Nigerian for early diagnosis, prevention and management of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and its associated diseases. Study Design: Cohort study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Medici...

Background: Susceptibility of sickle cell disease subjects to various infectious agents is on the increase, but information relating SCD to allergic condition is scarce. Hence, assessment of immunoglobulin status in SCD children may provide useful information to improve management of SCD children. Objectives: To determine the levels of immunoglobul...

font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Background: Exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) from burning biomass causes 2 million yearly deaths in wome...

Background: Access to clean energy is a basic requirement in developed countries. Yet, over 3 billion people worldwide, mostly women and children in developing countries depend on biomass fuel for their cooking and energy needs. The smoke emanating from cooking with biomass causes indoor air pollution which pose significant health risks. Methods: A...

Rationale: The global increase in the prevalence of asthma has been attributed to "Westernization". Specifically, nutritional factors, obesity, exposure to house dust mites and being African American have been implicated. There is paucity of reliable data on the role of nutrition and other factors on asthma trend and severity in Sub−Saharan Africa....

Rationale Despite a heightened Th−2 response to the presence of helminthic infections in developing countries, the prevalence of atopy and asthma is supposed to be low. Intestinal helminthic infection has been postulated to lead to production of blocking antibodies that inhibit the inflammatory response which characterizes asthma. Objective To dete...

Background: Asthma is less common in countries outside the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD). One suggested mechanism for this disparity is the early life exposure to helminthic infection in non-OECD countries due to predominant Th1 immune response, which down-regulates Th2 responses required for exacerbation of asthma. T...

Aims: To compare the mean levels of plasma total Homocysteine (tHct), Methylmalonic acid (MMA), vitamin B12, folate and haematological parameters(PCV, WBC, Platelet counts, MCV, MCH, MCHC) among adult SCA patients in steady state (SS), SCA in (VOC) and age and sex matched controls in order to determine significant differences. Study Design: Case-co...

Domestic cooking with biomass fuels exposes women and children to pollutants that impair health. The objective of the study was to investigate the extent of household air pollution from biomass fuels and the effectiveness of stove intervention to improve indoor air quality, exposure-related health problems, and lung function. We conducted a communi...

Exposure to particulate matter from burning biomass fuels is believed to affect oxidant-antioxidant balance and to induce oxidative stress. Fifty-nine mother-child pairs from 59 households that used firewood exclusively for cooking in three rural communities in southwest Nigeria underwent blood test for albumin, pre-albumin, retinol-binding protein...

Background: The effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on the immune system is well documented however; its impact on the nutritional and immunological qualities of the breast milk is scarce. AIM: Levels of some essential trace metals, albumin and antioxidant status in the plasma and breast milk of Nigerian HIV-infected lactating mothers we...

The effect of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) on the immune system is well documented however; its impact on the nutritional and immunological qualities of the breast milk is scarce. Levels of some essential trace metals, albumin and antioxidant status in the plasma and breast milk of Nigerian HIV-infected lactating mothers were determined. Esse...

Abstract Introduction Some pathologic autoantibodies are useful in the diagnosis of autoimmune liver diseases. There is dearth of literature on the prevalence and pattern of autoantibodies in black population of Africans with liver disease, and none from Nigeria. This study sought to determine the prevalence and pattern of autoantibodies among pati...

Metabolic syndrome (MS) amplifies hypertension (HTN) associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). MS components and other CVD risk measures were investigated in different stages of hypertension. 534 apparently healthy Nigerian traders aged 18-105 years were participants of a cohort study. The International Diabetes Federation (20...

This study evaluated the effect of vitamins with antioxidant activity on the effect of Dichlorvos (2, 2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate), an organophosphorus compound used in pest control on mammalian organs. Literature is scanty on the histopathological effects of inhalationally administered dichlorvos, especially of the formulations used in Nige...

Studies have shown that allergens are important sensitizing agents in asthma, but the study on prevalence of allergy markers in Nigerian asthmatic patients is scarce. Also, no study on serum concentration of allergen specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in Nigerian was encountered. This study was therefore designed to investigate this dearth of knowledg...

Pregnancy and malnutrition influence the severity or trend of malaria especially in sub-Saharan Africa where parasitic infections are highly predominant. This study was used to evaluate the combined effects of low protein diet and pregnancy on the course of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Thirty female BALB/c mice were divided into six groups...

To determine the levels of salivary immunoglobulin classes in Nigerian smokers and non-smokers with periodontitis. Sixty-nine individuals were recruited into this study after obtaining informed consent. They were subdivided into three groups that consisted of 20 (aged 46 ± 11 years) cigarette smokers with periodontitis (S+P); 24 (40 ± 12 years) smo...

AIM: To determine the levels of salivary immunoglobulin classes in Nigerian smokers and non-smokers with periodontitis. METHODS: Sixty-nine individuals were recruited into this study after obtaining informed consent. They were subdivided into three groups that consisted of 20 (aged 46 ± 11 years) cigarette smokers with periodontitis (S+P); 24 (40...

Background: Cigarette smoking is a worldwide social epidemic and it is one of the main causes of preventable death and disability. Gingivitis, periodontitis, pocket depth, attachment loss, alveolar bone loss, and tooth loss are some of oral pathologies commonly found in cigarette smokers. The aim of this study was to explore, for the fi rst time am...

The immune system is central in the body’s defense against non-self. Immunoglobulins and acute phase proteins have been reported to play active roles in carcinogenesis. This prospective longitudinal study was carried out to determine the state of humoral immunity in Nigerian oral cancer patients relative to controls. Twenty newly diagnosed untreate...

Relationship between infections and human breast milk still requires more research especially, in developing countries. This study aims to evaluate the effects of HIV infection on immunologic factors in the breast milk and plasma of HIV infected lactating mothers. Plasma and breast milk concentrations of immunoglobulins G, A, M and E, caeruloplasmi...

Considerable overlap exists in the value of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA) in both prostate cancer (Pca) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Developing an effective biochemical screening test that will complement PSA assay could reduce the associated cost of care and give timely attention to prostate cancer patients even when they are st...

To provide information on the usefulness of salivary immunoglobulin classes in the diagnosis of periodontitis. About 5 ml of unstimulated saliva was collected from 25 newly diagnosed subjects with periodontitis and 21 sex/age-matched apparently healthy individuals into plain sample bottles. The samples were collected between 9 am and 11 am at least...

Plasma Nitric oxide concentration was determined in 50 wistar rats exposed to 2,2dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (DDVP) by inhalation. The animals were divided into ten groups of 5 rats per group.The groups were as follows; one unexposed group, six groups exposed to DDVP for 1 week, 2 weeks,3 weeks,4 weeks,5 weeks and 6 weeks in a poorly ventilate...

Rationale: Factors affecting asthma course are not clearly elucidated in urban communities in developing countries. Furthermore, the interaction between factors such as atopy, environmental exposure, urbanization, and helminthic infections in modulating asthma have not been well investigated. Objectives: To determine factors, which affect asthma...

Ticks are important disease vectors that can cause considerable economic losses by affecting animal health and productivity, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and diversity of bacterial and protozoan tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from the vegetation and cattle in Nigeria by PCR....

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MS) increases the risk of developing type-2 diabetes (DM2) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and it is thought to be prevalent in Nigeria. This study aims at determining the prevalence of MS and its component risk factors among apparently healthy traders in a local market in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: 534 apparently h...

The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) and certain acute phase proteins (caeruloplasmin, transferrin, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein) in Nigerian subjects after short and prolonged exercises. A total of 57 subjects (34 males and 23 females) between ages of 19 and 45 years participated in this study and were divide...

Acute leukaemia are usually rapidly progressive with death often occurring in a few weeks to a few months in untreated patients as a result of abnormal hematopoietic function as well as impaired immune response. The risk of relapse which remains in 20% of patients in remission calls for more research on acute leukaemia. This study therefore, evalua...

The incorporation of nutritional screening and comprehensive assessments of oxidative stress is increasingly recognised as imperative in the development of standards for quality care in oncology. This study evaluated the levels of nitric oxide (NO), some essential trace metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, and Se), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondiald...

Background/Objective: Skin lightening is a common practice in various black communities worldwide. This affects the epidermal layer of the skin that plays important role in innate immune function of the skin. This study was carried out to assess immunologic skin tests and hematological indices in the users of skin lightening creams.

Parasitosis is a major health problem in Nigeria with 50% prevalence among urban dwellers and 68% prevalence among rural population. Serum IgE differs with allergy and chronicity of infection but information on IgE levels in humans with different classes of parasites is scarce. Stool and blood specimens collected from apparently healthy, asymptomat...

Factors affecting the course of asthma are not clearly understood in rural and urban communities within low-resource countries. Furthermore, the interactions between atopy, environmental exposure, and helminthic infections in modulating asthma have not been well investigated. To conduct a feasibility study to examine the relationship between atopy...

The levels of plasma immunoglobulin classes (IgG, A and M) and acute phase proteins (α 2-macroglobulin (A2MG), C-reactive protein (CRP)) were determined using single radial immunodiffusion method. Also, determined in the plasma of the subjects were antioxidant vitamins (vitamins C and E) using spectrophotometric method. The participants were 30 sub...

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Undernourishment in HIV infected individuals exacerbates immunosuppression, acceleration of HIV replication and CD4 + T cell depletion. The production of human milk (lactogenesis) is dependent on factors in the blood therefore deranged blood parameters in HIV patients are expected to reflect in the components of breast milk. Study on effects of HIV...

Nutritional deprivation in the early stage of life increases the risk of developing schizophrenia. Oxidative stress, disturbed thinking and irrational behavior which are common to schizophrenic patients may be a result of changes in the levels of certain trace metals. Twenty (20) healthy volunteers and a total of thirty-five (35) schizophrenic pati...

Aim: Elevated HbF, among other biological and environmental factors, is responsible for decrease in mortality in sickle cell anaemia (SCA). This study determined the levels of HbF in adult SCA patients in steady state compared with HbAA controls. HbF was discussed in line with the clinical course of the disease so as to emphasize the relevance of...

The present study was designed to investigate if the presence of asymptomatic malaria parasiteamia in pregnant women will compromise their ability to respond to full dose of tetanus toxoid immunization during their antenatal clinic visits. Hence, 90 apparently healthy pregnant women who had completed the tetanus toxoid immunization during the curre...

The effects of pulmonary tuberculosis on nutritional and antioxidants status was determined in thirty-one patients attending Chest Clinic, Oyo State Hospital, Jericho, Ibadan Nigeria by assessing the levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, uric acid, vitamin C, vitamin E and total antioxidant...

Abstract: Crystalline silica has recently been reported to act as an adjuvant which increases inflammation and antibody production. On the basis of new knowledge, it is possible that cement dust may have effects on the immune functions of cement factory workers. Previous studies on Nigerian cement factory workers were concentrated on the pulmonary...

Aim: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited haemoglobin (Hb) disorder associated with vaso-occlusive events, oxidative stress, high energy demand, and endothelial dysfunction. The endothelium plays a central role in the regulation of vascular homeostasis by releasing nitric oxide (NO) among other factors. Therefore, the objective of this study w...