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Nandeeta Samad,1 Siddhartha Dutta,2 Temitayo Eniola Sodunke,3 Adiba Fairuz,4 Ashmita Sapkota,5 Zannatul Ferdous Miftah,6 Iffat Jahan,7 Paras Sharma,8 Abdullahi Rabiu Abubakar,9 Adekunle Babajide Rowaiye,10 Angus Nnamdi Oli,10 Jaykaran Charan,2 Salequl Islam,11 Mainul Haque12 1Department of Public Health, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh; 2Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India; 3Department of Anatomy, University of Ilorin, Nigeria; 4Department of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh; 5Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand; 6Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh; 7Department of Physiology, Eastern Medical College, Cumilla, Bangladesh; 8Department of Pharmacognosy, BVM College of Pharmacy, Gwalior, India; 9Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria; 10Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; 11Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh; 12Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Mainul HaqueUnit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, MalaysiaTel +60109265543Email runurono@gmail.comAbstract: The outbreak of pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), later named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), was initiated at Wuhan, Hubei, China, and there was a rapid spread of novel SARS-CoV-2 and the disease COVID-19 in late 2019. The entire world is now experiencing the challenge of COVID-19 infection. However, still very few evidence-based treatment options are available for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 disease. The present review aims to summarize the publicly available information to give a comprehensive yet balanced scientific overview of all the fat-soluble vitamins concerning their role in SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. The roles of different fat-soluble vitamins and micronutrients in combating SARS-CoV-2 infection have been recently explored in several studies. There are various hypotheses to suggest their use to minimize the severity of COVID-19 infection. These vitamins are pivotal in the maintenance and modulation of innate and cell-mediated, and antibody-mediated immune responses. The data reported in recent literature demonstrate that deficiency in one or more of these vitamins compromises the patients’ immune response and makes them more vulnerable to viral infections and perhaps worse disease prognosis. Vitamins A, D, E, and K boost the body’s defense mechanism against COVID-19 infection and specifically prevent its complications such as cytokine storm and other inflammatory processes, leading to increased morbidity and mortality overemphasis. However, more detailed randomized double-blind clinical pieces of evidence are required to define the use of these supplements in preventing or reducing the severity of the COVID-19 infection.Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, fat-soluble vitamins, micronutrients, immune response

Adekunle Babajide Rowaiye,1 Okiemute Ajiroghene Okpalefe,2 Olukemi Onuh Adejoke,3 Joyce Oloaigbe Ogidigo,4 Oluwakemi Hannah Oladipo,5 Amoge Chidinma Ogu,3 Angus Nnamdi Oli,1 Samson Olofinase,2 Onyekachi Onyekwere,6 Abdullahi Rabiu Abubakar,7 Dilshad Jahan,8 Salequl Islam,9 Siddhartha Dutta,10 Mainul Haque11 1Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; 2Department of Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria; 3Department of Medical Biotechnology, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria; 4Bioresources Development Centre, Abuja, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria; 5Bioresources Development Centre, Ilorin, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Kwara State, Nigeria; 6Bioresources Development Centre, Ubulu-Uku, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Delta State, Nigeria; 7Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, 700233, Nigeria; 8Department of Hematology, Asgar Ali Hospital, Gandaria, Dhaka, 1204, Bangladesh; 9Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh; 10Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India; 11Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, MalaysiaCorrespondence: Mainul HaqueUnit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur, 57000, MalaysiaTel +60109265543Email runurono@gmail.comAbstract: The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes an arduous global health challenge, and the increasing number of fatalities calls for the speedy pursuit of a remedy. This review emphasizes the changing aspects of the COVID-19 disease, featuring the cytokine storm’s pathological processes. Furthermore, we briefly reviewed potential therapeutic agents that may modulate and alleviate cytokine storms. The literature exploration was made using PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Google scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases to retrieve the most recent literature on the etiology, diagnostic markers, and the possible prophylactic and therapeutic options for the management of cytokine storm in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 disease. The causative agent, severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), continually threatens the efficiency of the immune system of the infected individuals. As the first responder, the innate immune system provides primary protection against COVID-19, affecting the disease’s progression, clinical outcome, and prognosis. Evidence suggests that the fatalities associated with COVID-19 are primarily due to hyper-inflammation and an aberrant immune function. Accordingly, the magnitude of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1, (IL-6), and tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α) significantly differentiate between mild and severe cases of COVID-19. The early prediction of a cytokine storm is made possible by several serum chemistry and hematological markers. The prompt use of these markers for diagnosis and the aggressive prevention and management of a cytokine release syndrome is critical in determining the level of morbidity and fatality associated with COVID-19. The prophylaxis and the rapid treatment of cytokine storm by clinicians will significantly enhance the fight against the dreaded COVID-19 disease.Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, cytokine storm, hyper-inflammation, fatality

Anthony U Onochie,1 Adaobi Helen Oli,1,2 Angus Nnamdi Oli,3 Obiajulu Christian Ezeigwe,4 Andrew C Nwaka,1 Chukwudi O Okani,5 Princeston Chukwuemeka Okam,6 Chibueze P Ihekwereme,7 Jude Nnaemeka Okoyeh8 1Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria; 2HIV Lab, HIV Care Unit, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu, Anambra State, Nigeria; 4Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; 5Department of Histopathology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku, Awka 420108, Anambra State, Nigeria; 6Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; 7Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; 8Department of Biology and Clinical Laboratory Science, Division of Arts and Sciences, Neumann University, Aston, PA 19014-1298, USACorrespondence: Angus Nnamdi OliDepartment of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Agulu, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State, NigeriaTel +234 8056306927Email an.oli@unizik.edu.ngPurpose: This study evaluated the biochemical effects of ethanol leaves extract on Wistar rats and also shed light on its constituents and phytonutrients.Methods: The ethanolic extract of J. secunda leaves was prepared using conventional methods. Then, proximate and phytochemical analyses of the extracts were carried out using several methods previously reported in the literatures. The biochemical studies were also carried out as reported in previous literatures.Results: The ethanolic leaves extract contains appreciable quantities of phytonutrients and micronutrients as well as phytochemical constituents. The LD50 of the extract was determined to be 3800mg/kg body weight. There was a dose-dependent elevation of the blood sugar in comparison with the control. There was no significant increase on the bilirubin and liver enzymes levels or on the haematological parameters of the lab animals. The extract significantly elevated the lipid profile (P value < 0.0001), the glomerular filtration rate (increased creatinine and blood urea levels – P value < 0.0001), the serum electrolytes and the animals’ weight. There was a significant decrease in the anion gap (P value < 0.01).Conclusion: The ethanol leaf extract of Justicia secunda has negative cardiac and renal effects on Wistar rats, causing increased lipid profile values, creatinine and blood urea levels in the experimental animals compared with control. The LD50 is below the safety level. Caution should be exercised as the biochemical profiles of cardiac and renal effects do not seem to be promising and the LD50 is below the safety level.Keywords: liver function, kidney function, cardiac function, serum electrolytes, Justicia secunda

Angus Nnamdi Oli,1 Uchenna Chukwunonso Ogwaluonye,1 Chinyere Ukamaka Onubogu,2 Abraham Faith Ozumba,1 Obinna Henry Agbaenyi,1 Kenneth Nchekwube Okeke,2 Stanley Kenechukwu Onah,2 Jude C Okoro,3 Christian Chukwuemeka Ifezulike,4 George O Emechebe4 1Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu, Anambra State, Nigeria; 2Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Anambra State, 435101, Nigeria; 3Department of Paediatrics, Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Imo State, 473271, Nigeria; 4Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Awka Campus, Awka, Anambra State, 420108, NigeriaCorrespondence: Chinyere Ukamaka OnuboguDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Anambra State, 435101, NigeriaTel +234 8037165759Email cu.onubogu@unizik.edu.ngBackground: Immunization programs suffer recurrent setbacks in developing countries.Purpose: We evaluated the knowledge and opinion of parents towards childhood immunization.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2400 parents/guardians in two major Anambra cities.Results: The male:female ratio was 1:1 and about two-third (64.3%) of respondents were aged 21– 40 years. The majority were married (85.0%), Christians (88.3%), and had heard about childhood immunization (92.3%) mainly from formal settings (56.5%). A little above half (56.2%) of them correctly cited “disease prevention” as reason for childhood immunization. A larger proportion of those that gave this correct response worked in tertiary institutions and had post-secondary school education (p< 0.001). The majority of the respondents appropriately agreed or disagreed with opinions that can influence immunization uptake. However, some of them did not agree that immunization was important during the first year of life (16.7%) or afterwards (23.1%); to ensure full immunization (22.8%) or maintain proper immunization records (25.6%) of their children; and to actively support childhood immunization (33.9%). Likewise, some respondents would withhold immunization for perceived fear of adverse reactions (30.7%) or if naturally acquired infection was perceived to confer better protection (28.2%). Respondents who worked in tertiary institutions, and had higher education or family income were more likely to agree or disagree appropriately to opinions. Males had comparable opinions with females although females seemed to do better in opinions that reflect actual vaccination practice.Conclusion: Awareness of the term “immunization” was high although knowledge of its indication did not measure up with this awareness, especially among the less educated. Most parents, especially those who worked in tertiary institutions,r had higher income, or education, were favorably disposed towards opinions that could positively influence immunization uptake. Efforts should be intensified at improving awareness on the indication, benefits and safety of immunization, and improving public opinions in order to optimize childhood immunization.Keywords: children, vaccination, parents, acceptability, Southeast Nigeria

Angus Nnamdi Oli,1 MaryRose Ukamaka Ibeabuchi,1 Ifeoma Bessie Enweani,2 Stephen Chijioke Emencheta1,3 1Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria; 3Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 41001, NigeriaCorrespondence: Ifeoma Bessie Enweani Tel +234-8037743790Email ib.enweani@unizik.edu.ngBackground: Pharmaceutical products need to be of good quality and it is even more critical when it comes to life saving medicaments like infusions.Objective: This research surveyed the quality fitness of some ciprofloxacin and metronidazole infusion samples marketed in South-eastern of Nigeria.Methods: Using Official Compendial methods, microbiological quality, active pharmaceutical ingredients quantitation, pH and particle count tests were evaluated on eighty infusion bottles (from eight pharmaceutical companies) of each of the two drugs.Results: Out of the sixteen brands tested, 2 metronidazole brands and 1 ciprofloxacin brand (representing 18.75% of the total 16 brands/makes) were contaminated while the remaining 13 brands (81.25%) were found sterile. The active pharmaceutical ingredients quantitative assay showed that all the brands of ciprofloxacin infusion were between the 95% and 105% limit of label claim while one metronidazole brand has < 95– 110% limit label claim. Six brands each of the two drugs evaluated fall below the acceptable pH range [ciprofloxacin (3.5– 4.6) and metronidazole (4.8– 5.2)], while the other two brands of both drugs passed the test. In the antibacterial study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were susceptible to the ciprofloxacin (5 μg). However, Salmonella typhi recorded inhibition zone diameters within resistant and intermediate range. Peptostrepococcus spp was susceptible (at minimum inhibitory concentrations of 100 μg/mL) to all the brands of metronidazole, while none of the brands were effective on Lactobacillus spp. All the brands passed the test for particulate contamination. The particles size range was < 10μm.Conclusion: About eighty-one percent (81.25%) of the infusions have acceptable good microbiological quality. However, 18.75% that failed the tests is a concern knowing that these are lifesaving products.Keywords: intravenous infusions, quality assessment, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, quality medicines

Angus Nnamdi Oli,1 Wilson Okechukwu Obialor,1 Martins Ositadimma Ifeanyichukwu,2,3 Damian Chukwu Odimegwu,4 Jude Nnaemeka Okoyeh,5 George Ogonna Emechebe,6 Samson Adedeji Adejumo,1 Gordon C Ibeanu7 1Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria; 2Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra, Nigeria; 3Department of Medical Laboratory Science,Faculty of Health Science and Technology, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Nigeria; 4Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria; 5Department of Biology and Clinical Laboratory Science, Division of Arts and Sciences, Neumann University, Aston, PA 19014-1298, USA; 6Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Awka, Nigeria; 7Department of Pharmaceutical Science, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USACorrespondence: Angus Nnamdi Oli Email an.oli@unizik.edu.ngAbstract: The use of vaccines have resulted in a remarkable improvement in global health. It has saved several lives, reduced treatment costs and raised the quality of animal and human lives. Current traditional vaccines came empirically with either vague or completely no knowledge of how they modulate our immune system. Even at the face of potential vaccine design advance, immune-related concerns (as seen with specific vulnerable populations, cases of emerging/re-emerging infectious disease, pathogens with complex lifecycle and antigenic variability, need for personalized vaccinations, and concerns for vaccines’ immunological safety -specifically vaccine likelihood to trigger non-antigen-specific responses that may cause autoimmunity and vaccine allergy) are being raised. And these concerns have driven immunologists toward research for a better approach to vaccine design that will consider these challenges. Currently, immunoinformatics has paved the way for a better understanding of some infectious disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, immune system response and computational vaccinology. The importance of this immunoinformatics in the study of infectious diseases is diverse in terms of computational approaches used, but is united by common qualities related to host–pathogen relationship. Bioinformatics methods are also used to assign functions to uncharacterized genes which can be targeted as a candidate in vaccine design and can be a better approach toward the inclusion of women that are pregnant into vaccine trials and programs. The essence of this review is to give insight into the need to focus on novel computational, experimental and computation-driven experimental approaches for studying of host–pathogen interactions and thus making a case for its use in vaccine development.Keywords: immunoinformatics, computational vaccinology, vaccine design, emerging infections, immune system; vaccinology

Charge conservation and the Pauli exclusion principle result from fundamental symmetries in the standard model of particle physics, and are typically taken as axiomatic. High-precision tests for small violations of these symmetries could point to new physics. Here we consider three models for violation of these processes, which would produce detectable ionization in the high-purity germanium detectors of the Majorana Demonstrator experiment. Using a 37.5 kg yr exposure, we report a lower limit on the electron mean lifetime, improving the previous best limit for the e→νeνe¯νe decay channel by more than an order of magnitude. We also present searches for two types of violation of the Pauli exclusion principle, setting limits on the probability of an electron to be found in a symmetric quantum state.

With excellent energy resolution and ultralow-level radiogenic backgrounds, the high-purity germanium detectors in the Majorana Demonstrator enable searches for several classes of exotic dark matter (DM) models. In this work, we report new experimental limits on keV-scale sterile neutrino DM via the transition magnetic moment from conversion to active neutrinos ν_{s}→ν_{a}. We report new limits on fermionic dark matter absorption (χ+A→ν+A) and sub-GeV DM-nucleus 3→2 scattering (χ+χ+A→ϕ+A), and new exclusion limits for bosonic dark matter (axionlike particles and dark photons). These searches utilize the (1-100)-keV low-energy region of a 37.5-kg y exposure collected by the Demonstrator between May 2016 and November 2019 using a set of ^{76}Ge-enriched detectors whose surface exposure time was carefully controlled, resulting in extremely low levels of cosmogenic activation.

ABSTRACT: Subfertility remains a major problem in the dairy industry. Only 35% to 40% of high-yielding dairy cows and 55% to 65% of nonlactating heifers become pregnant after their first service. The immune system plays a critical role in the establishment of pregnancy. However, it can also create challenges for embryo survival and contribute to reduced fertility. We conducted 2 separate experiments to characterize changes in subsets of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and their phenotype over the estrous cycle and early pregnancy in heifers and cows. We used flow cytometry and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR to assess protein and mRNA expression of molecules important for immune function. We observed that CD14+ monocytes and CD3+ T cells tended to be affected by pregnancy status in heifers, whereas CD8B+ lymphocytes and NCR1+ natural killer cells were affected during early pregnancy in cows. Changes in expression of immune function proteins appeared to be greater in heifers than cows. To compare the most striking differences between heifers and cows observed in the initial experiments, we conducted a third experiment where PBL sampled from heifers and cows were simultaneously collected and analyzed under the same experimental conditions. Our results indicate that, compared with heifers, cows had greater mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL6) and AHR protein along with greater percentage of MM20A+ neutrophils and myeloid cells expressing SIRPA, ITGAM, and ITGAX. Moreover, animals that failed to become pregnant showed altered expression of anti-inflammatory molecules compared with cyclic and pregnant animals. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that early pregnancy signaling alters the phenotype of immune cells in the peripheral blood and that differences in the peripheral immune response to pregnancy between cows and heifers exist. Because cows have lower conception rates than heifers, it is possible that a more proinflammatory immune status in peripheral blood may play a role in embryo loss.

Gastroepiploic artery aneurysms (GEAAs) are rare subtype of Splanchnic artery aneurysms (SAAs) with estimated prevalence of 0.4% out of total SAAs. Most common causes include atherosclerosis, trauma, vasculitis, infections, pancreatitis, biliary diseases etc. GEAAs are more common in male and the rupture occurs usually after 50 years. Spontaneous rupture of GEAAs in females are rare and very less cases have been reported till now. A 35 years old female with no significant past medical history and no history of trauma presented to ED with features suggestive of shock. CECT (axial and coronal plane) revealed a focal outpouching in right gastroepiploic artery with evidence of active contrast extravasation suggestive of spontaneous rupture of Right Gastroepiploic artery aneurysm. Patient was resuscitated and Exploratory Laparotomy along with ligation and aneurysmectomy. Spontaneous rupture of GEAAs in young female is very rare. Urgent treatment is needed in case of unstable patients because of high risk of rupture and higher mortality rates of GEAAs.

Abstract Background The relationship between epigenomics and plant specialised metabolism remains largely unexplored despite the fundamental importance of epigenomics in gene regulation and, potentially, yield of products of plant specialised metabolic pathways. The glandular trichomes of Cannabis sativa are an emerging model system that produce large quantities of cannabinoid and terpenoid specialised metabolites with known medicinal and commercial value. To address this lack of epigenomic data, we mapped H3K4 trimethylation, H3K56 acetylation, H3K27 trimethylation post-translational modifications and the histone variant H2A.Z, using chromatin immunoprecipitation, in C. sativa glandular trichomes, leaf, and stem tissues. Corresponding transcriptomic (RNA-seq) datasets were integrated, and tissue-specific analyses conducted to relate chromatin states to glandular trichome specific gene expression. Results The promoters of cannabinoid and terpenoid biosynthetic genes, specialised metabolite transporter genes, defence related genes, and starch and sucrose metabolism were enriched specifically in trichomes for histone marks H3K4me3 and H3K56ac, consistent with active transcription. We identified putative trichome-specific enhancer elements by identifying intergenic regions of H3K56ac enrichment, a histone mark that maintains enhancer accessibility, then associated these to putative target genes using the tissue specific gene transcriptomic data. Bi-valent chromatin loci specific to glandular trichomes, marked with H3K4 trimethylation and H3K27 trimethylation, were associated with genes of MAPK signalling pathways and plant specialised metabolism pathways, supporting recent hypotheses that implicate bi-valent chromatin in plant defence. The histone variant H2A.Z was largely found in intergenic regions and enriched in chromatin that contained genes involved in DNA homeostasis. Conclusion We report the first genome-wide histone post-translational modification maps for C. sativa glandular trichomes, and more broadly for glandular trichomes in plants. Our findings have implications in plant adaptation and stress responses and provide a basis for enhancer-mediated, targeted, gene transformation studies in plant glandular trichomes.

Objective:: To check the effects of the vaccines on the hematopoietic system and weight of mice after immunization. Methods:: The study was done with the Expanded Programme on Immunization vaccines donated by the Ministries of Health of Abia and Imo States of Nigeria. The vaccines were collected from the cold-chain stores and transported in vaccine carriers to the cold-chain facility in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital within 3 hours of collection. They were used to immunize a total of 160 mice. The Ethics Committee of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi of Anambra State, Nigeria approved the protocol. Results:: Mice body weight changes test showed that the mice all had increased body weight at Days 3 and 7 post-immunization and none died during the 7 d post-immunization observation. The percentage weight gains of the mice compared with the control were 69%, 70%, 64%, 63%, 65% and 68% for oral polio vaccine, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus, bacillus Calmette–Guérin, measles, yellow fever and hepatitis B vaccines respectively collected from Imo State. The mice immunized with oral polio vaccine, pentavalent, bacillus Calmette–Guérin, measles, yellow fever and hepatitis B vaccines collected from Abia State had 123%, 114%, 121%, 116%, 142% and 119% weight gain respectively compared with the control. Leukocytosis promoting toxicity test showed that none of the vaccines was able to induce proliferation of leukocytes up to ten folds. Leukopenic toxicity test showed that all the vaccines had an leukopenic toxicity test value higher than 80% of the control (physiological saline). Conclusions:: The vaccine samples tested were safe and did not affect the hematopoietic system adversely. The storage conditions of the vaccines in the States’ cold-chain stores had not compromised the safety of the vaccines.