Biology subjects

Popoola, M. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Popoola, M. A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Erythromycin, Retapamulin, Pyridoxine, Folic acid, and Ivermectin dose-dependently inhibit cytopathic effect, Papain-like Protease, and MPRO of SARS-CoV-2

We previously showed that Erythromycin, Retapamulin, Pyridoxine, Folic acid and Ivermectin inhibit SARS-COV-2 induced cytopathic effect (CPE) in Vero cells. In this study and using validated quantitative neutral red assay, we show that the inhibition of CPE is concentration dependent with Inhibitory Concentration-50(IC50) of 3.27 M, 4.23 M, 9.29 M, 3.19 M and 84.31 M respectively. Furthermore, Erythromycin, Retapamulin, Pyridoxine, Folic acid and Ivermectin dose dependently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like Protease with IC50 of 0.94 M, 0.88 M, 1.14 M, 1.07 M, 1.51 M respectively and the main protease(MPRO) with IC50 of 1.35 M, 1.25 M, 7.36 M, 1.15 M and 2.44 M respectively. The IC50 for all the drugs, except ivermectin, are at the clinically achievable plasma concentration in human, which supports a possible role for the drugs in the management of COVID-19. The lack of inhibition of CPE by Ivermectin at clinical concentrations could be part of the explanation for its lack of effectiveness in clinical trials.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2022

Innovative, rapid, high throughput method for drug repurposing in a pandemic - a case study of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19

Several efforts to repurpose drugs for COVID-19 treatment have largely either failed to identify a suitable agent or agents identified did not translate to clinical use; either because of demonstrated lack of clinical efficacy in trials, inappropriate dose requirements and probably use of inappropriate pre-clinical laboratory surrogates of effectiveness. In this study, we used an innovative algorithm, that incorporates dissemination and implementation considerations, to identify potential drugs for COVID-19 using iterative computational and wet laboratory methods that highlight inhibition of viral induced cytopathic effect (CPE) as a laboratory surrogate of effectiveness. Erythromycin, pyridoxine, folic acid and retapamulin were found to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 induced CPE in Vero cells at concentrations that are clinically achievable. Additional studies may be required to further characterize the inhibitions of CPE and the possible mechanisms. FundingTETFund Covid-19 Special Intervention Research grant(grant number TETFund/DR&D/CE/ SI/COVID-19/UDUS/VOL 1)

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2021

Multivariate Characterization of Morpho-biometric Traits of Indigenous Helmeted Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) in Nigeria

This study was embarked upon to characterise phenotypically helmeted guinea fowls in three agro-ecologies in Nigeria using multivariate approach. Eighteen biometric characters, four morphological indices and eleven qualitative (phaneroptic) traits were investigated in a total of 569 adult birds (158 males and 411 females). Descriptive statistics, non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test followed by the Mann-Whitney U test for post hoc, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), General Linear Model, Canonical Discriminant Analysis, Categorical Principal Component Analysis and Decision Trees were employed to discern the effects of agro-ecological zone and sex on the morphostructural parameters. Agro-ecology had significant effect (P<0.05; P <0.01) on all the colour traits. In general, the most frequently observed colour phenotype of guinea fowl had pearl plumage colour (54.0%), pale red skin colour (94.2%), black shank colour (68.7%), brown eye colour (49.7%), white earlobe colour (54.8%) and brown helmet colour (72.6%). The frequencies of helmet shape and wattle size were significantly influenced (P <0.01) by agro-ecology and sex. Overall, birds from the Southern Guinea Savanna zone had significantly higher values (P <0.05) for most biometric traits compared to their Sudano-Sahelian and Tropical Rainforest counterparts. They were also more compact (120.83{+/-}1.61 vs. 113.96{+/-}0.97 vs. 111.33{+/-}1.19) and had lesser condition index (8.542{+/-}0.17 vs. 9.92{+/-}0.10 vs. 9.61{+/-}0.13) than their counterparts in the two other zones. The interaction between agro-ecology and sex had significant effect (P <0.05) on some quantitative variables. The MCA and discriminant analysis revealed considerable intermingling of the phaneroptic, biometric traits and body indices especially between the Sudano-Sahelian and Tropical Rainforest birds. Inspite of the high level of genetic admixture, the guinea fowl populations could best be distinguished using wing length, body length and eye colour. However, further complementary work on genomics will guide future selection and breeding programmes geared towards improving the productivity, survival and environmental adaptation of indigenous helmeted guinea fowls in the tropics.

genetics↗