Asian Journal of Immunology

Dose-dependent Immunomodulatory Effects of Edible Chalk (Nzu) in Phenylhydrazine- induced Immune Dysfunction in Female Wistar Rats

Kanayo Mercy Odia, Joshua Ebirieng Gogo, Nicholas Asiwe — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Edible chalk (Nzu), a geophagic kaolin widely consumed in several African communities, particularly among women, has been associated with both perceived health benefits and potential toxicological risks. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of edible chalk in a phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced model of oxidative stress and immune disruption in female Wistar rats.

Methods: This study adopted a randomized controlled experimental design. Thirty adults female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups (n = 5): normal control; PHZ-only group (0.5 ml intraperitoneally); PHZ plus Fesolate (65 mg/kg, positive control); and three treatment groups receiving PHZ followed by edible chalk at doses of 400, 600, or 800 mg/kg body weight, administered orally once daily for 22 days. Immunological assessment included serum quantification of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and IL-6) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and automated immunoturbidimetric techniques. Splenic histoarchitecture was examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining to assess structural and cellular integrity.

Results: PHZ administration induced marked immune dysregulation, evidenced by significantly elevated IL-6 levels and pronounced reductions in immunoglobulin concentrations, indicating concurrent inflammation and humoral immunosuppression. Treatment with edible chalk at 400 and 600 mg/kg significantly ameliorated these alterations. The 600 mg/kg dose demonstrated the most effective immunorestorative activity, normalizing immunoglobulin levels, suppressing inflammatory cytokine expression, and promoting recovery of splenic white and red pulp architecture. Conversely, the 800 mg/kg dose exacerbated immune dysfunction, resulting in further immunoglobulin depletion, heightened IL-6 expression, and severe splenic histopathological damage characterized by lymphoid depletion and architectural distortion.

Conclusion: Edible chalk exhibits a biphasic, dose-dependent immunological effect, with moderate doses conferring immunoprotective and anti-inflammatory benefits, while excessive intake induces significant immunotoxicity, underscoring important public health concerns regarding its unregulated consumption, especially among pregnant women.

Factors Associated with Uptake of Rotavirus Vaccination among Mothers of Children under Five in Umuahia North, Abia State, Nigeria

Uka-Kalu, Ezinne Chioma, Okeke, Onyinyechi Okore — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhea among children under five years of age globally, with Nigeria bearing a significant burden. Despite the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine into Nigeria’s national immunisation schedule, uptake remains suboptimal in many regions.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the factors that influence the uptake of rotavirus vaccination among mothers of under-five children in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, involving 384 mothers selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The findings revealed that only 93 (24.2%) of the children had received at least one dose of the rotavirus vaccine, and completion of the three-dose schedule was rare. Awareness and knowledge of the vaccine were notably low, as only 24.2% of mothers had ever heard of it, with health workers being the main source of information. The major reasons for non-uptake included lack of awareness (31.3%), distance to health facilities (15.6%), and fear of side effects (9.6%). Factors significantly influencing uptake included occupation and prior awareness of the vaccine (p < 0.05), while other socio-demographic variables were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The study concludes that low awareness, inadequate health education, and access-related challenges significantly hinder rotavirus vaccine uptake. Strengthening community health education, expanding vaccine access, and empowering healthcare workers with better communication tools are recommended to improve coverage and reduce rotavirus-related morbidity and mortality in the area.

Immunological and Metabolic Studies on Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Zainab Sabah Khuraibat Al-Maryani, Reham Gharib, Hayder Ali Muhammed — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: In early childhood, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune illness marked by the death of pancreatic β-cells by the immune system. Autoantibodies that are important indicators of illness etiology and diagnosis include insulin autoantibodies (IAA), glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibodies (GAD65Ab), and insulinoma-associated antigen-2 antibodies (IA-2Ab).

Objective: This study evaluates the prevalence of diabetes-related autoantibodies (GAD65Ab, IA-2Ab, and IAA) and assesses metabolic parameters, including random blood sugar (RBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), ketone bodies, and C-peptide levels in children under five years of age with T1DM compared with healthy controls.

Methods: This case–control study included 60 children diagnosed with T1DM and 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, all aged <5 years. Serum autoantibodies were measured using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). RBS, HbA1c, ketone bodies, and C-peptide levels were assessed using standard biochemical methods. Statistical analyses were performed to compare patients and controls.

Results: Children with T1DM showed significantly higher positivity rates for GAD65Ab, IA-2Ab, and IAA compared with controls (p < 0.001). Mean RBS and HbA1c levels were markedly elevated in patients, while C-peptide levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.001). Ketone bodies were detected in a substantial proportion of patients but were absent in controls.

Conclusion: Autoantibodies GAD65Ab, IA-2Ab, and IAA are highly prevalent in children under five years with T1DM and are associated with poor glycemic control and reduced β-cell function. Early identification of these markers may support timely diagnosis and management of T1DM in young children.

Prevalence of MecA Positive Staphylococcus aureus and PVL Gene among Wound Isolates at a Tertiary Hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

T. Sampson, C.J. Ugboma, J. Alexander, L. Giami — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Staphylococcus aureus is a prevalent pathogen in both hospital and community settings and is frequently implicated in wound infections. In light of its clinical significance, the research was carried out to determine the prevalence of mec-A positive Staphylococcus aureus and PVL gene carriage among wound isolates at a tertiary hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The study involved 150 specimens from different types of wounds such as caesarean section, traumatic wound, surgical wound, scrotal wound, diabetic foot, plastic surgery burns). The specimens were collected and subjected to standard bacteriological procedures for a period of six months. Pure isolates were characterized at the molecular level following the given steps: DNA extraction, PCR amplification, Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, 16S rRNA sequencing, sequence analysis and phylogenic tree construction. Data obtained showed 58 (38.7%) of the wound cases were infected with Staphylococcus aureus isolates. The study also revealed the presence of mecA gene in all the nine (9) isolates screened. The molecular analysis indicated the presence of the PVL (lukS-PV/LukF-PV) gene in 67% of the isolates screened. Data obtained from the study warrants serious public health intervention targeted at for proper antibiotics stewardship and the management of wound cases in clinical settings.

Immunoinformatics-driven Design and in silico Validation of a Multi-epitope Subunit Vaccine Targeting Norovirus

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Norovirus, a non-enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Caliciviridae family, is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) globally, accounting for approximately 19–21 million cases annually in the United States alone. The rapid emergence of genetically diverse variants, including GII.17, poses significant challenges to conventional vaccine development. Therefore, alternative strategies capable of inducing broad and effective immune responses are urgently needed.

Methods: An immunoinformatics-driven approach was employed to design a multi-epitope subunit vaccine candidate against Norovirus. Three viral proteins—capsid protein (A7YK10), small protein (A7YK11), and polyprotein (A7YK09)—were selected for epitope prediction using the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB). Predicted B-cell and T-cell epitopes were screened for antigenicity (VaxiJen), allergenicity (AllerTOP), toxicity (ToxinPred), and global population coverage. The finalized construct was evaluated for physicochemical properties (ProtParam), structural integrity (secondary and tertiary structure prediction, Ramachandran analysis, QMEAN scoring), molecular docking interactions with MHC class I, MHC class II, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), molecular dynamics stability, immune response simulation, and codon optimization for expression feasibility.

Results: A 433-amino-acid multi-epitope construct incorporating six B-cell, six cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), and nine helper T lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes was generated. The construct demonstrated high predicted antigenicity and broad global population coverage (98.96%). Structural validation indicated favorable stereochemical quality, with 88.9% residues in the most favored regions of the Ramachandran plot and a QMEAN Z-score of −0.97. Docking analysis revealed strong binding affinity, particularly with TLR4 (HADDOCK score −103.9 ± 11.0), and molecular dynamics simulation confirmed stability of the vaccine–TLR4 complex over 100 ns.

Conclusion: The designed multi-epitope vaccine construct exhibits promising immunogenic, structural, and interaction profiles in silico, supporting its potential as a candidate for further experimental validation in vitro and in vivo.

Phytochemical Constituents and in-vivo Immunomodulatory Role of Sclerocarya Birrea in Benzene Induced Leukemia Mouse Model

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pharmacological exploitation of natural compounds has lead to the development of non-synthetic and non-toxic agents that are promising at ameliorating the menace of neoplastic diseases such as leukemia. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical and anti-leukemic effect of Sclerocarya birrea bark (Met.S.b) methanol extract on biomarker in benzene induced leukemia mice. Leukemia was induced in mice by intravenous injection of 0.2 mL benzene solution 48 hourly for 4 weeks. Methanolic extract of Sclerocarya birrea bark was administered independently to respective treatment mice groups. A standard anti-leukemic drug (Doxorubicin and Ara-C) was also used to treat appropriate mice groups. Clinical examination of biochemical parameters were employed to assess the leukemia burden following analysis of the mice blood samples on Abacus 380 (Diatron) automated instrument. Free radical scavenging activity of Sclerocarya birrea methanol extract, other Leukemia biomarkers such as c-reactive protein, Uric Acid, Electrolytes, lactate dehydrogenase, Liver enzymes and body weights were also determined. The results obtained in benzene-induced leukaemic mice treated with Sclerocarya birrea extracts compared favourably with those observed in groups receiving the standard drug treatment (p < 0.05). The plant extract exhibited significant chemopreventive and anti-leukaemic activities comparable to those of the conventional anti-leukaemic drug (p < 0.05), as evidenced by the improvement of benzene-induced leukaemic conditions in the treated mice. These therapeutic effects may be attributed to the high concentrations of bioactive phytochemicals, including phenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids, present in the extract. The findings of this study suggest that Sclerocarya birrea has potential as a biologically active, natural, and low-toxicity candidate for the development of novel anticancer agents.

Malaria in Pregnancy Induces a Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Milieu: Comparative Analysis with Non-infected Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women

Emmanuel Ifeanyi Obeagu, Okwudili B. Nwankwo — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Malaria in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, partly driven by immune dysregulation and altered cytokine responses. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines influence disease severity, yet their precise profiles in malaria-infected pregnant women remain incompletely characterized in malaria-endemic regions.

Objective: To compare plasma cytokine levels (TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-4) among malaria-infected pregnant women (MP+), malaria-uninfected pregnant women (MP−), and non-pregnant controls.

Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study enrolled 150 participants (50 MP+, 50 MP−, and 50 non-pregnant controls) recruited in Owerri, Nigeria. Malaria infection was confirmed by Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood smear microscopy, with rapid diagnostic tests employed for supplemental confirmation when necessary. Plasma concentrations of TNF, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-4 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey post-hoc tests.

Results: Malaria-infected pregnant women exhibited significantly higher TNF (13.54 ± 2.05 pg/mL) and IL-6 (25.1 ± 4.9 pg/mL) compared with malaria-uninfected pregnant women (TNF: 11.25 ± 2.10 pg/mL; IL-6: 19.8 ± 2.9 pg/mL; p < 0.001) and non-pregnant controls (TNF: 10.61 ± 1.73 pg/mL; IL-6: 19.9 ± 3.7 pg/mL; p < 0.001). IL-10 was moderately elevated in MP+ women (26.15 ± 4.21 pg/mL) relative to MP− (22.75 ± 11.2 pg/mL; p = 0.023) and controls (23.08 ± 13.5 pg/mL; p = 0.024). IL-4 concentrations did not differ significantly among the groups. ANOVA confirmed significant overall group differences for TNF (F = 28.3, p < 0.001), IL-6 (F = 44.7, p < 0.001), and IL-10 (F = 4.0, p = 0.021), but not IL-4 (F = 0.94, p = 0.39).

Conclusion: During pregnancy, malaria infection elicits a predominantly pro-inflammatory cytokine response, marked by increased TNF and IL-6 alongside a compensatory rise in IL-10, while IL-4 levels remain stable. This immune imbalance highlights potential biomarkers for disease severity and identifies TNF, IL-6, and IL-10 as promising targets for therapeutic intervention in malaria-endemic regions.

Challenges in Reaching Full Coverage of Routine Immunization in Nigeria: A Review

Saratu Bashir Aminu, Mujahid Musa, Yusuf Adeiza Kashim — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Routine childhood immunization remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, yet Nigeria continues to experience substantial gaps in coverage, timeliness, and completion of recommended vaccine series. These gaps are not uniform: they cluster by geography, socioeconomic position, maternal education, service accessibility, and health system performance, and they are amplified by insecurity, mobility, and trust deficits. This review synthesizes evidence on routine immunization coverage and its determinants in Nigeria, focusing on multi-level drivers that shape vaccination initiation, continuation, and completion. We highlight consistent demand-side determinants such as caregiver education and empowerment, household wealth, health service utilization, and information exposure; supply-side determinants such as service readiness, health worker practices, vaccine logistics, and missed opportunities; and contextual determinants such as place of residence, subnational inequities, and conflict-related disruption. We further discuss the growing programmatic emphasis on “zero-dose” and under-immunized children, and summarize promising intervention directions including community-engaged delivery, facility-based quality improvement to reduce missed opportunities, and targeted demand-generation combined with reliable service availability. The review concludes that Nigeria’s coverage challenges are best understood as an interaction between household vulnerability and system reliability, mediated by local context. Sustainable gains require integrated strategies that strengthen primary health care delivery, improve data-driven microplanning, reduce dropout through continuity of care, and tailor approaches to high-risk geographies and populations.