The Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria was established in 1981 through law No. 4 passed by the Imo State House of Assembly.The university admitted the first intake of 392 pioneer students on 23 October, 1981.After the creation of Abia State in 1991, the Uturu campus of the university became the Abia State University.Imo State University is a fully functional university. Most of the programmes of the university have obtained full accreditation from National Universities Commission (NUC) of Nigeria.The result of the 1999/2000 accreditation exercise of the National Universities Commission (NUC) confirmed the high rate and acceptance of the university by the Nigerian public. The university was ranked first among all state universities in Nigeria and the 10th overall among both state and federal universities. Imo state indigenes in Imo State University were granted free education during the tenure of the then Governor Rochas Okorocha but the programme stopped in 2016. This was announced by the Acting Vice Chancellor of IMSU, Professor Adaobi Obasi through the Registrar, Professor Emeka Ejinkonye, who stated that the students of Imo origin would henceforth pay a token for certain services in the school.Imo State University at Owerri was temporary accommodated within the campus of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education from May to December 1992.[citation needed] The University later moved to its own premises of four building within the Federal University of Technology Owerri, at the Lake Nwaebere Campus. At the translocation of the Federal University to the permanent site, Ihiagwa near Owerri, the Lake Nwaebere Campus of that university was then acquired for Imo State University. The first batch of students was allocated to the Imo State University by JAMB in February 1993. The National Universities Commission also formally approved the re-establishment of the University in 1992 at the Lake Nwaebere Campus.[citation needed] Today, Imo State University has many Faculties and Departments that graduate students every year. The University produces First Class, Second Class and Third Class graduates. These students are absorbed into the labour force after going through one your National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The best graduated students are usually given award and automatic employment in the university.Consequently, the government of Chief Evan Enwerem, in April, 1991 did not waste time in filling the vacuum by re-establishing the University in Owerri. Two options were considered by the government in the re-establishment of Imo State University at Owerri. The first option was to move at once, all staff and students at the various stages of their programmes in Uturu who want to remain in Imo State University, now in Owerri. The second option was to rebuild the University at Owerri over specified period of time. The second option was adopted after various constitutions by government then, and a target period of five years within which to complete re-establishment of the University at Owerri was considered. Professor T. O. C. Ndubizu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka was then appointed the Vice-Chancellor with the responsibility of relocating and re-establishing Imo State University.
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant enteric bacteria is a significant public health concern, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to characterize enteric bacterial isolates from environmental samples and determine their antibiotic resistance patterns. Bacterial isolates were obtained from environmental samples and characterized using cultural, morphological, and biochemical tests. Molecular identification was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted using the disc diffusion method. Four bacterial species were identified: Escherichia coli strains NE1127 and JKHS016 (ECNE11 and ECJ6), Klebsiella pneumoniae strains 2014C06-125 and Kp2092 (KP2 and KPK2). The isolates exhibited varying levels of resistance to antibiotics, including penicillin (PN), streptomycin (S), cephalexin (CEP), sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT), augmentin (AU), and ciprofloxacin (CN). The overall prevalence of antibiotic resistance was 54.72%, with 65.52% of isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in resistance patterns among the isolates (p = 0.021). The study highlights the presence of multidrug-resistant enteric bacteria in the environment, posing a risk to public health. There is a need for regular monitoring of antibiotic resistance patterns and implementation of effective control measures. This study provides valuable data on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant enteric bacteria in environmental samples, emphasizing the need for judicious use of antibiotics and proper waste management practices.
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a significant pathogen responsible for various infections, and its increasing antibiotic resistance poses a major public health concern. This study aimed to isolate and characterize K. pneumoniae from clinical samples and evaluate the antibacterial activity of spinigerin, an antimicrobial peptide, against multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae isolates. K. pneumoniae isolates were characterized using cultural, morphological, biochemical, and molecular tests. Antibiotic resistance profiles were determined using standard methods. The antibacterial activity of spinigerin was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Three K. pneumoniae strains A27782, K60365 and DD02425 (KPA2, KPK6, and KPDD) were identified, exhibiting high and variable levels of multidrug resistance. Spinigerin showed potent, strain-dependent antibacterial activity against the MDR isolates, with MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.00781 to 0.25000 mg/mL and 0.06250 to 0.50000 mg/mL, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in susceptibility patterns among the isolates (p < 0.05). Spinigerin exhibits promising antibacterial activity against MDR K. pneumoniae isolates, suggesting its potential as an alternative therapeutic agent against antibiotic-resistant infections. This study highlights the potential of spinigerin as a novel antibacterial agent against MDR K. pneumoniae, providing a new avenue for combating antibiotic resistance.
The growing menace of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae has undermined treatment effectiveness, demanding novel approaches. Termicin, a termite gut-derived peptide antibiotic, exhibits potent activity against K. pneumoniae, presenting a promising alternative to counter antibiotic resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes.This study aimed to isolate and characterize K. pneumoniae from clinical samples and evaluate the antibacterial activity of termicin, a peptide antibiotic from termite gut, against multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae isolates. K. pneumoniae isolates were characterized using cultural, morphological, biochemical, and molecular tests. Antibiotic resistance profiles were determined using standard methods. The antibacterial activity of termicin was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) assays. Three K. pneumoniae strains A27782, K60365 and DD02425 (KPA2, KPK6, and KPDD) were identified, exhibiting multidrug resistance to various antibiotics. Termicin showed potent antibacterial activity against the MDR isolates, with MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.00781 to 0.25000 mg/mL and 0.06250 to 0.50000 mg/mL, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in susceptibility patterns among the isolates (p < 0.05). Termicin exhibits promising antibacterial activity against MDR K. pneumoniae isolates, suggesting its potential as an alternative therapeutic agent against antibiotic-resistant infections. This study highlights the potential of termicin as a novel antibacterial agent against MDR K. pneumoniae, providing a new avenue for combating antibiotic resistance.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics (MPs) increasingly co-occur in aquatic ecosystems, creating complex mixture-toxicity scenarios that cannot be captured by single-contaminant frameworks. While several studies report synergistic interactions where combined effects exceed predictions from individual exposures, evidence also demonstrates additive and antagonistic outcomes depending on PFAS congener, polymer type, particle size, environmental conditions, and species tested. This review synthesizes current knowledge on these diverse interaction patterns and the physicochemical mechanisms behind them, including adsorption–desorption dynamics, vector-mediated transport, altered bioavailability, and stress-pathway modulation. Although synergistic effects are frequently emphasized in emerging literature, mixed outcomes are common and often environmentally driven, raising concerns about extrapolating synergy as the dominant response. Although single-contaminant exposures of PFAS and MPs are relatively well studied, most research on their combined toxicity remains restricted to short-term, laboratory-scale experiments that do not reflect long-term or multigenerational exposure patterns, or real-world ecological complexity. Critical research gaps therefore include environmentally realistic exposure scenarios, trophic-level interactions, multigenerational effects, and the influence of climate-driven stressors. To support ecologically meaningful risk assessment, mixture-focused approaches and standardized protocols are urgently needed. By integrating studies reporting synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects, this review provides a balanced framework for understanding the real consequences of PFAS–MPs co-exposure and emphasizes why mixture-based assessments are essential for protecting aquatic ecosystems and human health.
Abnormal haemoglobin polymerisation, red blood cell deformation, chronic haemolysis, vaso-occlusion, and systemic inflammation are the hallmarks of sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic hemoglobinopathy. Many patients in developing nations rely on medicinal plants as supplemental therapies despite advancements in management. The tropical medicinal plant Gongronema latifolium Benth., which is commonly used in West Africa, has drawn notice for its haematopoietic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antisickling qualities. This article examines G. latifolium's pharmacodynamics in relation to sickle cell disease, emphasising its bioactive phytochemicals and modes of action. The plant contains flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, and phenolic compounds that can reduce inflammation, improve erythrocyte membrane stability, modulate oxidative stress, and inhibit haemoglobin S polymerisation, according to experimental research. These pharmacodynamic effects imply that G. latifolium might be helpful in sickle cell disease treatment. To confirm its effectiveness, find the best dosage, and create safety profiles for long-term therapeutic use, more clinical trials are needed.
