Meru University of Science and Technology (or MUST) is a public university in Tigania West Constituency Meru, Kenya. It is in Meru County, 15 kilometres northeast of Meru Town, along the Meru-Makutano-Maua Highway.
Abstract Camel production plays a crucial role in supporting the livelihoods and food security of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities across Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. This review systematically synthesizes peer-reviewed studies and regional reports published between 2000 and 2026, identified through structured database searches and screened using defined inclusion criteria, to evaluate camel milk production systems, traditional utilization, physicochemical and nutritional quality, safety, and value chain dynamics across the region. Camel milk is widely consumed raw or fermented and serves as a key dietary resource. Traditional practices across the region involve spontaneous fermentation for product formation, the production of sour milk products and camel milk tea, and the incorporation of camel milk into various local dishes; however, systematic documentation of these practices remains limited. Compared with bovine and caprine milk, camel milk generally contains lower fat and lactose levels, higher vitamin C and mineral concentrations, and distinct protein characteristics, including lower κ-casein content and the absence of β-lactoglobulin, which influence digestibility and processing properties. Reported fat content ranges from approximately 2.5 to 4.5% and protein from 2.5 to 3.9%, while vitamin C levels substantially exceed those of bovine milk. These features confer nutritional advantages but also create technological challenges, such as weak coagulation and extended fermentation time. Despite increasing urban and cross-border demand, the sector remains constrained by feed shortages, limited veterinary services, inadequate processing facilities, informal marketing systems, and hygiene limitations that contribute to microbial contamination. Key gaps include a lack of harmonized quality standards, limited comparative data on milk composition and microbiological safety, weak cold-chain infrastructure, and poor value-chain coordination. Strengthened hygiene, standardized quality protocols, improved processing and cold-chain systems, and coordinated institutional support are essential to enhance commercialization, safety, and regional integration.
Camel milk has gained increasing scientific and industrial interest due to its distinctive nutritional composition, functional properties, and potential therapeutic benefits. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed literature from 2010 to 2025 to critically examine the interconnections between camel milk composition, bioactive functionality, processing technologies, and the development of value-added products. It contains high-quality proteins, unsaturated fatty acids, essential vitamins and minerals, and bioactive components such as lactoferrin, lysozyme, and immunoglobulins, which contribute antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. These attributes support reported benefits in metabolic regulation, immune function, and gastrointestinal health. Compared with cow milk, camel milk is more digestible, less allergenic, and better suited for individuals with lactose intolerance, though its unique composition requires specialized processing. Recent advancements in pasteurization, fermentation systems, drying technologies, and non-thermal preservation methods have improved nutrient stability and expanded the range of value-added products, including yogurt, fermented beverages, milk powder, and functional formulations. These developments enhance diversification of the nutrition supply and create new economic opportunities in camel-rearing regions. Future research should focus on optimizing processing methods that accommodate camel milk's physicochemical characteristics, improving fermentation through targeted culture selection, and addressing coagulation challenges that limit cheese production. Further priorities include evaluating the effects of processing on bioactive integrity, undertaking detailed characterization of bioactive constituents, and validating health claims through well-designed clinical studies. Continued innovation in packaging, preservation, and product development will support broader market integration and the expansion of camel milk into high-value dairy sectors.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains a major public health concern, particularly in developing countries with inadequate sanitation. The increasing rate of antibiotic resistance complicates treatment, prolongs infections, increases household transmission, and raises the risk of complications like stomach ulcers, highlighting the need for improved interventions. This study develops and analyzes a mathematical model of H. pylori transmission that incorporates antibiotic resistance, classifying infectious individuals into drug-sensitive, drug-resistant, and stomach ulcer cases. Individuals with drug-sensitive infections are treated with first-line antibiotics, those with drug-resistant infections are treated with second-line antibiotic therapy, and patients infected with stomach ulcer cases undergo specialized antibiotic management. Moreover, the transition from drug-resistant to drug-sensitive cases occurs as treatment suppresses resistant strains, letting sensitive strains dominate. Analytical results show that the basic reproduction number ℜc; is the sum of two reproduction numbers ℜs and ℜr representing the contribution of the sensitive and resistant strains, respectively. The disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable when ℜc<1, indicating possible eradication under effective control measures, while the endemic equilibrium is stable when ℜc>1, implying persistent transmission. Sensitivity analysis identifies critical parameters that influence the persistence of H. pylori in the population. Numerical simulations demonstrate that improved hygiene and sanitation, together with the use of appropriate and timely antibiotic therapy, significantly reduce the prevalence of sensitive and resistant strains, limit stomach ulcer development, and lower the overall infection burden.
In our previous study, capsaicinoids (CAP) were successfully isolated from the placenta of chili peppers. However, their poor water solubility limited their application. Therefore, this study aims to prepare hyaluronate (SH)/epsilon-polylysine (epsilon-PL) coated Zein nanoparticles (NPs) through layer-by-layer assembly to deliver CAP (CAP@Zein-SH-PL) and improve their gastrointestinal delivery and anti-inflammatory activity. Physicochemical characterization confirmed successful CAP@Zein-SH-PL formation, driven primarily by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. Additionally, CAP@Zein-SH-PL demonstrated excellent stability under diverse environmental stresses and provided controlled release of CAP in simulated gastrointestinal. The release kinetics indicated that CAP@Zein-SH-PL followed zero-order kinetics with Fickian diffusion in simulated gastric fluid and first-order kinetics with non-Fickian diffusion in simulated intestinal fluid. Finally, CAP@Zein-SH-PL exhibited effective anti-inflammatory activity by regulating inflammatory cytokines, inhibiting reactive oxygen species production and maintaining membrane potential stability. These findings offer a theoretical reference for the application of CAP delivery in functional foods and nutraceuticals targeting inflammation.
Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation is threatened by Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination in wastewater, which poses grave dangers to the environment and public health. Microbial and chemical contaminants are present in wastewater from various sources, and treatment difficulties are growing due to urbanization. While biofilm formation, disinfectant resistance, and particle attachment increase bacterial survival, pathogenic E. coli strains can cause serious illness. To explain the dynamics of E. coli in wastewater systems, this study develops a deterministic mathematical model. MATLAB solvers and uncertainty and sensitivity techniques based on Latin hypercube sampling and partial rank correlation coefficients are used to analyze the model. The findings promote more effective wastewater treatment and microbial risk management by identifying key drivers of persistence.
