Adaptation to novel environments is often associated with behavioural changes, but how decision-making processes and their genetic underpinnings evolve during ecological divergence remains poorly understood. Human-modified environments provide an ideal context in which to investigate how species adjust their behaviours in response to altered ecological conditions. We used oviposition site selection in two incipient mosquito species segregating along gradients of anthropogenic disturbance to investigate how differences in sensory perception modulate behavioural shifts accompanying ecological divergence. Using two-choice assays, we tested oviposition preferences in 1046 gravid female mosquitoes from field and laboratory populations by offering a choice between water collected from natal and foreign natural breeding sites. We found that females of Anopheles gambiae, a species adapted to rural environments, preferentially oviposited in natal water and deposited 89% of their eggs in a single breeding site. In contrast, females of its sibling species, Anopheles coluzzii, which is adapted to urban environments, exhibited weaker natal-water preference and frequently distributed their egg clutches between multiple breeding sites. To assess the extent of chemosensory divergence between these cryptic species, we analyzed amino acid substitutions within odorant, ionotropic and gustatory receptor gene families using whole-genome sequencing data. Despite limited differentiation across the gene families overall, several loci implicated in the detection of carboxylic acids, amines and volatile compounds exhibited elevated genetic divergence between species. Our work suggests that shifts in decision making associated with ecological divergence between emerging species can arise prior to substantial differentiation throughout the genome or across chemosensory receptor gene families.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant cause of mortality worldwide with the main risk factor being immunosuppression, which may be due to HIV, HBV or diabetes. Despite current therapeutic progress, effective control of this disease is becoming increasingly difficult in a large number of countries due to co-infection with other pathologies (HIV in particular) and the emergence of strains that have become resistant to anti-tuberculosis treatment. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jamot Hospital of Yaoundé (JHY) from August 2022 to January 2023, in other to determine the frequency of comorbidities (HIV, HBV, diabetes) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and evaluate the resistance profile of strains isolated to first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. The study population consisted of 82 patients with an average age of 35.84 ± 11.78 years, including 76% men and 24% women. The frequencies of TB-HIV, TB-HBV and TB-diabetes comorbidities were 19.50%, 7.30% and 4.9% respectively. Among the 76 sputum samples that gave positive cultures, 8 cases (10.53%) presented resistance to at least one of the anti-tuberculosis drugs. Resistance to Ethambutol (6.6%) and Isoniazid (5.3%) was the most common compared to Rifampicin (2.6%) and Streptomycin (2.6%). Monoresistance was detected in 4 cases (5.3%), multiresistance in 2 cases (2.6%) and polyresistance in 2 cases (2.6%). It showed that there is a significant association between TB-diabetes comorbidity and overall resistance (P=0.001), streptomycin resistance (P=0.001). However, no significant association between TB-HIV, TB-HBV co-infections and the occurrence of overall resistance (P = 0.138 and 0.481 respectively). Monitoring comorbidities and possible resistance in newly detected tuberculosis patients is of capital importance in order to ensure better care of these patients.

BACKGROUND:Skin ulcers are health problem in children in tropical areas. Some clinically resemble yaws and this may cause inappropriate allocation of resources from the WHO yaws eradication plan. Studies have shown that bacteria other than the Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue (bacterium causing yaws) were responsible for these lesions with certain associated risk factors. This study aimed to detect bacteria in yaws-like skin ulcers in Akonolinga Health District and the involvement of some matrices (pets, water, flies). METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2023. Swabs were collected from children aged 5-15 years with yaws-like lesions and their asymptomatic contacts. Alongside this, samples were also collected from domestic animals, rivers and flies in the vicinity of participants with yaws like lesions. DNA extracted from the samples collected was used to amplify specific genes to detect the bacteria: Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, Haemophilus ducreyi, Staphylococcus aureus and Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. RESULTS:Among the 5,931 children screened, 28 presented with yaws-like lesions. Swab samples were collected from these 28 symptomatic individuals as well as from 28 asymptomatic contacts. Among the targeted genes tested, only Staphylococcus aureus DNA could be amplified from the samples of symptomatic at 32.1% (9/28) and in asymptomatic at 21.42% (6/28) (p = 0.547). These bacterial DNA could not be amplified from samples from animal and environmental matrices. CONCLUSION:Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium involved in yaws-like ulcers but also found in similar proportion among asymptomatic healthy controls. Further investigation in these skin ulcers is needed for wider diagnostic tools to manage affected population.

Background: Antibiotic resistance, persistent cells in respiratory infections, and adverse effects associated with antibiotics underscore the urgent need to search for alternative treatments. Natural products such as essential oils derived from aromatic plants like Callistemon citrinus may be a promising avenue to explore. This study aimed to assess the antibacterial activity of C. citrinus essential oils from two Cameroonian regions against bacteria causing respiratory infections, investigate their possible modes of action, and evaluate the microbiological effects of continuous exposure at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Methods: The antibacterial activity was determined by the broth microdilution method. Potential modes of action were investigated using assays to assess effects on the bacterial membrane, protein synthesis, and H+-ATPase pump activity. Continuous exposure experiments were performed for 08 days and compared with levofloxacin as a reference. Results: Callistemon citrinus essential oil from the University of Dschang campus exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 78.13 to 468.75 µg/mL. Tests on the mode of action revealed inhibition of protein synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and interference with H+-ATPase pump activity in Staphylococcus aureus, with no significant impact on the bacterial membrane. It is noteworthy that continuous exposure to C. citrinus essential oil did not induce resistance or persistence, unlike levofloxacin, which led to the emergence of resistant and persistent populations in P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively. Conclusion: C. citrinus essential oil exhibits potent antibacterial activity against major respiratory pathogens through various cellular targets, while minimizing the risk of resistance or persistence. These results highlight its potential as a natural candidate for the development of alternative therapies; however, further studies such as chemical characterization, cytotoxicity, and in vivo validation are needed.

The excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics promotes the emergence of bacterial resistance, prompting research to explore therapeutic alternatives, such as essential oils, due to their bioactive substances. However, the potential for future resistance to essential oils concerns the scientific community. In this context, the present study was designed to compare the responses of bacteria exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of essential oils (EOs) and antibiotics. We assessed the antibacterial activity of EOs and reference antibiotics using the liquid microdilution method. We then exposed strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus to fixed and increasing sub-inhibitory concentrations of these antimicrobials, selected resistant mutants, and transferred them to a medium without antimicrobials to determine new inhibition parameters and evaluate the stability of resistance. The results show that Lippia multiflora EO exhibited the best activity, with an MIC ranging from 0.0976 mg/mL to 12.5 mg/mL. Levofloxacin displayed bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and bacteriostatic activity against Streptococcus pyogenes. Ciprofloxacin, on the other hand, showed tolerance against Escherichia coli. After discontinuous exposure to EOs and antibiotics, the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains modified their sensitivity to EOs, with MICs varying from 2 to 16 times the initial MIC, while Ciprofloxacin increased 8-fold and Levofloxacin increased 256-fold. Lippia multiflora EO showed no variation in the stability of resistance, whereas strains exposed to Chromolaena odorata EO maintained their resistant character. The strains also maintained a resistance to antibiotics. This study demonstrates that EOs play an important role in the selection of resistant mutants, and their rational use is essential. Although Lippia multiflora and Chromolaena odorata EOs exhibited antibacterial activity against some Gram-positive bacteria, long-term and inappropriate exposure could contribute to the emergence of resistance.

Background: COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) were the top two leading causes of death from a single infectious agent in 2022. Aim: This study aimed at assessing COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) and their associated factors among pulmonary TB patients and healthy individuals in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Setting: The study was conducted at the Jamot Hospital in Yaoundé, a main referral hospital for TB management in Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to recruit a consecutive sample of TB patients and healthy participants at Jamot Hospital and communities in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from April 2022 to March 2023. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and COVID-19 KAP were collected and analysed using logistic regression with significance considered at p 0.05. Results: Out of 409 participants, 67.5% had good knowledge, 54% had a favourable attitude, and 22.5% had good practices towards COVID-19. Multivariate analysis identified TB status, age, sex, and marital status as significant factors influencing KAP scores. Good knowledge and good practices were associated with being healthy, young, and single (p 0.05). In addition, the female gender, good knowledge, and favourable attitudes were associated with good practices (p 0.05). Conclusion: Gaps in COVID-19 KAP among TB patients highlight the need for targeted public health interventions, with a focus on TB patients, males, the elderly, and married individuals for better control. Contribution: Tuberculosis patients are not adopting positive prevention practices as required, thus increasing their risk of getting COVID-19 and transmitting TB, necessitating urgent action.

Oviposition site choice is a major determinant of habitat selection in insects, yet its behavioral and genetic bases remain poorly understood. Although model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster provide well-established systems for studying oviposition, disentangling foraging from egg-laying decisions remains challenging because females use the same substrates for feeding and reproduction. Here, we identify a pair of sister mosquito species that exhibit contrasting oviposition strategies and provide a promising system for investigating how divergence in sensory information processing shapes behavioral shifts between generalist and specialist taxa. Using binary-choice assays, we tested oviposition preferences in 1,046 gravid females from both field and laboratory populations. Anopheles gambiae females were highly selective and deposited nearly all eggs in a single water source, consistent with specialist behavior. In contrast, females of its sibling species, An. coluzzii , adopted a generalist strategy marked by a more even distribution of eggs across available substrates. To identify chemosensory receptor genes that diverge between the cryptic species and may underlie these behavioral differences, we analyzed amino acid substitutions across odorant, ionotropic, and gustatory receptor families using whole-genome sequencing data. Although differentiation was limited at the gene-family level, several individual divergent loci associated with carboxylic acid, amine, and other volatile detection pathways emerged as candidate drivers of species-specific oviposition behavior. These findings suggest that shifts in sensory perception during egg laying may facilitate behavioral and ecological specialization, and that phenotypic divergence in environmental sensing can arise before substantial genome-wide differentiation.

Abstract Background Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa including Cameroon. Pharmacogenetic variants could serve as predictors of drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH), in patients with TB co-infected with HIV. We evaluated the occurrence of DIH and pharmacogenetic variants in Cameroonian patients. Methods Treatment-naïve patients with HIV, TB or TB/HIV co-infection were recruited at three hospitals in Cameroon, between September 2018 and November 2019. Appropriate treatment was initiated, and patients followed up for 12 weeks to assess DIH. Pharmacogenetic variants were assessed by allele discrimination TaqMan SNP assays. Results Of the 141 treatment naïve patients, the overall incidence of DIH was 38% (53/141). The highest incidence of DIH, 52% (32/61), was observed among HIV patients. Of 32 pharmacogenetic variants, the slow acetylation variants NAT2*5 was associated with a decreased risk of DIH (OR: 0.4; 95%CI: 0.17–0.96; p = 0.038), while NAT2*6 was found to be associated with an increased risk of DIH (OR: 4.2; 95%CI: 1.1–15.2; p = 0.017) among patients treated for TB. Up to 15 SNPs differed in ≥ 5% of allele frequencies among African populations, while 25 SNPs differed in ≥ 5% of the allele frequencies among non-African populations, respectively. Conclusions DIH is an important clinical problem in African patients with TB and HIV. The NAT2*5 and NAT2*6 variants were found to be associated with DIH in the Cameroonian population. Prior screening for the slow acetylation variants NAT2*5 and NAT2*6 may prevent DIH in TB and HIV-coinfected patients.

Background Surveillance of HIV-1 pre-treatment drug resistance (PDR) is essential for ensuring the success of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). Beside population-based surveys, sentinel surveillance of PDR and circulating HIV-1 clades in specific populations such as blood donors could efficiently inform decision-making on ART program. We therefore sought to ascertain HIV-1 residual infection, the threshold of PDR and viral diversity among recently-diagnosed blood donors in Gabon. Methods A sentinel surveillance was conducted among 381 consenting blood donors at the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTC) in Gabon from August 3,2020 to August, 31, 2021. In order to determine the residual risk of HIV transmission, viral load and HIV-1 Sanger-sequencing were performed at the Chantal BIYA International Reference Center (CIRCB)-Cameroon on HIV samples previously tested seronegative with ELISA in Gabon. Phylogeny was performed using MEGA X, PDR threshold>10% was considered high and data were analysed using p≤0.05 for statistical significance. Results Five HIV-negative blood donors had a detectable viral load indicating a high residual risk of HIV transmission. Among the samples successfully sequenced, four participants had major drug resistance mutations (DRMs), giving a threshold of PDR of 25% (4/16). By drug class, major DRMs targeting NNRTI (K103N, E138G), NRTIs (L210W) and PI/r (M46L). The most representative viral clades were CRF02_AG and subtype A1. The genetic diversity of HIV-1 had no significant effect on the residual risk in blood transfusion (CRF02_AG, P = 0.3 and Recombinants, P = 0.5). Conclusion This sentinel surveillance indicates a high residual risk of HIV-1 transfusion in Gabon, thereby underscoring the need for optimal screening strategy for blood safety. Moreover, HIV-1 transmission goes with high-risk of PDR, suggesting suboptimal efficacy of ART. Nonetheless, the genetic diversity has limited (if any effect) on the residual risk of infection and PDR in blood donors.

Antimicrobial surveillance and identification of the genetic basis of antimicrobial resistance provides important information to optimize patient care. The present study was an analytical cross-sectional study aimed at determining the prevalence of rifampicin and ofloxacin resistance genes among Mycobacterium leprae strains in three health districts in Chad. The determination of the folP1, rpoB and gyrA resistance genes was carried out by PCR-RLEP and confirmed by sequencing from 80 biopsy samples taken from patients with multibacillary leprosy, including 12 relapsed patients and 68 new cases. In the whole cohort, 1/80 (1.2%) showed resistance to rifampicin and 1/80 (1.2%) to ofloxacin. No mutations were detected for dapsone. The presence of M. leprae mutation associated with rifampicin resistance was observed in a relapsed patient and the mutation associated with ofloxacin resistance was observed in a patient with multibacillary leprosy who had not been sensitized by ofloxacin but should have used other quinolones. Both mutant strains revealed the emergence of secondary resistance. This study, the first to highlight the emergence of resistance to rifampicin and ofloxacin in Chad. It raises the need to implement a robust surveillance system to detect resistance of Mycobacterium leprae in Chad and even in Central Africa. Keywords: Mycobacterium leprae, resistance, Chad

Background Unlike in developed countries, most infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) and malaria continue to cause deaths in low-income countries. Recent studies have shown that hepatotoxicity during TB treatment may be related to the Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase (NAT2) acetylator polymorphism especially in countries with high TB incidence such as Cameroon. The aim of this study was to determine the NAT2 genetic variation associated with hepatotoxicity in TB/Malaria co-infected patients in Jamot Hospital, Yaoundé-Cameroon. Methods This was a prospective study from April 2018 - March 2019, aiming to evaluate the genetic variation in NAT2 coding region in TB patients with malaria. A total of 336 pulmonary TB patients with or without malaria infection, aged 15 years and above, were included. Each sputum sample was tested by the Ziehl Neelsen method. Whole blood sample was used for malaria detection using Rapid Diagnostic Test and microscopy. DNA was extracted by chelex method, hepatotoxicity by spectrophotometry, and genotyping done by Polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses with enzymes (KpnI, TaqI, BamHI). Results Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values were significantly higher among TB/malaria co-infected cases compared to TB mono infected patients (p=0.03, p=0.01 respectively). In the group of mono-infected TB patients, a significant difference was found for ALT values between day 1 and day 90 (p=0.021). Similarly, a significant association was found between the development of hepatotoxicity and the presence of a slow acetylator phenotype in TB-malaria co-infected (p=0.026). Conclusion The study suggests that TB/malaria co-infections and NAT2 variant phenotype are risk factors for hepatoxicity induction. Therefore, for a more efficient care, evaluation of NAT2 genotypes might be essential to reduce drug interactions and liver toxicity in case of coinfections.

Background Cancer remains a global health concern and constitutes an important barrier to increasing life expectancy. Malignant cells rapidly develop drug resistance leading to many clinical therapeutic failures. The importance of medicinal plants as an alternative to classical drug discovery to fight cancer is well known. Brucea antidysenterica is an African medicinal plant traditionally used to treat cancer, dysentery, malaria, diarrhea, stomach aches, helminthic infections, fever, and asthma. The present work was designed to identify the cytotoxic constituents of Brucea antidysenterica on a broad range of cancer cell lines and to demonstrate the mode of induction of apoptosis of the most active samples. Methods Seven phytochemicals were isolated from the leaves (BAL) and stem (BAS) extract of Brucea antidysenterica by column chromatography and structurally elucidated using spectroscopic techniques. The antiproliferative effects of the crude extracts and compounds against 9 human cancer cell lines were evaluated by the resazurin reduction assay (RRA). The activity in cell lines was assessed by the Caspase-Glo assay. The cell cycle distribution, apoptosis via propidium iodide (PI) staining, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) through 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) staining, and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) via 2´,7´-dichlorodihydrofluoresceine diacetate (H2DCFH-DA) staining, were investigated by flow cytometry. Results Phytochemical studies of the botanicals (BAL and BAS) led to the isolation of seven compounds. BAL and its constituents 3, (3-(3-Methyl-1-oxo-2-butenyl))1 H indole ( 1 ) and hydnocarpin ( 2 ), as well as the reference compound, doxorubicin, had antiproliferative activity against 9 cancer cell lines. The IC 50 values varied from 17.42 µg/mL (against CCRF-CEM leukemia cells) to 38.70 µg/mL (against HCT116 p53 −/− colon adenocarcinoma cells) for BAL, from 19.11 µM (against CCRF-CEM cells) to 47.50 µM (against MDA-MB-231- BCRP adenocarcinoma cells) for compound 1 , and from 4.07 µM (against MDA-MB-231- pcDNA cells) to 11.44 µM (against HCT116 p53 + / + cells) for compound 2 . Interestingly, hypersensitivity of resistant cancer cells to compound 2 was also observed. BAL and hydnocarpin induced apoptosis in CCRF-CEM cells mediated by caspase activation, the alteration of MMP, and increased ROS levels. Conclusion BAL and its constituents, mostly compound 2 , are potential antiproliferative products from Brucea antidysenterica . Other studies will be necessary in the perspective of the discovery of new antiproliferative agents to fight against resistance to anticancer drugs.

Background: Momordica foetida (cucurbitaceae) known as a bitter cucumber in Cameroon is used as a medicinal plant. This plant is widely used in the treatment of microbial infections, diabetes, hypertension, stomach, and intestinal irritation. The leaves are also used to treat malaria, earache, and toothache. This study aimed at investigating the antibacterial activity of the methanol extract of M. foetida seeds against multidrug-resistant bacteria expressing active efflux pumps and to characterize the mode of action of this extract. Methods: The antibacterial activity of the crude extract of M. foetida in the presence and absence of an efflux pump inhibitor, phenylalanine-arginine β-naphthylamide (PAβN), was evaluated by the serial micro-dilution method. The determination of the effect of this sample on bacterial H+-ATPase proton pumps was performed by a standard method using a pH meter and the study of the effect of the same sample on cell growth kinetics, bacterial membrane, and biofilms was performed by a spectrophotometric method. Results: The phytochemical composition of the crude extract of M. foetida, evaluated using standard qualitative methods, showed a rather selective distribution of secondary metabolites (presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, triterpenes, sterols, and saponins). The crude extract of this plant virtually inhibited the growth of 90.90% (20/22) of the bacteria studied with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 64 to 1024 µg/mL. The lowest MIC of 64 µg/mL was observed against Escherichia coli (AG102, MC4100, W3110), Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP55 and ATCC 11296), Providencia stuartii (NEA16, ATCC 29916 and PS2636), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA124) and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA9) strains. In the presence of PAβN, the activity of the extract was increased against all strains and isolates used. The crude extract caused a prolongation of the lag phase and a general decrease in the growth of Escherichia coli AG102 bacteria due to the blocking of the H+-ATPase proton pumps of this bacterium, resulting in a decrease in the acidity of the medium. This sample destroyed the bacterial membrane and showed significant activity on the biofilms of this strain tested. Conclusion: The results obtained in the present work provide important and significant data that could allow the probable use of Momordica foetida in the control of bacterial infections.

Background and AimsRespiratory viruses are responsible for the majority of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) worldwide. However, there is a gap on the epidemiology of viral LRTIs in adults in sub-Saharan African countries. In Cameroon, like in other countries, the role of viral respiratory pathogens in the etiology of LRTIs in adults is helpful for clinical management. This study aimed to determine the viral aetiologies of LRTIs among hospitalized adults in a reference center for respiratory diseases in the town of Yaounde in Cameroon and its surroundings. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2017 to January 2018 at Jamot Hospital in Yaounde (Cameroon). Clinical and demographic information; BAL and sputa were collected from hospitalized patients meeting LRTI case definitions. The clinical samples were investigated for respiratory pathogens with a commercial Reverse Transcriptase Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) targeting 21 viruses, cultures for bacterial and fungal infections. ResultsThe 77 included adult patients with LRTIs had an appropriate clinical sample for microbial investigations. A viral agent was detected in 22.1% (17/77) samples. The main viruses detected included rhinovirus (10/77), coronavirus (hCoV-OC43 and hCoV-229E), and influenza A virus (3/77 each). A concomitant viral and bacterial co-infection occurred in 7.8% of patients (6/77) while viral co-infection occurred in one patient (1.3%). No Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detected in clinical samples. Most patients were under antimicrobials before getting diagnosed. ConclusionsRespiratory viruses account for 22.1% of LRTIs in hospitalized patients in this study. Despite prior antimicrobial therapy and delay, rhinovirus, coronavirus and influenza A virus were the most detected in patients in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic era in a single center experience from Cameroon.

Background Tuberculosis (TB), HIV and Helminths are serious overlapping public health problems in sub-Saharan Africa. This triple burden may lead to accelerated disease progression. Although HIV is integrated in TB programs in Cameroon, data on TB-helminth co-infection still remains limited. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of helminths and their associated factors among pulmonary tuberculosis patients at Jamot hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods This was a cross sectional study conducted at the Jamot hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon from April 2022 to March 2023 with participants aged 18 years and above. A well designed questionnaire was used to capture sociodemographic data, clinical history and risk factors for TB, HIV and helminth infections. Sputum, stool and blood samples were collected from each consenting participant. Sputum was examined using auramine microscopy. Stool was examined using the kato-katz and Mini-FLOTAC techniques. Blood was used for HIV serology according to guidelines. TB-uninfected healthy controls were also recruited and their blood and stool samples similarly analysed. Results A total of 321 sputum smear-positive TB patients (72% males and 28% females) and 65 healthy controls (54% males and 46% females) were included in this study. The prevalence of TB-HIV co-infection was 13.4% (43/321). The prevalence of any helminth infection among TB patients was 13.5% (37/274) and 7.7% (5/65) among controls. The most prevalent helminth species in this study was Ascaris lumbricoides (62%, 23/37), followed by Trichuris trichuria (19%, 7/37), Strongyloides stercoralis (5.4%, 2/37), and hookworm (2,7%, 1/37). TB-HIV-Helminth triple co-infection was found in 3 cases. Conclusion The prevalence of TB-HIV and TB-Helminth co-infection is similar. This emphasizes the fact that diagnosis and treatment of helminth infections should be integrated in TB control programs in Cameroon for a better management of the disease.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a millennial scourge that is still current, and considered one of the most communicable diseases in the world. This study aimed to assess the genetic diversity of isolates of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) from pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ngaoundéré. We estimates it from newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive patients by spoligotyping method. In total we obtained 21 different profiles including 9 orphan profiles and 12 clusters grouping from 2 to 54 strains. The comparison of the profiles of the strains of Ngaoundéré studied here with those of the strains of the genetically known families and listed in the SpolDB4 database reveals 14 profiles. Of these, 73 (45.6%) isolates belong to the LAM10_CAM family while 67 (41.9%) were non LAM10_CAM strains. Strains classified into non LAM10_CAM family included strains from the T family 38 (23.75%), Uganda family 15 (9.37%), Haarlem family 10 (6.25%), and others. Among the Shared Types, ST 61 member of the LAM10_CAM represented 54 (36.98%) and ST 53 member of the T family represented 24 (16.49%). No correlation was found between the genotypes identified and both the serological status and sex. The results show that M. tuberculosis was the only species incriminated with a strong predominance of ST 61 clones from the LAM 10_CAM family and ST53 from the T family.

Background: Resistant bacteria develop a high level of resistance to multiple drugs, limiting treatment options and increasing morbidity and mortality. This work was planned to evaluate the antibacterial potential of the methanol extract from the whole plant of Kalanchoe crenata (KCW) against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. Methods: The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of KCW alone, in the presence of an efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) phenylalanine-arginine β-naphthylamide (PAβN), or in the presence of antibiotics were assessed using the broth microdilution method combined with the rapid para-iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT) colorimetric technique. Results: KCW displayed weak antibacterial activities with MIC values ranging from 128 to 1024 μg/mL against 10 of the 15 tested bacterial strains. Moderate antibacterial activities with MIC values ranging from 128-625 μg/mL were recorded against some strains belonging to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Providencia stuartii. PAβN does not significantly enhance the activity KCW. At MIC/2, KCW potentiated the activity of doxycycline (DOX), levofloxacin (LEV), imipenem (IMI), ciprofloxacin (CIP), ceftriaxone (CRO), and tetracycline (TET) against at least 80% of the MDR bacterial strains tested. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that KCW is a moderately active antibacterial agent, but a good efflux pump inhibitor that could potentiate the activity of antibiotics against MDR bacteria over-expressing active efflux pumps. Keywords: Antibacterial; antibiotic-potentiation; Crassulaceae; efflux pumps; Kalanchoe crenata; multidrug resistance.