Sida’s global research programmes

6Section 6: EXAMPLES of APPLICATIONS and IMPACT

6.1 Examples of Research Findings and Use of Results

In this section, research results and findings reported to ISP are given. Also the concrete use of research results is listed, as reported to ISP. The reported use ranges from patents and products to the implementation of results in other applications including training. The entries are listed countrywise and then according to ISP research/network code.

Bangladesh (Food security)

In 2013, 120 vegetable samples were analyzed for pesticide residues (diazinon, cypermethrin, chlorpyri-fos & fenvalerate). Cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, and fenvalerate were indicated in bean samples. No pesti-cide residue was found in eggplant and cauliflower. Cypermethrin below the MRL was found in tomato samples. The work continued in 2014 with additional targeted pesticides. (IPICS BAN:04)

(Telemedicine)

Dept. Biomed. Phys. Technol., Univ. Dhaka, in collaboration with a local NGO, has started disseminating telemedicine using diagnostic hard- and software developed by the department. Already, the Focused Impedance Method for measuring respiration rate of babies, which grew out of the innovative research of the group, has been integrated into this application. (IPPS BAN:04)

(Drinking water safety)

The group collaborated with Dr. Rezwan Hussain of the private University of Liberal Arts in the dissemination of its new methods for solar water pasteurization and rainwater collection for providing safe drinking water to people in urban slums. Twenty of these units have been distributed to two slums in Dhaka city and the people are being benefitted. This is borne out by the observation that they are regularly using these devices, which has been found out even through surprise visits. The water that these people had been using earlier was tested and found to contain considerable concentrations of diarrhoeal pathogens, which the devices were able to destroy. (IPPS BAN:04)

The LCE-UMSS in Bolivia is set up to perform bioassays and to make extracts of biological samples, which can be brought to Univ. Chile for analysis. It is also set up to perform simulated field experiments. (Courtesy of IPICS LANBIO)
Botswana (Natural products chemistry)

Zelalem Desta, a local PhD student, has isolated about 36 compounds from Erythrina caffra and has characterized 28 of them. He carried out antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxicity tests on the isolated compounds, some which showed modest activity in these bioassays. (IPICS NABSA)

(Patenting)

Research results from Dr. B. Pule and Dr B. Mudabuka have resulted in patents. (IPICS SEANAC)

Burkina Faso (Natural products chemistry)

The traditional use was validated of two African medicinal plants (Chrozophora brocchiana and Ficus gnaphalocarpa), selected because of their use in traditional medicine. Aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of Chrozophora brocchiana were found to have antibacterial activities. The results indicate a therapeutic potential of this plant, justifies its use in traditional medicine, and constitutes a base for the development of improved herbal medicines. (IPICS RABiotech)

(Food security)

Molasses is a by-product of the refining of sugar extracted from sugarcane and available in quantity in Burkina Faso. This study focuses on its valorization by the use of metabolic properties of yeast strains producing Single Cell Protein (SCP). Five effective strains obtained in this study could be used to produce SCP for food purpose after purification. (IPICS RABiotech)

(Food production)

RABiotech members at Univ. Ouagadougou have created several new formulations of cereal-based products for industries. (IPICS RABiotech)

Chile (Insect ecology)

The shape and intensity of the natural selection on phenotypic variation on several measures of the solitary native bee, Manuelia postica, and of its nest in relation to properties of two of its hosts were explored. Results showed significant and positive linear selection gradients for tunnel length on both hosts, indicating that bees building long nests have more offspring. Bees with broader mandibles show greater fitness on the host with denser wood. Considering that this host represents a selective force on the mandible area, we hypothesized a high adaptive value of the mandible area. (IPICS LANBIO)

(Insect ecology)

The native bee, Manuelia postica, is attacked by two species of ectoparasitoid wasps. The effects of para-sitism on the bee´s population dynamics were examined by modeling the finite rate of increase using pop-ulation data gathered during four years (2005-2008) under three different scenarios: a) considering excl-usively unparasitized nests, b) considering parasitization only at the larval stage, and c) considering para-sitization at all immature growth stages. The results indicated that parasitoids prefer the host at the lar-val stage and that parasitization is almost completely compensated in the population dynamics of the bee, reinforcing the idea of a long-term association between the bee and its parasitoids. (IPICS LANBIO)

Ethiopia (Natural products chemistry)

The young tender leaves of khat (Catha edulis Forsk.) are customarily chewed, for its stimulant effect, which is mainly caused by the two alkaloids cathinone and cathine. Until recently cathinone was indicated in the literature to be "unstable", in particular after khat leaves are harvested and dried. In a study using TLC, UV and NMR methods, we provide evidence that cathinone remains unchanged in dry khat leaves. This means that previous assertions that permeate widely in the scientific literature, indicating conversion of cathinone to cathine spontaneously or by other means, are not valid. (IPICS ALNAP)

Kenya (Environmental chemistry)

A study of the impacts of pesticides on human health and environment in the river Nyando catchment, Kenya was carried out. Fourteen pesticides were identified as commonly used on crops by farmers, out of which four are toxic to bees and five to birds. The farmers identified declines in the number of pollinating insects, the disappearance of Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) and wild birds’ fatalities. The general knowledge among farmers about chemicals risks, safety, and chronic illnesses was low. Agrochemical firms and the government are recommended to initiate activities that increase the environmental awareness and safer use of pesticides. (IPICS ANCAP)

(Coordination chemistry)

Various oxathiacrownether macrocycles attached to ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) signalling units have been synthesized and characterized using established literature methods with appropriate modifications. Their ability to bind metals like cadmium(II), lead(II) and mercury(II) using techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, luminescence and NMR titrations are being investigated. (IPICS KEN:01)

(Natural products chemistry)

Plants evaluated phytochemically are often previously reported to show biological activity, or ethnomed-icinal or traditional medicine usage. However, many other plants may also be important, containing a variety of natural products with potential significance for pharmaceutical development. Therefore, the presence of phytochemicals in the plant Dierama cupuliflorum was investigated. Phytochemical screening showed presence of terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavanoids, glycosides and anthraquinones. More phytochemicals were detected in corms than in the aerial parts. Although there is no available report on the use of this plant for medicinal purposes, the phytochemical data has demonstrated that this plant has the potential to be used for therapeutic purposes. (IPICS KEN:02)

(Natural products chemistry)

Seven naphthoquinones and nine anthraquinones were isolated from the roots of Aloe dawei by chromatographic separation. The purified metabolites were identified by using NMR and MS. Out of the sixteen quinones, 6-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone is a new identified compound. Two of the isolates, 5,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-2-methylnaphthalene-1,4-dione and 1-hydroxy-8-methoxy-3-methylanthraquinone showed high cytotoxic activity (IC₅₀ 1.15 and 4.85 μM, respectively) on MCF-7 breast cancer cells, whereas the others showed moderate to low cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 (ER Negative) and MCF-7 (ER Positive) cancer cells. (IPICS KEN:02)

(Applied mathematics)

Research results have been used in practice, and in teaching in the following areas: Fighting spread of malaria in Kenya and the East African region; Vaccination of livestock and small animals; Claims reserving in insurance business; and research projects for PhD and MSc students. (IPMS EAUMP)

(Food security)

The research results reported in Pamela Kageliza Kilavi’s master thesis show the disparity of nutrient content of foods fed to children in different region of Kenya. (IPPS KEN:01/2)

(Traffic safety)

Data collected by the students at INST may indicate that lack of training and inspectorate policy, limited professional skills and poor welding workmanship in the Kenya “Jua Kali” industry is a major contributing factor in traffic accidents, especially public transport. (IPPS KEN:01/2)

(Construction safety)

Research results of students at INST may indicate that the absence of inspectorate and regulatory policy targeting the assessment of compliance with building material specifications in the Kenyan property dev-elopment/infrastructure, in particular high-rise tenant and commercial buildings, might lead to houses collapsing, killing people and impacting negatively on socioeconomics and sustainable development. (IPPS KEN:01/2)

(Food production)

Through collaboration with World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) in Nairobi, the group contributed to soil research geared to promote scientific solutions for improved food production in Sub-Sahara Africa. The project is a regional effort towards reduction of poverty and hunger. (IPPS KEN:01/2)

(Non-destructive testing)

INST harnessed knowledge on non-destructive testing is already being used by Kenya Bureau of Standards in training and quality control enforcement services. (IPPS KEN:01/2)

(Teaching)

Data from the research on Multispectral Imaging Microscopy have been used in teaching and laboratory exercises associated with the following courses at University of Nairobi: Image Processing (BSc) and Advanced Laboratory Techniques (MSc). (IPPS KEN:04)

Zambia (Conducting polymers)

Molecular imprinted polymers consisting of nano-size spherical particles were successfully prepared using naphthalene as an aldrin analogue. Spherical nanoparticles were produced and subsequently deposited on glass substrates to create thin films. The imprinted materials were evaluated using UV/Vis and FTIR to ascertain whether imprinting had occurred. Spectra of these materials were also analysed following Soxhlet extraction to remove naphthalene from the nanoparticles. Spectroscopic results showed that imprinting has taken place within the nanoparticles. Electrical measurements showed a decrease in conductivity in the imprinted polymeric materials. (IPICS ZAM:01)

Zimbabwe (Environmental chemistry)

Several studies showed that pollutants from anthropogenic activities affect aquatic life. Mercury and cyanide used in non-skilled mining activities, which are widespread countrywide, affect fish at the biochemical levels. Pesticides used in agriculture and veterinary activities were shown to inhibit esterase activity while causing oxidative stress in aquatic organisms like snails. (IPICS ZIM:02)

(Natural products chemistry)

A study that investigated the potential use of some local plant extracts as molluscicides showed that two of the studied plants caused detrimental effects comparable, though lower, to those of known molluscicides. (IPICS ZIM:02)

(Pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics)

The work on the population pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics of rosuvastatin has shown that the OAT and BCRP genetic variants, associated with variable pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin, are not commonly found in African populations (800 samples from major ethnic groups from across Africa were screened). A full pharmacokinetic profiling of the drug was conducted in 29 health volunteers, where a great internal individual variation in drug exposure was observed. The OAT and BCRP genetic variants could not explain this observed variability. A search is therefore carried out for any novel genetic variants that could explain the observed variability. (IPICS AiBST)

Solar concentrator built for Mr Ky Thierry’s PhD thesis on the Optical analysis of an hemispherical solar concentrator with a a system of manual tracking variation. (Courtesy of IPPS BUF:01)