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Item Ex Vivo Molecular Studies and In Silico Small Molecule Inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum Bromodomain Protein 1(Drugs Drug Candidates, 2025-06-22) Oladejo, David O.; Dokunmu, Titilope M.; Oduselu, Gbolahan O.; Oladejo, Daniel O.; Ogunlana, Olubanke O.; Iweala, Emeka E. J.Background: Malaria remains a significant global health burden, particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, accounting for high rates of illness and death. The growing resistance to frontline antimalarial therapies underscores the urgent need for novel drug targets and therapeutics. Bromodomain-containing proteins, which regulate gene expression through chromatin remodeling, have gained attention as potential targets. Plasmodium falciparum bromodomain protein 1 (Pf BDP1), a 55 kDa nuclear protein, plays a key role in recognizing acetylated lysine residues and facilitating transcription during parasite development. Methods: This study investigated ex vivo PfBDP1 gene mutations and identified potential small molecule inhibitors using computational approaches. Malariapositive blood samples were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted, assessed for quality, and amplified using Pf BDP1-specific primers. DNA sequencing and alignment were performed to determine single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Structural modeling used the PfBDP1 crystal structure (PDB ID: 7M97), and active site identification was conducted using CASTp 3.0. Virtual screening and pharmacophore modeling were performed using Pharmit and AutoDock Vina, followed by ADME/toxicity evaluations with SwissADME, OSIRIS, and Discovery Studio. GROMACS was used for 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations. Results: The malaria prevalence rate stood at 12.24%, and the sample size was 165. Sequencing results revealed conserved PfBDP1 gene sequences compared to the 3D7 reference strain. Virtual screening identified nine lead compounds with binding affinities ranging from −9.8 to −10.7 kcal/mol. Of these, CHEMBL2216838 had a binding affinity of −9.9 kcal/mol, with post-screening predictions of favorable drug-likeness (8.60), a high drug score (0.78), superior pharmacokinetics, and a low toxicity profile compared to chloroquine. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed its stable interaction within the PfBDP1 active site. Conclusions: Overall, this study makes a significant contribution to the ongoing search for novel antimalarial drug targets by providing both molecular and computational evidence for PfBDP1 as a promising therapeutic target. The prediction of CHEMBL2216838 as a lead compound with favorable binding affinity, drug-likeness, and safety profile, surpassing those of existing drugs like chloroquine, sets the stage for preclinical validation and further structure-based drug design efforts. These findings are supported by prior experimental evidence showing significant parasite inhibition and gene suppression capability of predicted hits.Item Tumor-normal sequencing reveals novel TP53 germline and clinically actionable somatic mutations in Nigerian breast cancer patients(Cancer Genetics Volumes 300–301, 2026) Onyia, Abimbola F.; Lawal, AbdulRazzaq; Ogo, Chidiebere; Nkom, Ebenezer S.; Lasebikan, Oluwakemi A.; Ayegbusi, Olaitan T.; De Campos, Opeyemi C.; Rotimi, Oluwakemi A.; Oyelade, Jelili O.; Aliyu, Usman M.; Iweala, Emeka E. J.; Rotimi, Solomon O.Purpose Disparities in the care and management of breast cancer (BC) contribute to poor outcomes and limited access to precision oncology in Nigerian patients. Existing studies on Nigerian patients have largely been conducted abroad, restricting their direct application to local healthcare. This study addresses this gap through a locally led investigation of germline and somatic mutations using tumor-normal paired sequencing. Methods Forty-two female BC patients were recruited from teaching hospitals between January and April 2024. DNA was extracted from blood and matched fresh-frozen tumor tissue. Targeted sequencing of 50 cancer-related genes was performed with the Illumina AmpliSeq Cancer Hotspot Panel and MiSeq platform. Germline and somatic variants were identified through matched normal filtering, with oncogenic significance assessed using the ESCAT/ESMO Tier classification. Visualization was performed in R (v4.4.2) using the maftools package Results A germline TP53 pathogenic variant, TP53 c.694dupA (p.Ile232Asnfs) was identified in a 35-year-old triple-negative BC patient with recurrent metastatic disease, representing its first report as a germline alteration. Additionally, eighteen oncogenic/likely oncogenic somatic variants were detected, nine of which were actionable (Tier IIII). EGFR amplification was found in 7 % of patients, alongside copy number losses in genes including CDKN2A and KIT. Conclusion This study demonstrates the feasibility of localized tumor-normal sequencing in Nigerian BC patients, revealing actionable variants with clinical relevance. These findings highlight the need to integrate genomic profiling into routine cancer care and establish molecular tumor boards to advance precision oncology in Nigeria.Item The Biotechnology of Hydrogel-Based Biocomposites(Fabrication Techniques and Emerging Applications of Hydrogels, 2026) Dania, Omoremime Elizabeth; Iweala, Emeka E. J.Hydrogels are a unique type of polymer that is hydrophilic. This chapter explores the applications of hydrogels in tissue engineering, skin regeneration, soft robots, and artificial muscle production. For tissue engineering, there is a need to maintain proper hardening and desirable strength of hydrogels at physiological temperatures under biological conditions for proper formation of scaffolds with complex shapes. The use of hydrogels for skin regeneration stems from the need to correct skin defects without scarring by enhancing reparative properties and regeneration. Hydrogels promote angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and wound closure effectively. Hydrogels have been used to construct actuators, sensors, communicators, power sources, and computational circuits for soft robots. They are responsive to ambient stimuli, increasing their sensitivity; they are quite flexible and potentially enduring large deformations, making them good substrates for innovative research in artificial muscle generation. While hydrogels offer significant advantages in wound healing and tissue engineering, challenges such as optimising mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and production scalability remain.