Science and research news from Africa. Covers Congo Basin wildlife, maternity care, malaria resurgence, and drug-resistant parasites.
The ANRS CohMSM study found an annual incidence rate of 4.8% among West African MSM, indicating they are eligible for PrEP. The study also showed a demand for access to follow-up and screening services, with 82% of participants attending their first appointment.
Six Canadian innovations, including a low-cost drill system and an HIV self-test application, will receive $10 million in scale-up funding from Grand Challenges Canada. The projects aim to improve global health in developing countries by providing innovative solutions for diseases such as diarrhea, cervical cancer, and HIV.
Research reveals that humans use special calls to recruit wild birds, while honeyguides actively recruit appropriate human partners. This unique collaboration allows both species to access valuable resources.
The HPTN 073 study found that 79% of participants accepted PrEP, with 62% self-reporting high adherence and drug levels consistent with daily use. This suggests an effective strategy for preventing HIV infection among black MSM in the US.
A randomized trial in South Africa found that screening at home and immediate antiretroviral treatment reduce HIV transmission, but only 4 out of 10 seropositive people had undetectable viral loads. The study highlights the need to improve entry into healthcare systems for those diagnosed with HIV.
Global Burden of Disease 2015 analysis shows slow decline in new HIV infections between 2005-2015, with stagnation in recent years. Treatment coverage varies globally, with massive scale-up needed in regions like Middle East and Eastern Europe.
New research reveals that continental breakup proceeds through a two-phase speed evolution, where initial slow extension is followed by rapid acceleration. This process can lead to the formation of rifted continental margins with enhanced faulting and volcanic activity.
The monthly dapivirine vaginal ring provides significant protection against HIV infection in women, with consistent use reducing risk by at least 56%. Two open-label studies have launched to further investigate the product's efficacy and support its consistent use.
Research by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health sheds light on the relentless spread of HIV in South African communities, particularly among adolescent girls and young women. The studies found that Prevotella bivia and Gardnerella vaginalis bacteria increase vulnerability to HIV through inflammation and pH imbalance.
A newly discovered ancient turtle fossil reveals that the turtle shell initially evolved for burrowing, not protection. The fossil, about 15 cm long, was found by an 8-year-old boy and helps solve a long-standing mystery in the field of evolutionary biology.
A team of paleontologists, including Denver Museum of Nature & Science curator Dr. Tyler Lyson, has discovered that the earliest turtle shells were not for protection, but rather an adaptation for burrowing underground. The broadened ribs in early proto turtles allowed them to dig and escape harsh environments.
A team of scientists has developed a model that can predict which bat species are most likely to transmit Ebola and other filoviruses. The study highlights new potential hosts and geographic hotspots worthy of surveillance, with the AI algorithm identifying potential carriers in Southeast Asia and Central and South America.
Ecologists have identified 21 bat species that are likeliest to harbor Ebola and other filoviruses, primarily found in Southeast Asia and Central and South America. The study suggests targeted disease surveillance efforts in these regions to prevent future outbreaks.
A study published in PLOS ONE suggests climate shifts influenced human subsistence strategies but not the driving factor behind cultural and technological innovations during Middle Stone Age. Researchers found that environmental variation did not coincide with these innovations, implying other factors drove human innovation.
A study in Uganda found that increasing community medical male circumcision and antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage was associated with reduced community HIV incidence. Median community HIV incidence declined from 1.25 to 0.84 per 100 person-years in males, and from 1.25 to 0.99 per 100 person-years in females.
Research suggests that increasing male circumcision rates and ART coverage significantly reduces new male HIV infections in rural Ugandan communities. Communities with higher circumcision coverage saw a 39% decline in new infections, while those with higher ART coverage among women saw a 23% reduction.
Key findings highlight the need for national palliative care policies in African countries, where many lack such guidelines. The article discusses the evolution of palliative care policy on the continent, raising awareness and promoting education to address these challenges.
A study reveals that rapid TB tests in West Africa have low accuracy due to the presence of other mycobacterial species like Mycobacterium africanum. The tests miss a substantial fraction of cases, leading to dire consequences for patients and TB control efforts.
Researchers analyzed fossil records and ostrich eggshell stable isotope measurements from two Middle Stone Age sites, finding no correlation between climate shifts and technological or cultural innovations. The study challenges the idea that climate change drove early human experimentation.
The Quatro Study will inform ongoing product development efforts by gathering end-user input on four vaginal delivery systems for HIV and multipurpose prevention. The study, recruiting 200 healthy women ages 18-30 in South Africa and Zimbabwe, assesses user experiences of placebos with no active ingredients.
The study identified two groups of drought-resistant bean lines: 'water savers' and 'water spenders'. The former are suitable for semi-arid regions with limited moisture, while the latter have deep roots to maximize water extraction. These findings contribute to improving bean productivity in areas affected by drought.
The 1976 Ebola outbreak highlighted the importance of rapid clinical recognition, international notification, and specimen provision. Researchers recommend strengthened preparation, detection, response, control mechanisms, and international cooperation to manage future outbreaks promptly.
Researchers have developed paper strips that can detect diseases like cancer and malaria at home using a cost of 50 cents per strip. These tests are accurate even after a month and can be sent via mail, making them ideal for rural communities where access to healthcare is limited.
A new analysis published in Nature finds that country pledges under the Paris Agreement would lead to a global temperature rise of 2.6-3.1°C by 2100, exceeding the 2°C limit. The study suggests that additional measures are necessary after 2030 to limit warming to 2°C or even 1.5°C.
A new solar-powered oxygen delivery system, developed by UAlberta, is providing concentrated oxygen to children with severe pneumonia in Ugandan hospitals. The system, which uses solar energy and batteries, has shown to be as effective as conventional oxygen delivery methods.
A new study finds that converting forests into monoculture palm plantations will cause significant climate-warming carbon emissions. Converting just 11,500 hectares of forest could release 1.5 million metric tons of carbon, equivalent to small developing countries. However, these emissions can be offset over 25 years if development is ...
Scientists found 25 million-year-old fossil termite nests in East Africa with evidence of fungus gardens, a form of agriculture not by humans but by insects. This discovery provides the oldest known examples of agricultural practices and sheds light on how termites evolved to cultivate fungi.
The global mapping of artemisinin resistance, led by Institut Pasteur researchers, has confirmed that resistance to the main malaria drug is confined to Southeast Asia. The study identified 70 new mutations, including those in Cambodia and Vietnam-Laos, which were not associated with resistance.
Researchers have uncovered signatures of historical DNA mixing events in sub-Saharan Africa, shaping the continent's recent genetic history. The study provides insights into admixture events that may contribute to non-communicable and infectious diseases like malaria.
New studies find exclusive breastfeeding for six months reduces conduct disorders in children, while enriched play/stimulation by age two boosts cognitive development. Additionally, 'responsive stimulation' improves emotional-behavioral problems in impoverished rural children.
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Carnegie Mellon University will benefit 125 students from Sub-Saharan Africa, providing globally recognized degree programs in ICT. The program aims to expand future career options and support growth and development of the technology sector in Africa.
A 700-year-old West African soil technique converts nutrient-poor rainforest soil into fertile farmland, potentially offsetting CO2 emissions and preventing food shortages. Researchers discovered that this method creates 'African Dark Earths' containing 200-300% more organic carbon than other soils.
Kenya's ivory burn has increased by over 600% since 2011, with a recent record-breaking burn valued at up to $220 million. The scientists argue that tracking the impact of these burns is crucial to reduce poaching and illegal ivory trade.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is home to a rich biodiversity of water beetles, with 68 species collected from temporary freshwater ponds. These tiny ecosystems are crucial for maintaining wetland health and can serve as indicators of pollution levels.
A 24-million-year-old record of vegetation trends suggests that humans developed key traits like flexible diets and large brains while adapting to the spread of open grasslands. The study provides a comprehensive timeline for the development of grasses, which were part of human evolution from the very beginning.
Researchers identified Asian crop remains in Madagascar, providing archaeological evidence of Southeast Asian colonization over 1,000 years ago. Genetic research confirms the connection between Malagasy speakers and Austronesian language families.
Achieving the 90-90-90 targets for HIV diagnosis, treatment and virologic suppression in South Africa would have a transformative impact, averting millions of new infections, saving millions of lives and preventing orphanages. The initiative is estimated to yield enormous population and clinical benefits.
The study retrieved the complete sequence of a fossil's mitogenome, confirming its Eurasian origin and supporting a Palaeolithic back-migration to Africa. This migration suggests that some populations embarked on a journey from Eurasia to Africa around 40,000 years ago.
A research team sequenced the first complete mitochondrial genome of a 2500-year-old Phoenician, revealing rare European haplogroup U5b2cl in North Africa. The findings date the arrival of this haplogroup to at least late sixth century BC.
The WHO has convened an emergency committee due to the risk of a YF outbreak in unvaccinated populations in Asia. The World Health Organization is concerned about the limited supply of vaccine, but experts warn that this poses a strong risk of epidemics.
A Fulbright Scholar will conduct research on women's sexual health literacy in Sierra Leone with a focus on HIV incidence, contraceptive use, and prenatal health. The study aims to enhance understanding of women's health literacy among unmarried women in the region.
Researchers found that hornbills' beaks account for up to 20% of their non-evaporative heat loss, helping conserve water in hot desert environments. This unique adaptation may provide an advantage over panting, a method used by birds to cool off.
New research from North Carolina State University finds cribra orbitalia, a condition with porous bone inside the eye sockets, is common in both North America and South Africa, affecting 12.35% of modern North Americans and 16.8% of modern South Africans. The high rates may be linked to iron-poor diet and intestinal parasites.
New research from the University of East Anglia reveals that poor countries will experience more frequent heat extremes before wealthier nations, despite emitting less CO2. The study shows that the poorest fifth of the global population will be the first to feel the effects of climate change.
A study by researchers from the University of Exeter found that marine turtle trade continues despite conservation efforts, with a shift towards commercial harvesting in certain islands. The study suggests refining conservation interventions and focusing on suppliers and consumers for more robust solutions.
A new study by Eric Akobeng reveals that international remittances have a significant impact on reducing poverty and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings suggest a 10% increase in remittances as share of GDP leads to a decline in the number of people living on less than $1.25 per day, extreme poverty, and inequality.
Scientists found that an early Arctic spring in Africa is killing red knots by disrupting their food supply. The birds' short beaks limit their access to shellfish, essential for survival.
A recent study highlights the persistence of syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa, where rates have remained higher than in other regions. The research suggests that common risk factors, such as HIV prevalence and connected sexual networks, may be underlying causes of the spread of syphilis in these populations.
Climate scientists warn that Africa's vulnerability to climate change could lead to longer, hotter heat waves affecting life expectancy and crop production. The study found that unusual heat waves could occur four times per year towards the end of the century.
A study by American University Economics Professor Boris Gershman found a negative correlation between witchcraft beliefs and trust, eroding social capital and cooperation. In regions with widespread witchcraft beliefs, mistrust and property destruction are common, stifling economic progress.
The discovery of diverse Oligocene primates from southern China sheds light on the evolution of primates during the Eocene-Oligocene transition. The Asian fauna is dominated by strepsirhines, contrasting with Afro-Arabian primate faunas that diversified anthropoids after the climate crisis.
The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) sent ten students to the PanAfrican Legume Conference in Zambia to learn about pulses and grain legumes. The conference, which drew over 500 participants from 46 countries, focused on sustainable systems for food, income, and nutritional security.
A deadly fungus has been found to be threatening African frog species, with at least five species declining due to chytrid and habitat destruction. Climate change may also be exacerbating the issue.
A decade-long fieldwork project in southern China has uncovered six new fossil species of primates, which survived the Eocene-Oligocene transition due to their tough enamel surfaces. The discovery sheds light on the vulnerability of primates to climate change and provides a unique snapshot of early primate evolution.
A new parasitic wasp species, Conobregma bradpitti, has been discovered in South Africa, measuring less than 2 mm and bearing a striking resemblance to Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The species belongs to a large group of wasps that lay eggs in moth or butterfly caterpillars.
The Middle East and North Africa may become uninhabitable due to climate change, with temperatures expected to rise by over two degrees Celsius by mid-century. Heat waves could occur ten times more often, with prolonged periods of extreme heat becoming the norm.
The NIH has created an atlas of human malformation syndromes in diverse populations to help diagnose genomic diseases. The atlas features photos and descriptions of people with different inherited conditions, allowing healthcare providers to diagnose patients from non-European ancestry more accurately.
Research suggests that child homicide is responsible for approximately 1% of all neonatal deaths in South Africa. The majority of these deaths occur among infants aged 0-6 days, with abandonment being the most common method of homicide.
A lesser-known South African mountain endemic, Macowania revoluta, has been rediscovered and found to be an exceptionally important keystone species. Its ecological role in wetland functioning and soil protection is crucial for the ecosystem's balance.
A rare South African plant, Mrs Barber's Beauty, was rediscovered in the Great Winterberg mountains after 147 years. The plant is now recognized as Critically Endangered due to limited ecological conditions.