Molecular and Cell Biology of infectious and non-infectious Diseases Research group
Main Research Focus and other areas of research interest: Prevalence of infectious and non-infectious diseases (with focus on the Neglected Tropical Diseases),genetics of protozoan parasites, Plant-derived compounds as agents of anti-parasitic chemotherapy, Drug repurposing in parasite chemotherapy, Drug resistance in protozoan parasites, Natural compounds as agents of non-infectious disease chemotherapy, etc.
Title of the most recent project: Plasmodium falciparum Kelch 13 polymorphism in South-East Nigeria: implications for artemisinin resistance.
Other current or completed research projects:
- Molecular identification and characterization of trypanosomes in tsetse flies from from Onicha Ugbo In Delta State of Nigeria
Name of the Coordinator: Dr Kenechukwu Onyekwelu
UNN email address of the Research Group (RG): mcbind.rg@unn.edu.ng
UNN email address of the Coordinator: kenechukwu.onyekwelu@unn.edu.ng
Current webpage of the RG: https://www.unn.edu.ng/molecular-and-cell-biology-of-infectious-and-non-infectious-diseases-research-group/
Phone number of the RG: 08030470701
Phone number of the Coordinator: 08030470701
Base Faculty/Institute/Centre of the RG: Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
Department of the Coordinator: Medical Biochemistry
List and brief profile of members:
- Dr Onyekwelu Kenechukwu is a Lecturer in the Department of Medical Biochemistry (Biochemical and Molecular Parasitology unit), College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. His research interest is in the area of Neglected Tropical Disease with particular interest in trypanosomiasis, schistosomiasis and malaria.
- Dr Anthonius A. Eze is a best graduating student of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria. He has an MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Port Harcourt, and a PhD in Biochemical Parasitology from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His Doctoral studies was funded by a Commonwealth Scholarship, and his Postdoctoral training was supported by a Commonwealth Academic Fellowship. Dr Eze is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Biochemistry, UNEC. His research is in Biochemical parasitology and parasite genomics.
Members’ Google Scholar Citation links:
- Dr Onyekwelu, Kenechukwu C. : https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DR8pv08AAAAJ&hl=en
- Dr Anthonius A. Eze: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=xOG24qoAAAAJ
Members’ Researchgate links:
- Dr Onyekwelu Kenechukwu C.: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kenechukwu-Onyekwelu
- Dr Anthonius A. Eze: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anthonius-Eze
10 Key Publications of the RG from 2019 till date:
- Akazue, P.I., Ebiloma, G.U., Ajibola, O., Isaac, C., Onyekwelu, K., Ezeh, C.O. and Eze, A.A.(2019). Sustainable Elimination (Zero Cases) of Sleeping Sickness: How Far Are we from Achieving This Goal? Pathogens8, 135.
- Onyekwelu, K. C., Ejezie, F. E., Eze, A. A., Ikekpeazu, J. E., Isaac, C., Ibegbu, D. M. and Ogbunude P. O. J. (2017). Molecular identification of trypanosomes in tsetse flies trapped from Onicha Ugbo In Delta State of Nigeria. Biomed Res-India 28(12): 5463-5467.
- Onyekwelu, K. C et al (2017). Prevalence of trypanosome infection in tsetse flies from Oji River and Emene axis of Enugu state, Nigeria: A preliminary report. Trop Parasitol 7(2): 98-102.
- Ezeh CO, Onyekwelu KC, Akinwale OP, Shan L, Wei H (2019). Urinary schistosomiasis in Nigeria: a 50 year review of prevalence, distribution and disease burden. Parasite; 26:19. doi: 10.1051/parasite/2019020. Epub 2019 Apr 3. PMID: 30943149; PMCID: PMC6447092.
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