BackgroundGenetic diversity is abundant on the African continent. However, genomic research has been hampered by a lack of high quality and extensively annotated biospecimens and the necessary infrastructure to support such a technology-intensive effort.ObjectiveThe Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) partnered with the H3Africa Consortium and the Coriell Institute for Medical Research to build an internationally recognised biorepository for the receipt, processing, storage and distribution of biospecimens for biomedical research. Here, the authors describe the procedures, challenges and results encountered.ResultsKey requirements for a high-quality biorepository were identified: (1) institutional support of infrastructure and services, (2) on-site trained staff with primary commitment to the biorepository, (3) reliance on best practices from globally recognised biorepository groups, (4) early implementation of a quality management system, (5) adoption of a laboratory information management system with demonstrated versatility in functions, (6) collaboration with external experts and sharing of experience through abstracts, newsletters, published manuscripts, and attendance at meetings and workshops, (7) strict adherence to local and national ethical standards and (8) a sustainability plan that is reviewed and updated annually.ConclusionUtilising published best practices of globally recognised experts in the biorepository field as a benchmark, IHVN expanded and reorganised its existing laboratory facility and staff to take on this new purpose.

Biobanking is underdeveloped in Africa. 1,2 Obvious obstacles include sparse financial resources, challenging operating environments, underdeveloped infrastructure, inferior logistics, and an unreliable electrical power supply. 2,3,4,5 Also, preanalytical processes occurring at collection sites affect biospecimen quality. 3 Past reports documented destitute laboratory systems, and the hope for advancements through international declarations, funding, networking, training, and mentorship. 6,7,8,9 The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Wellcome Trust founded Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) (www.h3Africa.org) to promote genomic research in Africa through funding of African researchers, and provision of bioinformatics core and biorepositories located in Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda. 6 The NIH required biorepositories to complete a feasibility phase (Phase I) to qualify for the implementation phase (Phase II). The NIH also assigned H3Africa research projects to a biorepository and required projects to deposit Background: The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) -Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Biorepository (I-HAB) seeks to provide high-quality biospecimens for research. This depends on the ability of clinical research sites (CRS) -who provide biospecimens -to operate according to well-established industry standards. Yet, standards are often neglected at CRSs located in Africa. Here, I-HAB reports on its four-pronged approach to empower CRSs to prepare high-quality biospecimens for research.Objectives: I-HAB sought (1) to assess a four-pronged approach to improve biobanking practices and sample quality among CRSs, and (2) to build human capacity.Methods: I-HAB partnered with two H3Africa principal investigators located in Nigeria and Ghana from August 2013 through to May 2017 to debut its four-pronged approach (needs assessment, training and mentorship, pilot, and continuous quality improvement) to empower CRSs to attain high-quality biospecimens.Results: Close collaborations were instrumental in establishing mutually beneficial and lasting relationships. Improvements during the 12 months of engagement with CRSs involved personnel, procedural, and supply upgrades. In total, 51 staff were trained in over 20 topics. During the pilot, CRSs extracted 50 DNA biospecimens from whole blood and performed quality control. The CRSs shipped extracted DNA to I-HAB and I-HAB that comparatively analysed the DNA. Remediation was achieved via recommendations, training, and mentorship. Preanalytical, analytical and post-analytical processes, standard operating procedures, and workflows were systematically developed. Conclusion:Partnerships between I-HAB and H3Africa CRSs enabled research sites to produce high-quality biospecimens through needs assessment, training and mentorship, pilot, and continuous monitoring and improvement.

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The menace of drug resistant pathogens is increasing and their level of evading conventional antimicrobials is rising. It is therefore important to discover new antimicrobials to counter the current challenges. Our preliminary investigation identified Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis 168 isolated from soil sample sourced from a river bank in Abuja, Nigeria, as the most potent antibiotic-producing bacteria among the other identified producers. The current study screened for the antimicrobial activity of the extract and fractions of the isolate by broth microdilution method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the ratio of the MBC/MIC were determined. All the tested pathogens were susceptible to the ethyl-acetate extract (MIC between 28.70 mg/ml and 57.40 mg/ml). The extract displayed bactericidal activity against all tested pathogens (MBC/MIC between 1.00 and 2.00) while Proteus mirabilis was least susceptible. The extract was purified by vacuum liquid chromatography and the fractions challenged with pathogenic strains.  The fraction E was the most potent (MIC between 0.09 mg/ml and 0.75 mg/ml) and also bactericidal against all the test microbes (MBC/MIC between 2.00 and 2.11).  GC-MS analysis of the purified sub fraction obtained from fraction E identified 13 compounds with different Retention time and peak areas.  Among these were three major compounds which include: (i) bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (ii) 1,4-epoxynaphthalene-1(2H)-methanol, 4,5,7-tris(1,1-dimethylethyl)-3,4-dihydro- (iii) D:B-Friedo-B':A'-neogammacer-5-en-3-ol, (3.beta.)-.  Our findings suggest that Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis 168 isolated locally could serve as a valuable source of lead compounds for pharmaceutical and biotechnological purposes.