The study determined the physical properties of finger millet (FM) (Eluesine coracana) grains and the functional properties of FM flour. Physical properties such as colour attributes, sample weight, bulk density, true density, porosity, surface area, sample volume, aspect ratio, sphericity, dimensional properties and moisture content of grain cultivars were determined. Water absorption capacity (WAC), bulk density (BD), dispersibility, viscosity and micro-structure of FM flours were also evaluated. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 23.0. Results showed that milky cream cultivar was significantly higher (p<0.05) than other samples in sample weight, bulk density, true density, aspect ratio and sphericity. However, pearl millet, used as a control, was significantly different from FM flour on all dimensional properties. Moisture content of milky cream showed higher significant difference for both grains and flours as compared to brown and black grain/flours. Milky cream cultivar was significantly different in L*, b*, C*, H* values, WAC, BD and dispersibility for both FM grains and flours. Data showed that brown flour was significantly higher in viscosity than in milky and black flours. Microstructure results revealed that starch granules of raw FM flours had oval/spherical and smooth surface. The study is important for agricultural and food engineers, designers, scientists and processors in the design of equipment for FM grain processing. Results are likely to be useful in assessing the quality of grains used to fortify FM flour.

Most infants exposed to HIV-1 in utero and at delivery do not acquire infection. We show that mothers and infants who have CD3-negative cells that respond to HIV-1 peptides are substantially less likely to transmit and acquire infection, respectively. The CD3-negative cells, shown to be NK cells, respond with remarkable specificity and high magnitude to HIV-1 peptides from Env (envelope) and Reg (regulatory) protein regions, as measured by a whole blood intracellular cytokine assay only in the context of HIV-1 infection or exposure. These findings identify an important new measure of protective immunity to HIV-1 that highlights the importance of innate immunity in preventing the establishment of HIV-1 infection.

We observed a strong association between higher infant CCL3L1 gene copies and reduced susceptibility to HIV in the absence of maternal nevirapine. We also observed a reduction in newborn CCL3 production with nevirapine exposure. Taken together, we hypothesize that nevirapine may have direct or indirect effects that partly modify the role of the CCR5 ligand CCL3 in HIV transmission, obscuring the relationship between this genetic marker and perinatal HIV transmission.

The expression of the two human interleukin (IL)-8 receptors, designated IL-8RA (CXCR-1) and IL-8RB (CXCR-2), on the surface of whole blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was determined by use of receptor-specific monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Sixteen subjects each were included in 4 study groups: healthy blood donors (ND), patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus type 1-seropositive patients (HIV), and HIV-1-seropositive subjects with pulmonary tuberculosis (HIV/TB). A significant reduction in the percentage of PMNL expressing IL-8RA and IL-8RB and in their respective fluorescence intensities was found in TB, HIV, and HIV/TB groups compared with that obtained for the ND group. The greatest down-regulation of both receptors occurred in the HIV/TB group. Furthermore, associated with this reduced expression of IL-8 receptors was impairment of both intracellular calcium flux and migration of PMNL in response to IL-8 in a group of HIV/TB patients compared with that in healthy persons.