Nigeria is faced with all kinds of diseases and sometimes depends on advanced countries for medical and nutritional interventions. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s traditional methods of designing and producing drugs and processed food are no longer effective. Finding and developing an effective drug or food product may take years to achieve and could be capital-intensive.
These realities have made it necessary for Nigerian scientists and medical professionals to seek innovative ways to make health and life better. The need for local drug research and production is now not only an imperative, but must be approached using biotechnological, artificial intelligence (AI), and other cutting-edge tools to ensure their effectiveness and safety.
One of the Nigerian researchers at the forefront of food and plant-derived drug discovery research using biotechnology, antimicrobial therapy, and one health approach is Chibuzo Nwokafor.
Nwokafor, a first-class microbiology graduate with an MSc in Biotechnology from the University of the West of Scotland, United Kingdom, focuses his research on infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, immunology, and drug discovery. Currently a researcher in Microbiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States, he said his journey into drug discovery and antimicrobial resistance research has been challenging and rewarding.
He stated that his decision to focus on plant-based drug discovery and antimicrobial therapy was influenced by his personal experiences and the pressing global health challenge associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“During my undergraduate studies, I researched the antimicrobial properties of plant extracts and was intrigued by the potent activity of readily available plants in Nigeria. Witnessing the impact of AMR in Nigeria, with significant mortality rates, motivated me to explore accessible and effective solutions,” he said.
Nwokafor further said that biotechnology hastens drug discovery and food production processes by enabling scientists to study biological systems at the cellular level. He submitted that biotechnology enables the identification of specific drug targets with better accuracy, enabling scientists to design and produce drugs tailored to specific targets.
In recent years, he and his research colleagues have published over 18 scholarly papers to shed more light on AMR and the application of biotechnology in food and drug discovery with emphasis on plant-based extracts and microbial activities.
Their works on drug discovery include, but not limited to, ‘Exploring guava and neem extracts as therapeutic options for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Africa’ published in Journal of Advances in Microbiology 24 (9):1-15 (2024); and ‘Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds and Their Mechanistic Roles in Combating Microbial Biofilms’ Microbiology Research Journal International 34 (9):74-85 (2024).
Nwokafor and others, in the paper, ‘Exploring guava and neem extracts as therapeutic options for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Africa’ postulated that plants with traditional medicinal uses, including A. indica and P. guajava, may provide an alternate means of treatment. They showed that A. indica and P. guajava extracts may have strong antibacterial action and can prevent the growth of MRSA and stop the formation of biofilms.
They submitted that, despite the extracts’ lower efficacy when compared to modern antibiotics, the extracts could serve as a novel approach to effectively tackle antimicrobial resistance due to their enhanced synergistic efficacy when combined with other extracts.
In their paper ‘Plant-derived bioactive compounds and their mechanistic roles in combating microbial biofilms’, Nwokafor et al reviewed the mechanisms of plant-derived bioactive compounds (alkaloids, tannins, indoles, terpenes, and flavonoids) in vitro microbial biofilms, shedding light on their ability to disrupt and prevent biofilm formation.
Their paper emphasized the current and future research directions for these phytochemicals, including synergism with conventional antibiotics and advanced drug delivery systems for treating and eradicating biofilm-associated infections.
Nwokafor and his research colleagues stated that while many studies focused on the effectiveness of plant bioactive substances as anti-biofilm agents, less is known about their pharmacokinetics, safety, and toxicological profiles. They recommended further research in these areas.
In recent years, the production of food using preservatives, cultures, and fermentation processes has fascinated researchers and scientists. Processed drinks and food are in high demand, and it is necessary to meet these demands using the right tools and technology.
One of the ways to meet these demands is to leverage the application of microorganisms in a natural or engineered way. Nwokafor and his colleagues, in their efforts to study the production of food using preservatives, cultures, and fermentation processes, published scholarly papers titled ‘Optimization of culture conditions for enhanced bacteriocin production by lactococcus lactis MT186647 using response surface methodology’ published in American Journal of Microbiological Research, vol. 8, no. 4 (2020)’ and ‘Optimization of bacteriocin production by lactobacillus fermentum strain COE20 from fermenting pentaclethra macrophylla benth using response surface methodology’ published in American Journal of Food Science and Technology, vol. 9, no. 2 (2021).
Bacteriocins, defined as ribosomally synthesised antimicrobial peptides, have traditionally been used as food preservatives, either added or produced by starter cultures during fermentation.
A 2018 research paper published in Curr Opin Biotechnol, titled ‘Functions and emerging applications of bacteriocins’, noted that bacteriocins use could range from simple to sophisticated targeted applications. The paper stated that it could be applied in milk or other food-grade bacteriocin-containing fermentate, bacteriocin-producing protecting microbial culture, partially-purified food-grade bacteriocin, bacteriocin-producing active probiotic culture (possibly spore-former), bacteriocin with synergistically-acting natural-derived antimicrobials, and implementation of controlled delivery systems for improved stability and effectiveness of bacteriocins.
Also, in-depth studies of a selected few bacteriocins have opened exciting new research fields and broadened the application of these antimicrobial peptides. The possibility of developing bacteriocins into next-generation antibiotics, accompanied by the rapid development in genetics and nanotechnology, paves the way to even more fascinating applications such as novel carrier molecules and treatment of cancer.
Nwokafor et al research on bacteriocins showed that bacteriocins produced by various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have found enormous use in the food industries as biopreservatives. They also showed that significant antibacterial activity indicates its ability to control bacterial pathogens.
Nwokafor noted that his work in drug discovery and antimicrobial therapies stemmed from his commitment to contributing to the understanding of complex global health challenges and medical problems, which he said require interdisciplinary, intersectoral expertise, and cooperation from governmental, non-governmental, and educational agencies.
He summarised his passion for biotechnological, drug discovery, and microbial research in a recent interview, thus, “Conducting first-hand research in these fields, especially in leading-edge research facilities, has deepened my understanding of antimicrobial resistance and its complexities. This experience has been invaluable, shaping my approach to addressing these significant global health issues.”
Kingsley Alumona,
Ibadan, Oyo state
