Samson Usman

The escalating threat of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin-based therapies necessitates accelerated drug development. Drug repurposing offers a promising pathway to bypass the extensive time and cost of de novo discovery. This study conducted a systematic analysis of the top 51 most cited original research articles in malaria drug repurposing identified from the Scopus database. Data on methodologies, drug candidates, targets, and outcomes were extracted and synthesized. The analysis reveals a field dominated by computational approaches, with molecular docking (AutoDock Vina) and virtual screening serving as primary filters for identifying candidates from FDA-approved libraries. These methods are increasingly integrated with advanced techniques like machine learning for synergy prediction and transcriptomics-guided discovery. The repurposing landscape has identified promising antimalarial activity in diverse drug classes, including anticancer agents (methotrexate, lapatinib), antivirals (lopinavir, ritonavir), and immunosuppressants (everolimus). Key validated targets include the proteasome, PfHT1 glucose transporter, and various parasite enzymes. Candidates such as alisporivir, bazedoxifene, and nitrofurantoin have demonstrated efficacy in in vitro and in vivo models, often showing synergistic potential when combined with standard antimalarials. The convergence of computational power and biological insight has generated a rich pipeline of repurposable candidates. A quantitative analysis revealed molecular docking as the most frequent (31.4% of studies) and successful strategy, though in vivo preclinical evaluation yielded the highest validation score. Future success hinges on rigorous experimental validation, lead optimization, and advancing the most promising agents into clinical trials to address the urgent need for novel antimalarial therapies.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with a receptor-negative profile and poor prognosis. It mostly affects young

Aim: Despite a reduction in the overall incidence and prevalence in the last two decades, trypanosomiasis continues to be a public health concern in Africa. This study was designed to comprehensively evaluate current trends in trypanosomiasis research using bibliometric approaches to uncover emerging topics and knowledge gaps, thereby guiding future investigations, particularly in Africa. Methods: Relevant articles were systematically selected from the Scopus‐retrieved dataset and analyzed using Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, and the Bibliometrix software. A total of 4036 documents were analyzed. Results: The results revealed the involvement of 8849 authors, 696 sources, and an annual growth rate of 3.52%. A period of rapid increase in trypanosomiasis research was observed after 1973. Kenya and Nigeria were the leading countries in African trypanosomiasis research. The most relevant affiliation was Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, whereas the most relevant and impactful sources were the Acta Tropica and PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases , respectively. Similarly, Buscher, P . emerged as the most relevant and impactful author in the field. Some notable keywords observed are trypanocidal agents , prevalence , parasitemia , and polymerase chain reaction . Furthermore, themes such as antitrypanosomal and molecular docking represented the recent research interests. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of research output and evolution on trypanosomiasis in Africa and highlights critical ways forward in combating the disease, such as the One Health approach, strengthening health systems and capacities, and improving diagnostic and surveillance tools across African nations in addressing African trypanosomiasis. These findings are crucial for directing future research on African trypanosomiasis.

Neuroimaging has become an indispensable tool in the early diagnosis and progression monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease, driven by advances in multimodal imaging and artificial intelligence. However, its application remains limited in low-resource settings, particularly across the African continent. This study provides the most temporally extensive (1983–2023) and methodologically integrated review of AD-focused neuroimaging research in Africa to date. Building on earlier dementia-related bibliometric efforts, it uniquely combines a PRISMA-guided systematic review with bibliometric mapping and trend analysis to assess imaging modality evolution and collaborative patterns across the continent. A total of 223 Scopus-indexed articles selected from an initial pool of 696 documents were analyzed using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to identify publication trends, author productivity, institutional contributions, keywords clusters, and collaboration networks. The research trajectory shows a clear evolution in three distinct phase: (i) foundational phase (1997–2009), characterized by reliance on computed tomography (CT) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); (ii) methodological expansion (2010–2018), marked by the employment of more sophisticated imaging modalities such as functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and positron emission tomography (PET); and (iii) technological surge (2019–2024) reflected by the adoption of advanced computational tools, including machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms for image processing and predictive modeling. In Africa, Egypt emerged as regional leader, with a robust international collaboration sustained over the years especially with European institutions. Followed by South Africa and Tunisia with commendable efforts amongst others. Despite this progress, the study highlights persistent disparities in research output, access to advanced imaging infrastructure and inclusion in global neuroimaging networks. These findings present the need for more inclusive funding mechanisms, regional imaging hubs, capacity building, ethical data-sharing practices, and policies to strengthen Africa’s contribution to global AD neuroimaging research (Fig. 1).

The annual Africa waste production has been predicted to triple by 2050. Due to lack of proper waste disposal plans and services in many African countries, wastes are indiscriminately dumped leading to environmental and human health issues. Microorganisms with their complex biochemical functionaries play a significant role in waste valorization. Research in the application of microorganisms in waste conversion has been ongoing globally. However, there i no information on the extent of research on this subject with regards to Africa using bibliometric and systematic review approaches. This study was aimed at understanding the extent of research in microbially-driven waste valorization in Africa to identify research gaps and future perspectives. Bibliographic and systematic literature review (SLR) methodology guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were used for this study. Bibliographic data (752) was extracted from Scopus database. Thereafter, 264 data were excluded and the remaining 488 data were analysed using Biblioshiny, Vosviewer and Excel analytical tools. Nigeria with 369 published articles ranked above other countries from 1984-2024. However, using the number of citations and single country publication (SCP) South Africa dominated with 3233 and 75% SCP. Themes like wastewater treatment, composting, recycling, and microorganisms evolved to biodegradation, biomass, microbial community, anaerobic digestion etc. The findings suggest that emerging themes are still revolving around biomass and anaerobic digestion, as more research is still on wastewater treatment and management, recycling and fermentations in waste valorization. This knowledge contributes to future research designing and gap identification in the area of waste valorization in Africa. Graphical

Sickle cell disease (SCD) remains a major public health challenge in Africa, yet the research landscape is often fragmented, with limited policy translation. This study offers a comprehensive review of SCD research in Africa over seventy-four (74) years, integrating a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis to assess trends, influence, and collaboration patterns. A total of 2,132 articles published between 1926 and 2024 were retrieved from the Scopus database using PRISMA guidelines. Bibliometric tools, including VOSviewer and the R-based Bibliometrix package enabled citation analysis, co authorship mapping, and keyword clustering. The findings reveal 7,178 contributing authors across 728 journals, with an average of 11.16 citations per publication. The year 2022 recorded the highest output, with 167 articles, while 1970 had the highest average number of citations per article. Williams, TN was the most cited author, while Makani J. emerged as the most prolific and impactful. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania led in institutional productivity, and Nigeria Niger collaborations were the most frequent. Research trends have shifted from early clinical understanding toward management innovations and therapeutic development. However, critical gaps persist in multi omics integration, access to newborn screening, regional trial participation, and implementation science. The study calls for an inclusive research strategy that aligns with national health policies, boosts regional collaboration, and ensures evidence-based interventions for SCD across Africa.

Nutrigenomics is at the intersection of genetics, nutrition, and health and has changed how dietary interventions are personalized based on genetic profiles. Since the completion of the Human Genome Project, this emerging field has sought to understand nutrient–gene interactions and how they influence disease risk and prevention, particularly in the context of non-transmissible chronic diseases (NTCDs). This study presents a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of nutrigenomics research published from 1960 to 2024. Using the Scopus database, 4,314 documents were initially retrieved. After language and document-type filtering, and subsequent manual keyword screening, 878 relevant publications were analyzed. Bibliometric tools including Bibliometrix in R and VOSviewer were used to map authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic evolution. Results show that nutrigenomics remains a young but growing field, with an average annual growth rate of 4.71 percent. The United States leads in publication volume, followed by Italy and Spain. However, major gaps still persist; including underrepresentation of diverse populations, limited gut microbiome studies, insufficient translational research, and lack of standardized methodologies. African contribution remains limited, with only 29.5 percent international collaboration. Addressing these gaps is essential to developing globally relevant, genomically informed nutrition strategies.

Bioscience encompasses studies on living organisms, their components, and their interactions, with the main aim of translating research into useful applications for medical, clinical, industrial, and environmental uses. The broad field of bioscience has witnessed tremendous growth in research output. This study was designed to evaluate the current trends in bioscience research using bibliometric approaches and develop future policy pointers following the innovative systems framework. Research articles focusing on bioscience published between 1883 and 2024 were sourced from the Scopus database. From the retrieved dataset, relevant articles were systematically screened and included for the analysis. Bibliometrix package, VOSviewer, and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze and visualize the parameters. 8,678 documents involving 30,380 authors from diverse institutions across the globe were published in 3,549 sources, with an annual rise of 4.41%. Exponential growth in bioscience research output was observed after 2007 and remained steady till 2024. The United States and China were leading nations for bioscience research. The most relevant affiliation was the University of California, United States, while the most relevant source was the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research , in terms of the number of publications. Among the authors, Wang Y had the highest number of documents, while the most impactful author was Zhang J. The most frequent keywords in bioscience research included biological research , genetics , procedures , metabolism , biology , DNA , gene expression , proteins , genomics , and fluorescence . Furthermore, themes such as bioinformatics , microRNA , synthetic biology, CRISPR/Cas9 , deep learning , multi-omics , and big data represented the recent research interests. The bioscience research landscape is defined by the dominance of high-income countries and a shift toward omics-driven and data-intensive approaches. Yet global participation remains uneven, with limited representation from low- and middle-income regions. This study highlights the need for inclusive, globally coordinated strategies that foster equitable access, capacity building, and cross-regional collaboration.

The ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to form biofilms and develop multidrug resistance has made it a highly significant pathogen in diabetic foot infections (DFIs), contributing to global morbidity. This research carried out a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of 873 articles on P. aeruginosa in DFIs, published between 1985 and 2024, that were retrieved from the Scopus database in order to clarify changing research trends and pinpoint areas of innovation. Bibliometric tools including Bibliometrix in R and VOSviewer were used to map authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic evolution. After language and document-type filtering and subsequent manual keyword screening, 333 relevant publications were analyzed. Research output has significantly increased over the past two decades with an annual growth rate of 9.85%, and a noticeable shift in focus from general infection studies to focused studies on molecular mechanisms, antibiotic resistance, and sophisticated therapeutic interventions. Innovation hotspots have been identified in biofilm research, antimicrobial resistance, and new treatments like phage therapy and quorum quenching. Global research distribution is still unequal despite these advancements with most publications coming from nations with strong research infrastructure, while contributions from less resource-rich areas are scarce. Additionally, collaboration patterns show fragmented international cooperation and a preference for intra-country partnerships. Emerging innovation hotspots include anti-biofilm strategies, genomics-driven resistance profiling, and next-generation therapeutic development. However, the study observes systemic disparities in research equity and knowledge sharing. Addressing these issues through inclusive research partnerships and stronger policy-to-practice integration is essential to advancing effective DFI management globally. To make future advancements in the control of P. aeruginosa in diabetic foot infections, it will be important to address these disparities through inclusive and cross-disciplinary research. Abstract Figure:

Plasmodium falciparum is the major cause of malaria in Africa, responsible for high morbidity and mortality across the continent. This study presents a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of P. falciparum research conducted in Africa between 2000 and 2024 as shown in Figure 1. Using the PRISMA framework, 10,903 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved from the Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis was performed using Bibliometrix in R and VOSviewer to assess publication trends, authorship networks, keyword evolution, and thematic concentration. Results reveal contributions from 18,345 authors across 4,903 journals, with an average of 31.83 citations per article. Research output has grown steadily over the two-decade period, with significant input from African scholars and international collaborators. The most active research themes include epidemiology, antimalarial drug resistance, vaccine development, vector biology, and socio-economic factors in malaria control. Despite this progress, the review highlights persistent gaps in genomic surveillance, localised insecticide resistance monitoring, and integration of social determinants into malaria intervention strategies. Regional disparities in research output remain, with some high-burden areas underrepresented. Collaboration among African institutions is limited compared to international partnerships. These observations indicate the urgent need for targeted funding, strengthened intra-African collaboration, and policies that contextualise malaria research within local health systems. Addressing these gaps is essential for speeding the continent’s malaria elimination agenda. Abstract Figure: Graphical representation and summary of trends in Plasmodium falciparum in Africa.