Two years ago, Dr. Cedric Yamssi, a dedicated researcher from Cameroon, reached out to us with an inspiring challenge: he wanted to establish a laboratory at the University of Bamenda to study the effects of plants used in Africa for treating parasitic infections. Helminthiasis, a group of neglected tropical diseases, severely impacts the health of communities across much of Africa. Despite facing obstacles like inconsistent electricity, limited internet access, shortages of supplies, and a modest science budget, Dr. Yamssi has continued to persevere in his mission.
At Phylumtech, we joined this effort by donating a WMicrotracker device to his lab. In just two years, this collaboration has empowered several students to complete their theses and led to research published in international scientific journals. Some notable achievements include articles in the Journal of Tropical Medicine and Journal of Parasitology Research, such as:
“Antihelminthic Activity of Lophira Lanceolata on Heligmosomoides polygyrus Using an Automated High-Throughput Method” (2023), doi: 10.1155/2023/9504296
“Nematocidal Activity of Ethanol and Aqueous Extracts of Persea americana Seeds against Heligmosomoides polygyrus Using the Worm Microtracker Method” (2023), doi: 10.1155/2023/9545565
Additionally, the research team has presented posters at various conferences, including:
- “Ovicidal and Larvicidal Activity of Terminalia macroptera Extracts Against Heligmosomoides polygyrus Using an Automated Tracking System”
- “Antihelminthic Activity of Lannea kerstingii Evaluated with a High-Throughput Method”
- “Antihelminthic Activity of Faidherbia albida Through a Novel Real-Time Monitoring Assay of Parasite Motility”
International collaborations like these are vital for developing scientific solutions that transcend borders and make a lasting impact on education and health in developing countries. We are proud to be part of this initiative and look forward to many more global partnerships between scientists.