The acceptability of volunteer, repeat blood donations in a hospital setting in the Adamaoua region of Cameroon.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The knowledge of factors that may influence blood donation in Cameroon is limited. The objectives of this study are to assess the characteristics of previous and potential blood donors by exploring the religious beliefs, and knowledge and understanding of blood donations among individuals present at a district hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted among consenting, randomly selected 18 years or older community members present at a district hospital in the Adamaoua region during October and November 2011. RESULTS: Ninety-eight per cent (48/49) of the individuals present at this district hospital had heard of blood transfusions. Forty-seven per cent (23/49) had not previously been asked to donate blood; however, 94% (44/47) said that they would donate if given the opportunity. Thirty-three per cent (16/49) had previously donated blood to family members or for replacement, and 81% of these said they would repeat donations. The majority of both donors and non-donors were motivated to donate blood for altruistic reasons. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that community members present at this district hospital in Cameroon may be recruited for repeat blood donations. Although the altruistic motivation to donate blood suggests that donors could be recruited from a district hospital population, targeted information about blood donations and accessible blood transfusion services need to be put in place. The study may add to the understanding of the preconditions for blood donations and the possibility to establish sustainable blood transfusion services in the Adamaoua region in Cameroon.

A mutant Ebg enzyme that converts lactose into an inducer of the lac operon.

Lactose is not itself an inducer of the lac operon, nor is it converted to an inducer by ebg+ beta-galactosidase of Escherichia coli. We report here the isolation of a mutant Ebg beta-galactosidase which is capable of converting lactose into an inducer of the lac operon.

Isolation and characterization of mutations in the structural gene for protease III (ptr).

Escherichia coli mutants defective in protease III were isolated by enzyme assays of heavily mutagenized colones. One mutant produced thermolabile enzyme, and it is presumed to have a mutation in the structural gene of protease III. Two other mutants mapping at the same site had less than 5% of the wild-type protease III level. The genetic locus of these mutations, designated ptr, was located at approximately 60 min on the E. coli linkage map based on its high frequency (70%) of contransduction by P1 with argA. Strains with less than 5% of the wild-type protease III activity grew normally and degraded nonsense fragments of beta-galactosidase at wild-type rates.