Research and Development of Xenobiotics in Africa: The Missing Link

There is a global concern arising from contamination of the environment by xenobiotic substances. These substances cause severe damage to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, leading to threats to other forms of life, including animals, humans, and plants. Physical and chemical degrading methods have been introduced to mitigate the effects of these harmful substances. Though these approaches could be effective, limitations requiring appropriate changes to bioremediation techniques that would engender the necessary bioconversion of xenobiotics need special attention. Bio-friendly methods that use the metabolic potentials of microorganisms to convert toxicants into harmless products remained untapped in Africa. However, the missing link in xenobiotic research in Africa remains with the fact that most genomic datasets in use are, like most other things in Africa, foreign to the continent, from Australia, Europe, and North America. This is despite the enormous African population, evolutionary history, and genetic diversity. Is there "healthcare delivery justice" in developing therapeutic and pharmaceutical products outside Africa for treating infectious and non-infectious diseases, including clinical trials conducted on less diverse (genetic) populations, yet the effects of such investigations are meant for global use? Is there comprehensive genomic data in Africa to promote xenobiotic research? This presentation throws up these and many other issues.