Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals 

Full Length Research Paper

Investigation of endophytic and symbiotic features of Ralstonia sp. TSC1 isolated from cowpea nodules

Papa Saliou Sarr¹*, Takeo Yamakawa², Satoru Asatsuma², Syunsei Fujimoto³ and Masao Sakai⁴

¹Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, Division of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Graduate School, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.

²Department of Plant Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, Division of Soil Science and Plant production, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan.

³Laboratory of Plant Nutrition, School of Agriculture, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812- 8581, Japan.

 ⁴Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan.

Accepted 08 October, 2017

Abstract

Ralstonia sp. TSC1 previously isolated from cowpea nodules was tagged with gfp gene by transposon insertion. The resultant gfp-tagged Ralstonia sp. TSC1 showed no difference in physiological properties such as growth rate, exopolysaccharide formation and colony morphology. When it was co- inoculated with compatible bradyrhizobial strains, the observation of fluorescence microscopy showed that TSC1 strains were colonized in subsurface of cowpea nodules and stems. In addition, TSC1 positively and negatively modulated symbiotic performance with the bradyrhizobia in terms of nodulation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The results suggested that Ralstonia sp. TSC1 is an endophyte with beneficial, neutral or detrimental effects on cowpea plants when in presence of effective bradyrhizobia.

Key words: Ralstonia sp., cowpea, endophyte, green fluorescent protein, bradyrhizobium, nodulation.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antimicrobial activity of Rhaponticum acaule and Scorzonera undulata growing wild in Tunisia

Houda Ben Abdelkader¹*, Karima Bel Haj Salah², Kaouthar Liouane¹, Olfa Boussaada³, Karima Gafsi¹, Mohamed Ali Mahjoub¹, Mahjoub Aouni², Ahmed Nourreddine Hellal³ and Zine Mighri¹

¹Laboratory of Natural Substances, Chemistry and Organic Synthesis, Faculty of Science, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia (99/UR/12-26).

²Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biologically Active Substances, Faculty of Pharmacy, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.

³Laboratory of Conservation and Valorisation of Plant Resources, Faculty of Pharmacy, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.

Accepted 06 November, 2017

Abstract

This study examined the in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts (butanolic, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and the product H2) of 2 plants belonging to the Asteraceae family: Rhaponticum acaule L. and Scorzonera undulata L. Butanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of the Rhaponticum acaule plant showed a moderate antibacterial activity against 3 of the tested strains; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus fecalis while Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Citrobacter freundeï were resistant to the extracts. The product H2 showed an antibacterial activity against S. aureus, C. freundeï and E. fecalis. From the results of the antifungal activity, we observed that butanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of R. acaule showed a strong inhibition against Trichophyton rubrum with inhibition percentage of 56.25 and 78.75%, respectively. Butanolic extract showed a moderate inhibition of Microsporum canis, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and Aspergillus fumigatus while ethyl acetate extract showed low inhibition. The aerial part ethyl acetate extract of S. undulata seemed to be more active than the petroleum one. It showed an antibacterial activity against all bacteria strains tested except for E. coli. For antifungal activity, the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts of the aerial part inhibited strongly all tested fungi. The roots extracts from S.undulata show weak antimicrobial activities compared with the aerial parts extracts of the same plant.

Key words: Rhaponticum acaule L, Scorzonera undulata L, Asteraceae, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, Tunisia.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

In vitro assessment of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of some Nigerian chewing sticks on bacteria associated with dental infections

David O. M.¹, Famurewa O.^1,2* and Olawale A. K.³

¹Department of Microbiology University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, P. M. B. 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

²College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Osun State University, P. M. B. 4494, Osogbo, Nigeria.

³Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State, Nigeria.

Accepted 07 November, 2017

Abstract

The antimicrobial efficacy of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of ten Nigerian chewing sticks was investigated using standard methods. These extracts were tested against six bacteria associated with dental infections; they are Actinomyces vercosus, Neisseria sicca, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus salivarius and Moraxella catarrhalis. Generally, ethanolic extract had higher activity on the test organisms than the aqueous extracts. The zone of inhibition of Viellaria paradoxical (Gaertn. F) ranged between 5 and 13 mm. M. catarrhalis was most susceptible bacterium to the extracts. A. vercosus was resistance to the extract of P. guineense (Schum & Thonn), A. indica (A. Juss) and M. accumunata (G. Don).

Key words: Chewing sticks, oral hygiene, pathogens, antibacterial activity

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Conjunctivitis among children in a teaching hospital in South-West of Nigeria: Role of Staphylococcus aureus as an aetiologic agent and its antibiogram

O.  A. Adeyeba¹, M. C Anorue², O. A. Adefioye¹*, Y. O. Adesiji¹, A. A. Akindele³_, O. S. Bolaji¹_, and I. K. Adewuyi⁴

¹Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences (Ladoke Akintola University of Technology) LAUTECH, Osogbo, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, (University College Hospital) UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria.

³Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria.

⁴School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Accepted 09 November, 2017

Abstract

This study was done at the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria between January and June, 2006. It was designed to determine the incidence and prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in conjunctivitis in the Ophthalmology clinic of the hospital as well as the antibiotic sensitivity profile to chloramphenicol. A total of 210 swabs were gram-stained and cultured bacteriologically. 158 were positive for bacterial pathogens while 26 were bacteriologically sterile. A total of 174 bacterial isolate both in pure and mixed culture were isolated and 72 of the isolates were S. aureus. The age group < 1 year had the highest occurrence rate of 44.4%, followed by age group 1 - 5 years (30.6%) while the age group 6 - 10 years had the least (11.1%). More males (63.9%) than females (36.1%) were infected (p < 0.05). Susceptibility test result showed that gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, erythromycin were active against s. aureus and are therefore, recommended as first line drugs. Chloramphenicol (61.1%) showed moderate activity against the organism.

Key words: Prevalence, incidence, staphylococcus aureus, ophthalmology, chloramphenicol.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of time and relative humidity on the microbial load and physical quality of cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale L) under storage

A. A. Onilude¹, R. O. Igbinadolor²* and S. M. Wakil¹

¹Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

²Cocoa Processing and Utilization Unit, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Onigambari, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Accepted 02 October, 2017

Abstract

Post harvest deterioration by microbes due to improper storage condition is considered to be the major cause of spoilage of most seeds like cashew nuts. Roasted cashew nuts were subjected to 4 different storage conditions with different relative humidity of 30, 70, 80 and 90%, respectively, for a period of 12 days. Each storage condition was examined for microbial growth, crispiness, pH changes, moisture content and other parameters. 8 fungal species identified as Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus sp., Penicillium sp., Trichoderma sp., Botryodiplodia sp., Fusarium compactum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus ochraceous and 3 bacteria isolates identified as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis and Staphylococcus sp., were obtained. The most predominantly encountered organisms were fungal isolates of Rhizopus sp and A. niger with percentage frequency of 34.9 and 32.6%.

Key words: Relative humidity, preservation, microbial load.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-004, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Sero-epidemiology of brucellosis in small ruminants in Plateau State, Nigeria

W. J. Bertu¹*, I. Ajogi², J. O. O. Bale³, J. K. P. Kwaga² and R. A. Ocholi⁴

¹Bacterial Research Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.

²Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

³Animal Reproduction Programme, National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria.

⁴Quality Control Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 November, 2017

Abstract

A sero-epidemiological study of brucellosis in small ruminants was carried out in Plateau state to determine the status of the disease. A total of 1347 serum samples from 851 goats and 496 sheep systematically collected from nine randomly selected Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state were tested for brucella antibodies using Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and serum agglutination test (SAT). The result revealed brucellosis prevalence of 14.5% in sheep and 16.1% in goats, respectively. The prevalence varied from one LGA to another and between sheep and goats in each LGA. In goats, the highest prevalence of 19.7% was recorded in Mangu LGA while the lowest (10.3%) was in Shendam LGA. In sheep, Quanpan LGA had the highest prevalence of 23.5% while Bassa LGA had the least prevalence of 6.3%. The prevalence in goats was higher compared to sheep but this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The widespread brucellosis seroprevalence in Plateau state is of great economic and public health significance. There is the need to embark on control and eradication of small ruminant brucellosis in Plateau state, Nigeria. Culling of affected small ruminants and maintenance of good hygienic practices will be useful methods of control at this point in time.

Key words: Sero-epidemiology, brucellosis, small ruminants, Plateau State.