Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Short communication

Effect of raw commercial honeys from Nigeria on selected pathogenic bacteria

O. E. Agbagwa* and N. Frank - Peterside

Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Accepted 22 July, 2017

Abstract

The antibacterial effect of eight unprocessed commercial honey sold in some local markets in Nigeria were investigated. These samples were selected to examine and compare their ability to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. The test organisms were isolated from wound swabs of patients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Nigeria. Agar diffusion method was employed to ascertain degree of sensitivity of the isolates to different honey samples. Different honey samples showed varying degrees of antibacterial activity. Excellent antibacterial activity was observed with respect to honey from northern Nigeria with zones of inhibition of 17.0 mm. Next to it was honey from southern, eastern and western Nigeria with zones of inhibition of 15.4, 13.5 and 11.6 mm, respectively. P. aeruginosa and P. mirabilis showed less antibacterial activity and can be regarded as being resistant to the inhibitory effects of honey. Investigated honey samples began to significantly inhibit microorganisms at 80 and 100% concentrations, demonstrating that commercial honey sold locally in Nigerian markets has lesser antibacterial effects on microorganisms.

Key words: Nigeria, antibacterial activity, honey, zone of inhibition.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The osmoprotective effect of L-carnitine factor on the bacterial growth of Streptococcus agalactiae and Escherichia coli

Maras Meltem¹*, Akman Yildiz², Yula Erkan³ and Gökmen Tülin³

¹Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Education, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, 67300, Kdz. Eregli, Zonguldak, Turkey.

²Science and Art Center, Adana, Turkey.

³Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey.

Accepted 23 June, 2017

Abstract

In response to osmotic stress, gram positive bacteria Streptococcus agalactiae and enterobacteria Escherichia coli accumulates compatible solutes from the medium, stress response systems may enable bacteria to adapt cellular response and survival systems to a variety of stress conditions. S. agalactiae and E. coli strains have a transporter for carnitine that can respond to osmotic stress by regulating its own activity. Brain heart infusion (BHI) broth medium with 1 mM L-carnitine was the medium with the highest growth to be observed. The growth of the E. coli strain was faster than the growth of S. agalactiae strain. S. agalactiae and E. coli are known as bacteria being hard to grow at the laboratory tests for making clinical diagnosis. The medium with L-carnitine factor used in laboratory tests accelerates the bacterial growth.

Key words: Bacterial growth, carnitine, osmoprotectant, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Intestinal helminth infection and anaemia during pregnancy: A community based study in Ghana

S. E. Baidoo¹, S. C. K. Tay² and H. H. Abruquah³*

¹Department of Laboratory Technology, School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.

²Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

³Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Accepted 23 June, 2017

Abstract

Intestinal helminths are among the most common and widespread of human infections, contributing to poor nutritional status, anaemia and impaired growth. Anaemia and iron deficiency in pregnancy is a major public health problem in developing countries, but their causes are not always known. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of anaemia and iron deficiency and their association with helminths, among pregnant women in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A cohort study was carried out in the Sekyere east district of the Ashanti region of Ghana. 108 pregnant women were followed until 5-10 weeks postpartum, during the period of December 2005 - November 2006. Haemoglobin and total serum iron concentrations were evaluated in venous blood samples and helminths infections were evaluated in stool samples in each trimester using standard methods. Of the 108 pregnant women, 54.9% were found to be anaemic. The highest prevalence of anaemia and low iron stores (57.4 and 32.4%, respectively) were found in the second trimester. Only 17.6% had evidence of helminths infection, with Necator americanus (hookworm) being the commonest (13.9%). There was a significant association between hookworm infection and low iron stores. The study concluded that hookworm infection is a strong predictor of iron status. These findings reinforce the need to provide anthelminthic therapy to infected women before conception as public health strategy in reducing the prevalence of hookworm infection in addition to providing nutritional and iron supplements to effectively control anaemia in pregnancy.

Key words: Intestinal helminth, anaemia, paragravids, primigravids.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Expression and characterization of the recombinant Trichoderma virens endochitinase Cht2

S. A. A. Al-Rashed¹, F. D. A. Bakar¹, M. Said², O. Hassan², A. Rabu¹, R. M. Illias³ and A. M. A. Murad¹*

¹School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

²School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

³Department of Bioprocess Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, University Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.

Accepted 4 August, 2017

Abstract

An endochitinase, Cht2, from Trichoderma virens UKM1 was expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris, and its biochemical properties were characterized. Both the cht2 gene and its cDNA have been cloned and sequenced, the endochitinase gene cht2 encodes 321 amino acids from an open reading frame comprised of an 1169 bp nucleotide sequence separated by three introns. Cht2 is predicted to be an extracellular enzyme due to the presence of a signal peptide of 20 amino acids. Cht2 cDNA was cloned into the pPICZaC expression vector under the regulation of a methanol-inducing promoter and transformed into P. pastoris X33. Expression in P. pastoris showed that the recombinant Cht2 was secreted into the culture medium with a protein size of approximately 35 kDa when induced with 0.5% methanol. Biochemical characterization of the partially purified enzyme showed a specific enzyme activity of 1.34 U/mg towards colloidal chitin at a pH of 6.0 and at a temperature of 35°C. The enzyme showed optimal activity at this pH and temperature and also showed higher affinity toward colloidal chitin in comparison to glycol chitin. It is stable in the pH range of 5.0 - 7.0 and in the temperature range of 30 - 55°C, where it retained more than 70% of its residual activity.

Key words: Endochitinase, Trichoderma virens, recombinant, characterization.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of early-stage infection risk factors after living donor liver transplantation in 25 children

Lan Liu¹*, Xuesong Peng¹, Lijuan Chu¹, Qian Liu², Juan Xiong¹, Chunmei Jing¹, Yongwu Xia¹ and Yu Shi¹

¹Clinical Laboratory Center of Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China.

²Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan 410013, China.

Accepted 28 June, 2017

Abstract

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), which was first demonstrated in 1989, has now been widely used to cure many late-stage hepatic diseases and has achieved huge success, especially in the pediatric field. However, accumulated studies indicate that early-stage infection after LDLT is the main cause leading to its failure and the death of the patient. Here, we retrospectively analyzed 25 cases (from 2006 to 2009) of infections of children in our hospital, underwent LDLT and their correlated factors. To identify the factors most closely related to early stage infection, we categorized early stage infection levels as either mild, moderate or severe and we compared their related risk factors, including total length of stay in hospital (TLSH), length of stay in the intensive care unit (LSI), duration of catheterization (DC), length of pre-/post-operative antimicrobial agent application, length of immuno-suppressant agent application (LISA) and underlying diseases postoperatively. The results revealed the following. (i) Of 25 patients, 24 recipients were infected to various extents: 6 cases of mild infection, 14 cases of moderate infection and 4 cases of severe infection (one patient died). (ii) TLSH, LSI and durations of preoperative (DPAA) and postoperative (DPOAA) antimicrobial agent application were statistically different between the severe and moderate infection groups (P = 0.03 (TLSH), 0.004 (LSI), 0.003 (LAPP), 0.005 (DPOAA). (iii) Between the severe and mild infection groups, the TLSH (P = 0.016), LSI (P = 0.015), DAPP (P = 0.007) and DPOAA (P = 0.001) were also significantly different. (iv) In the case of LISA, only methylprednisolone (P = 0.01) and the calcineurin inhibitor ciclosporin A (P = 0.009) showed statistically significant differences between the moderate and mild infection groups. (v) Biliary atresia is the predominant underlying liver disease. (vi) In contrast to previous findings, there was no significant difference in DC among the three infection groups. (vii) Of all the 25 patients, 24 survive till now and the only one died was diagnosed as portal vein thrombosis (PVT) combined with high white blood count (>30 x 10⁹/l) in venous blood. DPAA, DPOAA and biliary atresia are the risk factors most closely related to infection during liver transplantation in children, an observation worthy of future investigation. To avoid long term DPAA and long term DPOAA induced early severe infection, nosocomial infection control and drug resistant bacteria monitoring are worthy to be concerned after LDLT in children.

Key words: Living donor liver transplantation, risk factor, children.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2017 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper 

Characterization of Enterococci isolated from Moroccan dairy products

Naoual Jamaly^1,2, Abdelaziz Benjouad², Roberta Comunian³, Elisabetta Daga³ and Mohammed Bouksaim¹*

¹Laboratory of Food Technology and quality, Safety/food quality/environment, CRRA, INRA, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 RP, Rabat, Morocco.

²Laboratory of Biochemistry and Immunology, Faculty of Sciences, Agdal, University of Mohammed V, 4 Avenue IbnBattouta, BP 1014 RP, Rabat, Morocco.

³Dipartimento per la Ricerca nelle Produzioni Animali, AGRIS Sardegna. Loc. Bonassai km 18.600, I-07040 OLMEDO (SS), Italy.

Accepted 19 July, 2017

Abstract

Twenty three Enterococcus durans isolates collected from Moroccan dairy products were identified by species-specific PCR and their technologically relevant biochemical properties were studied. According to biochemical activities, the majority of the strains displayed weak acidification and autolysis activities in milk. In contrast, they showed high extracellular proteolytic activity. All isolates produced exopolysaccharides and most of them could metabolize citrate and tolerate a high concentration of nisin. Absence of vancomycin resistance and haemolytic activity may suggest the use of these isolates as adjunct starters in food fermentations process.

Key words: Enterococcus durans, Moroccan dairy products, species-specific PCR (Polymerase chain reaction), biochemical properties, adjunct starter cultures.