Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015

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

© 2015 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Isolation and characterization of cypermethrin utilizing bacteria from Brinjal cultivated soil

A. G. Murugesan*, T. Jeyasanthi and S. Maheswari

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Sciences, Alwarkurichi - 627 412, Tamil Nadu, India.

Accepted 5 November, 2014

Abstract

The ability of five bacterial isolates (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella Sp., Escherichia coli, Bacillus Sp. and Corynebacterium) isolated from Brinjal cultivated field to degrade cypermethrin was studied. It was confirmed that these isolated organisms were able to utilize and degrade cypermethrin. In this five different bacterial colonies, P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella Sp., E. coli were found active in utilizing cypermethrin (1%) where as Bacillus Sp. and Corynebacterium were moderately active in utilizing cypermethrin (0.1%). The growth curve experiment was performed at 0.1 and 1% dose of cypermethrin to analyze the viable count of P. aeruginosa.

Key words: Cypermethrin, bacteria, utilization, growth kinetics, degradation, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015

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

© 2015 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Fungi associated with deterioration of sour-sop (Anona muricata. Linn) fruits in Abia State, Nigeria

Okwulehie, Ikechukwuka Cyriacus* and Alfred, Nnamdi Kingsley

Department of Biological Sciences, Michael Okpara, University of Agriculture Umudike, P. M. B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.

Accepted 24 December, 2014

Abstract

Anona muricata commonly known as sour-sop, belong to the family Annonaceae. It is a small slender tropical tree usually grown for its large fleshy and juicy fruits. The fruit of A. muricata plays an important role in the diet of many in many parts of the tropics including Nigerian. Unfortunately, the usefulness of the fruits of Anona is decimated by many fungi species. Investigation of the fungi that cause the deterioration of sour-sop (Anona muricata) was carried out in order to recommend the appropriate control measures. Mature fruits of A. muricata were collected from different locations in Abia State. Isolation, characterization and identification of fungi were made by plating washings from skin surface and extracted juice from pulp of the fruits in test tubes containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) and yeast malt extract agar (Difco) into which streptomycin sulphate was incorporated to inhibit bacterial growth. Inoculated tubes were incubated at 28 ± 2°C for 48 h. Control experiment was carried out with sterile peptone water instead of using the washings. The following filamentous and yeast fungi were isolated from the skin surface and pulp of the fruits: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum sp., Fusarium solani, Mucor sp., Penicillium chrysogenium, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus stolonifer and Rigidoporus sp., Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces rouxii and Torulopsis spp. The pathogenicity tests of the filamentous fungi isolated were carried out on mature green Anona fruits and were found to be pathogenic. The filamentous fungi were mainly responsible for the deterioration of the fruits of A. muricata in Abia state while the yeasts were fermentative.

Key words: Abia state, Anona muricata (Sour-sop) fruits, fungi, deterioration.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015

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

© 2015 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Microbiological quality of yoghurt commercialized in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

L. A. Rodrigues¹, M. B. T. Ortolani² and L. A. Nero²*

¹Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

²Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil.

Accepted 17 December, 2014

Abstract

Yoghurt consumption has been increasing since 1980 decade due to the search for healthy foods by consumers, including Brazil. In order to evaluate the quality of the yoghurt commercialized in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 36 samples were collected from markets and analyzed for coliforms (total and thermotolerant) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) enumeration and pH, considering different times for expiration. Coliforms were not detected at levels higher than 0.3 MPN/g, and only 7 (19.4%) samples showed LAB counts lower than 10⁷ CFU/g. However, the mean pH observed in these samples (4.4) was not significantly different when compared to samples with higher LAB counts, suggesting addition of weak starter cultures during the processing. In the samples with less than 15 days for expiration the LAB counts and pH values were 7.4 log CFU/g and 4.1, respectively, and they were lower when compared to samples with more than 16 days of commercial viability, but without significant differences. The obtained results indicate adequate quality of yoghurt commercialized in Viçosa.

Key words: Yoghurt, quality, coliforms, lactic acid bacteria, pH.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015

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

© 2015 International Scholars Journals

Review

A review of bacterial isolates in blood cultures of children with suspected septicemia in a Nigerian tertiary Hospital

S. I. Nwadioha¹*, E. O. P. Nwokedi¹, E. Kashibu², M. S. Odimayo¹ and E. E. Okwori¹

¹Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi.

²Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

Accepted 24 December, 2014

Abstract

Septicaemia is a common condition in children with a resultant high morbidity and mortality. The gold standard for diagnosis of septicemia is the isolation of bacteria agents from blood cultures. To determine the common etiology of septicemia in children and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern, a retrospective study with a review of blood culture reports of paediatric patients aged 0 - 15 years, suspected of septicemia, from October 2006 to October 2008 in the Medical Microbiology department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria was carried out. Out of a total of 3840 blood culture samples, only 18.2% was culture positive. Gram–negative and gram–positive bacteria constituted 69.3 and 30.7%, respectively. The most prevalent bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli (44.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (30.7%). E. coli were sensitive to Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin and Clavulinate – Amoxyl. The commonest bacterial isolate from blood culture of children with suspected septicemia in Kano was E. coli. The most sensitive and preferable among the tested antibiotics was Ceftriaxone. Rational use of antibiotics with regular antibiotic susceptibility surveillance studies is recommended to maintain high antibiotic therapeutic profile.

Key words: Blood cultures, bacterial isolates, antibiotic sensitivity, children.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015

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

© 2015 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antibiotic susceptibility profile of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from nasal samples of hospitalized patients

Muhammad Arfat Yameen², Hina Nasim², Naeem Akhtar¹, Saira Iram¹, Imran Javed² and Abdul Hameed^2*

¹Microbiology Department, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan 46000, Pakistan.

²Microbiology Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan 45320, Pakistan.

Accepted 17 December, 2014

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence rate and antibiotic resistant pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE). A prospective study was conducted at Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan and Microbiology Research Laboratory, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan during the period from December 2007 to August 2008. The antibiotic resistance pattern was studied for MRSA and MRSE isolated from nasal samples from patients admitted in medical and surgical intensive care units. The study was conducted on 283 isolates. The results depicted that 25% isolates of S. aureus were MRSA and 29.78% isolates of S. epidermidis were MRSE. All MRSA and MRSE were susceptible to vancomycin and quinopristin/dalfopristin while all isolates of MRSE were susceptible to teicoplanin. All the isolates of MRSA and MRSE were multidrug-resistant. The susceptibility of the isolates to the drugs varied greatly. The resistance rate of MRSA to various antibiotics was found to be as follow: cephalaxin (90%), cephalothin (58%), cephradine (86%), ciprofloxacin (80%), gentamicin (34%), imipenum (42%), levofloxacin (75%), tetracycline (49%), rifampicin (14%) and teicoplanin (3%). The resistance rate of MRSE to various antibiotics was found to be as follow: cephalaxin (64%), cephalothin (29%), cephradine (64%), ciprofloxacin (50%), gentamicin (21%), imipenum (7%), levofloxacin (21%), tetracycline (21%) and rifampicin (29%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value for MRSA and MRSE in case of vancomycin ranged 1-4 g/ml, for tetracycline 4-128 g/ml, for rifampicin 0.5-32 g/ml and for gentamicin 0.5 – 64 g/ml. Both MRSA and MRSE showed variable susceptibility with different antibiotic groups but high susceptibility with streptogramin and glycopeptide antibiotics.

Key words: Antibiotic resistance, staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus epidermidis, minimum inhibitory concentration.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015

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

© 2015 International Scholars Journals

Review

Effects of parental involvement on students’ attitude and performance in science

T. A. Oluwatelure* and K. O. Oloruntegbe

Department of Science and Technical Education, Adekunle Ajasin University. Akungba – Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 10 July, 2014

Abstract

This paper examines the attitude of students towards Biology and Chemistry. There was also a focus on the parental involvement. This research was set out find out how parental involvement influences students’ attitude towards, and performance in the two science subjects. An attitude questionnaire developed and standardized by the researcher was used. It’s split-half reliability coefficient yielded 0.59 and 0.51 for Biology and Chemistry respectively. A sample of four hundred and eighty students participated in the study. Three hypotheses were raised and tested. The result obtained using chi-square analysis revealed that the level of the home influence has implication on school learning and that performances of students in science are a function of their attitudes to the subject. The phenomena observed were discussed in the light of prevailing conditions in most of the developing West African countries. Conclusively, home influence can be a tool to enhance school learning.

Key words: Attitude of students, biology, chemistry, parental involvement, performance, level of the home influence, influence of parental involvement.