ISSN 2736-1756
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Preservation of seeds against fungi using wood-ash of some tropical forest trees in Nigeria
Temitope O. Oguntade* and Adedotun A. Adekunle
Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria.
Accepted 22 December, 2014
Abstract
Fresh visually healthy seeds of Zea mays (maize), Cucumeropsis mannii (melon) and Phaseolus vulgaris (bean) were stored under three conditions, wood ash of some tropical forest trees in Nigeria namely; Khaya grandifoliola, Nauclea diderrichii, Piptadeniastrum africanum, Mangifera indica, Mansonia altissima, Triplochiton scleroxylon, Ceiba pentandra, Terminalias superba, Terminalia ivorensis). Seeds treated with benlate, an orthodox fungicide and seeds without any treatment to serve as the control of the experiment. These were set -up at two different locations on the campus (the laboratory and the botanic garden) for six months. The seeds stored with ashes of Nauclea diderrichii and Piptadeniastrum africanum were the most effective, stopping fungal growth and eliminating weevils compared to those seeds stored with benlate which is only effective against fungal growth. P. vulgaris (bean) seeds are the best stored of the three seeds probably due to the low moisture content of the seed. Four pathogenic fungi were isolated from the seeds (maize, melon and bean) at both locations and these include; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizopus racemosa. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that some of these ashes contained a number of active compounds which enable them (ashes extracts) to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic fungi.
Key words: Seeds, storage fungi and wood-ash.
Adedotun A. Adekunle, Temitope O. Oguntade*
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Virulence characteristics of food processing relevance in isolates of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli 0157: H7 strains isolated from ‘wara’ a West African soft cheese
V. O. Adetunji
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 13 January, 2014
Abstract
Three strains of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and eleven strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from West African wara cheese were analysed for cellulose production, fimbriae formation, zetapotential and biofilm formation which are of relevance in food processing. E. coli c produced no fimbria, very low cellulose and significantly lower zetapotential (-3.1) among the three strains. The L. monocytogenes (b) had the highest zetapotential (-39.1) and cellulose production at 24 h of incubation. Next to it was L. monocytogenes (f) which also had a higher cellulose production at 72 h incubation. A positive correlation exists between zetapotential and cellulose production in the E. coli strains (R2 = 0.67) while Listeria monocytogenes strains gave a negative correlation (R2 = -0.08) . There was no significant difference in biofilm formation in the L. monocytogenes strains (P < 0.05), however the L. monocytogenes (a) had the highest at 48 h incubation. Weak positive correlation (R²) values of 0.0397, 0.002 and 0.0011 were obtained for 24, 48 and 72 h incubation for Listeria monocytogenes counts (cfu/ml) and cellulose measurements. This study further accentuate and confirmed the presence of E. coli and L. monocytogenes with virulent factors that of relevance to the method of processing in West African soft cheese. The need for an improved hygiene during processing and sale of this product to prevent the transmission of these pathogenic organisms to humans is therefore emphasized.
Key words: West African soft cheese, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, virulent strains.
V. O. Adetunji
Page: 1 - 10
Short Communication
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Short Communication
A new alternative to treat swine influenza A virus infection: extracts from Terminalia chebula Retz.
Hongbo Ma1, Yunpeng Diao2,3, Danyu Zhao2, Kun Li4* and Tingguo Kang2*
1Department of Nutrition, Jilin Medical College, Jilin 132013, People’s Republic of China,
2College of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian 116001, China
3College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
4College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, China
Accepted 17 December, 2014
Abstract
Currently, a pandemic swine influenza A virus infection causes a huge negative impact on human beings all over the world. However, the methods of treatment are not satisfactory, therefore it is urgent for us to set up new theory and practice to fight against the intractable virus. Terminalia chebula Retz, as a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, widely distributes and has multiple pharmacological effects. Evidences in laboratory and clinic practice confirm us to the potential of Terminalia chebula Retz inhibiting influenza A virus infection. We thus hypothesize that acetone extracts (tannic acids, A) of Terminalia chebula Ret may as a new alternative treat influenza A infection based on holistic concept of traditional Chinese medicine principle.
Key words: Swine influenza A virus, Terminalia chebula Retz, hypothesis.
Hongbo Ma, Danyu Zhao, Yunpeng Diao, Kun Li* and Tingguo Kang*
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Genomic fingerprints analysis of coagulase-positive and negative Staphylococci isolated from patients with bacteremia by repetitive sequence based PCR method
Mojtaba Moosavian* and Davoud Darban
Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine and Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Accepted 25 November, 2014
Abstract
Staphylococci are important organisms involved in many infections, including bacteremia or septicemia. Repetitive sequence–based PCR (rep-PCR) is a useful method for detection of staphylococcal DNA fingerprint patterns, especially when the origins of these organisms are unknown. Staphylococcal positive blood cultures were collected from patients with bacteremia hospitalized in four hospitals. The patients who had two positive blood cultures out of three samples were considered as subjects. After isolation of staphylococci on blood agar medium, the species of isolates were determined by standard biochemical tests. DNA was extracted from bacterial cells and genomic fragments were amplified by rep-PCR. Furthermore, relationship of strains was determined based on the similarities between DNA fingerprints by using Jaccards coefficient. In this survey, 88 cases of bacteremia caused by coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus (36 cases), and coagulase negative strains (52 cases), were studied. Extracted DNA from staphylococcal isolates generated multiple fingerprints in sizes ranging between 600(61%) and 2642 bp (87.5%) by rep-PCR method. The fingerprint patterns of S. aureus (33 strains), S. epidermidis (32 strains) and S. lugdunensis (7 strains) were 31, 30 and 7 types, respectively. This study demonstrated only a few of Staphylococci strains that displayed similarity or that are closely related in the DNA fingerprint patterns. We concluded that rep-PCR is a rapid, simple and suitable method for epidemiological studies. The results of our study also showed that most of Staphylococci isolated from bacteremic patients produced "different" genomic fingerprint patterns by rep-PCR and so, at present study, dissemination source of infection is different.
Key words: rep-PCR, fingerprint patterns, Staphylococci, bacteremia.
Mojtaba Moosavian*, Davoud Darban
Page: 1 - 10
Review
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Review
Secretome of Staphylococcus aureus
Liew Yun Khoon and Vasanthakumari Neela*
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra
Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
*Corresponding author. E-mail. [email protected].
Accepted 24 February, 2014
Abstract
Presence of secreted proteins is the key for sustenance of Staphylococcus aureus strains in the host system. General secretory (Sec) system is a well known and major secretion system that is responsible for the transportation of exoproteins across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall. In order to define the secretome of S. aureus, the availability of combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) with the latest advanced techniques (MALDI-TOF and ESI-MS/MS) has provided a powerful tool for the investigation of a large number of protein spots with the aim of identifying new drug candidates and discovering new diagnostics tools. In this paper, we present a short review regarding S. aureus general secretory system and role of secreted protein in host cells, and discuss the proteomic, together with genomics of S. aureus.
Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, secretome, general secretory system, pathogenesis, proteomic.
Vasanthakumari Neela*, Liew Yun Khoon
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection among people of a local community in Keffi, Nigeria
Grace Rinmecit Pennap1*, Aliyu Yakubu1, Odula Oyige1 and Joseph Forbi2
1Microbiology Unit, Nasarawa State University, Keffi. PMB 1022 Keffi, Nigeria.
2Virology Laboratory, Innovative Biotechnology, Abdu Abubakar Street, Keffi, Nigeria.
Accepted 13 January, 2014
Abstract
Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections have remained recurring decimals in blood transfusion, vertical transmission, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Most of the published studies of their prevalence in Northern Nigeria are among HIV/AIDS patients. The need for such vital information among an apparently healthy population was the basis for this study. Rapid diagnostic tests were used to screen for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies among people of a local community in Northern Nigeria. Of the 113 volunteers screened, 15(13.2%) were positive for each of the viruses while 10(8.85%) were found to be coinfected with the viruses. The gender related prevalence of HBsAg was 9.5% in females and 24.1% in males. Anti-HCV was reactive in 16% of the females and 3.4% of the males. Coinfection was 10.3 and 8.33% for males and females, respectively (p > 0.05). Age related prevalence for HBsAg was 13.8 and 11.5% among those aged 1 - 40 years and above 40 years, respectively and similarly 12.6 and 15.4% for anti-HCV antibodies, respectively. Coinfection was 8.0% among those aged 1 - 40 years old and 11.5% among those that were older. There was no statistically significant association between age, and presence/absence of facial/body marks with viral infection (p > 0.05). This study revealed 13.3% of apparently healthy individuals harbouring each of the viruses (HBV and HCV) and also a relatively high prevalence of coinfection (8.85%). This finding is a cause for alarm.
Key words: HBV, HCV, prevalence, infection, coinfection.
Grace Rinmecit Pennap*, Odula Oyige and Joseph Forbi, Aliyu Yakubu
Page: 1 - 10