ISSN 2736-1756
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Volume 2012
Available online at http://advancedresearchjournals.org/AJMR
© International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Antibacterial activity of Senna siamae leaf extracts on Salmonella typhi
Doughari J. H and Okafor N. B
Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology; P.M.B 2076, Yola 640002; Adamawa State, Nigeria.
Accepted 29 May, 2012
Abstract
The aqueous and organic leaf extracts of the plant Senna siamae, traditionally used for the treatment of infectious disease, were tested for their activity against clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi using the disc diffusion method. The ethanol extracts showed the highest activity (zone of inhibition 10 ± 0.01 mm), followed by acetone extracts (zone of inhibition 8 ± 0.01 mm), while the aqueous extracts showed the lowest activity (zone of inhibition 3.5 ± 0.01 mm) at 40 mg/ml concentration. Preliminary phytochemical studies revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and glycosides. The activities of the extracts were comparable to those of ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole and ciprofloxacin antibiotics (t-test; p < 0.05) . The antibacterial activities of the extracts against S. typhi did not change significantly when treated at 4, 30, 60 and 100°C for 1 h, but reduced significantly at pH 6 to 10. The MIC and MBC values of the crude extracts (1 - 3 mg/ml) were comparable to those of the tested antibiotics (0.3 - 1 mg/ml) (t-test; p < 0.05). Preliminary purification of the ethanol extracts with hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and n-butanol showed that the ethyl acetate fraction possessed the highest activity (zone of inhibition 15 mm), followed by n-butanol fraction (zone of inhibition 2 mm), while the chloroform fraction did not show any activity at 20 mg/ml.
Key words: Natural bioactive compounds, Senna siamae, Antibacterial activity, Antityphoid drug, Salmonella typhi, Enteric fever, Antibiotics.
Doughari J. H, Okafor N. B
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2012
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2012 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Safety control indices for plaa-som, a Thai fermented fish product
Phikunthong Kopermsub1, 2 and Sirinda Yunchalard 2, 3 *
1Graduate school, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
2Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
3Fermentation Research Center for Value-Added Agricultural Products, Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Accepted 12 February, 2011
Abstract
This study was aimed to determine chemical and microbiological changes during plaa-som fermentation process. The results have been considered for use as safety control indices to obtain a higher quality and safer plaa-som. The fermentation process can be divided into an initiation stage (samples 1 to 3) and a maturation stage (samples 4 to 9) based on the changes obtained. At the initiation stage, pH remained stable at 6.3 and then rapidly declined during the maturation stage as from 6.3 to 4.5. Total acidity showed a continuous increasing trend from 0.12% (w/w) in sample 1 to 1.17% (w/w) in sample 9. Lactic and citric acids were detected as major acids during the initiation stage in a range of 0.22 - 0.29% (w/w). The main acids detected during the maturation stage, however, were lactic and acetic acids and these reached maximum levels at 2.82 and 0.16% (w/w) in samples 9 and 8, respectively. Substantial discrepancies between total viable counts (TVC) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts were obtained during the initiation stage, particularly in sample1 where the TVC was 2.97 log CFU/g and LAB count was lower than 10 CFU/g. This indicated an existence of undesirable indigenous microorganisms other than LAB. At the maturation stage, the two counts concomitantly increased and no discrepancy was found. Maximum counts of TVC and LAB were 6.83 and 6.72 log CFU/g in samples 6 and 9, respectively. Good practices at particular steps and possible critical control points were noted and proposed for a more controllable plaa-som production process which will guide to a higher standard in both safety and quality consistency of the product.
Key words: chemical changes, good manufacturing practices, initiation stage, maturation stage, microbiological changes, organic acids profile, safety control indices, spontaneous fermentation.
Sirinda Yunchalard, Phikunthong Kopermsub
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2012
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2012 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Microbial community analysis of drinking water sources from rural areas of Zimbabwe
Zvidzai C.1*, Mukutirwa T.2, Mundembe R.2 and Sithole-Niang I.1
1Biochemistry Department, University of Zimbabwe, Box MP167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
2Bindura University of Science and Education, P. O. Box, Bindura, Zimbabwe.
Accepted 6 June, 2012
Abstract
Traditional methods employing selective, differential and non-selective media were used to isolate and identify different species of bacteria from rural drinking water reservoirs of Mount Darwin district of Zimbabwe. The colony counts from non-selective nutrient agar plates gave an indication of the overall level of bacterial activity from each water sample. Open deep wells, shallow wells and rivers were found to be the most heavily contaminated water sources. Borehole water sources had very low total microbial loads and absent in some of the water samples. The prevalent bacteria found were the Gram negative Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Enterobacter aerogenes and one cocci species that was not further characterized. The presence of faecal pathogenic species in the river water and open wells poses epidemiological cases of diarrhoeal diseases in the district studied.
Key words: Drinking water, microbial analysis, faecal bacteria, bacteriophages, phenotypic
Zvidzai C.*, Mundembe R. and Sithole-Niang I., Mukutirwa T.
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2012
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2012 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Prevalence of HCCA in patients infected with and without HBV in Maiduguri, Northeast Nigeria over a period of five years
B. B. Ajayi1, H. A. Nggada2 and A. E. Moses3*
1Department of Immunology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital P. M. B.1414 Maiduguri, Nigeria.
2Department of Histopathology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital P. M. B.1414 Maiduguri, Nigeria.
3Department of Immunology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital P. M. B.1414 Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Accepted 28 June, 2012
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been reported as one of the aetiological factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCCA). This study reports the prevalence of HCCA in patients with and without HBV in Northeast Nigeria over a period of five years. A total of 114 patients consecutively diagnosed with HCCA and tested for Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), between January 1996 and December 2000, were studied. There were 81 males and 33 females, ranging in age between 9 months and above 60 years. Of the 114 patients with HCCA, 86.8% were positive for HBsAg of which males accounted for a higher prevalence of 63.1%, while females accounted for 23.7% (2.7:1). HCCA patients from the fouth decade of life and above were observed with a higher prevalence of HBV infection. Among the HBsAg-negative patients with HCCA, no significant gender difference was observed (p > 0.05). However, 13.2% of patients with HCCA were negative for HBsAg. Viral and non-viral aetiologic factors may play a role in developing HCCA in Maiduguri.
Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Hepatitis B virus.
H. A. Nggada and A. E. Moses, B. B. Ajayi
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2012
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2012 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Dehalogenase from Methylobacterium sp. HJ1 induced by the herbicide 2, 2-dichloropropionate (Dalapon)
Ng Hong Jing1, Aishah Mohd Taha1, Rolando V. Pakingking Jr.2, Roswanira A. B. Wahab3 and Fahrul Huyop4*
1Biology Department, Faculty of Science, University Technology Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.
2SouthEast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department, Tigbauan, Iloilo, 5021 Philippines.
3Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University Technology Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.
4Industrial Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Biosciences and Bioengineering, University Technology Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.
Accepted 8 February, 2012
Abstract
Heavy industrial activities and agricultural processes require consumption of many halogenated compounds, and release them continuously as pollutants into the environment. These xenobiotics show high toxicity and persistence and cause many problems to the society, soils and ground water. Microbial dehalogenases are involved in the biodegradation of many important chlorinated compounds. A bacterial strain identified as Methylobacterium sp. HJ1 is able to degrade the herbicide 2,2-dichloropropionic acid by removal of the halogen and subsequent metabolism of the product for energy. D,L-2-chloropropionate also supported good growth of the organism but 3-chloropropionate, monochloroacetate and dichloroacetate were not utilized. Cell-free extracts of the 2,2-dichloropropionate-grown bacteria converted 2,2-dichloropropionate into pyruvate with the release of two chloride ions for each molecule of pyruvate formed. This indicates the presence of dehalogenase activity in the cell-free extracts. Only 2,2-dichloropropionate and D,L-2-chloropropionate were inducers and substrates for the dehalogenase. Monochloroacetate and dichloroacetate did not serve as an inducer, whereas 3-chloropropionate was a non-substrate inducer.
Key words: Dehalogenase, 2,2-dichloropropionic acid, degradation, Methylobacterium sp.
Roswanira A. B. Wahab and Fahrul Huyop, Ng Hong Jing, Aishah Mohd Taha, Rolando V. Pakingking Jr.
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2012
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2012 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Trichophyton rubrum – the predominant etiological agent in human dermatophytoses in Chennai, India
G. Venkatesan1*, A. J. A. Ranjit Singh1, A. G. Murugesan2, C. Janaki3 and S. Gokul Shankar4
1Sri Paramakalyani College, Alwarkurichi, India
2Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Environmental Studies, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, India
3Mycology Section, Department of Dermatology, Madras Medical College, Chennai, India.
4R and D Center, Cholayil Private Limited, Chennai, India.
Accepted 07 May, 2012
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to find the predominant etiological agent of dermatophytoses among the patients attending the outpatient clinic of Mycology Section, Department of Dermatology, Madras Medical College and Hospital, Chennai. Specimens were collected from suspected patients with dermatophytoses and examined for the presence of fungal elements, cultured, isolated and identified. Among the 90 suspected patients with clinical symptoms of dermatophytoses, 71 (78.9%) were confirmed in culture. Trichophyton genus was accounted for 93% of dermatophytoses, which was shared by Trichophyton rubrum (73.3%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (19.7%), followed by Epidermophyton floccosum (4.2%) and Microsporum gypseum (2.8%). It was noted that tinea corporis (64.8%) is the most prevalent infection followed by tinea cruris (26.8%), tinea pedis (5.6%) and onychomycoses (2.8%). T. rubrum was the predominant species responsible for the dermatophytoses, especially tinea corporis in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. In addition it was also observed that T. rubrum was most predominant species responsible for the chronic dermatophytoses (81.8%). Further work is in progress to understand the protease profile of the isolates with relation to the chronisity of the infection.
Key words: Dermatophytoses, Dermatophytes, Tinea, Trichophyton and Skin infections.
G. Venkatesan*, A. J. A. Ranjit Singh, A. G. Murugesan, C. Janaki and S. Gokul Shankar
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