ISSN 2736-1756
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Biodegradation of di-n-butyl phthalate by a newly isolated Diaphorobacter sp. strain QH-6
Decai Jin1,2, Ping Wang2, Zhihui Bai1*, Bo Jin3, Zuopeng Lv4, Dongbin Wei1 and Guoqiang Zhuang1
1Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China.
2Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100083, China.
3School of Earth and Environment Sciences, School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
4School Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China.
Accepted 10 January, 2019
Abstract
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), one of the most popular phthalic acid esters (PAEs), is commonly found in wastewater treatment plant. In this study, a bacterial strain capable of using DBP as sole carbon and energy source was isolated from activated sludge. This strain was identified as Diaphorobacter sp., designated as QH-6, based on the 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequence analysis. For the first time, we studied the biodegradation ability of PAEs by genus Diaphorobacter. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that the optimum conditions for DBP degradation were pH 7.0 to 8.0, temperature 30 to 35°C, and agitation rate 150 to 225 r/min. Under these conditions, 500 mg/L of DBP could be completely degraded with a half-life of 5.20 h. We investigated the effects of heavy metals (Cr6+ and Cu2+) on the DBP degradation. The results demonstrated that the heavy metals at a wide concentration range of 5 to 30 mg/L can restrain the DBP degradation. Furthermore, substrate utilization tests showed QH-6 can also utilize other PAEs and the degradation intermediates.
Key words: Diaphorobacter sp., dibutyl phthalate, biodegradation, heavy metal.
Zhihui Bai*, Bo Jin, Ping Wang, Zuopeng Lv, Decai Jin, Dongbin Wei and Guoqiang Zhuang
Page: 1 - 7
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-008, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) as an epidemiological marker for typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus recovered from KSA
Moussa, I. M.1*, Al-Qahtani, A. A.2, Gassem, M. A.3, Ashgan, M. H.4, Dalia Kadry Ismail5, Ghazy, A. I.3 and Shibl, A. M.6
1Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, King Saudi Arabia.
2Department of Biological and Medical Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
3College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, King Saudi Arabia.
4College of Applied Studies and Community Service, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, King Saudi Arabia.
5Kasr Eleini hospital, Cairo University, P. O. Box109, Cairo 11559, Egypt.
6College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, King Saudi Arabia.
Accepted 18 January, 2019
Abstract
In this study, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used for genomic DNA finger printings of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates. Thirty strains of S. aureus collected from major hospital laboratories and public health centers, Riyadh, King Saudi Arabia were tested phenotypically by conventional methods and genotypically by multiplex-PCR for direct detection of S. aureus 16S rRNA and mecA genes. The chromosomal DNA of the isolates was examined by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using SmaI. SmaI cut the chromosomal DNA of the examined MRSA into 9 to 13 fragments, moreover, 16 chromosomal digestion patterns were observed out of the 30 examined isolates. The first pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE1) contains 9 strains recovered from soft tissue infections and surgical wound infections. The second one (PFGE 2) contains 4 MRSA isolates, 3 of which were recovered from skin and soft tissue infections, while one was recovered from wound infection. Moreover, there are 3 chromosomal digestion patterns (PFGE 3, 4 and 5), each pattern involved two strains of MRSA which were recovered from surgical wound infections. A dendrogram of percent similarity, revealed three major clusters, the first cluster containing four groups (17 strains). The second cluster contains one group (12 strains), while the third cluster contains only one strain recovered from deep abscess.
Key words: Fingerprinting, Staphylococcus aureus, pulsed field gel electrophoresis, nosocomial infection, multiplex-PCR.
A. I and Shibl, Al-Qahtani , Gassem , Ashgan , I. M*, Ghazy , A. M, M. H, M. A, Moussa , A. A, Dalia Kadry Ismail
Page: 1 - 8
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Isolation and characterization of a cold-active amylase from marine Wangia sp. C52
Jianguo Liu1*, Zhiqiang Zhang1, Hongyue Dang1, Jianren Lu2 and Zhanfeng Cui3
1Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266555, People’s Republic of China.
2School of Physics, Manchester University, Manchester M60 1QD, UK.
3Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK.
Accepted 7 January, 2019
Abstract
Amylase activity was detected in the culture medium of marine Wangia sp. C52, which was isolated from the Southern Okinawa Trough deep-sea sediment. In the present study, a cold-active amylase was purified to homogeneity from the culture broth by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration chromatography. The molecular mass of the amyalse was 58 kDa, and its isoelectric point was close to 5.6. The optimal pH and temperature were 30°C and 6.0, respectively. In the presence of Ca2+ and Co2+, the enzyme activity was stimulated while Cu2+, Hg2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Fe3+, Al3+, EDTA, EGTA and SDS reduced the activity. Km and Vmax values of the purified enzyme for soluble starch were 2.08 ± 0.3 mg/ml and 1.26 ± 0.02 mg/ml/min, respectively. The final purified enzyme had -helix of 25%, -sheet of 26% and random coil of 49%, consistent with the theoretical values. This showed that the purified amylase folded with a reasonable secondary structure.
Key words: Cold-active amylase, Wangia sp., purification, enzyme characterization.
Jianguo Liu*, Jianren Lu and Zhanfeng Cui, Zhiqiang Zhang, Hongyue Dang
Page: 1 - 7
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Anti-tuberculosis activities of medicinal plants used in the treatment of tuberculosis in HIV patients in Nigeria
Anochie, P. I.1, Onyejepu, N.1, Ogu A. C.2, Adetunji, M. A. 1, Efere, L. O. 1, Onyeozirila, A. C.3, Onyeneke, E. C.4, Onyeneke, C. N.5, Obinna, J. U.6, Srikanth, A.7 and Bueno, J.8
1Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
2Department of Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK.
3Department of Medicine, Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria.
4Federal Medical Center, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
5Department of Microbiology, Abia State University, Abia State, Nigeria.
6Ogun State University Teaching Hospital, Ogun State, Nigeria.
7School of Biosciences Technology, VIT University, India.
8Grupo de Micobacterias, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogota, D.C, Colombia.
Accepted 19 January, 2019
Abstract
Local herbalists in Nigeria claimed that extracts of certain parts, that is, stem and seeds obtained from Crinum glaucum,Treculia africana, Erythrina mildbaedi, Ficus thonningii and Xylopis aethiopica are used to treat tuberculosis patients. We conducted a laboratory-based study of this claim scientifically using the procedures employed by the local herbalists. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain used in this study was obtained locally and characterized based on cultural and biochemical tests on isolates of bacteriologically proven tuberculosis positive patients. The M. tuberculosis strains were found resistant to all the extracts. There was no growth on the isoniazid drug containing medium which was used as control. There was growth on all the LJ medium containing the extracts. The results of these findings shows that the extracts of these plants exhibited no significant anti-microbial activity against M. tuberculosis and therefore not recommendable for clinical use as an anti-tuberculosis drug.
Key words: Anti-tuberculosis, activity, medicinal plants, treatment, HIV patients, Nigeria.
Obinna , J , Ogu A. C, E. C, Anochie , Onyeozirila , J. U, A and Bueno, Onyeneke , Adetunji , M. A, Efere , L. O, Onyeneke , A. C, Onyejepu , C. N, Srikanth , N , P. I
Page: 1 - 5
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-004, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
In vivo evaluation on Malaysian coastal isolates of Gracilaria changii and Stichopus badionotus through heat-burn methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection animal model
Mariana N. S.1,2, Nik K. A. N. I.1,2*, Neela V. K.1, Norfarrah M. A.2 and Zamberi S.1
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
2Laboratory of Marine Science and Aquaculture, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Accepted 20 January, 2019
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus commonly causes bacterial infections such as boils, carbuncles, infections wounds, deep abscesses and bloodstream infections (or bacteraemia). Nowadays, it becomes more difficult to treat such infections due to the appearance of resistant strain known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The objective of this study was to screen on methanolic extracts of seaweed (Gracilaria changii) and local sea cucumber (Stichopus badionotus) for their anti-MRSA activities in vitro and in vivo; by a heat-burn, wound-healing model in rats. Both extracts demonstrated in vitro anti-MRSA activity. The sea cucumber extract demonstrated the same extent of wound healing as did vancomycin at P<0.05. The wound-healing activity of the seaweed extract was superior to that of vancomycin as shown by Tukey’s test (P<0.05). It was concluded that both of these crude extracts have a potential to become an alternative resource for anti-MRSA drugs.
Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), heat-burn injury, seaweed, sea cucumber, Malaysia.
Neela V. K, Nik K. A. N. I*, Norfarrah M. A and Zamberi S, Mariana N. S
Page: 1 - 4
Short Communication
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 13 (2), pp. 001-003, February, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Short Communication
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit growth of yeast pathogens
Desmond M. Ncango1, Carolina H. Pohl1, Pieter W. J. van Wyk2 and Johan L. F. Kock1*
1UNESCO MIRCEN, Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa.
2Centre for Microscopy, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa.
Accepted 10 January, 2019
Abstract
Studies on yeasts exposed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) as potential anti-mitochondrial antifungals. In this study, various NSAIDs were tested for antifungal activity on the human yeast pathogens Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Our results suggest a dual action for these drugs, that is, antifungal as well as anti-inflammatory. These results could be useful in the treatment of fungal infections.
Key words: Acetylsalicylic acid, antifungal, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-mitochondrial, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Eremothecium ashbyi.
Desmond M. Ncango, Pieter W. J. van Wyk and Johan L. F. Kock*, Carolina H. Pohl
Page: 1 - 3