African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-008, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full length Research Paper

Reformulation of Kunun-zaki Production Utilizing Starter Culture in Nigeria

O. O. Agarry¹, I. Nkama² and O. Akoma³*

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
²Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
³Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Nigeria

Accepted 17 April, 2024

Abstract

The dominant lactic acid bacteria ( Lactobacillius plantarum, L. fermentum and Lactococcus lactis) isolated from fermenting Kunun-zaki were characterized, developed and used as starter culture for the controlled production of Kunun-zaki. The Kunun-zaki produced in this study (millet, millet+wheat, millet+malted rice, millet+wheat+malted rice, millet+malted rice+starter culture, millet+wheat+malted rice+starter culture) were evaluated for its pH, titratable acidity (% lactic acid), proximate, mineral and sensory quality attributes. There was a steady drop in pH with corresponding increases in titratable acidity showing strong correlation (r) throughout the fermentation period in all the samples. Generally, the crude protein content (%) of all the products was low (1.02-1.14). However, the Kunun-zaki produced using the combination of millet+wheat+malted rice showed a higher iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium content and was significantly different (p<0.05) from the rest products. Furthermore, the Kunun-zaki produced with the addition of starter culture to either millet+malted rice or millet+wheat+malted rice was generally preferred in taste, aroma, appearance and overall acceptability and differed (p<0.05) from the other products. This study has shown that use of starter culture in the production of Kunun- zaki has affected the sensory and nutritional qualities of the product positively. Therefore, large-scale production of this popular indigenous cereal beverage could be possible.

Key word: Kunun-zaki, lactic acid bacteria, developed starter culture, fermentation, sensory quality, cereal.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Detection of Coliforms Producing Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase in Sachet Water Sold in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Afiukwa Felicita Ngozi¹, Iroha Ifeanyichukwu Romanus¹, Afiukwa Celestine Azubuike², Ayogu, Thomas Eze³, Oji Anthonia Egwu¹, Onwa Ndubuisi Collins¹

¹Department of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki Ebonyi State.

²Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

³Department of Food Technology, Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, P.M.B. 01079, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Accepted 23 April, 224

Abstract

Five different brands of sachet- water comprising of ten pieces per batch of each brand manufactured, sold and consumed in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State including My Summit, Gospel, Nnenne, Bewell and Age-less (NAFDAC Registered) were collected from each company in Abakaliki town and examined for the presence of Feacal coliforms using standard Microbiology technique. Isolated coliforms were later screened for production of extended spectrum beta lactamase enzymes using double disk synergy test method. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of both ESBL producing and non-ESBL producing strains were evaluated using disk diffusion method. A total of 11 (4.4%) strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from all the sachets examined, 3(1.2%) strains of Enterobacter spp were isolated from MS, GP and AG while 4(1.6%) of Klebsiella spp were isolated from MS, GP, BW and AG. 2(18 %) of E. coli isolated from Age- less sachet- water produced ESBL enzyme while no ESBL production was detected from Enterobacter and Klebsiella spps. Antimicrobial susceptibility studies showed that both ESBL producing and non-ESBL producing strains were resistant to all antibiotic tested showing a multi-drug resistance of both strains. Our findings are of serious public health concern which suggest that sachet-water should be well treated before selling to the public for consumption and also that more work should be carried out to determine the presence of resistant micro-organisms present in water.

Keywords: Sachet- water, feacal coliform, ESBLs, Susceptibility, Nigeria.
 

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Extraction, Purification, and Scalable Production of Protease Enzyme from bacillus subtilis

Gitishree Das¹* and M.P. Prasad²

¹Biotechnology Laboratory, Crop Improvement Division, Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Orissa, India
²Sangenomics Research Laboratory, Bangalore

Accepted 26 April, 2024

Abstract

Screening and isolation of protease producing strains of bacteria were carried out from four different soil samples collected from various places in Bangalore. The isolates were positive on skim milk agar (1%) and thus are selected as protease producing strain. The organisms were tested for various biochemical tests, which lead to their identification as Bacillus subtilis producing protease enzyme. These Bacillus subtilis could group upto 40ºC and pH range 6-9 with optimal growth temperature and pH at 37ºC and 8.0 respectively. It was also optimized for carbon test and nitrogen test with optimal growth in dextrose and peptone respectively. Enzyme production was carried in 1 litre of optimized media in the fermenter at 37ºC for 48 hours at pH 8.0. Harvested protease product was purified by salt precipitation method. Finally the enzyme protease was purified by column chromatography. The protein was characterized using SDS-PAGE. This result showed that Bacillus subtilis under study is a good producer of extra cellular protease, which can be beneficial for industries.

Keywords: Bacillus subtilis, protease, fermenter, chromatography.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (8), pp. 001-003, August, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Antimicrobial Properties of Chloroform Extracts from the Roots and Stems of Andrographis paniculata Nees

Parvataneni Radhika¹* and Koduru Rajya Lakshmi²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

²Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry Division, University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

Accepted 20 May, 2024

Abstract

In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity of the chloroform extracts of the root and the stem of Andrographis paniculata at different concentrations were screened against gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and fungi Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum by cup plate method. The extracts were found to inhibit the growth of all the bacteria and fungal organisms tested. The effect produced by the extracts were comparable with the standard antibacterial agent, benzyl penicillin and with the standard antifungal agent, fluconazole and were found to be active against all the organisms tested.

Keywords: Andrographis paniculata, stem, root, chloroform extracts, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity.
 

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Investigation of Antibacterial Properties of Root Extracts from Carica papaya L.

Doughari, J. H.*, Elmahmood, A. M. and Manzara, S.

Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Accepted 16 July, 2024

Abstract

The bioactive compounds of root extracts of Carica papaya L. were extracted, using water and organic solvents, and were investigated for antibacterial activity against somse pathogenic bacteria using the cup plate agar diffusion method. The aqueous extracts did not show significant activity, but the organic extracts had significant activity with the methanol extracts demonstrating the highest activity against the test bacteria. The extracts demonstrated higher activities against all the gram-negative bacteria than the gram-positive bacteria tested, with the highest activity (14 mm zone of inhibition) demonstrated against Salmonella typhi. Increase in temperature enhanced the activity of the extracts, while alkaline pH decreased the activity. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the extracts ranged between 50-200 mg/ml. Preliminary phytochemical analyses showed that the extracts contain alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides and phenols. Carica papaya may be used for the treatment of gastroenteritis, uretritis, otitis media, typhoid fever and wound infections.

Key words: Carica papaya L., antibacterial activity, phytochemical analysis, antibiotics.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (8), pp. 001-012, August, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

Genetic Variation and Evidence of Recombination in Isolates of Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV)

Md. Nazrul Islam, Afsar Raza Naqvi, Arif Tasleem Jan and Qazi Mohd. Rizwanul Haq.*

Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi – 110025, India

Accepted 17 June, 2024

Abstract

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is the causal agent affecting banana production worldwide. Sequence analysis of replicase genes of BBTV isolates revealed that two Indian isolates under study, from Bhagalpur (Bihar), have one amino acid change (Alanine to Serine) at position number 95. The Stem Loop Common Region (CR-SL) was found to be highly conserved among BBTV isolates while CR-M exhibit greater homology with members of South Pacific group. Interestingly, DNA 2 CR-M of Bihar isolate (FJ605508) showed sequence homology with DNA 6 CR-M sequence indicating possible recombination between these two components. Such recombination event might occur in other genomic loci and could contribute towards viral evolution. Based on the phylogenetic studies (sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree) using all six DNA (DNA 1-6) including replicase and coat protein genes and CR-M region clearly indicates that our BBTV isolates belong to South Pacific group and are very close to Fiji and Myanmar isolates. On the basis of mix Phylogram of DNA components 1-6, we can assume that BBTV genome originated from a single component and during the course of evolution portion of DNA 3 and DNA 4 remained conserved.

Key Words: Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), Replicase, Coat Protein, CR-M, CR-SL, Phylogenetic analysis.