International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 537-543, March, 2015.  © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Screening of microorganisms producing polygalacturonase (PG) in microbiota of fermented cassava

Sonagnon H. S. Kouhoundé,^1,2,3* Marius K. Somda,² Innocent Y. Bokossa,³Lamine S. Baba-Moussa,⁴ Frank Delvigne,¹ Alfred S. Traore² and Philippe Thonart¹

¹University of Liège, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of Gembloux (FUSAGx​​) Bio Industry Unit, Centre Wallon de BiologieIndustrielle (CWBI) Passage of Deportees 2, 5030 Gembloux, Belgique.

2University of Ouagadougou, UFR-SVT, Research Centre for Biologicals Food and Nutrition Sciences (CRSBAN), Laboratory of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 03 BP 7131 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina-Faso.

³University of Abomey-Calavi, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Microbiology and Food Technology 01 BP 4521 Cotonou 01, Bénin.

⁴University of Abomey-Calavi, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Laboratory of Biology and Molecular Typing in Microbiology.

Email: [email protected]

Accepted 2^nd September, 2014

Abstract 

Polygalacturonases (PGs) are known for their application in the clarification and extraction of fruit juice and wine. In this study, PG activity was investigated in 125 strains of microorganisms comprising of bacteria and yeast previously isolated from the microbiota of fermented cassava. In order to investigate PG activity, these purified strains were grown on agar media containing apple pectin or polygalacturonic acid (PGA) at 0.5 to 1%. A screening test performed at the end of cultivation revealed PG activity in each producing strain, allowed the detection of Saccharomyces cerevisiae KSY4, Saccharomyces cerevisiae KSY5, Saccharomyces cerevisiae KSY9, Bacillus sp. KSB30 and Bacillus sp. KSB32, which were identified using phenotypic test. Screening assays carried out on Petri dishes showed limitations, the depolymerization reactions were carried out using two substrates (pectin and PGA) at different concentrations with each extract from strain isolated which exhibited PG activity. The results show that at pH 5 at 30°C/25 min, Bacillus sp. KSB32 exhibited a PG production of 2.33 U/ml on pectin (5 g/l) versus 1.35 U/ml on PGA. An increase in PG production, reaching 3.24 U/ml was concomitant with the pectin concentration. These results conclude that PG activity is function of nature and substrate concentration.

Keywords: Cassava, Bacillus sp. KSB32, Saccharomyces cerevisiae KSY4,fermentation,polygalacturonase (PG).

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN: 2169-3048 Vol. 4 (1), pp. 523-536, January, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Telomere dysfunction-related serological markers in patients with type 2 diabetes; Correlation with methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (C677T) gene polymorphism and diabetic complications

Nagwa S. Ahmed*, Madeha M. Zakhary**, Reda S. Yousef*, Usama Ahmed arafa***

*Sohag university, Faculty of Medicine, Biochemistry Department, Sohag, Egypt.

**Assuit University Faculty of Medicine, Biochemistry Department, Assiut, Egypt.

***Sohag university, Faculty of Medicine, Internal Medicine, Sohag, Egypt.

Email: [email protected]

Accepted 08 October, 2014.

Abstract 

Recent studies have identified a set of serological markers for telomere dysfunction and DNA damage. In the present study, the levels of 2 serological markers of telomere dysfunction namely chitinase and N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) were studied in type2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients. The possibility that genomic damage, accumulation of reactive oxygen species and shorter telomeres may be linked to the onset and progression of diabetes and it is complications A total of 38 patients with T2DM together with 15 healthy persons comparable in age and sex with patients were included, the serum samples were used for determination of chitinase, NAG and lipid peroxide (LPER) by colorimetric methods, and homocysteine by ELISA. methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Serological chitinase, NAG, LPER and homocysteine were significantly increased in T2DM compared with controls and correlated significantly with age. Moreover, in T2DM showed that the genotype frequencies were CC (36.48%), CT (39.47%) and TT (23.68%). Patients with mutant gene, CT, TT showed significantly elevated indices compared to CC type. Serological chitinase and NAG were the recent markers of telomere dysfunction and DNA damage were found to be markedly increased in T2DM.

Key words: T2DM, Telomere dysfunction, MTHFR, Gene polymorphism.

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN: 2169-3048 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 516-522, September, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Isolation and molecular characterization of some pathogenic mobile phone bacteria

Mohamed M. Hassan^1,2 and Ismail A. Ismail^1,3

¹Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Research Unit, Scientific Research Center, Taif University, KSA.

²Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Minufiya University, Egypt.

³Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza Egypt. Email:[email protected]

Accepted May, 2014

Abstract 

Mobile phones are indispensable accessories both professionally and socially but they are frequently used in environments of high bacteria presence. These can harbor various potential pathogens and become an exogenous source of nosocomial infections. A total of 91 mobile phones belonging to staff members in Taif University screened for bacterial isolates using bacteriological methods. Bacteriological analysis revealed that about (85.1 %) of mobile phone samples were contaminated with bacteria. Some bacterial species were isolated from mobile phone samples. They identified as Gordonia, Pantoea, Ochrobactrum, Staphylococcus and Bacillus spp. Genetic diversity of these bacteria was investigated by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The fingerprinting patterns revealed two main clusters of strains with a similarity level of approximately 55.8%. Phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S rRNA sequences of bacterial strains were divided them into five species with similarity value ranged from 97 to 100 % comparing with bacterial sequences in NCBI database. These results recommend that mobile phones can be heavily colonized by high quantities of pathogenic bacteria and thus potential sources of disease transmission requiring application of sound personal hygiene as preventive methods.

Key words: Mobile phones, RAPD, 16S rRNA, bacterial contamination, human pathogenic bacteria.

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN: 2169-3048 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 511-515, June, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The clinical and biochemical profile of snakebite patients- A hospital based comparative study of envenomed and nonenvenomed victims

¹Sangeetha Kandasamy, ²Shivkumar Gopalakrishnan, ³Murugan Venkatesan and ⁴Mohandoss Ramakrishnan

^1,4Department of Biochemistry, Govt Villupuram Medical College,Tamil Nadu, India.

²Department of Internal Medicine, Govt Villupuram Medical College, Tamil Nadu, India.

³Department of Community Medicine, Sri Manakular Vinayagar Medical College, Pondicherry, India.

*Correspondingauthor:E-mail: [email protected] 

Accepted 21 April, 2014

Abstract

Envenomation and death resulting from snakebite is a particularly important public health problem in the rural tropics. Knowledge about the early clinical and biochemical manifestations of envenomation is imperative to plan effective management strategy. This study aimed to identify potential markers of envenomation. This is a prospective cohort study, wherein consecutive, hospitalized snakebite victims [envenomed and non-envenomed] were enrolled as Cohorts I and II. The complete clinical profile and biochemical parameters [Blood glucose, urea, serum creatinine, Alanine transaminase, Aspartate transaminase, Creatine Kinase and Lactate Dehydrogenase] were assessed. The findings were computed and analyzed. There were 61 patients in each Cohort. In Cohort I, 61.1% were hemotoxic, 24.2% neurotoxic, 9.8% both and 4.9% local envenomation. The predominant clinical manifestations included edema 72.5%, coagulopathy 70.1%, neuroparalysis 34 % and oliguria 33.1%. Biochemical evaluation revealed statistically significant increase in LDH and CK in Cohort I on all 3 days. Snake bite is seasonal. Clinically hemotoxic envenomation is more common than neurotoxic. Biochemically, an early rise in LDH and CK could be used as a reliable marker of systemic envenomation.

Key words: Snake bite, envenomation, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase.

International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN: 2169-3048 Vol. 3 (1), pp. 504-510, March, 2014. © International Scholars Journals
 

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of growth regulators 6-Benzylaminopurine and 2-Naphtalene Acetic Acid on the in vitro shoot multiplication from nodal segment of Medinilla mandrakensis (Melastomataceae)

*Ravoniarison Nivohanintsoa Elinorovololona and *Ephrem Ludget Martial

* Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Plant physiology Laboratory, faculty of Sciences, University of Antananarivo Madagascar.

*Corresponding author.E-mail:[email protected];Tel: +261 33 12 590 92

Accepted March 3, 2014

Abstract 

Medinilla mandraken is a threatened epiphyte forest endemic of Madagascar. Micro propagation regeneration is an appropriate way for propagation and conservation of this species. The study aims to find the best combination of growth regulators for the rapid proliferation in vitro of shoots by nodal segment. Micro cuttings was from aseptic germination of seeds grown on Murashige and Skoog in half strength medium (MS/2), supplemented with 15% of green coconut water. The MS/2 added 0, 0.5, 1, or 2mg/L of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), alone or in combination with 0.1 or 0.5 mg/L of 2-Naphtalene Acetic Acid (NAA), were tested for its multiplication. The effects of growth regulators were evaluated in function of means number of regenerated shoots, their size, callogenesis, and rooting rate. The best shoot growth was obtained in the medium growth regulators free (13.3 mm in 45 days). Culture Medium added of 2 mg/L of BAP promotes maximum proliferation of shoots (27.5 shoots per explants in 45 days). The combined use of BAP and NAA regardless of their concentrations reduced the production of shoots and improved the cals formation. Rooting was noted in the medium growth regulator free.

Key words: Growth regulators, Medinilla mandrakensis, regeneration, micropropagation, microcutting. 

Full Length Research Paper

Antiproliferative effect of Lactobacillus helveticus and gamma radiation on the mammary carcinogenesis

Mohga S. Abdalla¹; El Sayed M.E. Mahdy¹; Eman N.Ali²; Sawsan M. EL-Sonbaty³ Menna A.Hussien¹

¹Chemistry, Science College, Helwan University, Egypt.

²Biology, National Center of Radiation Research and Technology, Cairo, Egypt.

³Microbiology, National Centre of Radiation Research and Technology, Cairo, Egypt.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 11 July, 2013

Abstract

Immunotherapy play important role in cancer prevention and treatment. Low dose of gamma radiation also probiotics and fermented foods activate immune functions leading to tumor growth delay. This study aimed to investigate the role of milk fermented by Lactobacillus helveticus and low dose of gamma irradiation (0.25 Gy) in the protection and treatment of mammary tumor cells. Fifty six female rats were divided into 7 groups (n=8): Group 1: control, Group 2: received fermented milk with L. helveticus (FM), group 3: whole body rats exposed to gamma radiation, group 4: rats i.p. injected with 17β-estradiol (E2), group 5: rats received FM for 15 days, then injected with E2 and continued receiving FM, group 6: rats exposed  to gamma radiation and injected with E2, group 7: rats received FM for 15 days, exposed to gamma radiation and injected with E2 while receiving FM.  The results of this study showed that E2 induced negative effects on immune and antioxidant parameters, showed a reduction in CD4, CD8 count, GSH level, GPx, CAT and SOD activities as well as an increase in the proliferation marker Ki-67. In addition, hyperplasia appeared in the histological examinations of mammary tissue epithelium. Milk fermented by L. helveticus and combined treatment of fermented milk and low dose of gamma radiation significantly increased CD4 and CD8 count, ameliorated GSH level, GPx, CAT and SOD activities and reduced ki-67% , showing normal histological mammary gland tissue compared to the control. This study demonstrated the immunoregulatory, antioxidant capacity of milk fermented by L. helveticus and low dose of gamma radiation in preventing carcinogenic effect of E2 on breast tissue and restoration tissue of histological texture.

Key words: Estradiol, low dose gamma radiation, CD4, CD8, Ki-67, antioxidant parameters, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide.