Preliminary studies of cellulase production by Acinetobacter anitratus and Branhamella sp.

Two Bacteria species, Acinetobacter anitratus and Branhamella sp., were isolated from the haemolymph of the giant African snail, Archachatina marginata. The endocellulase activity of the culture broth was determined during bacterial growth by measuring the release of reducing sugar fromcarboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The peak of enzyme production occurred at the late logarithm phase for each bacterial species. The kinetics of CMC and celloboise hydrolysis was found to be the Michaelis-Menten type. The KM values of CMC substrate were found to be 4.97 and 7.90 mg/ml for A.anitratus and Branhamella sp., respectively. The KM values for cellobiose as substrate were 0.32 and 2.50 mM for A. anitratus and Branhamella sp., respectively. A multiplicity of cellulase complexes in the haemolymph of A. marginata is indicated

Studies on biochemical changes in maize wastes fermented with Aspergillus niger

In an attempt to transform the agricultural waste products of maize cobs and shafts into useful products such as animal feeds and reduce the pollution effects of these wastes during maize seasons, they were fermented using Aspergillus niger for 72 hours. The fermented residues were analyzed with regard to proximate composition, mineral composition and some antinutrients content. The results revealed that there were significant increases in the protein of the microbialfermentation (12.58g/100g) compare with the unfermented sample (5.51g/100g) and fat (7.83g/100g) and (6.04g/100g) respectively. Conversely, there was significant decrease in phytate (197.44mg/100g) for fermented and (282.10mg/100g) unfermented). The mineral contents in parts per million (Na ,Cu, Zn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, and Co) were slightly high, Na was found relatively low in fermented sample while Cu and Co were not detected in both cases. From the results of the work, it could be inferred that Aspergillus niger, a cheap and treated nonpathogenic fungus could be used to enhance the nutritional potential of agricultural wastes as animal feeds and reduce environmental pollution

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM 25 OH VITAMIN D AND OTHER SERUM METABOLITE LEVELS OF HYPERTENSIVE AND NON HYPERTENSIVE PREGNANT WOMEN IN NIGERIA

Hypertension has been estimated to complicate 5 % of all pregnancies, with hypertensive disorders accounting for up to 40 000 maternal deaths annually. This study, therefore, seeks to investigate the effect hypertension has on some serum metabolites, namely; Serum 25-OH vitamin D (Vit. D), Alkaline phosphates (ALP), Inorganic phosphates (Pi), Calcium and Total protein level in hypertensive and non-hypertensive pregnant women at different gestation period/ trimesters. Vit. D was assayed by Elisa, while the other parameters were all assayed by the colorimetric method. Vit. D, Calcium, Pi and total protein had their highest values at non-hypertensive (control) conditions at all trimesters, while other hypertensive conditions from severe, mild to pre-hypertensive cases had steady increase in all the serum metabolites above mentioned except for Pi, which showed a sharp increase in its value between the mild and pre-hypertensive at all three stages studied: 0.09 ± 0.01 and 1.45± 0.12mmol/L at first trimester,0.087±0.01 and 1.23±0.12 mmol/L at second trimester, while at third trimester 0.07±0.01 and 1.03±0.12 mmol/L. However ALP showed different patterns with its highest mean enzyme activity observed for severe hypertensive cases;192.47±13.11U/L at first trimester, 197.32±18.11U/L in the second trimester and 212.47±21.71 U/L at third trimester. Therefore, all the serum metabolites understudied showed a significant relationship in the values obtained from the hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients considered and can serve as possible inference for early diagnosis of maternal and fetal complications in hypertension

Studies On Biochemical Changes In Maize Wastes Fermented With Aspergillus Niger

In an attempt to transform the agricultural waste products of maize cobs and shafts into useful products such as animal feeds and reduce the pollution effects of these wastes during maize seasons, they were fermented using Aspergillus niger for 72 hours. The fermented residues were analyzed with regard to proximate composition, mineral composition and some antinutrients content. The results revealed that there were significant increases in the protein of the microbial fermentation (12.58g/100g) compare with the unfermented sample (5.51g/100g) and fat (7.83g/100g) and (6.04g/100g) respectively. Conversely, there was significant decrease in phytate (197.44mg/100g) for fermented and (282.10mg/100g) unfermented). The mineral contents in parts per million (Na ,Cu, Zn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, and Co) were slightly high, Na was found relatively low in fermented sample while Cu and Co were not detected in both cases. From the results of the work, it could be inferred that Aspergillus niger, a cheap and treated non-pathogenic fungus could be used to enhance the nutritional potential of agricultural wastes as animal feeds and reduce environmental pollution

DNA SeqUeNCINg ANAlySIS Of AfRICAN Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae vIRUleNCe geNe (aXaVrg) DNA MARkeR

Global rice production is constrained by bacterial leaf blight (BLB) disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). BLB disease incidence in West Africa was between 70–85% and yield loss in farmers’ fields was in the range of 50–90% from 2005 to 2010. In the present study, African Xoo virulence gene OPP-172000 DNA marker was identified and purified using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) products from 50 Xoo isolates. Genomic DNA of 50 Xoo isolates were analyzed using OPP-17 primer in RAPD-PCR during which African Xoo virulence gene OPP-172000 DNA marker was identified, purified, cloned, and sequenced. Cloning and DNA sequencing of African Xoo virulence gene OPP-172000 DNA generated a 1953 bp nucleotide sequence consequently tagged as AXaVrg-1953. BLAST homologous analysis of the AXaVrg-1953 sequence provides comprehensive identification of the type II secretion genes and secreted proteins, type III secretion genes and secreted proteins in African Xoo virulence gene. Phylogenetic unweighted pairgroup method arithmetic (UPGMA) analysis revealed the African AXaVrg-1953 sequence was distinct from the other Xoo virulence gene sequences from China, Japan, Korea, Germany, and the United States. This information is potentially useful for effective management of BLB disease in West Africa. Bacterial leaf blight, Operon primer, RAPD-PCR products, Xoo virulence gene DNA marker, cloning, Secreted proteins, BLAST, West Afric

Two genotypes of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae virulence identified in West Africa

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is a very destructive rice disease worldwide. The aim of the present study was to examine if the Xoo virulence pathotypes obtained using phenotypic pathotyping could be confirmed using molecular approach. After screening of 60 Operon primers with genomic DNA of two Xoo isolates (virulent pathotype, Vr and mildly virulent pathotype, MVr), 12 Operon primers that gave reproducible and useful genetic information were selected and used to analyze 50 Xoo isolates from 7 West African countries. Genetic analysis revealed two major Xoo virulence molecular type (Mt) which were Mta and Mtb with Mta having two subgroups (Mta1 and Mta2). Mta1 (Vr1) subgroup genotype has occurrence in six countries and Mta2 (Vr2) in three countries while Mtb genotype characterized mildly virulence (MVr) Xoo isolates present in five countries. The study revealed possible linkage and correlation between phenotypic pathotyping and molecular typing of Xoo virulence. Durable resistance rice cultivars would need to overcome both Mta and Mtb Xoo virulence genotypes in order to survive after their deployment into different rice ecologies in West Africa

A survey of Salmonella spp and Campylobacter spp in dairy goat faeces and bulk tank milk in the Murcia region of Spain

This study was designed to investigate the occurrence of Salmonella spp and Campylobacter spp in faeces samples from 222 healthy Murciano-Granadina dairy goats reared on 12 farms in Spain and in samples of bulk tank milk from 11 of those herds. Neither Salmonella spp nor Campylobacter spp were isolated from any of the samples. Our results suggest that, under the management practices applied to this breed in Spain, Murciano-Granadina goats are not likely to be a significant reservoir for these food-borne pathogens

Avian Colibacillosis and Salmonellosis: A Closer Look at Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Control and Public Health Concerns

Avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis are considered to be the major bacterial diseases in the poultry industry world-wide. Colibacillosis and salmonellosis are the most common avian diseases that are communicable to humans. This article provides the vital information on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, control and public health concerns of avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis. A better understanding of the information addressed in this review article will assist the poultry researchers and the poultry industry in continuing to make progress in reducing and eliminating avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis from the poultry flocks, thereby reducing potential hazards to the public health posed by these bacterial diseases