Comparative study of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. in the biodegradation of automotive gas oil (AGO) and premium motor spirit (PMS)

The comparative study of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. in the biodegradation of automotive gas oil (AGO) and premium motor spirit (PMS) was carried out to ascertain the effectiveness of using these microorganisms in cleaning and restoring the ecosystem when polluted by petroleum products. These fungi were observed to grow at all concentrations of the petroleum products (pollutant) used, but the growth on AGO was considerably reduced compared to the growth on PMS. The mycelia growth of A. niger was observed to be faster in PMS than in AGO. The ability of A. niger and Penicillium sp. totolerate these pollutants and grow on them, suggest that they can be employed as bioremediation agents and can be used in restoring the ecosystem when contaminated by these pollutants

Toxicological assessment of abeere seed ( Huntaria umbellata K. Schum)

Thirty age-matched healthy adult male New Zealand white rabbits (2.0 \ub1 0.5kg BW) were randomly divided into six groups (four treatment and two control groups). The treatment groups were given intraperitoneal injection of either 0.5ml or 1.0ml liquid extract of abeere seed or the alcoholic extract (w/v) and examined for 14 days. The effect of the seed extracts on the haematological parameters, selected enzymes, liver function and body weights of the affected rabbits were analysed. There was a shift in the leukocyte population towards lymphocytes in the rabbits treated with extracts of abeere seed and a reduction in neutrophylls. An enhancement in the activities of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase in rabbits exposed to 0.5ml liquid extract of abeere was observed. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the histology of major organs and body weights of test and control rabbits

A Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Role of Medical Laboratory Scientists in containment

The Coronavirus Disease – 2019 (COVID-19) virus has infected more than one million people, leaving more than 50,000 people dead across the globe. The health system of many countries has been overwhelmed by the pandemic, with many losing a significant number of their health professionals in the fight against the virus. While doctors and nurses are so visible at the front lines and are being applauded for the gallant role they are playing in the recovery of hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 patients, the world knows little about those behind their successes, the Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS). Medical laboratory science is the bedrock of diagnostic medicine and the role of the MLS in containing any pandemic cannot be overemphasized. An effective and timely diagnostics approach is fundamental and germane for the successful containment of any outbreak and the MLS are at the fore-front. They are the ones testing clinical specimens from infected and clinically recovered patients. As disease detectives, their role in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic include, but not limited to: diagnosis, monitoring, confirmation of recovery, safety and efficacy testing of broad-spectrum antiviral agents, discovery and development of vaccines, validation of testing protocols and testing kits, offering of advisories to guide government policy on containment at all levels amongst others. The current pandemic requires a multidisciplinary approach and therefore the MLS should be fully integrated into the multidisciplinary team to effective contain the pandemic. The aim of this review therefore is to provide facts and figures about the COVID-19 pandemic, and to appraise the critical role of the Medical Laboratory Scientists in the fight against the pandemic

Effect of Exposure to Rifampicin on Multi-Resistant Bacterial Isolates from Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Wounds

The plasmid curing effect of rifampicin on multi-drug resistant bacterial isolates from diabetic and non-diabetic wounds was investigated. The isolates were resistant to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, with minimuminhibitory concentrations of > 80μg/ml. The result with isolates from diabetic wounds revealed that Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed high rates of cure (range; 75 – 100%) after rifampicin exposure, while Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed low cure rates (range; 0 – 20%). One strain each of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from non-diabetic wounds showed a high rate of cure (range; 5 – 100%), while the cure rates for other isolates ranged from 0 – 35%. Conclusively, a combination of rifampicin and other antibacterials may be effective in the management of wound infections due to bacteria carrying rifampicin curable multi-drug resistance plasmid(s)