Screening of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites from Sea Sponge (Clathria Indica) Against Bacteria Associated with Urinary Tract Infections

The marine sponge Clathria indica, collected from Thondi-Palk Strait region of Tamil Nadu, was studied for bacterial antagonistic activity. Sponge species were identified based on specula morphology. Ethyl Acetate extracts yielded a total of 0.8g, 0.12g, 0.01g, 0.13g and 0.17g from 1.5g of sponge crude extracts respectively. The antagonistic activity of crude extracts against bacterial pathogens showed clear inhibition zones against Pseudomonas sp., Streptococcus sp. and Vibrio sp. The extracted sponge metabolites had growth inhibitory activities against all the three Urinary tract pathogens, Vibrio sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Streptococcus sp. and Bactericidal activities against two Urinary tract pathogens, Vibrio sp. and Pseudomonas sp. The partial isolation of DNA was done by using Gel electrophoresis. On the gel the DNA showed one defined band which had a size of 39.360Kb.Key words: Sea sponge Clathria indica; Vibrio sp.; Pseudomonas sp.; Streptococcus sp.

Potency of Dioscorea sansibarensis (Dioscoreaceae) Leaf Eluates on Callosobruchus chinensis, Linnaeus 1758 (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in the Protection of Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae)

Post-harvest losses of stored Phaseolus vulgaris to the bean weevil Callosobruchus chinensis have reached levels of significant concern. Governments and health organisations propose the discovery of reliable,  healthy and biodegradable pesticides with higher selectivity and a broad spectrum. This study presents investigations on the activities of Dioscorea sansibarensis leaf extracts on the mortality of C. chinensis and reduction of their egg-laying ability. Laboratory experiments under Completely Randomized Design (CRD) were carried out to determine the mortality and anti-oviposition activity of the vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) eluates of n-hexane (HE), chloroform (CE), ethyl acetate (EE), n-butanol (BE) and methanol (BE) at different concentrations. Bioassay data were subjected to nonparametric statistical analysis and a generalized linear model at p = 0.05. Statistical results showed that the VLC eluates had a mortality activity of 88.01% (R2 = 0.8801). Treatment by 0.025 g of HE and 0.075 g of CE had 9.60 and 11.50, respectively at p = 0.181. These mortality records were high as to 0.1 g of ME, 0.05 g of EE and 0.075 g of BE that recorded 8.55, 8.45 and 7.80, respectively. Treatments by 0.05 g of CE, 0.025 g of HE, 0.05 g of EE and the positive control recorded mortality of 10.50, 9.60, 8.45 and 8.35, respectively. The highest mortality was observed in the treatment by 0.075 g of HE and 0.1 g of HE with 12.85 and 13.70, respectively at p = 0.377. The VLC eluates had an anti-oviposition activity of 24.98% (R2 = 0.2498) on the C. chinensis. The generalized linear model reported Wald Chi-Square values of 4.363; p = 0.037, 0.711; p = 0.399, 9.125; p = 0.003, 4.363; p = 0.037 on the treatment by 0.025 g of CE, 0.05 g of EE, 0.075 g of BE and 0.1 g of ME, respectively. At p = 0.051, 0.1 g of CE and the positive control attained oviposition of 89.25 and 96.75 respectively. The study presents the first documentation of the lethal activity of D. sansibarensis on the C. chinensis pulse beetle. This could help in the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and could help in the elimination or suppression of the infestation. Keywords: anti-oviposition, Callosobruchus chinensis, Dioscorea sansibarensis leaf, mortality, Phaseolus vulgaris, vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) eluates

Antibacterial Potency of Allium sativum, Psidium guajava, Zingiber officinale Roots against the Food Poisoning Strains (Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus)

Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus are notorious food poisoning bacteria of great effect on human health. This study determined the phytochemical constituents of ethanolic, vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) filtrates of Allium sativum (garlic), Psidium guajava (guava), Zingiber officinale (ginger) and their antibacterial activities on E. coli 0157:H7 and S. aureus. In a laboratory-based controlled experiment, the antibacterial and inhibitory activities of the VLC filtrates in doses of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.08g/mL were investigated on E. coli 0157:H7 and S. aureus using the agar well diffusion method and compared with a standard antibiotic. The indices of the zone of inhibition on the agar plates were subjected to analysis of variance (p = 0.01). Phytochemical analysis revealed a high concentration of glycosides, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, and the absence of flavonoids in A. sativum. P. guajava root contained a high concentration of glycosides, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Z. officinale possessed a high concentration of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, and terpenoids. Statistically, 0.02 g/mL of Z. officinale (12.0 mm) showed a significant result to 0.04g/mL of A. sativum (14mm) at p = 0.0049 and a higher inhibition index to 0.08g/mL of P. guajava. Inhibition by 0.02g/mL of P. guajava (8.8mm) was advanced than 0.04g/mL of A. sativum (6.3 mm) on S. aureus. Recommendable inhibition of 29.3 mm and 24.0 mm on E. coli 0157:H7 and S. aureus, respectively, were expressed by 0.08 g/mL Z. officinale, which was significant to the standard 0.04 g/mL of Neomycin (Positive control) at p = 0.0067. This study indicated a reliable antibacterial activity by Z. officinale than A. sativum and P. guajava, which might have been due to the high concentration of alkaloids and flavonoids. Nevertheless, A. sativum, P. guajava, and Z. officinale are normally used as fruit and food additives in the human diet, thus can be combined to prevent food poisoning by E. coli 0157:H7 and S. aureus and their exotoxins. Keywords:    Allium sativum, Antibacterial activity, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Psidium guajava, Staphylococcus aureus, Zingiber officinal

Evaluation of Malaria Spread in Relation to Poor Environmental Conditions at Kibaha District (Tanzania)

Communicable diseases cause a lot of out- patient attendance resulting to huge allocation of funds by both Governmental and Non – governmental organizations in combating them. A cross section study was conducted at Maili Moja community to ascertain environmental conditions prevailing in the area and how they contribute to the spread of Malaria as a communicable disease. About 200 questionnaires were self - administered to the community to capture data. The study reviewed that not using treated mosquito nets accounted for 81.2% of chances of suffering from malaria. Malaria is the main causes of communicable disease burden in Maili Moja community. It was found that poverty, neglecting the use of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs), treated bed sheets and indoor residual Spraying (IRS) also poor environmental conditions untreated compost pits, stagnant water and sewages lead to the spread of malaria disease. It is therefore recommended that Maili Moja community to use Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITNs), bed sheets, perform routinely spray of mosquito insecticides, treatment of drinking, sewage and stagnant water be intensified in the community. It is also recommended that water and sanitation be improved by putting up new water points and sanitary facilities

A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE AMONG CHILDREN OF UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE YEARS AT HERI MISSION HOSPITAL IN BUHIGWE DISTRICT – KIGOMA, TANZANIA

Background:  Sickle cell disease has become a common inherited hemoglobin disorder. Various reports have shown that a high mortality rate of children under five years of age was reported in the year 2022 in Tanzania. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of sickle cell disease (SCD) amongst children under five years of age and their family history at Heri Mission Hospital in Buhigwe District, Kigoma.  Methods:  A convenient cross-sectional study was carried out to enroll 204 children under the age of five years at Heri Mission Hospital. The collected data were subjected to analysis of variances using the statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.0.1.0 software (SPSS Inc., USA). The Chi-square test was utilized in comparing proportions and frequency of occurrence of Haemoglobin (Hb) in the variables at P < 0.05 as the significance of variance.  Results:  The prevalence of SCD among children under five years was 28.3% (103/364). Among the positively tested with SCD, the majority were female at 71.7% (65/91), whereas males were 28.3% (26/91). Family records of the children with SCD showed that the proportional of SCD was significantly higher among family members with SCD 73.1% (38/52) than none SCD (14/52) 26.9% (X2 = 7.513, P < 0.05).  Conclusion:  The findings in this research showed a high rate of SCD amongst children under five years, and the family history of the victims showed it’s inheritable.  Recommendation:  Health awareness and proper mitigation strategies need to be addressed on how to curb the SCD in Buhigwe District and Tanzania as a country

Framing of Police Enforcement of the Covid-19 Laws in Kenya: A Comparative Analysis of the Daily Nation and Standard Newspapers

This study analysed how the Standard and The Daily Nation Newspapers framed the Kenyan police enforcement of Legal Notice No. 36 of 2020. Three major objectives were interrogated; the frames used by the two newspapers in reporting police enforcement of the curfew, the figures of speech used in the framing the police enforcement work and the sources of the stories used. Content analysis was the main data collection method. The key findings of the study were: The Daily Nation and the Standard newspapers framed the police enforcement of the curfew through negative valance via use of: brutality frames, conflict frames, death and murder frames. It also emerged that, the voicing of the police enforcement of the curfew order was largely supressed and left mainly to the mass media institutions and the journalists. Inferentially, the two newspapers played their watchdog role effectively. It also emerged that, critical voices necessary in ensuring accountability and transparent of the police enforcement of Covid 19 curfew in Kenya like: The Judiciary, Parliament, International Community and other key human right agencies were silent. It is recommended that, police should be trained on matters human rights and freedom and that both the journalists and the public should be empowered in order to hold police to account for their sometimes illegal actions during executions of their mandates. Keywords: Media framing, Police brutality, Governance, public order, DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/105-01 Publication date:October 31st 202

Molecular Identification of Soil Bacteria by 16srDNA Sequence

In this current study, 16S rDNA (genotypic) identification technique is focused on identification of conventionally unidentifiable isolates those are unevaluated in isolated by employing molecular techniques and Bioinformatics in uploading and retrieving isolate gene sequences which are rapid, reliable and accurate in differentiation of various soils isolates. This study is an automaton of 16Sr DNA gene sequence that allows a queue comparison analysis of published sequences deposited in the microbial genome database was used. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 16SrDNA gene using the consensus bacterial primer and separation of the resulting polymer chain reaction amplicon  by cloning, temperature gradient electrophoresis are major ecological techniques that are used in the description of soil bacteria. The isolated gene was cloned using PTZ57r or T cloning Vector amplified using 16SF and 16SR primer transformed in DH5? Cells resulting PCs 16s Plasmid hybrid. The primer 16S F2 obtained from M13 forward primer was used and aligned using BLAST and submitted to EMBL+GENEBANK+DDBJ+ PDB. 99% similarity was observed and later it was analyzed with the existing sequence in ribosomal database project II.  RDP classifier was used for confirmation with 100 % similarity. The bacteria were identified as Burkholderia cenocepacia  when the  sequence was submitted and retrieved via the World Wide Web and new sequence compared with those held in the database  using the basic local alignment tool (BLAST). A segment of 734 out of 736 nucleotide of 16S rDNA gene of Burholderia Cenocepacia is the region of choice for primer construction because of proximity that provides a successful discrimination in strains of Burholderia Cenocepacia in soil. 16S rDNA gene account to 99%  similarity score in molecular typing and identification of bacteria which concerns deposition of sequences into established microbial genomic database Key Words: Burkholderi; Bacterial transformation; Characterization; DNA based technique