Phytochemicals Present in Engleromyces goetzei and Antimicrobial Activity Against Phytopathogenic Bacteria

Interest in the extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources has increased in recent years due to the potential applications of these compounds in food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The methanolic extract of the fungus Engleromyces goetzei was investigated for the presence of phytochemicals and the antibacterial properties. The study shows that the extract has flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, terpenoids and steroids. Engleromyces goetzei has potential as a source of useful antibacterial compounds active against phytopathogenic bacteria. Disk diffusion assay was used to analyze the susceptibility of an organism which help in identifying the proper antibacterial biopesticide. In this experiment, this was done by placing the antimicrobial disks impregnated with E. goetzei on the NA plates swabbed with Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas sryingae pv phaseolicola, Erwinia carotovora and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. After twenty-four hours of incubation, there were areas around the antimicrobial disks with no bacterial growth. The MIC of E. goetzei against X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli, Ps. syringae pv phaseolicola and X. campestris was found to be 1mg/ml while that of E. carotovora was 10mg/ml. Keywords: Phytochemicals, Engleromyces goetzei, X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli, E. carotovora, Ps. syringae pv phaseolicola, X. campestri

Biocontrol of Green Mould Disease of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) using Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

The occurrence of Trichoderma harzianum and T. asperellum in cultivation of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) frequently results in serious crop losses and considerable inhibition of growth of mycelium and fruiting bodies of oyster mushroom thus lowering the yield substantially. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain isolated from groundnuts proved very effective in antagonizing the oyster mushroom pathogenic T. harzianum and T. asperellum without having a negative effect on P. ostreatus mycelia. The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was found to produce diffusible and volatile organic compounds. This strain is a potential biocontrol candidate, in addition to the lack of antagonistic activity towards P. ostreatus mycelia. The present study, hence, provides a potential biocontrol agent for Trichoderma green mould. However, field studies of this isolate as substrate inoculant in oyster mushroom are required in order to establish its actual performance. Keywords: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Green mould, Mushroom, Biocontro

Effect of Inoculation with Mycorrhizae on Growth Parameters of Dombeya torrida, Leucaena leucocephala and Tephrosia vogelii

The present work evaluated the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus on growth. Three species of trees, Tephrosia vogelii, Leucaena leucocephala and Dombeya torrida were treated with fragments of arbuscular mycorrhizae and grown in greenhouse. The aim of the present work was to determine whether arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiotic association with these tree species would enhance their growth. Data on height, stem diameter and number of leaves were taken after every two weeks for a period of three months. Mycorrhizal plants demonstrated higher vigor with Tephrosia vogelii giving a mean height of 57.50 cm, 0.50 cm diameter and 9.33 number of leaves which were significantly different from the control plants at p ≤ 0.05 according to least significant difference (LSD). The biomass was also taken at the end of 90 days of growth and the same trend was exhibited. Mycorrhizal plants also showed root nodules with mycorrhizal arbuscles. This work contributes to our understanding of the effects of AM symbiosis on the accumulation of certain micronutrients in valuable woody tree species. Keywords: arbuscular mycorrhizae, Tephrosia vogelii, Leucaena leucocephala, plant growt

An Analysis of Economic Efficiency in Bean Production: Evidence from Eastern Uganda

Bean has emerged to be an important cash crop as well as a staple food in Uganda; however, the country’s bean productivity per unit area cultivated has been on the decline for the past ten years. This study estimated the economic efficiency levels and assessed the factors influencing economic efficiency among bean farmers in Eastern Uganda, by applying a stochastic frontier cost function and a two-limit Tobit regression model, based on a random sample of 580 households. Findings revealed that the mean economic efficiency level was 59.94% and it was positively influenced by value of assets, off-farm income, credit and farmers’ primary occupation. Based on the findings from this study, there is need for government and stakeholders to train farmers on entrepreneurial skills so that they can divest their farm profits into more income generating activities which would harness more farming capital. Finally, there is a need for initiatives geared towards enhancing farmers’ access to adequate credit for farming at affordable interest rates and using groups as collateral, so that they could invest more in farming to increase their economic efficiency and farm productivity. Key words: stochastic frontier approach, smallholder farmers, Tobit regression mode

FRANCHISING PROPENSITY AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF FRANCHISING ORGANISATIONS: A CRITICAL LITERATURE REVIEW

ABSTRACT Purpose - This paper investigates the relationship between franchising propensity and financial performance of franchising organisations and explores literature on possible intervening and moderating factors on the relationship. Methodology - This is a critical review of theoretical and empirical literature on franchising propensity and financial performance. Findings - Literature reveals that most studies on franchising focus on the antecedents of franchising but very few examine the consequences moreover, the studies are anchored on either agency theory or resource scarcity theory. Studies examining the relationship between franchising and performance provide conflicting results. Some studies indicate that increasing the number of franchised units result to superior performance while other studies find no significant difference between franchising and running company owned units. The effect of franchising on capital structure of the franchisor has been examined by a few studies with no conclusive results. Furthermore, prior studies indicate that the relationship between franchising and performance is influenced by firm characteristics. There is a dearth of studies examining franchising in sectors other than the restaurant industry moreover there is need to use time series data to observe the consequences of franchising over time. Implications: This review of literature mainly consists of studies carried out in developed economies which have superior business models and access to finance. Developing economies are mostly supported by small and medium enterprises and lack the skills and resources similar to advanced economies. Therefore, although developing economies stand to benefit more from the franchising model, there are few studies carried out in developing economies. Therefore, the findings of this study may vary in the developing economies. Value: This study has presented a new dimension that may explain the inconsistent findings from prior studies and contribute to the discussion of franchising and firm performance. The relationship between franchising and firm performance may be moderated by firm characteristics and mediated by capital structure

Morbidity and mortality in HIV - infected children admitted at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Western Kenya

Background: HIV-infected children are at higher risk of opportunistic infections that could result in hospitalisation. The outcomes of hospitalisation are variable and depend on the admission diagnosis, the patients’ immune status and whether or not the patient is on anti-retroviral drugs.Objective: To describe the characteristics and causes of hospitalisation and mortality for HIV infected children admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral hospital in western Kenya.Design: a retrospective study of prospectively collected data.Setting: The paediatric wards of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). A Kenyan National Referral Hospital.Subjects: HIV-infected children admitted the paediatric wards.Interventions: Treatment with combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART), treatment of common opportunistic infections.Main outcome measures: Demographic and clinical data, including diagnosis, immune status, and treatment with combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART), were extracted from hospital admission records of HIV-infected children registered with the USAIDAcademic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) partnership. We conducted descriptive statistical analyses and used chi-square and fisher’s exact tests to assess for associations between categorical variables and each of the independent variables.Results: Between December 2006 and May 2009, 396 HIV-infected children were admitted to MTRH. Median age at admission was 2.0 years (range 0-15); 236 (59%) were male; 36 (15%) of available 236 orphan status entries were orphaned; 198 (73%) were in CDC categories B and C and 61 (16%) of available 386 had been on ART. Among 108 patients with documented immunologic status, the mean CD4 cell percentage was 16% (SD 10.8). Among the 396 children, 104 (15%) were diagnosed with pneumonia, 92 (14%) with gastroenteritis, 36 (9%) with tuberculosis and 37 (9%) with malaria. Deaths occurred in 28(7%) of the patients. The median duration of hospitalisation was seven days (range 1- 516) for discharged patients and six days (range 0-72) for those who died. A significantly higher percentage of the children who were not previously enrolled in AMPATH died, signifying 14 (15%) mortality among this population of admitted patients, p = 0.0017. Of those who died, (17%) were diagnosed with pneumonia and 22 (79%) of them were not on cART.Conclusion: The common diagnoses at hospitalisation included pneumonia, gastroenteritis, malaria and tuberculosis. Higher mortality occurred among those diagnosed with pneumonia and those not previously enrolled in the HIV care programme. Aggressive treatment and prevention of the most prevalent diseases and early enrollment into HIV care are recommended for HIV-infected children. A follow-up study to investigate the pathological causes of death in this population is recommended

The incidence and clinical burden of respiratory syncytial virus disease identified through hospital outpatient presentations in Kenyan children

There is little information that describe the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated disease in the tropical African outpatient setting. Methods We studied a systematic sample of children aged <5 years presenting to a rural district hospital in Kenya with acute respiratory infection (ARI) between May 2002 and April 2004. We collected clinical data and screened nasal wash samples for RSV antigen by immunofluorescence. We used a linked demographic surveillance system to estimate disease incidence. Results Among 2143 children tested, 166 (8%) were RSV positive (6% among children with upper respiratory tract infection and 12% among children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). RSV was more likely in LRTI than URTI (p<0.001). 51% of RSV cases were aged 1 year or over. RSV cases represented 3.4% of hospital outpatient presentations. Relative to RSV negative cases, RSV positive cases were more likely to have crackles (RR = 1.63; 95% CI 1.34–1.97), nasal flaring (RR = 2.66; 95% CI 1.40–5.04), in-drawing (RR = 2.24; 95% CI 1.47–3.40), fast breathing for age (RR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.03–1.75) and fever (RR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.33–1.80). The estimated incidence of RSV-ARI and RSV-LRTI, per 100,000 child years, among those aged <5 years was 767 and 283, respectively. Conclusion The burden of childhood RSV-associated URTI and LRTI presenting to outpatients in this setting is considerable. The clinical features of cases associated with an RSV infection were more severe than cases without an RSV diagnosis

Acquisition of naturally occurring antibody responses to recombinant protein domains of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1

Background: Antibodies targeting variant antigens expressed on the surface of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes have been associated with protection from clinical malaria. The precise target for these antibodies is unknown. The best characterized and most likely target is the erythrocyte surface-expressed variant protein family Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). Methods: Using recombinant proteins corresponding to five domains of the expressed A4 var gene, A4 PfEMP1, the naturally occurring antibody response was assessed, by ELISA, to each domain in serum samples obtained from individuals resident in two communities of differing malaria transmission intensity on the Kenyan coast. Using flow cytometry, the correlation in individual responses to each domain with responses to intact A4-infected erythrocytes expressing A4 PfEMP1 on their surface as well as responses to two alternative parasite clones and one clinical isolate was assessed. Results: Marked variability in the prevalence of responses between each domain and between each transmission area was observed, as wasa strong correlation between age and reactivity with some but not all domains. Individual responses to each domain varied strikingly, with some individuals showing reactivity to all domains and others with no reactivity to any, this was apparent at all age groups. Evidence for possible cross-reactivity in responses to the domain DBL4γ was found. Conclusion: Individuals acquire antibodies to surface expressed domains of a highly variant protein. The finding of potential cross-reactivity in responses to one of these domains is an important initial finding in the consideration of potential vaccine targets

Chromosomal-level assembly of the Asian Seabass genome using long sequence reads and multi-layered scaffolding

We report here the ~670 Mb genome assembly of the Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer), a tropical marine teleost. We used long-read sequencing augmented by transcriptomics, optical and genetic mapping along with shared synteny from closely related fish species to derive a chromosome-level assembly with a contig N50 size over 1 Mb and scaffold N50 size over 25 Mb that span ~90% of the genome. The population structure of L. calcarifer species complex was analyzed by re-sequencing 61 individuals representing various regions across the species' native range. SNP analyses identified high levels of genetic diversity and confirmed earlier indications of a population stratification comprising three clades with signs of admixture apparent in the South-East Asian population. The quality of the Asian seabass genome assembly far exceeds that of any other fish species, and will serve as a new standard for fish genomics

Host choice and multiple blood feeding behaviour of malaria vectors and other anophelines in Mwea rice scheme, Kenya

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies were conducted between April 2004 and February 2006 to determine the blood-feeding pattern of <it>Anopheles </it>mosquitoes in Mwea Kenya.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Samples were collected indoors by pyrethrum spay catch and outdoors by Centers for Disease Control light traps and processed for blood meal analysis by an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 3,333 blood-fed <it>Anopheles </it>mosquitoes representing four <it>Anopheles </it>species were collected and 2,796 of the samples were assayed, with <it>Anopheles arabiensis </it>comprising 76.2% (n = 2,542) followed in decreasing order by <it>Anopheles coustani </it>8.9% (n = 297), <it>Anopheles pharoensis </it>8.2% (n = 272) and <it>Anopheles funestus </it>6.7% (n = 222). All mosquito species had a high preference for bovine (range 56.3–71.4%) over human (range 1.1–23.9%) or goat (0.1–2.2%) blood meals. Some individuals from all the four species were found to contain mixed blood meals. The bovine blood index (BBI) for <it>An. arabiensis </it>was significantly higher for populations collected indoors (71.8%), than populations collected outdoors (41.3%), but the human blood index (HBI) did not differ significantly between the two populations. In contrast, BBI for indoor collected <it>An. funestus </it>(51.4%) was significantly lower than for outdoor collected populations (78.0%) and the HBI was significantly higher indoors (28.7%) than outdoors (2.4%). Anthropophily of <it>An. funestus </it>was lowest within the rice scheme, moderate in unplanned rice agro-ecosystem, and highest within the non-irrigated agro-ecosystem. Anthropophily of <it>An. arabiensis </it>was significantly higher in the non-irrigated agro-ecosystem than in the other agro-ecosystems.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings suggest that rice cultivation has an effect on host choice by <it>Anopheles </it>mosquitoes. The study further indicate that zooprophylaxis may be a potential strategy for malaria control, but there is need to assess how domestic animals may influence arboviruses epidemiology before adapting the strategy.</p