Isolation, characterization and extracellular enzyme detection of microbial isolates from deteriorated apple (malus domestica) fruits

Studies were carried out on deteriorated apples obtained from the Just Rite supermarket, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, to isolate microorganisms associated with post-harvest deterioration of apple (Malus domestica) fruits. The bacterial species were identified using microscopy, morphology and various biochemical tests while macroscopy and morphology was used to identify the fungi isolated. The ability of the isolate to elaborate extracellular amylase and protease were tested for. Results revealed Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus as the fungal species while the bacterial species isolated were Bacillus spp and Micrococcus spp. All the isolates except Aspergillus niger produced amylase in substantial amount. Micrococcus spp, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus produced protease. The results of this investigation if combined with further studies can be used in identifying organisms which could be used as a biological method in the control of apple pathogens.Keywords: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Bacillus spp, Micrococcus spp, agar

Microbiological and Physicochemical Properties of Drinking Water at Ota, Southwest, Nigeria

Quality drinking water is of basic importance to human physiology and man’s continued existence depends much on its availability. Water samples from different outlets and homes in Ado Odo - Ota Local Government, Ogun state, Nigeria were analyzed for their microbiological and physiochemical properties. Total viable count was assessed by the pour plate technique, while physiochemical evaluations was carried out using Standard Chemical Methods such as pH analysis, physical appearances, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), as well as tests for chloride, sulphate, calcium, zinc and oxidizable substances. All the water samples were found to harbor coliforms in numbers greater than the required World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) standards for water. The total viable counts for all the water samples were generally high, exceeding the limit of 1.0 × 102   cfu/ml for water, while all the samples tested passed the physicochemical tests except the test for chloride. Keywords: Water quality, physicochemical tests, fecal contamination, colifor

Fecal carriage and phylo-diversity of community-acquired blaTEM Enteric bacilli in Southwest Nigeria

Paul Akinniyi Akinduti,1 Grace Iyabo Olasehinde,1 Oluwaseun Ejilude,2 Olugbenga Samson Taiwo,1 Yemisi Dorcas Obafemi1 1Microbiology Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Otta, Nigeria; 2Microbiology Unit, Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro, Abeokuta, Nigeria Purpose: Increasing rates of clonal spread of fecal blaTEM bacilli remains a huge concern to the community health with resultant high morbidity. The fecal carriage and clonal diversity of blaTEM within the communities in Southwest Nigeria were surveyed.Materials and methods: Enteric bacilli obtained from fresh fecal samples randomly collected from community residents were biotyped and profiled for antibiotic susceptibility. Resistant strains were typed for beta-lactamase, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), AmpC and carbapenemase production while the R-plasmid carriage was detected and mating activities were examined. The presence of blaTEM gene was assayed by PCR and its phylodiversity determined with 16sRNA genomic profiling.Results: Escherichia coli have the highest (28.6%) occurrence rate and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.5%) showing significant resistance to beta-lactamase inhibitors (ampicillin, cefuroxime and cefotaxime), and high-level multidrug resistance of more than 15.2% rate to ampicillin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, tetracycline and imipenem. E. coli and Klebsiella oxytoca, are the highest beta-lactamase, ESBL and AmpC producers encoded with high molecular weight R-plasmid (>11.0 kbp) and significant rate of conjugation and transformational activities. Only 2/14, 1/13 and 1/6 ESBL-type of E. coli, K. oxytoca and Enterobacter cloaca, expressed blaTEM gene, clustering into five different phylodiverse groups with close genomic relatedness with other bacilli.Conclusion: This is an indication of clonal dissemination of ESBL blaTEM encoded enteric bacilli having high phylodiverse characteristics through fecal carriage in the Nigerian community which requires public health education, food and environmental hygiene for its prevention. Keywords: fecal, antibiotics, ESBL, R-plasmid, blaTE

Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum field Isolates from South western Nigeria

Abstract Background: Plasmodium falciparum the main causative agent of malaria is an important public health vector. With the use of PCR, its genetic diversity has been extensively studied with dearth information from Nigeria

Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from south western Nigeria

Background: Plasmodium falciparum the main causative agent of malaria is an important public health vector. With the use of PCR, its genetic diversity has been extensively studied with dearth information from Nigeria.Methods: In this study, 100 P. falciparum strains merozoite surface protein 1( msp-1), merozoite surface protein 2 (msp-2) and Glutamate rich protein (Glurp) from Ogun State General Hospitals were characterized. The genetic diversity of P. falciparum isolates was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism following gel electrophoresis of DNA products from nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) of their respective allelic families KI, MAD 20, RO33 (MSP-1);FC27, 3D7 (MSP-2) and Glutamate rich protein respectively.Results: Majority of the patients showed monoclonal infections while multiplicity of the infection for msp-1 and msp-2 were 1.1 and 1.2 respectively. The estimated number of genotypes was 8 msp-1 (4 KI; 3 MAD; 1 RO33) and 6 msp-2 (3 FC27; 3 3D7). 80% of the isolates coded for Glurp with allelic size ranged between 700 and 900 bp.Conclusion: The allelic distributions however were similar to those previously reported in other endemic malaria countries. Future studies will be designed to include other malaria endemic regions of Nigeria such as the oil exploration regions.Keywords: Genetic diversity; Plasmodium; Merozoite surface protein, monoclonal infectio

Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum field isolates from south western Nigeria

Background: Plasmodium falciparum the main causative agent of malaria is an important public health vector. With the use of PCR, its genetic diversity has been extensively studied with dearth information from Nigeria. Methods: In this study, 100 P. falciparum strains merozoite surface protein 1( msp-1), merozoite surface protein 2 (msp-2) and Glutamate rich protein (Glurp) from Ogun State General Hospitals were characterized. The genetic diversity of P. falciparum isolates was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism following gel electrophoresis of DNA products from nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) of their respective allelic families KI, MAD 20, RO33 (MSP-1);FC27, 3D7 (MSP-2) and Glutamate rich protein respectively. Results: Majority of the patients showed monoclonal infections while multiplicity of the infection for msp-1 and msp-2 were 1.1 and 1.2 respectively. The estimated number of genotypes was 8 msp-1 (4 KI; 3 MAD; 1 RO33) and 6 msp-2 (3 FC27; 3 3D7). 80% of the isolates coded for Glurp with allelic size ranged between 700 and 900 bp. Conclusion: The allelic distributions however were similar to those previously reported in other endemic malaria countries. Future studies will be designed to include other malaria endemic regions of Nigeria such as the oil exploration regions