Effect of Temperature on the Shelf life of Nono (Locally Fermented Milk) and Yoghurt

Effect of temperature on the shelf life ofnono(locally fermented milk) and yoghurt was carried out for 7 days and 3 months respectively. Freshly made nonowas kept under room and refrigerated temperature for 7 days. Chemical parameters such as protein, fats, carbohydrate, moisture and ash were analyzed within one hour of collection and on the 7th day. Some physical parameters such as texture and flavour were measured using visual appraisal just before the preservation and then on daily basis. Freshly made yoghurt was treated alike and kept for the period of 3 months (which is the claimed shelf life of yoghurt by most manufacturers). The physical, chemical parameters and microbial load were also measured at weekly intervals. The result of the physical and chemical parameters explains deterioration before the end of the experiment in both samples. It was also concluded that freshly made yoghurt kept at room temperature be consumed only on the first day of production and fermented milk is advised to be pasteurized before consumption due to the high microbial load

Comparative Studies of Some Polypores Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Isolates of four polypores; Ganoderma colossum, Ganoderma lucidum, Trametes cingulata and Daedalea quercina were compared using the High performance liquid chromatographic profiles of their triterpenoids. A higher abundance of colossolactone E was found in Ganoderma colossum isolate (FC 876) when compared with FC 872 obtained at different periods and dried differently and 23- hydroxycolossolactone E found in FC 876 was not observed in FC 872. Equal abundance of constituents was also found in Ganoderma lucidum isolates (FC 871 and FC 875) collected from different hosts and geographical locations. The isolates of Trametes cingulata that were of different ages showed predominance of the major constituents in FC 873 and FC 885 isolates when compared with FC 870. The abundance of the triterpenoid in the isolates of Daedalea quercina was almost doubled in FC 882 when compared with that of FC 878. These conform with the chemical spot test results on these polypores in a previous work. The ability of the polypores to produce triterpenoids is affected by their age, period of collection, geographical location and method of drying, which also affected the High Performance Liquid Chromatography characteristics of their secondary metabolites. African Research Review Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 77-9

Pharmacognostic and Anti-diabetic Studies of Chromolaena odorata Linn. (Asteraceae) Powdered Leaves in Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

Background: ChromolaenaodorataLinn. (Asteraceae)is being used traditionally for its many medicinal properties including lowering of blood glucose level. However, few and inconsistent information about its antidiabetic potential is available.Objective: to standardize; determine physicochemical and elemental parameters; and evaluate anti-diabetic potential of Chromolaena odorata Linn. (Asteraceae) powdered leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: Physicochemical screening of fresh and powdered leaves of C. odorata leaves were respectively determined using a light microscope connected to a standard camera. Elemental analysis was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) GBC Avanta Model. Thirty-three Wistar rats of either sex weighing 150 – 200 g were used in the procedures. Acute toxicity assessment (LD50) was carried out using the guideline of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Chromolaena odorata powdered leaves were evaluated using alloxan-induced model.Results: Physicochemical screening of the fresh and powdered leaves confirmed the pharmacognostic parameters of Chromolaena odorata. The moisture content was 6.0 ± 0.07 %, the alcohol soluble extractive was 30 ± 0.05 %. while the water-soluble extractive was 40 ± 0.05%. The elemental analysis of the powdered leaves of C. odorata showed that the leaves contains 29.00mg/L of K, 13.500mg/L of Na, 0.15mg/L of Mn, 4.78mg/L of Mg and 0.30mg/L of Ca. Chromolaena odorata showed no toxicity when it was orally administered to rats (LD50 ≥ 2000 mg/kg). The powdered leaves of Chromolaena odorata at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg showed dose and time-dependent anti-diabetic activities.Conclusion: The powdered leaves of Chromolaena odorata is non-toxic and preliminary data showed its anti-diabetic potential possibly due to the presence of some phytochemicals and mineral elements identified &nbsp

Lippia multiflora (verbenaceae) en Côte d’Ivoire : point des premiers resultats de recherche et Enjeu cultural

Lippia multiflora (Verbenaceae) ou thé de savane pousse naturellement dans les régions de savane en Côte d’Ivoire. Dans le cadre de la diversification des cultures en Côte d’Ivoire, des recherches récentes ont été conduites en vue de la caractérisation de sa composition, sa domestication et sa valorisation, ont abouti à des résultats. Des résultats de recherche couvrant les années 1996 à 2009 de travaux sur Lippia multiflora ont concerné cette analyse. Ceux-ci concernent différents champs disciplinaires dont des évaluationspédologiques, agrophysiologiques, physicochimiques et médicinales effectués en Côte d’Ivoire. Les particularités de cette plante en interaction avec les paramètres environnementaux de sa culture mises en valeur sont discutées

Host-derived viral transporter protein for nitrogen uptake in infected marine phytoplankton

This is the author's accepted manuscriptFinal version available from NAS via the DOI in this recordPhytoplankton community structure is shaped by both bottom–up factors, such as nutrient availability, and top–down processes, such as predation. Here we show that marine viruses can blur these distinctions, being able to amend how host cells acquire nutrients from their environment while also predating and lysing their algal hosts. Viral genomes often encode genes derived from their host. These genes may allow the virus to manipulate host metabolism to improve viral fitness. We identify in the genome of a phytoplankton virus, which infects the small green alga Ostreococcus tauri, a host-derived ammonium transporter. This gene is transcribed during infection and when expressed in yeast mutants the viral protein is located to the plasma membrane and rescues growth when cultured with ammonium as the sole nitrogen source. We also show that viral infection alters the nature of nitrogen compound uptake of host cells, by both increasing substrate affinity and allowing the host to access diverse nitrogen sources. This is important because the availability of nitrogen often limits phytoplankton growth. Collectively, these data show that a virus can acquire genes encoding nutrient transporters from a host genome and that expression of the viral gene can alter the nutrient uptake behavior of host cells. These results have implications for understanding how viruses manipulate the physiology and ecology of phytoplankton, influence marine nutrient cycles, and act as vectors for horizontal gene transfer.A.M. and T.A.R. are funded by the Royal Society, through Newton and University Research fellowships, respectively. This work is supported in part by research grants from The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF5514), Leverhulme Trust (PLP-2014-147), and the University of Exeter. The University of Exeter OmniLog facility is supported by a Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Award WT105618MA. Phylogenetic reconstructions were computed on the Data Intensive Academic Grid (National Science Foundation, MRI-R2 Project DBI-0959894)

Solitary Esophageal Varix Simulating a Neoplasm

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73070/1/j.1440-1673.1988.tb02785.x.pd

Anti-trypanosomal Activity of Bufonidae (Toad) Venom Crude Extract on Trypanosoma brucei brucei in Swiss Mice

Trypanosomiasis afflicts about 6 ~ 7 million people globally and to a large extent impedes livestock production in Africa. Naturally, trypanosomal parasites undergo genetic mutation and have developed resistance over a wide range of therapies. The utilization of animals and plants products has presented therapeutic potential for identifying novel anti-trypanosomal drugs. This study evaluated toad venom for anti-trypanosomal potency invivo in Swiss mice. Toads were collected from July to August 2019. The acute oral toxicity and biochemical characterization of the toad venom were determined. The experimental mice were administered various doses (130 mg/kg, 173 mg/kg and 217 mg/kg) of the toad venom crude extract and 0.75 mg/mL of Diamizan Plus standard drug for the treatment of trypanosomiasis, once daily for 3 days. The in-vivo anti-trypanosomal activity was evaluated by a curative test, after infecting the mice with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The pre-patent period was 72 hours before treatment commenced. The overall results showed that trypanosomal load was highest in the control group while the group treated with Diamizan drug had the least trypanosomal load. As such, the mean trypanosomal load in relation to treatments showed a very high significant difference (P0.05) across treatment groups. The over 50% reduction in the trypanosomal load in the 130 mg/kg group in comparison with the control group brings to bare the anti-trypanosomal potency of the toad venom. The anti-trypanosomal activity demonstrated by the toad venom has provided basis for development of new therapeutic agents from different toad species. The study recommends further studies (both in-vivo and invitro) followed by the characterization of the active compounds present in the toad venom responsible for the anti-tyrpanosomal activity observed alongside the management and conservation of these species

Composition and Distribution of Mosquito Vectors in a Peri-Urban Community Surrounding an Institution of Learning in Lafia Metropolis, Nasarawa State, Central Nigeria

Vector surveillance is very key in solving mosquito-borne health problems in Nigeria. To this end, the composition and distribution of mosquito vectors in a peri-urban community surrounding an institution of learning in Lafia metropolis, Nasarawa State, Central Nigeria was carried out between December 2016 and June 2017. The Prokopack Aspirator was used to collect indoor resting mosquitoes between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. from 30 randomly selected houses. Mosquitoes collected were knocked down and transferred into a well labelled petri-dish and taken to the laboratory for processing. A total of 664 mosquitoes were collected which spread across Culex quinquefasciatus 572 (86.14%), Anopheles gambiae 88 (13.25%) and Aedes aegypti 4 (0.60%). The abundance of mosquitoes in relation to seasons, species, sex, abdominal conditions as well as transmission indices across seasons significantly varied (P 0.05). The inhabitants of the area should ensure that all drainages flow through so as to reduce mosquito breeding grounds. Also, members of the community should always protect themselves by sleeping under insecticide treated bed nets

Environment-dependent fitness gains can be driven by horizontal gene transfer of transporter-encoding genes

Many microbes acquire metabolites in a “feeding” process where complex polymers are broken down in the environment to their subunits. The subsequent uptake of soluble metabolites by a cell, sometimes called osmotrophy, is facilitated by transporter proteins. As such, the diversification of osmotrophic microorganisms is closely tied to the diversification of transporter functions. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been suggested to produce genetic variation that can lead to adaptation, allowing lineages to acquire traits and expand niche ranges. Transporter genes often encode single-gene phenotypes and tend to have low protein–protein interaction complexity and, as such, are potential candidates for HGT. Here we test the idea that HGT has underpinned the expansion of metabolic potential and substrate utilization via transfer of transporter-encoding genes. Using phylogenomics, we identify seven cases of transporter-gene HGT between fungal phyla, and investigate compatibility, localization, function, and fitness consequences when these genes are expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using this approach, we demonstrate that the transporters identified can alter how fungi utilize a range of metabolites, including peptides, polyols, and sugars. We then show, for one model gene, that transporter gene acquisition by HGT can significantly alter the fitness landscape of S. cerevisiae. We therefore provide evidence that transporter HGT occurs between fungi, alters how fungi can acquire metabolites, and can drive gain in fitness. We propose a “transporter-gene acquisition ratchet,” where transporter repertoires are continually augmented by duplication, HGT, and differential loss, collectively acting to overwrite, fine-tune, and diversify the complement of transporters present in a genome

Phenotypic Evidence of Emerging Ivermectin Resistance in Onchocerca volvulus

Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, is caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus and is transmitted by a blackfly vector. Over 37 million people are thought to be infected, with over 90 million at risk. Infection predominantly occurs in sub-Saharan Africa. Foci also exist in the Arabian Peninsula and Central and South America. Ivermectin, the sole pharmaceutical available for mass chemotherapy, has been used on a community basis for annual or semi-annual treatment since 1987. Multiple treatments with ivermectin kill the microfilariae that are responsible for the pathology of onchocerciasis. More importantly, ivermectin suppresses the reproductive activity of the adult female worms, thus delaying or preventing the repopulation of the skin with new microfilariae and thereby reducing transmission. This study extends earlier reports of sub-optimal responses to ivermectin by examining repopulation levels of microfilaria one year after treatment, worm burdens per nodule, the age structure of adult female worms recovered from nodules, and the reproductive status of adult female worms 90 days after ivermectin treatment. In some communities which have shown a pattern of sub-optimal response to treatment, the data is consistent with an emergence of ivermectin non response or resistance manifested by a loss of the effect of ivermectin on the suppression of parasite reproduction