Production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae biomass in papaya extract medium

Extracts of papaya fruit were used as substrate for single cell protein (SCP) production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A 500 g of papaya fruit was extracted with different volumes of sterile distilled water. Extraction with 200 mL of sterile distilled water sustained highest cell growth. Biochemical analysis of dry biomass revealed the following composition: 35.5% protein, 40.7%saccharide, 4.09% lipids, 0.04% magnesium, 9.63% moisture and 7.90% total ash. Nutrient found in papaya fruit extract were 9.8% saccharide, 0.1% crude protein and 7.3% total soluble sugars

The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant enteric bacteria in Selected Nigerian traditional dairy products

Background: Wara and nono are popular dairy products in Nigeria, rich in nutrients, highly exposed to microbial contaminants during processing and sale and support microbial growth. Objectives: To investigate occurrence and antibiotic resistance pattern of enteric bacterial pathogens in dairy products. Methods: Dairy products were serially diluted and cultured on Eosin Methylene Blue agar, Salmonella-Shigella agar, McConkey agar and nutrient agar at 37°C for 24 h. Characterisation and identification of isolates with API 20E kit (Biomereux, France). Antibiotic susceptibility was with agar disc diffusion. Polyvalent O and H antisera for Salmonella serotyping. Results: Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia marcescens, were identified. Dominant enteric bacterium detected was E. coli followed by Salmonella spp. Serratia marcescens was the least occurring. The isolates were most resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (96.7%), amoxicillin (83.3%), augmentin (83.3%), chloramphenicol (66.7%), streptomycin (50%). They were resistant to ≥ 4 (multiple) antibiotics, E. coli 8, Salmonella spp. 7, Serratia marcescens 6 and Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp. 4 each. Conclusion: The presence of enteric bacterial pathogens in wara and nono and their resistance to multiple antibiotics was reported in this study. Keywords: Nono; wara; antibiotic resistance; enteric bacteria

Microbiological and physico-chemical characteristics of stored tsire-suya, a roasted meat product

The physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of tsire-suya, a roasted meat product, stored at varying temperatures (4 oC, 28 oC, 40 oC, 50 oC, and 60 oC) for 5 days were studied. The bacteria isolatedinclude Bacillus subtilis, B. brevis, B. megaterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, S. albus, Klebsiella sp, Acinetobacter mullei and Corynebacterium sp. The fungalisolates include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida spp, Rhodotorula sp, Aspergillus niger, A. Fumigatus, Fusarium moniliforme, and Penicillium sp. Only Bacillus subtilis and B. megaterium, were isolated from tsiresuyastored at 50 oC and at 60 oC, and there were no physical signs of spoilage, unlike samples stored at 4 oC and 28 oC on which there was discolouration and production of off-odour on the 4th day and 2nd dayrespectively, and slime production on the 4th day in samples stored at 28 oC in addition to isolation of spoilage organisms like Pseudomonas and even pathogenic organisms like S. aureus. The microbial count decreased at all storage temperatures except at 28 oC where there was an increase. However, 50 oC and 60 oC were good for safe storage of tsire-suya as no spoilage organisms or pathogenic organisms were isolated at thesetemperatures. But we will recommend storage at 50 oC because samples here were not as hard as those stored at 60 oC. The usual practice of storing tsire-suya at 28 oC should be discouraged as the product is not safe and it is of poor quality when stored at this temperature. The development of the suya industry would be greatly enhanced by this study on time / temperature limits related to storing of tsire-suya

Production of peptone from soya beans (Glycine max L merr) and African locust beans (Parkia biglobosa)

Peptone was produced from soya beans and African locust beans. The produced peptones were evaluated as component of microbiological media for the growth of some bacteria and compared with some commercial peptones. Some of the tested bacteria are Escherichia coli, Pseudomonasaeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The soya beans and African locust beans peptones supported the growth of all the tested bacteria favourably well when compared to the commercial peptones. From the peptone broth cultures at absorbance 540 nm, the best growth wasobtained from Escherichia coli in laboratory-produced soya beans peptone and Staphylococcus aureus in Bacto peptone (a commercial peptone). This may reduce the cost of peptone in Nigeria

Microbial assessment of the armpits of some selected university students in Lagos, Nigeria

A study of the carriage of microorganisms in armpits and prevailing factors was carried out on 80 students of the University of Lagos. The armpits were swabbed and the microbiological analyses were carried out on the swab samples. The organisms isolated include Staphylococcus epidermidis (35%), Staphylococcus aureus (3%), Staphylococcus cohnii (3%), Staphylococus haemolyticus (15%), Staphylococcus hominis (25%),Micrococcus luteus (9%), Staphylococcus capitis (6%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (3%) and Candida tropicalis (1%). Questionnaires on gender and health related factors were administered to the subjects. Moststudents regardless of sex, used toilet soap (62.5%), had their bath twice daily (60%), used sponge for body scrubbing (87.5%) and shaved regularly (78.75%) but these did not have any significant influence on thecarriage of microorganisms (P = 0.05). More female participants used deodorants, than the males. The bacterial and fungal counts in the armpits of females were lower than the counts from male armpits, which means that the use of deodorant reduced the carriage of microorganisms. From the antibiotic sensitivity tests carried out on S. aureus, the highest sensitivity was recorded for Ofloxacin while the least was for  Cotrimoxazole. However the bacterium was resistant to most antibiotics tested. The DNA profile of S. aureus showed that none of the strains had a plasmid thereby suggesting that the antibiotic resistance genes in these strains could be chromosomally-encoded.Keywords: Microorganisms, armpit, university students, Lagos, Nigeria

Microbial assessment of the armpits of some selected university students in Lagos, Nigeria

A study of the carriage of microorganisms in armpits and prevailing factors was carried out on 80 students of the University of Lagos. The armpits were swabbed and the microbiological analyses were carried out on the swab samples. The organisms isolated include Staphylococcus epidermidis (35%), Staphylococcus aureus (3%), Staphylococcus cohnii (3%), Staphylococus haemolyticus (15%), Staphylococcus hominis (25%)