Research Papers/Topics in Biotechnology

Antimicrobial Activity And Phytochemical Profiles Of Warburgia Ugandensis Sprague (Canellaceae) Extracts From Different Populations Across The Kenyan Rift Valley

ABSTRACT Warburgia ugandensis Sprague is a highly valued medicinal plant which is over-exploited for its medicinal use among many communities. Encroachment and fragmentation of the species habitat has led to a notable decrease in its population size and distribution to the level that warrant some conservation efforts. Moreover, information on diversity in its antimicrobial activity and phytochemical profiles is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate variations in antimicrobial activit...

Enhancement Of Resistance Against Colletotrichum Gloeosporioides In Cassava Over-Expressing Rice Thaumatin-Like Protein (Pr-5) Gene

ABSTRACT Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), is an energy giving food and has a crucial role in many of the world‟s least developed countries by providing not only food but also economic security. However, its productivity has been hampered by constraints that reduce yields. One of the biotic constraints is cassava anthracnose disease (CAD) caused by pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, results into more than 30 per cent reduction of produce in the fields. The use of conventional method...

Phenotypic Characterization And Genetic Diversity Studies Of Selected Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Populations Based On Aroma And Cooked Kernel Elongation

       ABSTRACT Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the main staple food for more than half of the world’s population. Improving cooking and eating quality of rice is one of the important objectives of many plant breeding programs. Aroma and cooked kernel elongation are two critical parameters that determine the market value, cooking and eating qualities of rice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic and genetic diversity of thirteen (13) Oryza sativa L. populations from Ke...

Biosorption Potentials Of Zea Mays Cob And Musa Paradisiaca Peels In The Treatment Of Waste Effluent From Paint Industry.

ABSTRACT Studies on the biosorption potentials of Zea mays cobs and Musa paradisiaca peels in the treatment of waste effluent from paint industry, was carried out. Standard laboratory procedures using 400 ml of the effluent were adopted to assess the values of Pb, Fe, Cland PO4, BOD and TDS at pH 6.7 and pH 10.0 before and after treatment of the effluent with 1g and 3g of pulverized corn cobs and plantain peels. Standard procedures were adopted for the phytochemical screening of the biosorbe...

Effects Of Selected Carrier Materials And Storage Temperatures On Survival, Viability And Efficacy Of Rhizobia Biofertilizers

ABSTRACT Biofertilizers offer commercially feasible and environmentally sound means for supplementing nutrient supply to crops. The basic problem in acquiring quality rhizobia biofertilizers is the low number of efficient cells. The major limitations affecting the quality of rhizobia biofertilizers are; short storage duration, unavailability of appropriate carrier materials, and susceptibility to high temperature. The present study evaluated the effects of selected carrier materials and stora...

Impact Of Phytoplasma Infection On Phytohormone Levels, Vascular Tissue Morphology And Phloem Mass Flow In Napier Grass

ABSTRACT The Napier grass stunt (NGS) phytoplasma is a phloem limited bacterium that is transmitted by insect vector, Maiestas banda (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). The phytoplasma causes NGS disease in Napier grass resulting into huge forage yield losses hence impacting negatively the economy of smallholder dairy farmers in East Africa. Phytoplasma infections causes massive changes in phloem physiology including the sieve elements which may lead to reduced rate of phloem mass flow that interfere...

Variation In The Protein Level Of Different Accession Of Bambara Groundnut

ABSRACT Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L.) is a protein rich legumes, with food security potential. The nine (9) accessions of the Bambara Groundnut were obtained from ational Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (I'TACGRAB) Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria. These were accessed for their genetic and phylogenic relatedness through electrophoresis of the seed's proteins. Protein characterization with standard gel marker revealed that the 9 accessions contained proteins (Bovine Serum ...

Microbial analysis of spices and herbs obtained from market places around Gweru CBD

ABSTRACT The importance of spices and herbs as dietary supplements and alternative medicines to Zimbabwean society has increased in recent times. The popularity of these substances has come largely as a result of the dire economic situation prevalent in Zimbabwe which has engendered the dramatic collapse of the country„s healthcare system. In spite of the numerous therapeutic claims that have been associated with spices and herbs sold openly in the streets, they pose a genuine threat to the...

Determination Of Prevalence, Antimicrobial Resistance Assessment And Screening Of Virulent Genes Of Escherichia Coli In Ready-Made Meat Products And Traditionally Fermented Milk From The Form

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is a common gastrointestinal enterobacteriaceae that contaminates food resulting in food poisoning. Due to prolonged exposure to antibiotic therapy in their livestock hosts, E. coli continue to develop antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Most E. coli strains are commensal but may attain virulence genes through horizontal gene transfer. A cross sectional observational study was carried out to determine the total E. coli count in polony, beef burgers and traditionally ferm...

GENETIC ENGINEERING OF FINGER MILLET (Eleusine Coracana) WITH Aldose Reductase GENE ISOLATED FROM Xerophyta Viscosa TO ENHANCE DROUGHT AND SALINITY TOLERANCE

ABSTRACT Finger millet is chief food crop for millions of people in the world. It is ranked third in cereal production in semi-arid regions after sorghum and pearl millet. It is generally grown all over the world especially the developing countries with stable yield and strong adaptability to a number of agro-ecological environments. Despite its importance, finger millet increase in production is limited by abiotic stresses especially drought and salinity which affects the plant in the field ...

Evaluation Of The Antinociceptive, Antipyretic And Anti-Inflamatory Properties Of Methanolic Bark Extracts Of Terminalia Brownie In Wistar Rats

ABSTRACT Pain, pyrexia and inflammation cause unnecessary discomfort, suffering and also lower productivity of the victims. Conventional drugs for these conditions are expensive, not easily available and have adverse side effects. There is therefore need to develop alternative therapeutic agents, such as medicinal plant derivatives, that are cheaper and have lesser side effects. Terminalia brownii is used in traditional medicine to treat pain, pyrexia, inflammation but there is no scientific ...

EVALUATION OF THE ANTINOCICEPTIVE, ANTIPYRETIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF METHANOLIC BARK EXTRACTS OF Terminalia Brownii IN WISTAR RATS

ABSTRACT Pain, pyrexia and inflammation cause unnecessary discomfort, suffering and also lower productivity of the victims. Conventional drugs for these conditions are expensive, not easily available and have adverse side effects. There is therefore need to develop alternative therapeutic agents, such as medicinal plant derivatives, that are cheaper and have lesser side effects. Terminalia brownii is used in traditional medicine to treat pain, pyrexia, inflammation but there is no scientific ...

Efficacy Of Chlorfenapyr And Clothianidin Insecticides On Anopheles Malaria Vector Populations Of Nyando, Bumula And Ndhiwa Sub-Counties, Western Kenya

ABSTRACT Malaria is a global health problem resulting in 435,000 deaths annually with 90% of the deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 70% of the Kenyan population is at risk of malaria and western Kenya is an endemic region with prevalence of 38%. The Anopheles gambiae complex and Anopheles funestus are the main vectors of human malaria in Africa with Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto and Anopheles gambiae arabiensis being the main vectors in western Kenya. Anopheles gambiae sensu stric...

Association Between Natural Cytotoxicity Triggering Receptor- 3 Polymorphisms (-172a/G And -412c/G) And Interferon-Gamma Levels In Children Aged 3-36 Months With Severe Plasmodium Falciparum

ABSTRACT In sub-Saharan Africa, Plasmodium falciparum infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality mostly among children under five years. In Kenya, severe malaria anaemia prevalence is at 19%. In malaria holo-endemic region of western Kenya, P. falciparum infections account for major proportion of children with anaemia that leads to severe malaria anaemia (SMA, Hb

Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria Transmission Effects On Natural Killer Cell Function In The Etiology Of Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma In Children From Western Kenya

ABSTRACT The exact etiological mechanism underlying endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) remains unknown. Past studies show T and B cells are immuno-deregulated in children from malaria holoendemic regions. However, no study has examined the effect of P. falciparum transmissions on Natural Killer (NK) cell, which shape T and B immune responses. NK cells are critical in immunosurveillance, elimination of cancerous cells and controlling EBV viremia. This is by production of anti-viral cytokines like ...


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