ABSTRACT The focus of this research work is the unraveling of the microbial dynamics of the biodegradation of a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), naphthalene, anthracene and pyrone in an aqueous- soil matrix. The soil used in these studies was characterized as highly porous with a sandy-clay ratio of 85-14%. The microbial growth study was characterized by an initial lag phase, a rapid and an exponential increase in cell biomass, a stationary phase and finally a death phase. T...
Abstract: The draft nuclear genome sequence of the snail-transmitted, dimorphic, parasitic, platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni revealed eight genes encoding proteins that contain the Universal Stress Protein (USP) domain. Schistosoma mansoni is a causative agent of human schistosomiasis, a severe and debilitating Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) of poverty, which is endemic in at least 76 countries. The availability of the genome sequences of Schistosoma species presents opportunities for bioi...
Abstract: Entomopathogenic fungi have been explored as a potential biopesticide to counteract the insecticide resistance issue in mosquitoes. However, little is known about the possibility that genetic resistance to fungal biopesticides could evolve in mosquito populations. Here, we detected an important genetic component underlying Anopheles coluzzii survival after exposure to the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. A familiality study detected variation for survival among wild ...
ABSTRACT The citrus gummosis disease is a major problem facing the Agriculture Research Station of the University of Ghana at Kade. The disease is the cause of death of citrus plants on the station, hence this work initiated to investigate the cause(s), possible contributing factors and its control on the station. A field survey conducted from January to June 1996 gave 36.2 -79.9% incidence (Avg. 62.6%) on six orchards of the station and an average severity index of 1.2 on a 0-5 scale....
ABSTRACT Petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) are common site contaminants, but they are not generally regulated as hazardous wastes. TPH refers not only to analytical results, but also to environmental and health properties of PHCs. Biodegradation by natural populations of microorganisms represents one of the primary mechanisms by which petroleum and other hydrocarbon pollutants can be removed from the environment and is cheaper than other remediation technologies. The environmental implication as...
ABSTRACT In Kenya, aquaculture continues to expand as a source of food production and livelihood in all the counties. Mortality of Nile Tilapia and African Catfish fingerlings constitute the biggest loss in extensive and intensive fish farms. The main objective of this study was to determine contamination by bacteria and fungi in Nile Tilapia and African Catfish fingerlings. The study was carried out from March 2014 to July 2014 in fish farms with different water sources, hatchery systems an...
Abstract: Maize lethal necrosis (MLN) is a virus disease complex that was recently reported in eastern Africa. It causes huge yield losses, hence threatening food security in the region. It is caused by a co-infection of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and Sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) in maize and other cereal crops. Thrips and beetles are known vectors of MCMV while SCMV is vectored by aphids. Since MLN is new to Africa, there are no known effective management strategies against the di...
The aim of this research is to determine the level of heavy metals contamination of agricultural soil and to reduce its concentration in the soil. Soil sampled at Inua Eyet Ikot, Mkpanak, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State was analyzed to check for the initial heavy metal concentration of the soil. Poultry litter as a nutrient additive bearing microorganisms, bacteria and fungi was introduced to the soil to reduce the concentration of heavy metals. The sampled soil was mixed with ...
ABSTRACT A study was conducted to assess the quality of Tanzanian honey based on antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activities on bacteria and fungi in relation to its physicochemical properties. Two types of honey samples (stinging and stingless bees’ honey) were collected from central zone (Singida and Dodoma) and western zone (Tabora and Shinyanga). Honey samples were analysed for anti-microbial activities, anti-oxidant properties (total phenols, vitamin C) and physico-chemical pr...
ABSTRACT Synthesis of twelve O-arylated diazabenzo[a]phenoxazine-5-one and its carbocyclic analogue is reported in 46 - 99 % yields. The intermediates were prepared by anhydrous base catalyzed reaction of 2,3-dichloro-1,4- naphthoquinone with 4,5-diamino-6-hydroxyl-2-mercaptopyrimidine and 2- aminophenol. The O-arylation process occurred smoothly in non-polar solvent, toluene with the inexpensive base, K2PO4 at 110o C. The intermediates were combined with a variety of electron-deficient, elec...
Abstract: The fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a devastating pest of maize which has recently invaded the African continent. Since its first reports in Africa in 2016, it has spread rapidly in Zambia and it is causing extensive damage to maize and other cereal crops. The efficacy of the integration of botanical pesticides with entomopathogenic fungi and synthetic pesticide, on FAW were tested under field conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block des...
Humans share an intimate and life-long partnership with a myriad of resident microbial species (fungi, protists and viruses), collectively referred to as the microbiota (Sampson & Marmanian, 2015). The microbiome co-evolved with its human host (Chrobak et al., 2016) and istransferred from the mother to the baby duringlabor, with method of delivery, diet, drugs and medications (especially antibiotics) as the major contributing factorto the process of microbiome developmentin the infant (Sekiro...
The aim of the study is to evaluate the Antibacterial, Phytochemical analysis of Essential Oil, From the Stem Bark and seed extracts of Persea americana (Avocado). This was carried out by the crude extraction of the seeds and stem bark extracts with n-hexane. The extracts were used to determine the presence of Phytochemicals. Stock cultures of test organism such as Staphylococcus aereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Proteus mirabilis were...
ABSTRACT The antimicrobial activities of two Nigerian medicinal plant commonly used as chewing sticks Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides and Pseudocedrela kotschyi antimicrobial activities were investigated against 7clinical strains of Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei ATCC 6825. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts were determined using the agar well diffusion and surface plate method respective...
ABSTRACT The safety, efficacy and quality of herbal mixtures have been an important concern for health authorities and health professional, especially now there is increase in the use of herbal mixtures. This study was aimed at isolation and identification of microorganisms from some liquid herbal mixtures sold in Enugu metropolis, South East of Nigeria. A total of twenty samples of herbal mixture were selected at random, from herbal shops in Enugu metropolis and were analysed in Microbiol...