Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Abstract: The concern for the development of hyphomycete fungi as suitable biocontrol agents of insect pests leads to the isolation of various insect pathogenic fungi. Amongst them, one of the most studied entomopathogenic fungus is Beauveria bassiana. The conidia of mitosporic fungi adhere to the host cuticle and germinate to produce an infectious propagule, and produce a sequential release of extra cellular enzymes to breach the insect cuticle. Protease is one of the most important and earliest enzymes involved in the host…

Abstract: Concomitant production of amylase and protease by Aspergillus awamori nakazawa MTCC 6652 was enhanced in a single fermentation by media engineering and optimization of other important parameters. Wheat bran was considered as a suitable substrate for production of amylase and protease by A. awamori in a single fermentation as none of the additional substrate such as powder of peanut, corn, soybean seeds and sunflower seeds was effective in enhancing the concurrent production of enzymes further. Optimum amylase yield…

Abstract: The hepatoprotective effect of aqueous extract of Garcinia kola (AEGK) was studied in 60 mice of mixed sexes. The animals were divided into 6 groups of 10 mice each. Group I received normal saline, groups and III got 100 and 200 mg/kg AEGK (orally), respectively. Group IV received 10 mg/kg methamphetamine (MAM) (s.c.) only. Groups V and VI got 100 and 200 mg/kg of AEGK respectively, before 10 mg/kg methamphetamine which was used to induce neurotoxicity. The serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, total bilirubin and its con…

Abstract: Lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is a glycoprotein enzyme involves in the esterification of plasma cholesterol to form cholesteryl ester and is important in the maturation of high density lipoprotein. Lipid metabolism in sickle cell anaemia patients may be affected. The objective of this study was to determine the activities of serum lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase, lipoprotein lipase, lipids and lipoprotein levels in sickle cell anaemia patients in a steady state. The study population consisted o…

Abstract: This research was carried out to assess the effect of hypertension on haemorrheologic and fibrinolytic activities in fifty (50) diabetics resident in Calabar municipality and the values obtained were compared with those of fifty (50) age and sex-matched non diabetics in the same locality. Relative plasma viscosity plasma fibrinogen concentration, euglobulin lysis time and fasting blood sugar were determined using standard methods. The relative plasma viscosity, plasma fibrinogen concentration, euglobulin lysis time…

Abstract: Two sensitive cultivars were examined, VITTORIA and ITALIA, grafted on a tolerant rootstock (140 Ruggeri). Two levels of iron chlorosis in scions were selected, initial and evident, and compared to the healthy rootstock (control). The fractions of extracellular and cytoplasmatic cations, chloroplastic mobile, loosely linked, strongly linked and residual cations as well as the active fraction were extracted from the fresh matter. In the chlorotic the plant inability to use Fe2+ uptaken by the rootstock was highlight…

Abstract: The leaves of HIBISCUS ROSA-SINENSIS Linn. (Family Malvaceae) have been used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of various human diseases such as aphrodisiac, hypertension, wound healing, diabetes mellitus and cancer. In this present study, the effect of 200 mg/kg of the aqueous leaf extract on the renal function of hypertensive rats was investigated. The administration of H. leaves extract shows a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the Na+ level of normotensive rats, thus it may interfere with the normal function…

Abstract: The effect of soaking and boiling, and autoclaving on nutritional factors (proximate and mineral) and anti-nutritional qualities of the legume, Mucuna flagellipes were studied. Batches of seeds were soaked for 6, 12, 18 and 24 h in distilled water at room temperature, then boiled in water for 30, 45, 60 or 90 min respectively. Another batch of M. flagellipes was autoclaved for different duration of 30, 45, 90 and 120 min respectively. Results showed that soaking followed by boiling produced products with lower crud…

Abstract: The effect of feeding egusi melon oil as a supplement to a cholesterol-based diet on serum lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity of rats was evaluated. The rats were divided into two groups designated: control and test respectively. Rats in the test group were fed 5% cholesterol diet supplemented with 5% egusi melon oil while the control rats received 5% cholesterol diet without egusi melon oil. After 6 weeks of diet feeding, the enzyme activity was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the egusi melon oil…

Abstract: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a glycoprotein produced as a marker by prostate gland for prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostatitis. Study objective is to evaluate f/t PSA ratio to distinguish the Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer patients in and around SRM University. To define the age specific reference ranges of PSA in control and test group at Chennai, India. Healthy men aged 40 - 75 years in and around SRM Medical College and Research Centre, Chennai, India were select…

Abstract: The principle purpose of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory ability of three microbial strains isolated from Bama County centenarians in activating macrophages, and to characterize the effective component of these strains. A murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, was cultured in presence of intact bacterial cells, bacterial cell wall (CW) or cell free extract (CFE) . NO, IL-6, TNF-production and phagocytic activity of co-cultured macrophages were tested. Bifidobacterium adolescentis BBMN23, Bifidoba…

Abstract: In order to detect Hepatitis C virus NS3 antigen (HCAg-NS3) in human serum, we developed a magnetic microparticle (MMP) based immunoassay by using biotin-streptavidin amplification, MMP in combination with immunoassay. Results showed that the HCV NS3 monoclonal antibody had a high immobility rate (87.1%) on the surface of MMPs; the assay procedure required smaller volumes of reagents (only 20 l of immune magnetic bead); the detection could be completed within 30 min; this method could detect 10 pg/ml HCAg-NS3 (sens…

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of clinical microorganisms isolated from spontaneous bacterial peritonitis patients. Ascitic fluid was collected from these patients and cultured for pathogens. The patients were placed into three groups, Group A (01/1996 to 12/2000), B (01/2001 to 12/2005) and C (01/2006 to 06/2010) and the clinical data were compared among these groups. There was a significant difference in the ratio of pathogens (Gram- positive bacteria/ isolated pathogens, Gram-negative ba…

Abstract: Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been in use as a preprocessing step to clustering for long. We have focused on the clustering of tissue samples in gene expression data. Different clustering techniques and algorithm are available in literature on gene expression data but with the existing ambiguity on the number of clusters, apart from relying on biologically known groups. A consensus is needed to reach on the number of clusters in the wide variety of existing clustering techniques based on different similari…

Abstract: This research includes a study of hydatid cysts Echinococcus granulosus (larval stage on the molecular level, where 7 samples of hydatid cysts were collected from parasite intermediate hosts " Human (liver, spleen, lung) and liver of sheep, goat, cattle and buffaloes”. DNA was extracted from germinal layer cells of hydatid cysts which were isolated shortly or preserved for various periods in 70% ethanol. Genetic analysis of isolated DNA from hydatid cysts collected from human and animals was done by polymerase chai…