African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12496

Table of Content: 27 November, 2013; 12(48)

November 2013

Transgenesis: An efficient tool in mulberry breeding

Genetic engineering is the most potent biotechnological approach dealing with transfer of specially constructed gene assemblies through various transformation techniques. Tools of recombinant DNA technology facilitated development of transgenic plants. The plants obtained through genetic engineering contain a gene or genes usually from an unrelated organisms, and are known as transgenic plants. The combined use of...

Author(s): Shabir A. Wani, M. Ashraf Bhat, Afifa S. Kamilli, G. N. Malik, M. R. Mir, Zaffar Iqbal, M. A. Mir, F. Hassan and Aflaq Hamid

November 2013

Molecular characterization of cytochrome P450 1B1 and effect of benzo(a) pyrene on its expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Cytochrome P4501 (CYP1) family enzymes are most active in hydroxylating a variety of environmental contaminants including Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), planar polychlorinated biphenyls and arylamines. CYP1B which belongs to the cytochrome P450 superfamily of genes, is involved in the oxidation of endogenous and exogenous compounds, and could potentially be a useful biomarker in fish for exposure to arylhydrocarbon...

Author(s): Abeer A. I. Hassanin, Mohamed M. M. Osman, Yoshino Kaminishi, Mohamed A. H. El-Kady, and Takao Itakura

November 2013

Isolation of microsatellite markers for Bletilla striata and cross-amplification in other related species

Bletilla is a temperate, terrestrial genus of orchids containing 6 species. For the species whose whole genome is unknown, we used magnetic bead hybridization method to develop microsatellite Simple Repeat Polymorphoresis (SSR) for Bletilla striata and 9 primer sets were characterized in two wild populations of B. striata and one wild population of Bletilla ochracea. The number of alleles per locus...

Author(s): Wu Ming-Kai, Li Jing, Liu Zuo-Yi, Luo Yi-Bo and Bai Wei-Ning

November 2013

Molecular cloning and characterization of glucose transporter 1 (glut1) and citrate synthase cDNA in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Glucose transporter type-1 (glut1) and citrate synthase plays crucial role in glucose transport and regulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) cycle in mammalian energy metabolism. The present study was aimed to clone and characterize glut1 and citrate synthase cDNA in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Total of 90 cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were used for mRNA isolation and reverse transcribed to cDNA, which was...

Author(s): Amar Nath, Veena Sharma, Nitin E. Gade, Pratheesh M. D. and G. Taru Sharma

November 2013

Contribution towards the development of a DNA barcode reference library for West African mammals

DNA barcoding is a widely used molecular approach for species cataloging for unambiguous identification and conservation. In the present study, DNA barcoding of some West African mammals were performed with six new mitochondrial CO1 sequences for Civettictis civetta, Tadarida nigeriae, Orycteropus afer, Heliosciurus gambianus, Equus africanus asinus  and Funisciurus...

Author(s): Echi, P. C., Suresh, K. U., George S., Ratheesh, R. V., Vinitha, M. R., Ejere, V. C., Iyaji, F. O. and Nnamonu, E. I.

November 2013

Genetic diversity and structure of potamodromous Opsaridium microlepis (Günther) populations in the in-let rivers of Lake Malawi

Studies were carried out to determine the genetic diversity and structure of endangered Opsaridium microlepis (Mpasa) populations in the affluent rivers of Lake Malawi; Linthipe, Bua, Dwangwa and North Rukuru. A total of 200 DNA samples of O. microlepis from four river populations were analyzed at 20 microsatellite loci. The primers’ discriminating power was high (mean PIC, 0.76) yielding a total of 295 alleles...

Author(s): Wisdom Changadeya, Hamad Stima, Daud Kassam, Emmanuel Kaunda and Wilson Jere

November 2013

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by Leishmania tropica

Biosynthesis and characterizations of nanoparticles have become an important branch of nanotechnology. A novel biosynthesis route for Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) was attempted in the present study using Leishmania tropica the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in different countries, particularly in Mediterranean region in Iraq. Silver nanoparticles were successfully synthesized from AgNO3 by reduction of...

Author(s): Abdulsadah A. Rahi, Magda A. Ali and Alaa H. Al-Charrakh

November 2013

Effects of seed fermentation method on seed germination and vigor in the oleaginous gourd Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.

Supplying high quality seed to rural farmers is the basic requirement for the sustainable development of agriculture in developing countries. The present study was conducted to examine the influence of Lagenaria siceraria seed fermentation method on seed germination and vigor. Three seed fermentation methods (fermented in ambient air, plastic bag stored in ambient or in plastic bag buried) were tested on two cultivars...

Author(s): Yao Koffi Bertin, Koffi Kouamé Kevin, Sawadogo Mahamadou, Baudoin Jean-Pierre and Zoro Bi Irié Arsène

November 2013

Direct shoot regeneration via organogenesis in chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida Cogn. var. Chieh-qua How)

A plant regeneration system was established from cotyledon explants of chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida Cogn. var. Chieh-qua How). To obtain optimal conditions of adventitious shoot induction, the cotyledon explants were excised from seedlings of different genotypes as well as seed germination conditions, and then cultured on media containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA)/1-naphthaleneactic acid...

Author(s): Wei Han, Ee Liu, Dasen Xie, Qingwu Peng and Xiaoming He

November 2013

Characterization of a new feather-degrading bacterium from Calotes versicolor feces

A total of 842 spore-forming strains were isolated from 221 animal feces samples, in which a new feather-degrading bacterium identified as Bacillus sp. 50-3 based on morphological, biochemical and 16S rDNA tests was isolated from Calotes versicolor (an agamid lizard) feces. The bacterium can degrade native feather completely at mild conditions and in much shorter time (36 h) when using chicken feather as the sole carbon...

Author(s): Xiao-Yu Yue,#, Bin Zhang#, Dan-Dan Jiang, Yan-Juan Liu and Tian-Gui Niu

November 2013

Characterization of cellulase production by carbon sources in two Bacillus species

The induction of cellulase production in two Bacillus spp. was studied by means of measuring cellulase activities under the condition of different carbon sources. The results indicate that cellulase could not be induced by cellulose material as a sole carbon source. Instead, they could be induced by monosaccharide or disaccharide with reducing group. Moreover, the expression of cellulase components was synergistic. When...

Author(s): Hong Yan#, Yingjie Dai,#, Xin Bao, Cailian Yu, Wenting Wu, Dexin Shan, Liqiong Yang, Haining Wang, Dan Liu and Yujie Feng

November 2013

Antimicrobial activities of the leaves and roots of Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb

Plants are the rich natural source of bioactive compounds. The more diversified composition of the plants makes their role as biomedicine. These bioactive molecules are often lethal to both plants and animals. Based on ethnomedical use, the leaves and root of Elaeagnus umbellata (Elaeagnaceae) were extracted successively with various organic solvents and water. These crude extracts were screened for their toxic...

Author(s): Fiaz Aziz Minhas, Habib-ur-Rehaman, Ansar Yasin, Zahid Iqbal Awan and Naeem Ahmed

November 2013

Optimization of oil extraction from high energetic potential plants performed through drying and solvent extraction methods

The selection of species that accumulate oil with potential for biofuel production has favored advancements in the scientific and technological domains within the Brazilian biofuel program. The equipments and methods used for such selection have always prosecuted the objective of increasing oil extraction. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the yield of oil extracted from five vegetable species – castor oil...

Author(s): Reginaldo Ferreira Santos, Carlos Henrique Fornasari, Doglas Bassegio, Samuel Nelson Melegari de Souza, Deonir Secco

November 2013

Application of glucose oxidase for the production of metal gluconates by fermentation

The present study deals with the application of glucose oxidase (GOX) for the production of metal gluconates by fermentation method. It provides a method for the conversion of glucose into gluconic acid and its derivatives using the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOX). Due to the presence of calcium carbonate in fermentation medium the gluconic acid is converted into calcium gluconate. Conditions like concentration of...

Author(s): Shazia Khurshid, Tehzeeb Kafiat, Uzma Hanif, Mobina Ulfat, Muhammad Zahid Qureshi, Tabbasum Bashir, Amina sajid, Saiqa Ishtiaq and Tariq ismayil

November 2013

Keratinase production by Bacillus megaterium RS1 using the statistical tool central composite design

Keratinase producing bacterium Bacillus megaterium RS1 was obtained from feather dumping site of Rajapalayam. The optimal level of the key variables (starch, feather meal, calcium chloride) was used to determine the effect of their interactions on keratinase production using the statistical tool [(Central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM)]. The second-order quadratic model with the optimum...

Author(s): T. Shankar, R. Rama, P. Thangamathi and T. Sivakumar

November 2013

Seasonal variation of plasma testosterone levels in Algerian male Arabia goats

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the general monthly averages of the testosterone hormone and the influence of season and photoperiod on plasma testosterone levels in Arabia bucks of Algeria. Testosterone concentrations were determined throughout one year in blood samples collected every fortnight of the month from nine males of Arabia goat breeds, fed a constant diet, maintained without interactions with...

Author(s): Ait Amrane  A. , Hammoudi S. M., Belhamiti B. T., Selles S. M. A., Benia A. R. and Kaidi R.