July 2016

Production of food colourants by filamentous fungi

Food colourants are pigments or dyes added to food to maintain, intensify or add colour to foods. Although, the initial natural sources of food colourants were plants and animals, these sources have become inadequate due to increase in demand. This led to the use of synthetic colourants, some of which have harmful effects on human. Filamentous fungi are good sources of colourants since they are capable of synthesizing...

Author(s): Christiana N. Ogbonna

July 2016

Antibacterial properties of wild edible and non-edible mushrooms found in Zimbabwe

Mushrooms have been used extensively in traditional medicine as antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumor agents. Infectious diseases remain a major threat to human health, due to global antimicrobial resistance. This has led to an increase in the search for new and potent antimicrobial substances. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the aqueous (cold and hot) and organic solvents...

Author(s): Tsungai Reid, Chenjerayi Kashangura, Catherine Chidewe, Mudadi Albert Benhura and Takafira Mduluza,

July 2016

Efficacy of Rhodopseudomonas containing multi-microbe probiotic on growth performance, mortality and cecal microflora in broilers

Combinations of probiotic microorganisms are the study of interest due to beneficial impact through synergistic actions. Several researchers including our previous result found positive effects of various combinations of probiotic inclusion in broiler diet. In the current study, the efficacy of combinations of probiotic organisms by adding Rhodopseudomonas spp. was the primary interest on growth performance, mortality,...

Author(s): A. B. M. Rubayet Bostami, S. T. Ahmed, H. S. Mun, S. B. Hong and Chul-Ju Yang

July 2016

Isolation and characterization of some gut microbial symbionts from fungus-cultivating termites (Macrotermes and Odontotermes spp.)

Microbiota of termites is crucial for nitrogen cycle activities and degradation of recalcitrant components of plant biomass that influence soil structure and carbon mineralization in tropical and subtropical regions. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize gut bacteria that may be potentially associated with nitrogen metabolism from two fungus-feeding termites (Macrotermes and Odontotermes spp.). Twenty...

Author(s): Edith M. Muwawa, Nancy L.M. Budambula, Zipporah L. Osiemo, Hamadi I. Boga, and Huxley M. Makonde

July 2016

Vibrio cholerae non-O1 in bivalve mollusks harvesting area in Bahia, Brazil

The aim of this study was to characterize the antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity potential of Vibrio cholerae isolates originated from water samples and bivalve mollusks. The strains were subjected to phenotypic identification and molecular confirmation using the species-specific initiator (OmpW); minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined; and the production of metallo-β-lactamases (MβLs)...

Author(s): Irana Paim Silva, Oscarina Viana de Sousa, Margarete Alice Fontes Saraiva and Norma Suely Evangelista-Barreto

July 2016

An evaluation of the use of probiotics and manure composting as strategies to reduce levels of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in sheep

Healthy ruminants appear to be the main reservoir of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Importantly, this pathogen is shed in faeces of sheep and can cause outbreaks of human illness ranging from diarrhea to hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) have been reported worldwide. The manure of ruminants when used as agricultural fertilizer can...

Author(s): Everlon Cid Rigobelo, Marita Vedovelli Cardozo, Fernando Antonio de Avila and Patrick Joseph Blackall