African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5224

Table of Content: 9 October, 2011; 5(21)

October 2011

Application of extracts of Henna (Lawsonia inamis) leaves as a counter stain

  Aqueous (cold and hot) and ethanol extracts solutions of the Henna plant (Lawsonia inamis) leaves was adapted for the first time as a counter stain in Gram staining reaction. Different extracts of L. inamis leaves were formulated into various staining solutions of different concentrations and modified with hydrogen peroxide, ferric chloride, potassium alum and potassium permanganate. These...

Author(s): Chukwu O. O. C., Odu C. E., Chukwu D. I., Hafiz N., Chidozie V. N. and Onyimba I. A.

October 2011

Predicting the catalytic sites of Streptomyces clavuligerus deacetylcephalosporin c synthase and clavaminate synthase 2

  Enzymes categorized under the 2OG-Fe (II) oxygenase superfamily and Taurine catabolism dioxygenase TauD family demonstrated a striking structural conserveness even with low protein sequence homology. It is evident that these enzymes have an architecturally similar to catalytic centre with active ligands lining the reactive pocket. Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS), isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS),...

Author(s):   Hong Soon Chin, Khang Wen Goh, Kah Cheng Teo, Mun Yee Chan, Seong Wei Lee and Lisa Gaik Ai Ong

October 2011

Dramatic scenario of urogenital Candida albicans in presence of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB)

  Yeast infections of the vagina are more prevalence and frequently recurring problem of women. Such infections are caused primarily by Candida albicans and apparently occur when the environmental balance in the-vagina is disturbed. Lactobacillus acidopbilus restricts the growth of pathogenic microorganisms per se displayingwide inhibitory spectrum substances. Fifteen (30%) C....

Author(s): Mohammed Sh. Jebur

October 2011

Optimization of a cryoprotective medium and survival of freeze-dried Bifidobacterium infantis 20088 throughout storage, rehydration and gastrointestinal tract transit for infant formula probiotic applications

  Supplementations of formulae with synbiotic compounds of human milk have shown to be able to decrease several gut-related diseases in formula fed infants. This study was carried out to develop a synergistic cryoprotective drying medium for infant formulae probiotic application. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the concentrations of skim milk and prebiotics for improvement of the...

Author(s): Shamekhi Fatemeh, Shuhaimi Mustafa, Arbakariya Ariff, and Yazid A. Manap

October 2011

Antifungal and biochemical effects of pseudoguaianolide sesquiterpenes isolated from Ambrosia maritima L.

  Five pseudoguaianolide sesquiterpenes, namely neoambrosin, damsinic acid, damsin, ambrosin and hymenin isolated from the aerial parts of Ambrosia maritima, were tested for their antifungal activity against the most economic plant pathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium oxysporum which cause grey mold and root rot diseases, respectively. In mycelial radial growth...

Author(s):   S. A. M. Abdelgaleil, M. E. I. Badawy, T. Suganuma and K. Kitahara  

October 2011

Diversity, phylogenetic relationship and antibacterial potential of Bifidobacterium species isolated from raw milk production chain in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire)

  The local dairy commodity, from farm to retail point, is informal and often escapes safety surveillance and  results  in high contamination of local milk by pathogens. The objective of this study was to determine the biodiversity of Bifidobacterium species in the informal dairy production chain in Abidjan and evaluate their potential antibacterial activity against...

Author(s): Sylvie Mireille Kouamé-Sina, Adjéhi Dadié, Kohei Makita, Delia Grace, Marcellin Dje, Bernard Taminiau, Georges Daube and Bassirou Bonfoh

October 2011

Effects of different kind of fructans on in vitro growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis

  The effects of fructans of Cichorium intybus, Helianthus tuberosus and Agave angustifoliaspp. tequilana were evaluated on in vitro growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium lactis. Fructan concentrations were 0, 7, 14 or 21 g/L of man rogosa sharpe broth. The pH values and optic density at 600 nm (OD600) were measured. Broths...

Author(s):   Juan Antonio Rendón-Huerta, Bertha Irene Juárez-Flores, Juan Manuel Pinos-Rodríguez, Juan Rogelio Aguirre-Rivera and Rosa Elena Delgado-Portales  

October 2011

The integrated use of entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana with botanical insecticide, neem against Bemisia tabaci on eggplant

  In a previous experiment, sweetpotato whitefly was found to be difficult to control with either neem or Beauveria bassiana alone. This earlier research also reported that the combined application of neem and B. bassiana increased mortality of whitefly nymphs when both of these products were applied to eggplant foliage; but a higher concentration of neem (more than 0.5%) was slightly toxic...

Author(s):   Md. Touhidul Islam, Dzolkhifli Omar, M. A. Latif and Md. Mahbub Morshed  

October 2011

Survey role of nano structure surface layer in Bacillus cereus strains resistant to antibiotics (Iran-Azzahra Hospital and Esfahan University)

  The most common surface structures bacteria are monomolecular crystalline arrays of proteinaceous subunits termed surface layers or S-layers. Since S-layer-carrying organisms are ubiquitous in the biosphere and because S-layers represent one of the most abundant cellular proteins, it is now obvious that these metabolically expensive products must provide the organisms with an advantage of selection in very...

Author(s): Shila Jalalpour

October 2011

Insights on genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) population from symptomatic citrus tree in Tunisia

  Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) variants from cachexia symptomatic citrus tree were subjected to retro-transcription and DNA amplification (RT-PCR), cloning and sequencing. Here we report genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of HSVd Tunisian isolate. Our study revealed obvious polymorphism within Tunisian isolates and high similarity with Japanese variants. Neighbor-joining analysis was carried out on the new...

Author(s): Hamdi I.,  Elleuch A., Bessaies N., Fakhfakh H.

October 2011

Evaluation of a new chromogenic selective medium for isolation and enumeration of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

  The X-VP agar, chromogenic selective medium for Vibrio parahaemolyticus, was evaluated for inclusivity and exclusivity by using 169 strains including 55 V. parahaemolyticus and compared with Thiosulfate Citrate Bile salt Sucrose (TCBS) and CHROMagar Vibrio media as conventional methods using V. parahaemolyticus inoculated seafood samples. Our results suggested the X-VP agar was...

Author(s):   Hajime Teramura, Shingo Mizuochi and Hidemasa Kodaka  

October 2011

Isolation and screening of a-glucosidase enzyme inhibitor producing marine actinobacteria

  a-Glucosidase enzymes are responsible for hydrolyses of carbohydrates thereby converting dietary disaccharides into absorbable monosaccharide. Inhibitors of such enzymes can be used as clinical tool for treating diabetes. Conventionally such inhibitors are reported from plant and microbial sources. However, microbial inhibitors are considered to be the most important as they are capable of producing micro...

Author(s): S. Ganesan, S. Raja, P. Sampathkumar, K. Sivakumar and T. Thangaradjou

October 2011

The prevalence, antibiogram and characterisation of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus among the patients from the Doon Valley hospitals

  In 1880, Staphylococcus aureus was first discovered by a surgeon named Sir Clifton Smithin pus from surgical abscesses in Aberdeen, Scotland. Methicillin, as the first beta-lactamase resistant penicillin, was used to treat S. aureus infection in 1961. The first methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was identified in the United Kingdom in the same year. It...

Author(s): Sachin Sharma and Anju Mall

October 2011

Enhanced production of mycelial biomass and ganoderic acid in submerged culture of Ganoderma applanatum ACCC-52297 elicited by feeding rutin

  In this study, it was found that supplementation of 0.6 g/L rutin could improve the fermentation performance of Ganoderma applanatum ACCC-52297 in terms of mycelial growth and ganoderic acid (GA) production. Albeit retarded mycelial growth was detected at the first 36 h in the submerged culture of G. applanatum ACCC-52297 with the addition of rutin, kinetic model analysis revealed...

Author(s): Zhicai Zhang,, Wangli Shen, Dan Liu and Jiashao Li

October 2011

Effect of mixing urea with zeolite and sago waste water on nutrient use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.)

  The efficiency of urea is poor due to the substantial amount of N lost to the atmosphere by ammonia volatilization. Thus, the objectives of this greenhouse study were to evaluate the effectiveness of mixing urea with zeolite and sago waste water on N, P and K uptake and their use efficiency in maize cultivation, and soil exchangeable ammonium, available nitrate, pH, exchangeable K, and available P...

Author(s): Latifah Omar, Osumanu Haruna Ahmed and Ab Majid Nik Muhamad

October 2011

Isolation and identification of Bacillus strains with antimycobacterial activity

  Tuberculosis is the principal cause of death worldwide due to an infectious disease. The resurgence of tuberculosis, followed by the increase in prevalence of infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), as well as the multi-drug resistance of mycobacteria to the majority of currently available antibiotics, have encouraged research for new antimycobacterial agents. Soil and water samples from...

Author(s): Souraya El Guendouzi, David Suzanna, Mohammed Hassi, Abdellatif Haggoud, Saad Ibn Souda, Abdellah Houari and Mohammed Iraqui

October 2011

Molecular cloning and extracellular expression of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase gene from Bacillus sp. NR5 UPM

  The cloning of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gene fragment from Bacillus sp. NR5 UPM isolated from the soil in Malaysia into an Escherichia coli expression vector was successfully carried out. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed the presence of an open reading frame of 2112 bp which encoded a protein containing 704 amino acids with a putative molecular weight of 78.6 kDa. The...

Author(s): Norhayati Ramli, Suraini Abd-Aziz, Mohd Ali Hassan, Noorjahan Banu Alitheen, Kamarulzaman Kamaruddin and Zoolhilmi Ibrahim

October 2011

Bacteremia due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Acinetobacter baumannii

  Bacteremia due to Acinetobacter baumannii is a common problem in hospitals worldwide. Physicians in the intensive care units (ICUs) encountered a serious challenge of finding a drug to cure the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing and multi-drug resistant (MDR) A. baumannii bacteremia. Our aim was to determine the frequency of A. baumannii bacteremia in an Iranian...

Author(s): Abdollah Bazargani and Zahra Hashemizadeh

August 2011

Scrutiny for a disaccharide oxide reductase from filamentous extracellular pathogens

  World demand to find microorganism producers of enzymes with a potential biotechnological use is increasing daily. Therefore, the objective of this study was to find one or more microorganisms capable of oxidizing sugars. Of the thirteen strains tested AFG2 Colletotrichum lindemuthianum was the one who showed the best results concerning oxidant capacity against a variety of disaccharides. This...

Author(s):   Monica A. Calderon Oropeza, Raul A. Mendoza Martinez, Georgina Reyna Lopez,Gustavo Santoyo, Alberto Flores Garcia and Mauro M. Martinez-Pacheco  

October 2011

Identification of some Penicillium species by traditional approach of morphological observation and culture

  Ninety six samples of water collected from Dal Lake, Kashmir at eight different sites for a period of one year from April 2010 to March 2011 were tested for the presence ofPenicillium species. Five different species of the said genus were isolated from the samples by serial dilution technique. Out of total 122 fungal colonies isolated, five species of Penicillium viz, Penicillium...

Author(s): Suhaib A. Bandh, Azra N. Kamili and Bashir A. Ganai

October 2011

The immune-response enveloped-virus treatment for H22 ascitic tumors in mice

  In addition to the standard therapies of chemotherapies and surgical interventions, viral therapy for tumor treatment has provided a new option for cancer patients. Whether the effects are safe, however, remains to be fully evaluated. Accordingly, we explored the immunological mechanisms of viral action against the H22 ascitic tumor, using both the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and the...

Author(s):   Mintao Zhong, Min Huang, Lei Liu, Xiaoli Wang, Xingyun Li, Anhong Ning and Jing Cao

October 2011

Isolation and characterization of EST-SSRs in the Ramie

  In order to develop the more EST-SSRs, 320 ESTs of ramie from NCBI were analyzed. 76 SSR primer-pairs developed from 320 ESTs were tested among 62 ramie individuals, and 27 SSR loci were polymorphic. Among the 27 primers, the numbers of alleles per locus ranged from two to five, in which 19 primers amplify two alleles, seven primers amplify three alleles, and only one primer amplifies five...

Author(s): Jian-Hua Chen, Ming-Bao Luan, Shu-Feng Song, Zi-Zheng Zou, Xiao-Fei Wang, Ying Xu, and Zhi-Min Sun

September 2011

Isolation and characterization of a biosurfactant-producing bacterium from Daqing oil-contaminated sites

  Biosurfactants are biodegradable, non-toxic and ecofriendly compounds released by microorganisms. Most of the microorganisms were isolated from contaminated sites by petroleum hydrocarbon and industrial wastes. In this study, a biosurfactant-producing strain was isolated from Daqing oil-contaminated sites in China by enrichment culture, hemolytic activity assay, hydrolyzing oil activity assay, improved...

Author(s): Tong Liu#, Jumei Hou#, Yuhu Zuo, Sining Bi and Jing Jing

October 2011

In vitro larvicidal action of Paecilomyces marquandii crude extract

  The aim of this present work is to produce Paecilomyces marquandii crude extract and its in vitro larvicidal action. Saccharose, glucose, coffee residue, soluble starch, insoluble starch, soybean meal and wheat bran were the carbon sources tested. NaNO3, NH4Cl, soybean meal, (NH4)2SO4, yeast extract, casein peptone, tryptone and NH4NO3 were the nitrogen sources tested. Central...

Author(s):   Filippe E. F. Soares, Fabio R. Braga,  Hugo L. A. Geniêr, Jackson V. Araújo, Lucas B. Campos and José H. Queiroz

August 2011

The use of a high resolution melt real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the environmental monitoring of Vibrio cholerae

  A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay utilizing high resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis was developed and tested for the monitoring of Vibrio cholerae in water samples. The assay utilized previously published primers that are specific to regions of the V. cholerae ompWand ctxAB genes, allowing it to differentiate between toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains....

Author(s): Wouter Jacobus le Roux and Gerhardus Nicolas van Blerk

October 2011

In vitro assessment of Inula spp. organic extracts for their antifungal activity against some pathogenic and antagonistic fungi

  Inula viscosa, Inula graveolens and Inula crithmoïdes (Asteraceae) leaf and flower organic extracts (hexane, chloroform and methanol) were assessed for their antifungal activity against two Trichoderma species (Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride) and three formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum. I. viscosa organic extracts showed...

Author(s):   Faten Omezzine, Mejda Daami-Remadi, Asma Rinez, Afef Ladhari and Rabiaa Haouala

October 2011

Enzymatic characterization of Malassezia pachydermatis isolates from dogs

  The yeast Malassezia pachydermatis is part of the normal cutaneous microflora of most homoeothermic vertebrates. However, under certain conditions as high humidity, seborrheic skin, corticotherapy and immunodeficiency, it can become pathogenic and cause dermatopathies. The pathogenic role of the genus Malassezia seems to be related to physical, chemical and immunological disturbances and...

Author(s):   Lautert, C., Ferreiro, L., Jesus, F. P. K., Zanette, R. A., Mahl, D. L.,  Alves, S. H. and Santurio, J. M.

October 2011

In vitro anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity of Drymoglossum piloselloides L. Presl. against several fungi responsible for Athlete’s foot and common pathogenic bacteria

  Drymoglossum piloselloides (DP) is a small epiphytic fern commonly seen on trunks of older trees. The antimicrobial activity of water, ethanol and chloroform extracts of DP was tested against Trichophyton rubrum ATCC 40051 and Trichophyton mentagrophytesATCC 40004 which are the two most commonly cause of Athlete’s foot, Candida albicansATCC 14053, Candida...

Author(s):   M. N. Somchit, H. Hassan, A. Zuraini, L. C. Chong, Z. Mohamed and Z. A. Zakaria

October 2011

Microbiological analysis and somatic cell counts in raw milk from farms of São Paulo State, Brazil

  The objective of the study was to evaluate mesophyle, psychrotroph and somatic cell counts (SCC), and presence of Staphylococcus aureus in raw milk produced in 42 dairy farms of the State of São Paulo. Farms were classified according to milk yield in low (< 400 L/day, n = 17), intermediate (400 - 1,000 L/day, n = 8) and high milk production (> 1,000 L/day, n = 17). Mesophylic bacteria...

Author(s):   H. Fagundes, L. B. Pompeu, C. H. Corassin and C. A. F. de Oliveira,

October 2011

Osmoadaptation and plant growth promotion by salt tolerant bacteria under salt stress

  Establishment of biofilm, production of exopolysacharides (EPS) and accumulation of endogenous osmolytes under varying stress conditions are significant strategies adopted by bacterial strains for their successful survival in plant rhizosphere. Our studies focus on determining the osmoadaptation strategies used by two native salt-tolerant strainsOceanobacillus profundus (Pmt2)...

Author(s): Aisha Waheed Qurashi and Anjum Nasim Sabri

September 2011

Antiviral activity of Vit-org, 2-nitromethyl phenol and Thuja extract against eggplant blister mottled virus (EBMV)

  Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is an important vegetable and widely cultivated in polyethylene covered houses in Iraq. A new virus, Eggplant blister mottled virus (EBMV), was isolated in previous study, from naturally infected eggplant and was characterized as potyvirus. The virus is considered now as the most important virus infecting eggplants and causing heavy damage to yields. This study was...

Author(s): Rakib A. Al-Ani, Mustafa A. Adhab and Kareem A. Hassan

October 2011

Seroprevalence of bovine foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Awbere and Babille districts of Jijiga zone, Somalia Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

  A cross-sectional seroprevalence study of cattle foot and mouth disease (FMD) was conducted in Somalia Regional State (Awbere and Babille Districts) Western, Ethiopia. 384 blood samples were collected in the period of October 2009 to March 2010 from 384 animals and tested for antibodies against non-structural protein of FMD virus by using the 3ABC-ELISA. The overall individual animal antibody seroprevalence...

Author(s): Abdulahi Mohamoud, Esaya Tessema and Hailu Degefu

October 2011

A simplified system without purification for selection of aptamers against Vibrio alginolyticus

  We have explored a simplified system without purification for systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) against Vibrio alginolyticus to select single-stranded DNA ligands (aptamers) from a random 82-nt library. The DNA content was quantified by agarose gel electrophoresis and follow-up image analyses with theBandScan 5.0 software. Anti-digoxigenin/HRP system was used to...

Author(s): Jumin Hao, Jiang Zheng, Xuemin Tang, Qingpi Yan, Yubao Li and Zhongbao Li

October 2011

Identification of lipase producing thermophilic bacteria from Malaysian hot springs

  Lipase enzyme is an important group of biocatalyst for biotechnological application. One of the major industrial microorganism is the Bacillus species which are in abundance in the hot springs. The aim of this research was to isolate and characterize lipase producing bacteria from five hot springs in Malaysia. Eight bacterial strains from five hot springs were characterized by both biochemical and...

Author(s):   H. Zuridah, N. Norazwin, M. Siti Aisyah, M. N. A. Fakhruzzaman and N. A. Zeenathul

October 2011

Insecticidal effect of diatomaceous earth against Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) and Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) under laboratory conditions

  Laboratory experiments were carried out in order to evaluate the insecticidal effect of diatomaceous earth against adults of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Sitophilusgranarius (L.), two important  stored grain pests in darkness (30°C and 65% RH). Wheat and cowpea were treated with the diatomaceous earth formulation Silicosec® (Biofa, Germany), at five concentrations...

Author(s): Golnaz Shams, Mohammad Hassan Safaralizadeh and Sohrab Imani

October 2011

Multi-drug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from clinical specimens from three hospitals in Tehran-Iran

  The aim of this study is to investigate multi-drug resistance in A. baumannii strains that was isolated from clinical samples of three highly large hospitals in Tehran-Iran. This descriptive-cross sectional study was performed in three large hospitals in Tehran on 70 samples of Acinetobacter which were isolated from patients during April to November 2010. After identifying the species...

Author(s): Sepideh Mostofi, Reza Mirnejad and Faramaz Masjedian

October 2011

Chinese pulsatilla extracts eliminate resistance of Escherichia coli to streptomycin

  Drug resistance is widely distributed in Escherichia coli coli, and related technology is urgently required to control its transmission. The Chinese pulsatilla extracts containing crude drug of 12.5 mg/ml was used to eliminate resistance plasmid against streptomycin in chicken E. coli. After screening and identification, plasmids were extracted from resistance-eliminated strain and...

Author(s): Wang Chun-guang, Zhang Tie, and Zhang Jian-lou

October 2011

The period effects of intraperitoneal administration of different gold nanoparticle sizes on kidney tissue of rat in vivo using fluorescence measurements

  Despite the many benefits of nanotechnology, some studies indicate that certain nanoparticles may cause adverse effects because of their small size and unique properties. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the period effects of intraperitoneal administration of different gold GNP sizes on the rat kidney tissue in vivo using fluorescence spectroscopy. The experimental...

Author(s): Mohamed Anwar K Abdelhalim

October 2011

Antibiotic sensitivity of microorganisms isolated from explanted sclera buckles

  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the current microbiological spectrum of culture-positive explanted scleral buckles and their sensitivity to antibiotics. A retrospective, consecutive case series was performed in this study. 38 patients with scleral buckle removal that occurred between January 2003 and December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Cultured bacteria were identified using the...

Author(s): Liwei Zhang, Baihua Chen, Ming Wang and Luosheng Tang

October 2011

Endophytic Fusarium spp. from wild banana (Musa acuminata) roots

  Endophytic Fusarium species were isolated from roots of wild banana (Musa acuminata) collected randomly in several locations in Penang Island, Malaysia. A total of 54 isolates ofFusarium were recovered from 100 root fragments. Based on morphological features of macroconidia, microconidia and conidiogenous cells, three Fusarium species were identified in which the most common species...

Author(s): Latiffah Zakaria, and Nur Hidayah Abdul Rahman