Category: Biotechnology and Microbiology

Pathogenicity of Antibiotic Resistant/Sensitive Bacteria Vibrio spp. and Aeromonas spp. | Chapter 2 | Theory and Applications of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 3

Bacterial and viral diseases constitute a major factor limiting the successes of shrimp farming industry. In this context, Identification of drug resistant pathogens and determination of the pathogenic processes of shrimp are fundamental for further progress in the disease management. They could be valuable in the evaluation of their epidemiology and control measures. Water samples from the aquaculture environment were contaminated with Vibrio anguillarum, V. damsela, V. furnissii, Aeromonas hydrophila and A. sobria. Both Vibrio spp and Aeromonas spp were shown to be pathogenic and to cause mortality to the infected post larval P. monodon. Vibrio spp. were shown to grow in TCBS agar, zobell’s marine agar and blood agar while Aeromonas spp. additionally exhibited growth in blood agar with selective supplement ampicillin (10 µg/ml) and showed a zone of clearance in DNase agar. LD50 values of V. anguillarim, V. damsela, V. funrissii, A. hydrophila and A. sobria to post larval P. monodon were determined as 1.1 x 105, 2.7 x 105, 6.0 x 105, 8.5 x 104, and 7.5 x 104 bacterial cells/ml respectively. Ciprofloxacin and streptomycin were found to be the most effective antibiotics in the reduction of the mortality of experimentally infected post larvae. The growth of Vibrio spp was inhibited by nifurpirinol (prefuran) at 25 µg/ml, oxytetracycline at 13 µg/ml, erythromycin phosphate at 4 µg/ml, chloramphenicol at 12 µg/ml, streptomycin at 2 µg/ml, and ciprofloxacin at 1 µg/ml. While the growth of Aeromonas spp was inhibited by nifurpirinol (prefuran) at 24 µg/ml, oxytetracycline at 14 µg/ml, erythromycin phosphate at 5 µg/ml, chloramphenicol at 12 µg/ml, streptomycin at 2 µg/ml, and ciprofloxacin at 1 µg/ml. Vibrio spp. was sensitive to o/129 vibriostatic agent (150 µg) whereasAeromonas spp. was resistant to it. The pathogenic bacteria viz. Vibrio spp and Aeromonas spp could be controlled to some extent with judicious use of effective antibiotics to improve the health status of shrimp in culture conditions and can have a positive impact in the areas of sustainable aquaculture environment and development. 

Author(s) Details
P. Ramasamy
Research and Development Wing, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, India. 

D. R. Gunasekaran
Research and Development Wing, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, India. 

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Toxicological Bioassay of Petroleum Products (Kerosene) in Tri-aquatic Ecosystem Using Pollution Bio-monitor Pseudomonas sp | Chapter 1 | Theory and Applications of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 3

The toxicological bioassay of petroleum products (industrial and local ‘kpo-fire’ refined Kerosene) in tri-aquatic ecosystem (marine, brackish and freshwater) using pollution bio-monitor Pseudomonas sp. were investigated. The study employs experimental examination and statistical analysis of data and interpretation. It was designed to evaluate the different kerosene concentration and the duration of exposure that could cause potential toxicological effect on Pseudomonas sp. in tri-aquatic ecosystem which was used as indices to access level of pollution. Standard microbiological techniques were used; toxicity procedure were applied using local and industrial refined kerosene; prepared at concentrations of 1.625%, 3.25%, 6.5%, 12.5% and 25% in fresh, brackish and marine water; total of 36 different microcosms. These were tested with Pseudomonas sp. for 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h separately for each toxicant. The cultures were incubated at 35°C for 24 hours. The median lethal concentration (LC50) was employed to compute the toxicities of the different toxicants on the test organism. The results specify that percentage (%) logarithm of mortality of Pseudomonas sp. increases with increased toxicants concentration and exposure time. The pollution bio-monitor Pseudomonas sp. demonstrated sensitivity to the toxicity of local and industrially refined kerosene. The sensitivity showed variations, toxic level decreased in the following order (noting that the lower the LC50, the more toxic the toxicants): Industrial refined kerosene in fresh water (18.79%) > Industrial refined kerosene in brackish water (20.81%) > Local refined kerosene in brackish water (21.47%) > Industrial refined kerosene in marine water (22.66%) > Local refined kerosene > (24.25) > Local refined kerosene in marine water (24.94%). Using the Pollution/Toxicity Bio-monitoring evaluation Chart; Local refined kerosene in marine, brackish and freshwater were ‘Toxic [High], Industrial refined kerosene in marine water was ‘Toxic [High]’ while Industrial refined kerosene in brackish and freshwater were ‘Toxic [very High]’. Conclusion: The study showed that industrial refined kerosene in fresh water (LC50 = 18.8%) has   the highest toxicity strength while local refined kerosene in marine water (LC50 = 24.92%) has the least toxicity strength on Pseudomonas sp. in the tri-aquatic ecosystem. These results show that local and industrial refined kerosene can inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas sp. in an aquatic  ecosystem; noting that Pseudomonas sp. is one of the most effective biodegrading bacteria in ecological biogeochemical cycles, pollutant removal/remediation and a key pollution bio-monitoring. Pseudomonas sp. tolerance for hydrocarbon and its initial sensitivity per mortality within 24  hours of exposure could be accessed as indices to measure level of pollution or toxicity of petroleum products.

Author(s) Details
Dr. Renner Renner Nrior
 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

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Antimicrobial Activity and Bioactive Compound Producing Halophilic Bacteria | Chapter 10 | Theory and Applications of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 3

Halophilic bacteria are commonly found in natural environments containing significant concentration of NaCl that harbor a number of microbes producing novel bioactive compounds. In this study we aimed to isolate and screen out the halophilic bacteria and to determine their activity for production of the bioactive compounds. Marine soil sediments were collected from the solar saltpans of Thoothukudi District, Tamil Nadu, India. Based on colony morphology, two species were isolated and identification was done by using morphological and biochemical tests. The extracts of cell-free supernatant of the two halophilic isolates were screened for bioactive compound and tested for antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas sp, Klebsiella sp, Vibrio sp, Escherichia coli and fungi Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum by the agar cup diffusion method. The results were then compared to standard antibiotics which showed 80% of similar activity in 50 μL/g concentration. In addition, the arbitrary unit of two isolates was calculated against S. aureus which produced enhanced inhibitory results. These findings show that the saline soil of Thoothukudi represents an untapped source of bacterial biodiversity and also that most bacterial isolates are capable of antibacterial and antifungal metabolite production.

Author(s) Details

R. K. Deepalaxmi
Department of Microbiology, St. Mary’s College (Autonomous), Tamil Nadu, India.

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Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Thermophilic Campylobacter Isolated from Chicken in Côte d’Ivoire | Chapter 9 | Theory and Applications of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 3

Thermophilic Campylobacters are major causes of gastroenteritis in human. The main risk factor of infection is consumption of contaminated or by cross-contaminated poultry meat. In Coteˆ d’Ivoire, gastroenteritis is usually observed but no case of human campylobacteriosis has been formally reported to date. The aims of this study were to determine prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from chickens ceaca in commercial slaughter in Abidjan. Between May and November 2009, one hundred and nineteen (119) chicken caeca samples were collected and analyzed by passive filtration method followed by molecular identification (PCR). From these 119 samples, 76 (63.8%) were positive to Campylobacter tests. Among the positive colonies, 51.3% were C. jejuni and 48.7% were C. coli. Of the 39 C. jejuni isolates, 79.5%, 38.5%, 17.9%, 10.3%, and 7.7% were, respectively, resistant, to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, erythromycin, and gentamicin. Among the 37 isolates of C. coli, 78.4%, 43.2%, 13.5%, 8.1%, and 0% were resistant, respectively, to the same antibiotics. On the other hand, detection of virulence putative gene shows presence of cadF in 100 % of tested strains. In addition, cdtA, cdtB and cdtC genes were detected in 100%; 69.43% and 71.06% respectively of C. jejuni isolates. Moreover, only cdtA gene of cdt genes was detected in 12.82% of C. coli strains tested in this study. In conclusion, we reported in this study the presence of high Campylobacter contamination of the studied chickens. Molecular identification of the bacteria was performed and determination of high resistance to antimicrobials of the fluoroquinolone family was revealed.  

Author(s) Details

Dr. Goualié Gblossi Bernadette
Laboratoire  de Biotechnologies, Agriculture et Valorisation des Ressources  Biologiques, Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, 01 BP 582, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Dr. Akpa Eric Essoh
Laboratoire  de Biotechnologies, Agriculture et Valorisation des Ressources  Biologiques, Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, 01 BP 582, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Dr. Kakou-N’Gazoa Elise Solange
Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, 01 BP 490, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Dr. Guessennd Natalie
Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, 01 BP 490, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Dr. Bakayoko Souleymane
Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, 01 BP 490, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Prof. Niamké Lamine Sébastien
Laboratoire  de Biotechnologies, Agriculture et Valorisation des Ressources  Biologiques, Unité de Formation et de Recherche en Biosciences, Université de Cocody-Abidjan, 01 BP 582, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Prof. Dosso Mireille
Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, 01 BP 490, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

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Control of Huanglongbing (HLB) Disease with Reference to Its Occurrence in Citrus Industry in the World | Chapter 10 | Advances and Trends in Biotechnology and Genetics Vol. 3

Huanglongbing (HLB) disease is one of the most severe diseases of citrus plantation all over the world. HLB has destroyed an estimated 60 million citrus trees in Africa and Asia and more than 40 countries were infected by HLB in Africa, Asia and USA, The HLB pathogens are highly fastidious phloem-inhabiting bacteria in the genus Candidatus liberibacter. The isolate from South Africa, Candidatus liberibacter africanus is considered heat-sensitive and only found in Africa regions. The isolate from Asia, Candidatus liberibacter asiaticus is the most severe strain and widespread. This strain is heat-tolerant and can show the disease symptoms in humid, cool and hot temperature (up to 35°C). The isolate from America has been named Candidatus liberibacter americanus and it was detected in Brazil and Florida. Current disease management strategies focus on vector control to avoid infection within the farm or management of infected trees to eliminate source of inoculum. For the Malaysia case, integrated pest management (IPM) is highly recommended to be adopted to control the disease. The successes of individual or combined approaches depend upon on the infestation level, knowledge and regulation. Basically, in the regions where disease incidence is low, the most common practices are removal of symptomatic trees, intensive monitoring, pesticides application and biological control of the vectors. Preventive and curative measures of infected trees includes enhanced nutrition and plant hormone application by foliar sprays, regulating soil pH, precision irrigation based on the needs of HLB-affected trees. In reality, effective disease control of HLB is still difficult, especially in the area where the disease is widespread, vectors are well established and the hosts are susceptible. In this article, possible HLB disease management approaches are discussed.

Author(s) Details

Dr. Hajivand Shokrollah
Horticultural Science Research Institute (HSRI), Mahdasht Road, Hemmat St. Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran.

Khairulmazmi Ahmad
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Institute of Plantation Studies (IKP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Kamaruzaman Sijam
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

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Use of Condom and Knowledge of Own HIV Status among Undergraduates of Ten Tertiary Schools in Ekiti and Ondo States Southwest, Nigeria | Chapter 16 | Theory and Applications of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 2

Bearing a burden of 66.7% of all global cases, HIV infection has become a major health challenge in Africa in general and sub-Sahara Africa in particular. For this reason, the battle to halt HIV/AIDS’ spread in Africa, particularly in Nigeria is being fought on different fronts, carefully considering all factors that can help bring down prevalence rate and curb the spread of the disease. Two of such fronts are advocacies for the consistent and right use of a condom, as well as voluntary testing to know own HIV status. In this study, 100 undergraduates each were sampled consecutively from ten tertiary schools in Ekiti and Ondo States of Nigeria, so as to evaluate the level of use of condom and knowledge of own HIV status among this group of youths and young adults. The study was conducted through the use of self-administered questionnaires among the enrolled undergraduates. The 1000 subjects comprised 421(42.1%) males and 57.1 (57.1%) females, while 8 (0.8%) did not disclose their gender. Five hundred and twenty-one (52.1%) of the subjects fell within the 21-30 age-bracket, 407 (40.7%) were 20years and below, 22 (2.2%) were within the 31-40 age-bracket, while 12(1.2%) were 40years and above. Thirty-eight (3.8%) did not disclose their age-bracket. Two hundred and four (20.4%) of the subjects always used condom, 169 (16.9%) used it occasionally, 139 (13.9%) never used during sexual intercourse, 403(40.3%) indicated that the use of condom wasn’t applicable to them (this group was presumed to be sexually inactive/inert), while 85 (8.5%) didn’t volunteer information about their sexual activity. Findings also revealed that majority, 564(56.4%) of the subjects did not know their HIV status, 51(5.1%) were indifferent about their HIV status, 25 (2.5%) did not disclose if they knew their HIV status or not. However, 360 (36%) knew their HIV status. With more than half of the study population not knowing their HIV status, it is therefore suggested that health policy-makers should scale-up advocacy activities to persuade the general populace in Nigeria to go for voluntary testing.

Author(s) Details

Dr. G. O. Daramola
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Dr. H. A. Edogun
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

A. O. Ojerinde  B.MLS, M.Sc
University Health Centre, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

A. A. Agbaje
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

O. O. Ogunfolakan
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

O. O. Ajala
Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

A. Egbebi
College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

E. F. Akerele
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

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Rates and Sources of Soluble Phosphorus on the Behavior of Cowpea Plants Inoculated with Rhizobacteria from Soils of the North Region of Brazil | Chapter 15 | Theory and Applications of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 2

Cowpea can obtain N through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) through symbiosis with rhizobacteria. However, nodulation and BNF are influenced by edaphoclimatic factors that may bring about benefits or damages to the process, and the availability of nutrients is among the main factors that affect BNF and phosphorus (P). Thus, the present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of doses and sources of soluble P on nodulation, accumulation of nutrients, N and P absorption and use efficiency in cowpea plants inoculated with or without rhizobacteria. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, Rondônia, Colorado do Oeste-RO Campus, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 5 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, corresponding to five P rates (0, 20, 40, 80 and 160 kg ha-1 of P2O5), two soluble sources of P2O5 [single superphosphate (SSP) and thermophosphate], absence and presence of inoculation, with four replication. The findings of this study show that inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. promotes increment in the dry matter production and increases N and P absorption efficiency in cowpea plants. The single superphosphate led to higher N and P absorption efficiency, production of shoot dry matter and production of nodules, when compared with thermophosphate. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. associated with SSP fertilization promotes higher P absorption efficiency in cowpea plants. Therefore, increase in P rates promoted increments in P concentrations in cowpea leaves.

Author(s) Details

Érica de Oliveira Araújo
Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rondônia, BR 435 km 63, CEP 76993-000, Colorado do Oeste -RO, Brazil.

Juliana Guimarães Gerola
Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rondônia, BR 435 km 63, CEP 76993-000, Colorado do Oeste -RO, Brazil.

Caiqui Raoni Gomes Ferreira
Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rondônia, BR 435 km 63, CEP 76993-000, Colorado do Oeste -RO, Brazil.

Leandro Cecílio Matte
Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rondônia, BR 435 km 63, CEP 76993-000, Colorado do Oeste -RO, Brazil.

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Antibiotic Resistant Profiles of Food (Fresh Raw Milk) and Environmental (Abattoir Effluents) Isolates of Listeria monocytogenes from the Six Zones of Nigeria | Chapter 14 | Theory and Applications of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 2

The prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in fresh raw milk and abattoir effluents in the six zones of Nigeria was determined. Antibiotic resistant profile of the isolates was examined using the Bauer- Kirby disc diffusion assay. A total of 626 food and environmental samples were cultured on selective media out of which 54 (8.6%) were positive for L. monocytogenes. Chloramphenicol was the most effective antibiotic against the isolates with the least resistance (3.70%) while nalidixic acid proved to be least effective with resistance of 90.74%. The multiple-antibiotic resistant pattern of the isolates showed nalidixic acid/cloxacillin (35.2%), nalidixic acid/colistin (31.5%) and cloxacillin/colistin/nalidixic acid (29.6%) to be most prominent. The least value was observed in chloramphenicol/nitrofurantin/cotrimoxazole with 5.6%. The modal values of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the antibiotics to the isolates range between 4.0 and >16.0 µg/ml. Chloramphenicol, nitrofurantin and gentamycin recorded the highest MIC compared with other antibiotics. This study has demonstrated that a wide and rapidly expanding range of undesirable and, in some cases, multi-resistant determinants is currently present in L. monocytogenes.

Author(s) Details

Dr. L. U. Enurah
National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Prof. O. O. Aboaba
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

S. C. U. Nwachukwu
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

C. I. Nwosuh
National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.

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Enzymatic Responses of Vigna radiata Seedlings under Biotic and Abiotic Stress | Chapter 13 | Theory and Applications of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 2

Soil ecology is very fascinating due to its composition in which microbial strains sometime play a marvelous role in presence of several metals. The micronutrient metals are essential part of soil provides help in germination while toxic when exceed to a certain limits. This article aims to evaluate the cumulative effect of isolated bacterial strain of Pseudomonas stutzeri with copper (Cu) as a bioactive element in seed germination of four days old Vigna radiata. The germination of seeds also monitored at varying concentrations of Cu as a micronutrient. An important function of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was observed in the shoots of four days old seedlings of V. radiata, cultivated in a series of experiments in the presence and absence of biotic and abiotic stresses simultaneously and separately. It was observed that germination of the seedlings were inhibited in presence of P. stutzeri separately may be due to the marked decrease in lipid contents. Results showed high LDH activity and high glucose contents as compared to the control ones indicated that high LDH activity was linked with elevated energy demand to overcome the stress for germination of seeds. Unexpectedly, germination of seeds was favored with increasing concentrations of Cu (100 ppm) with P. stutzeri simultaneously, although both biotic and abiotic seemed to be toxic separately. No microbial life at the highest concentration of Cu showed that it was toxic to the bacterial strain, but normal growth of seedlings suggested that dead mass of P. stutzeri was effective for the adsorption of the Cu on their surface due to which Cu mobility was checked recommencing the normal activity of LDH and glucose contents that believed to be at the cost of lipid contents. A suitable mechanism consistent with the finding has been proposed.

Author(s) Details

Prof. Dr. Rafia Azmat
Department of Chemistry, University of Karachi, 75270, Karachi, Pakistan.

Aliya Hayat
Department of Microbiology, Jinnah University for Women, 5C Nazimabad, Karachi, 74600, Pakistan.

Prof. Dr. Farha Aziz
Department of Biochemistry, Jinnah University for Women, 5C Nazimabad Karachi, 74600, Pakistan.

Prof. Dr. Masooda Qadri
Department of Chemistry, University of Karachi, 75270, Karachi, Pakistan.

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Agnihotra for Welfare of Human Society & Environment-Scientific Evidences: A Review | Chapter 12 | Theory and Applications of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 2

The rich Indian culture and heritage has provided lasting solutions to many difficulties and even to the problems of the modern world. The custom of yadnya, Agnihotra yadnya, is one such part of the Indian customs. The procedure of the yadnya and the benefits by performing it has been investigated and are still the part of unfathomable science. The following review is a yield of the recent research works that have been dealing with agnihotra yadnya and its benefits. Along with the benefits of Agnihotra yadnya, the present review also discusses the effects of agnihotra ash on growth of plants, and on pathogenic micro-organisms. The use of agnihotra ash as remedial medicine for various diseases is also an aspect of the discussion.

Author(s) Details

Mamta Gokhale
St. Aloysius College (Autonomous), Jabalpur- M.P., India.

Radhika Patel
St. Aloysius College (Autonomous), Jabalpur- M.P., India.

Aman Bharti
St. Aloysius College (Autonomous), Jabalpur- M.P., India.

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