Advancements in Life Sciences (E-Journal, University of the Punjab)
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Biosurfactant Producing Bacteria Associated with Oil Polluted Soils of some Auto Mechanic Workshops in Akure, Ondo State, (Southwest) Nigeria
Get PDFBackground: Auto mechanic shops account for a sizable fraction of hydrocarbon leaks that go unnoticed most of the time. This study looked into the biosurfactant-producing activity of hydrocarbon using bacteria isolated from five auto mechanic shops in Akure.Methods: The bacteria were isolated using standard microbiological procedures. The isolates' oil degrading activity was evaluated on Bushnell Haas medium enhanced with 2% petroleum hydrocarbons (petrol, diesel, crude oil and kerosene). Biosurfactant activity was determined using the drop collapse test, oil spread assay, foaming property, and emulsification activity (E24). Biosurfactant-producing isolates were identified using molecular and morphological techniques, and biochemical assays. Using universal primers, the isolates' hypervariable 16SrRNA region was amplified and sequenced.Result: Bacillus paramycoides strain OFOa and Clostridium punense strain OFOb were discovered as the two (2) bacterial isolates with high biodegradation and biosurfactant generating activities in this study. Their sequences had since been submitted to GenBank, with accession numbers MN700654 and MN700653, respectively.Conclusion: As bio-emulsifiers and biosurfactant makers, the strains of these two (2) bacteria identified in this investigation could be used in bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted locations.Keywords: Biosurfactant activity; Auto mechanic workshop; Biodegradation activity; Bacteria and Emulsification activityEditorial Note: You are viewing the latest version of this article having language corrections.
Effect of quinoa biomass and biocontrol fungi on expression of IPER gene in mung bean in Macrophomina phaseolina contaminated soil
Get PDFBackground: Mung bean is a pulse crop of economic significance, grown in Pakistan for its edible seeds. Its production is severely affected by Macrophomina phaseolina, a necrotrophic pathogen. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of different biocontrol fungi on expression of IPER gene in mung bean plants inoculated with M. phaseolina.Methods: Pot trials were carried out by adding different concentration of dry biomass of quinoa (DBQ) and six antagonistic fungi viz. Aspergillus flavipes, Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, Trichoderma pseudokoningii and Trichoderma viride in M. phaseolina infected soils. After four weeks of germination of mung bean seeds, RNA was extracted from roots and leaves by using TRIzol method and cDNA was prepared by using SuperScriptTM IV First-Strand Synthesis Kit. IPER gene expression was studied on qRT-PCR and ACT was used as a housekeeping gene. Results: The expression of IPER gene was higher in positive control (only inoculated with M. phaseolina) than in negative control (no amendment). Moreover, 1 and 2% doses of DBQ showed slightly higher Ct values than in 3% dose where it was dropped down indicating the allelopathic stress of DBQ treated soils. The treatments either with sole application of antagonistic fungi or together with DBQ showed much higher Ct values indicating no stress at all.Conclusion: Plants only inoculated with M. phaseolina showed the highest disease incidence as compared to the negative control. The soils amended with DBQ and antagonistic fungi significantly alleviated the effect of M. phaseolina. The treatments with increased pathogen stress showed reduced Ct values and vice versa.Keywords: Biocontrol; IPER gene; Gene expression; Macrophomina phaseolina; Mung beanEditorial Note: This article has post-publication language and SI units corrections
Incorporating Conditional Uncertainty into Decision-making for Forecasting Actual Evapotranspiration in Semi-arid Area
Get PDFBackground: The long-term effects of climate change in all countries have been able to affect the water management system. Therefore, it is vital to consider the impacts of this phenomenon in sustainable management. A conditional framework has been conducted to predict crop water requirement in semi-arid regions with two climate scenarios of RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 considering the IPCC datasets. Methods: Eight models including EC EARTH, CESM, CANESM, HADGEM, GISS E2, GFDLCM2, MIROC ESM and IPSL were implemented to evaluate the extreme points of the evapotranspiration in future.Result: Results showed that GISS E2 and GFDLCM2 models were more accurate to estimate the evapotranspiration. Moreover, in the next two periods for all four parameters in all GCM models, the RCP 8.5 situation was anticipated a better esteem than the RCP 4.5 choice. Comes about appeared that GFDLCM2 and GISS E2 models have more certainty for evapotranspiration. The lowest values during the next two periods 2020-2030 and 2080-2090 and the methods RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 for evapotranspiration by GISS E2 model have been obtained. The evapotranspiration alters based on the climate alter models amid the following two periods, distant and close, were inspected for two scenarios, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. The comes about appeared that the RCP 8.5 situation has assessed the four parameters for the following period more than the RCP 4.5 situation.Conclusion: The comes about appeared that the RCP 8.5 situation has assessed the four parameters for the following period more than the RCP 4.5 situation. At that point the changes of the least and most extreme parameters of evapotranspiration for the two outflow scenarios amid the following two close and distant periods were inspected that the comes about appeared that the both scenarios have a nearly steady slant amid both the close and distant prospects and encompasses a slight increment and diminish.Keywords: Climate change; GCM model; Emission scenarios; Streamflow
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Impact of egg size on the quality of eggs, chicks, and post hatch overview of offspring during the mid stage of yield (45th week) in Hubbard broiler breeders
Get PDFBackground: Egg size is the most significant component in influencing the performance of the laying flock. Though commercial broiler farming is in operation, little is known about how breeder hatching egg size at mid (45 week) stage of production period affects on egg quality, chick quality and post-hatch Hubbard broiler performance.Methods: At the age of 45 weeks, hatching eggs (n=930) from a commercial broiler breeder flock were collected and classified into three egg weight categories: small (60.25±0.25g), medium (65.10 ± 0.31g), and large (70.07 ± 0.61g). These eggs more classified into 2 categories, eggs for quality parameters and eggs for incubation & posthatch performance parameters.Results: Eggs from the small egg group had a higher shell weight percentage. The shape index and specific gravity were impacted by egg size, with larger eggs having lower values. Both male and female chicks' weight and length were significantly influenced by egg size. Data of the body weight gain indicated that as broilers age, the influence of egg size on post-hatch performance of chicks’ decreases. Up until age 21, female chicks' body weight gain was highly influenced by egg size. The feed conversion ratio of female chicks at day 21 of life was considerably impacted by various egg-weight categories, while it had no effect on male and female chicks at day 35.Conclusion: Egg size favourably influenced the features of the chicks (weight and length) but had no impact on the broilers' final live body weight, feed conversion ratio, feed consumption, or mortality.Keywords: Egg size; Egg characteristics; Hatchling quality; Production; Feed consumptionRetraction Note24 Sept 2025: The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article due to the below mentioned scientific deficiencies revealed by an internal audit.1. The abstract and results sections claim statistically significant effects (p≤0.05) where the tables show non-significant results.The effect on Shell Weight % is cited as significant, but Table 1 shows p=0.062.The effect on Shape Index (termed "Form index" in the table) is cited as significant, but Table 1 shows p=0.086.The influence on female chick body weight at day 21 is cited as significant, but Table 3 shows p=0.073.The impact on female chick feed intake (15-21d) is cited as significant, but Table 3 shows p=0.090.The abstract claims the female feed conversion ratio (FCR) at day 21 was significantly impacted, but Table 3 shows p=0.807.2. The Discussion section states, "the egg shell’s weight was about 16% of egg’s weight in the present study". This contradicts the data in Table 1, where shell weight is shown to be between 9.42% and 9.99%.3. The Discussion claims there was a significant improvement (p≤0.05) in albumen weight with increased egg size, but Table 1 shows this effect was not significant (p=0.889).4. The Methods section describes a finisher diet for days 29-41, but the study itself concluded at day 35.5. The egg weights reported for the quality assessment in Table 1 (S=60.25g, M=65.10g, L=70.07g) are slightly different from the weights for the eggs set for incubation in Table 2 (S=60.03g, M=65.01g, L=70.01g). 6. The description of the chick yield calculation in the Methods section is incorrect. It is stated as "(egg weight / chick weight) x 100", which is the inverse of the correct formula, (chick weight / egg weight) x 100, which is properly noted in the footnote of Table 2.7. The Discussion section states that "shape index values were decreased during early, mid and late stage of production cycle". However, the study was only conducted at the mid-stage (45th week) and provides no data for early or late stages.8. The Methods section states that 10 eggs were used for quality measures, but later text implies 10 eggs from each of the three groups were used, which would be 30 eggs total. 9. The housing temperature is listed as 68°F (20°C). This is unusually low for raising broiler chicks.The authors have not responded to correspondence regarding this retraction
Effect of Cadmium and Copper on Morphological and Physiological Parameters of Stevia rebaudiana Bert. Under in Vitro Conditions
Get PDFBackground: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a popular non-caloric sweetener being used all over the world for its anti-diabetic properties. Stevia contains phytochemical compounds known as diterpene glycosides that helps to reduce blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure. In vitro raised cultures are considered as an efficient way to produce essential secondary metabolites, especially through elicitation. This study aims to optimize culture conditions for the large-scale production of these economically significant metabolites using abiotic elicitors.Methods: Apical shoot, nodes as well as leaf explants from Stevia mother plants were used for micropropagation and callogenesis respectively. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different cytokinins and auxins alone or in combinations were tried for obtaining the maximum yield of calli and plantlets. The calli and plantlets were subjected to different concentrations of copper sulphate and cadmium chloride. After 40 days of treatment, the data was recorded for morphological characters of elicitor-treated plants and calli. Chlorophyll content and antioxidant activity using DPPH assay were performed using treated leaves and calli extracts.Results: Among all the cytokinins tried for micropropagation, BAP at 0.5 mg/L in MS medium proved to be the best with 100% response by inducing 34 and 40 shoots/culture within 12 days of inoculation from shoot tip and nodal explants, respectively. For rooting, MS medium containing 0.6 mg/L of IBA was best producing 15-17 roots/culture within 10 days. Green friable and embryogenic calli was obtained in MS medium containing 1.0 mg/L TDZ with 0.1 mg/L NAA from leaf explants. A significant increase was observed in the elicitors-treated calli and plantlets biomass, chlorophyll content as well as antioxidant potential as compared to the control.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the cytokinins and auxins at lower concentrations gave significant results for micropropagation and callogenesis. Further, elicitation with copper sulphate and cadmium chloride has improved the biomass and antioxidant activity of calli and plantlets.Keywords: Stevia; Micropropagation; Callus induction; Elicitation; Antioxidant activity; Biomass
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Impact of Moringa oleifera Leaf and Flaxseed on Lipid Oxidation and Microbiological Characteristics of Chicken Burger During Cold Storage
Get PDFBackground: Practice of making burgers out of chicken instead of red meat is gaining popularity. because of their high fat substance and on account of no social or strict limitations to the utilization of poultry. The present study aimed to assess effect of adding Moringa oleifera leaf and flaxseed combinations on lipid oxidation and microbiological traits of chicken burger during cold storage.Methods: In this study the pH, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid (TBA) as well as microbiological characteristics of chicken burger formulated by various levels of Moringa oleifera leaf and flaxseed powder were evaluated. Samples were as follows: control=0%FS+0%MLP; T1=20%FS+0%MLP; T2=15%FS+5%MLP; T3=10%FS+10%MLP; T4=5%FS+15%MLP; andT5=0%FS+20%MLP.Results: The results showed that the pH value of burger samples supplemented with Moringa oleifera and flaxseed was decreased (P≤0.05) with an increasing period of storage and ranged between 3.5–5.1 and 3.3-4.9 when stored for 15 and 30 days, respectively.Conclusion: Peroxide values of T2, T3, T4 and T5 as well as the value of TBA within the MLP-treated and FS-treated samples (P 0.05) decreased with the progression of the storage period. Microbiological characteristics (P 0.05) were affected by the incorporation of MLP and FS in chicken burger treatments.Keywords: Burger; T.B.A.; Peroxide value; Contamination; Coliform bacteria; E.coli; Moringa oleifera; Flaxseed Retraction Note24 Sept 2025: The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article due to the below mentioned scientific deficiencies revealed by an internal audit.1. The abstract's conclusion incorrectly states that the Thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value "decreased with the progression of the storage period" for samples T2, T4, and T5. This is a major contradiction, as the data in Figure 2 clearly shows that the TBA value increased during storage for these samples.2. The Results section makes two mutually exclusive claims about the T3 burger sample. It first states that S. aureus was detected in T3 on day 0, and then immediately claims that S. aureus was "devoid for the entire of the storage period" in T3. It cannot be both present and absent.3. The figures presenting the quantitative data (Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4) are missing error bars. Reporting mean values without any measure of variance (like standard deviation or standard error) is a critical omission in scientific data presentation, as it prevents the reader from assessing the reliability and spread of the data.4. The manuscript is unclear about whether the chemical and microbiological analyses were performed on the raw burger mix or on the cooked burgers. The methods section mentions cooking, but then cites a procedure for TBA analysis on "raw chicken burgers." This ambiguity is a significant flaw as cooking drastically alters the product's characteristics.5. Figure 4, which shows the microbiological data, only presents results for day 15 and day 30 of storage. The initial microbial load on day 0 is discussed in the text but not shown in the figure, which is a key piece of data for a storage study.The authors have not responded to correspondence regarding this retraction
Role of anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 in asymptomatic heartworm infection (Dirofilariasis) in dogs
Get PDFBackground: Dirofilaria immitis causes heartworm disease (HWD), a vector-borne zoonotic disease that primarily affects dogs and cats. Occasionally, human beings were reported to be infected as well. The current study aims to discover the asymptomatic dirofilariasis infection in dogs. In addition, to determine the prevalence of heartworm disease and the role of anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 (IL10) in developing the disease. Household dogs were selected from 10 veterinary clinics throughout Basrah, south of Iraq.Methods: The study included 117 dogs older than 12 months, none of them had received heartworm preventive medication, and all of them lived in their owners’ houses for at least 9 months. Animal ethics instructions were followed by the owner’s consent was obtained. Physical and biochemical examinations were conducted including the examination of circulating antigens of microfilaria. The levels of anti-inflammatory IL10 and pro-inflammatory IL17, IL4, and IFN-γ were measured using ELISA tests. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the prevalence and the clinical and immunological results of the study.Results: Canine heartworm disease prevalence was 29.06% (34/117. The physical examination showed normal vital signs for both infected and non-infected dogs. A significant elevation in the total WBC count was noticed in the infected group. On the other hand, a significant decrease in RBCs count and hemoglobin was found in the infected group. There were neither changes in the platelet count nor the liver enzymes concentration between infected and non-infected groups. A significant increase in anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 level and a significant decrease in pro-inflammatory IL-17 was noted, while IL-4 levels were significantly increased and IFN-γ showed no significant change in infected dogs.Conclusion: It is concluded that dirofilariasis infection is considered to be a serious life-threatening disease for dogs in Iraq. Therefore, a periodic test for heartworm infection every six months is recommended to eradicate heartworm infestations. The infected animals must be treated according to the American Heartworm Association recommendations.Keywords: Interleukin 10; Heartworm; Dirofilariasis; DogsEditorial Note: You are viewing the latest version of this article having language and data presentation corrections
Microbial Status and Resistance Profile of Bacterial Species Isolated from Recreational and Agricultural Sites in Multan
Get PDFBackground: Humans are in continuous contact with recreational areas and agricultural fields. However, recent discovery of resistant bacteria in these sites have posed serious threats to the community.Methods: This study is designed to investigate prevalence of resistant bacteria in agricultural and recreational areas i.e., parks and rivers, to investigate their resistant profiling against antibiotics and metals by culture dependent agar techniques and to investigate effect of local medicinal plants on isolated resistant bacteria.Results: A total of 106 isolates from 35 water and sediments samples were isolated. A resistant rate of 46.05% was reported against antibiotics; the highest against ampicillin (75%) and the lowest against streptomycin (8.9%). Identified resistant strains were Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. Co-occurrence of metal resistance with antimicrobial resistance was also reported. Ethanolic leaves extracts showed promising results against isolated resistant bacteria. The highest and lowest zone of inhibition was reported in Syzygium cumini (37 mm) and Ziziphus mauritiana (10 mm).Conclusion: The finding of this study has demonstrated presence of resistant bacteria in publicly accessed areas that support various needs. The potential of Syzygium cumini, Ficus benghalensis and Psidium guajava against resistant bacteria in combination can be explored as an alternative green method against resistant bacteria.Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Irrigational land; Medicinal plants; Metal resistance; Multi drug resistance; RiverEditorial Note: This article has post-publication language and data presentation corrections
Investigating the role of heat shock protein HSP60 in coronary artery disease patients infected with Helicobacter pylori
Get PDFBackground: Coronary artery disease is a disorder of the heart and blood vessels caused by the hardening or blockage of the coronary arteries. Elevated blood cholesterol, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure are prominent risk factors that contribute to the development of arterial hardening. Evaluation of heat shock protein 60 levels in patients with coronary artery disease infected with Helicobacter pylori bacteria and we evaluated and compared the results with non-infected patients and the control group.Methods: This study was conducted in Nasiriyah Heart Center and Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital in Nasiriyah. A total of 150 samples were collected and divided into three groups: the first group consisted of patients with coronary artery disease infected with Helicobacter pylori bacteria, the second group consisted of patients with coronary artery disease but not infected with Helicobacter pylori, and the third group served as the control group. H. pylori status was determined by serum (IgG/IgA). HSP60 levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: HSP60 levels differed significantly among the study groups (overall p < 0.001; least significant difference (LSD) = 1.86), with Group 1 showing higher concentrations than Group 2, and both Groups 1 and 2 showing significantly higher levels than the control group (Group 3).Conclusion: Infection with certain pathogenic factors, such as bacteria, can lead to inflammation of the blood vessel lining, which in turn affects the development of coronary artery disease. Consequently, inflammatory factors can increase the cellular expression of heat shock proteins because of oxidative stress or inflammation. These heat shock proteins are then displayed on the cell surface and contribute to the presence of heat shock proteins in the blood. Efforts should be made to study heat shock proteins resulting from infection with pathogens, and their role in coronary artery disease and other heart diseases.Keywords: Coronary artery disease; HSP60; Helicobacter pylori; CardiovascularEditorial Note: This article has been updated with language corrections.
Effect of adding different concentrations of mix-oil solution to drinking water of broiler chickens Ross 308 and breeders at elevated temperatures on productive performance
Get PDFBackground: The mix-oil solution added to broiler drinking water was tested at Al-Anwar Poultry Station in Babil Governorate, Iraq, from 10/7/2022 to 14/8/2022.Methods: 300 Ross 308 broiler chicks, one day old and unsexed, A cohort of chicks, possessing an average mass of 40 g, were subjected to random allocation into five distinct treatments. Each treatment was replicated thrice, with each replicate consisting of 20 chicks. and given mix-oil in their drinking water from day one: T1: control. T2: 0.25 ml MIX-OIL L⁻¹, T3: 0.50 ml MIX-OIL L⁻¹, T4: 0.75 ml MIX-OIL L⁻¹, T5: 1.00 ml MIX-OIL L⁻¹. The experimental birds received 28–35–28 c.Results: Treatment T5 and all addition treatments outperformed the control treatment in live weight (p < 0.01). Total weight gain was significantly better for treatment T5 (p < 0.01) than T1 and T4, but not significantly different. T3, T2.The total consumption rate was much higher (p < 0.01), with the T3 therapy outperforming all other added therapies.The T5 treatment had a "statistically significant" improvement in total feed conversion coefficient (p < 0.01) over the T4 treatment, but not the control treatment.The addition treatments had a statistically significant reduction in deaths compared to the control treatment (p < 0.05), which had a mortality rate of 11.66%.Conclusion: High temperatures can reduce spent feed, increase the growth of harmful bacteria, and infect the digestive system, affecting broiler performance. However, adding a balanced mixture of highly concentrated fatty acids can reduce bacteria growth and numbers, increasing intestinal cell activity and surface area. It enhances nutrition uptake and boosts broiler output in heat stress.Keywords: Feed; Chicks; Mix-Oil; GrowthEditorial Note: This is an updated copy containing minor format changes in tables