Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai Biologia
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Conservation status of the rare species Betula nana in the peatbog Tinovul Luci (the Harghita Mountains, Romania)
No full textThe aim of the study was to assess the conservation status of the boreal relict plant species Betula nana in one of the southernmost site of its range - the Natura 2000 site ROSCI0246 Tinovul Luci (Harghita county, Romania). Data collected in the field were confronted with that published in 1930 and 1960. Our findings show that Betula nana is critically endangered (CR) in the studied site, with a high risk of becoming extinct in the near future. The main threat is the change of habitat, which may be reversed, in part, by decreasing the cover of the tree layer.
Borbely et Indreica (PDF
Effect of Fluocinolone-N treatment on fetal liver development in White Wistar Rats
No full textExposure to synthetic glucocorticoids during development can result in later cardiovascular and renal disease in sheep and rats. Although prenatal glucocorticoid exposure is associated with impaired renal development, less is known about effects on the developing liver. The main objective of this study is to analyze the side effects of glucocorticoid excess when treatment is done with Fluocinolone-N ointment, to see if it has any effect on rat newborns liver which have an important role in development of fetuses. Our results demonstrate that Fluocinolone-N treatment has negative impact upon the embryologic development of liver.
Kis 2019 (PDF
Public health implication of the detection of pathogenic bacteria in beef during processing in abattoirs from Benin City, Nigeria
No full textThe aim of this study was to determine the presence of pathogenic bacteria in beef during processing in abattoirs within Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 100 samples were obtained from12 sales tables and 8 processing halls during the study period. Isolation, enumeration and characterization of bacterial isolates were carried out using standard methods. Antibiogram of the test isolates was determined using disc diffusion technique. Bacterial isolates were screened for virulence genes. The results of this study showed that the highest total bacterial count was recorded in the processing hall at abattoir 4 (9.28 ± 0.26 x 103 cfu/cm2) and the least (3.47 ± 0.19 x 103 cfu/cm2) was from the processing hall at abattoir 2. The identified isolates were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp. and Salmonella sp. All were multi-drug resistant. In this study, 11 Escherichia coli isolates were screened for the tsh (temperature sensitive haemagglutinin) virulence gene and 63.6% were positive for the tsh virulence gene. The virulence-associated gene in Staphylococcus sp. showed that only 22.2% tested positive to hlg (gamma hemolysin) gene while 93.3% of Salmonella sp. were positive for the invA (invasive protein) gene. These results revealed the presence of multi-drug resistant bacterial isolates with virulence properties in beef during processing in abattoirs. Therefore, strict hygiene measures should to be put in place to combat the proliferation of these pathogenic bacterial isolates. In addition, misuse and abuse of antibiotics should be prohibited as these pathogens are becoming more resistant to most conventional drugs, thereby making associated diseases difficult to cure.
Akinnibosun et Ugbogbo (PDF
Cellulase production and morphology of Trichoderma reesei in different experimental conditions
No full textCellulases production involving alternative substrates has been intensely researched, because it offers perspectives for lowering the costs for enzyme production, costs which are a major obstacle for the development of this field. The concentration, turnout, effectiveness of the enzyme production depends on the content of culture medium. In order to find a way to increase cellulase production, two culture media with different cellulosic substrates in submerged culture experiments were tested. We used a promising off-corn growth media that was efficient and the cellulases output due to substrate action was calculated. The reduction of the sugars released by the enzyme was noticed. On off-corn medium the measurements reached 0.188 mg of released glucose/mL/min/50ºC, while on PSM medium the strains reached the release of only 0.118 mg glucose/mL/min/50ºC. The abundance of the fungi and the pellet morphology were microscopically compared by optic and electronic means. Mycelia with hyphae and spores were also visible in these circumstances, suggesting that when the environment of the mycelium alters, part of the mycelium autolyses and spores are released to propagate. The present study also included the use of newly synthesized cellulases in order to obtain a plant protoplast culture. This study proves that cellulolytic enzymes with further application in laboratory can be provided by less expensive techniques.
Carpa et al (PDF
Procedures of partial purification for phycobiliproteins from cyanobacteria isolated from soils of Republic of Moldova
No full textInvestigation of the new cyanobacterial strains, for use as potential sources of bioactive substances, including phycobiliproteins, encounters some difficulties due to presence of toxins (microcystins) produced by some cyanobacterial strains. Cyanobacteria phycobiliproteins are natural pigments with high potential for application as colorants in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The objective of the study was the elaboration of a procedure for Anabaena propinqua Setchell. et Gardn. phycobiliproteins separation from microcystins and a procedure of partial purification of phycobiliproteins from cyanobacteria Anabenopsis sp. The antioxidant capacity of partial purified phycoerythrin from Anabenopsis sp. was established.
Bulimaga et al (PDF
Plant ascorbate peroxidase: molecular phylogeny and role in oxidative stress
No full textOxidative stress appears as a condition in accumulation and detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are oxygen-derived free radicals, generated predominantly in mitochondria, peroxisomes and chloroplasts, as natural byproducts of the normal cell aerobic metabolism. In spite of their damaging effect, ROS can act as secondary messengers in different cellular processes, including tolerance to environmental stress factors. To neutralize the harmful effects of ROS, plants have evolved enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense systems. In flowering plants, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is present in eight isoenzyme forms and constitutes an important enzymatic component in scavenging the harmful hydrogen peroxide to water as part of ascorbate-glutathione cycle. APX proteins, their roles, in planta expression location and their phylogenetic relationships are presented in the current paper. The phylogenetic analysis performed with the maximum likelihood method which was established for 118 protein sequences of 45 flowering plants. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed diversification of ascorbate peroxidase in angiosperms, and indicates a close relationship of APX1 with APX2, APX3 with APX4 and APX5, and APX6 with sAPX and tAPX proteins. Evolutionary relationships of plant ascorbate peroxidase isoenzymes indicate the evolution of different plant species genome and their phylogenetic affiliation.
Fabian et al (PDF
Effects of different cadmium levels on the growth and yield parameters of wild Vigna
No full textThe assessment of growth and yield parameters of wild vigna to to different levels ofcadmium pollution has been investigated in this study. The experimental setup consisted of three (3) treatments namely; 0, 2.5 and 5 ecological screening value (ESV) and parameters recorded were taken 84 days and 20 weeks namely; plant germination factors, plant yield, percentage chlorosis, necrosis and senesced leaves, plant dry matter accumulation as well as plant lifetime morphological changes. Cadmium concentration increased the percentage of foliar chlorosis and necrosis (20.40) in older leaves than younger leaves (4.08) respectively of TVNu-91 sown in 5 ESV cadmium soil and this eventually resulted to an increase in percentage senesced leave with increasing cadmium concentration. Leaf folding and curling symptoms were cadmium-associated in the intermediate partition but same cannot be said for the young plant (YP). However, leaf curling was reported as a prominent morphological feature in this study. With respect to insect foraging, there was total absence of foraging in both control accessions and cadmium polluted accessions. There was also a significant difference (P>0.05) in the number of pods per plant as evidenced in TVNu-95 (5ESV) 5.67 when compared to 14.07 in the control of TVNu-95. Thus, there was a gradual decrease with increasing ecological screening value. Generally, there was significant difference in the seed number per pods (P<0.01), seed weight per pods (P<0.01) plant yield (P<0.01), and flower bud size (P<0.05). 20 weeks after sowing, plant dry matter accumulation was reduced with increase in metal concentration. There was variability in plant yield response to metal toxicity with a general decrease reported with increased cadmium concentration. However, TVNu-93 had a better yield as compared to the other studied accessions.
Ikhajiagbe et al (PDF
Endemic species of terrestrial isopods (Isopoda, Crustacea) in the Romanian fauna
No full textIn the Romanian fauna 32 endemic species of terrestrial isopods were described; most of them are epigenous, few are troglobiont, troglophilous and edaphic species. Troglobiont species: Biharoniscus racovitzai, Biharoniscus fericeus, Haplophthalmus tismaniscus, Haplophtalmus caecus, Trachelipus troglobius. Troglophilous species: Trachelipus trilobatus, Hyloniscus flamuloides. Edaphic species: Trichoniscoides danubianus, Haplophtalmus napocensis, Haplophtalmus banaticus, Haplophtalmus medius, Haplophtalmus ionescui, Thaumatoniscellus orghidani. Epigenous species: Ligidium intermedium, Hyloniscus dacicus, Hyloniscus siculus, Hyloniscus motasi, Trichoniscus carpaticus, Haplophthalmus orientalis, Buddelundiella serbani, Trichorhina dobrogica, Platyarthrus dobrogicus, Cylisticus transsilvanicus, Cylisticus brachiurus, Porcellium transsylvanicum, Trachelipus ater, Trachelipus vareae, Trachelipus bujori, Trachelipus pleonglandulatus, Trachelipus spinulatus, Orthometopon romanicus, Armadillidium banaticum.
Tomescu (PDF
Antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial isolates and water quality index of water sourced from closed ground water and open hand dug well in Koko Community, Delta State, Nigeria
No full textWater samples were collected from a semi urban community in Nigeria with the aim of investigating the water quality index and antibiotic profile of bacterial isolates of closed ground water and open hand dug wells. Physicochemical and microbiological analyses were carried out using standard analytical methods. pH of groundwater and hand dug well ranged from 4.16 to 5.74 and 4.83 to 5.22 respectively. The total suspended solid of water samples for hand dug well ranged from 1.2-9.2mg/l. Also iron concentrations for groundwater and hand dug well water samples ranged from 0.15-0.54 mg/l and 0.62-1.12 mg/l respectively. Microbial analysis of the water samples revealed the presence of bacteria such as S. aureus, Klebsiella sp., E. coli, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas hydrophila and Enterobacter aerogenes and fungi such as Aspergillus niger, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus stolonifer and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The total heterotrophic bacterial count of water samples for groundwater and hand dug well samples indicated that values ranged from 2.9 - 4.4 ×103 cfu/ml and 5.4 – 8.6 ×103 cfu/ml respectively. Total coliform of water samples for groundwater and hand dug well samples indicated that values ranged from 5-8 MPN/100ml and 10-20 MPN/100ml respectively. E. coli count of water samples for groundwater and hand dug well samples indicated that values ranged from 0.0 MPN/100ml and 4-8 MPN/100ml respectively while total fungal count of groundwater and hand dug well samples indicated that values ranged from 0.0 - 6.0×102 cfu/ml and 3.5×102-17.0×103 cfu/ml respectively. Variable antibiotic susceptibility patterns were observed in antibiotic inhibitory zone (mm) among the tested bacterial isolates. Evaluation of Water Quality Index indicated values of 34.4 for groundwater source indicating good water quality and 67.31 for open hand dug well indicating water was of poor quality. Findings from this study revealed that groundwater sources had better and acceptable quality compared to those of open hand dug wells, hence it is recommended that critical measures be put in place to ensure the safety of both sources of water in Koko community.
Imarhiagbe et Ikhajiagbe (PDF
Protracheoniscus vasileradui – n. sp. (Crustacea, Isopoda, Crinochaeta) in the Romanian fauna
No full textWe describe the terrestrial isopod species Protracheoniscus vasileradui n. sp. collected from the deciduous forest in the Liuborajdea Valley, Iron Gates (Porţile de Fier) area. We named it Protracheoniscus vasileradui n.sp., in the memory of Prof. V. Gh. Radu, who was a renowned specialist in terrestrial isopods.
Tomescu et Teodor (PDF