Asian Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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Assessment of the Applications of Agriculturally Important Microorganism in Food, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sector
No full textMicroorganisms are a cornerstone of sustainable development due to their versatility and adaptability across diverse ecological niches. Their applications span agriculture, food processing, and pharmaceuticals, where they provide scalable, eco-friendly alternatives to chemical and resource-intensive practices. In agriculture, beneficial microbes such as nitrogen-fixers, phosphate-solubilisers, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) enhance soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and plant health while reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Biopesticides and bioinsecticides derived from microbial metabolites offer targeted action against pests and pathogens with minimal ecological disruption, supporting long-term sustainability. However, the field-level translation of microbial inoculants remains a challenge due to variable colonization efficiency and environmental interactions, prompting new directions in microbiome engineering and inoculant formulation. In the food sector, microorganisms are central to fermentation processes for yoghurt, cheese, bread, cocoa, and beverages. Lactic acid bacteria, yeasts, and other microbial communities improve taste, texture, and shelf life while also synthesizing vitamins and bioactive compounds. Probiotic-rich foods further support gut health, immunity, and overall well-being, reinforcing the nutritional and functional value of microbial food systems. The pharmaceutical industry relies heavily on microbial innovations, with microbes serving as sources of antibiotics, probiotics, vitamins, enzymes, and bacteriocins. Vaccine production illustrates its essential role in global public health. Prepared from inactivated, attenuated, or recombinant microorganisms, vaccines stimulate immune memory and have drastically reduced infectious disease burdens. Routine immunization campaigns against measles, polio, and diphtheria highlight their life-saving impact. Emerging approaches such as phage therapy also offer promise against antibiotic resistance, a major medical challenge. Advances in metagenomics, synthetic biology, and genome editing are unlocking the potential of uncultured microbes, enabling the design of stable microbial consortia for agriculture, novel fermentation strategies, and next-generation therapeutics. Altogether, microorganisms enhance industrial productivity while advancing sustainability goals by reducing environmental footprints, improving food security, and safeguarding human health
Climate Change and Soil Health: A Review of Adaptation and Mitigation Practices
No full textSoil represents three phase system which acts as a medium for agriculture production. Notably, at present, there were abrupt climate change like increase in temperature, drastic shift in rainfall pattern, precipitation, relative humidity and many more were noticed which not only affect plant physiological function, but also for soil individual properties (physical, chemical and biological) which ultimately hinders crop growth and development leads to limited food production. Although increase in one degree Celsius was found to increase pest population incidence by 20-30% which reduces yield by 6%. Suitable management practices were crucial in augmenting climate change scenario. Many studies shall focused management practices for crop health due to physiological function neglecting soil management process. This review briefly emphasize the significance effect of changing climate towards various soil individual properties and the suitable mitigation strategies like system of farming practices, inter-cropping, crop diversification, cover crops, amending beneficial microbes, conservation tillage and other precision technologies were involved for better crop production and to sustain agro-ecological system under changing climate
Comparative Analysis of Diagnostic Methods for Cases of Canine Distemper and Characterization of Clinical Signs in Presenting Patients
No full textThe study aimed to investigate the two aspects of canine distemper, a disease endemic and amongst leading cause of mortality in small animals First the study compared diagnostic methods commonly employed in the detection of canine distemper virus in suspicious cases and to also characterize the highly varied clinical signs present in dogs infected with canine distemper virus (CDV). From 3905 dogs presented at the Veterinary Clinical Complex, NTR College of Veterinary Science, Gannavaram, 72 dogs showing clinical signs such as vomiting, diarrhoea, occulonasal discharges, cutaneous lesions, and neurological symptoms were selected. Among these, 44 dogs (1.13%) tested positive for CDV. The infection was multisystemic, with nervous symptoms observed in 97.72% of cases, followed by respiratory (68.18%), ocular (63.63%), cutaneous (52.27%), and gastrointestinal (GI) signs (38.63%). Mixed infections occurred in 90.90% of the dogs, suggesting systemic CDV spread.
The rapid CDV antigen test kit showed a positivity rate of 28.84%, while PCR confirmed CDV in 61.11% of cases, with the antigen test having a sensitivity of 31.82% and specificity of 87.50%. The study underscores the complex, multisystemic nature of CDV, with a high prevalence of neurological involvement. Rapid antigen testing should be used in conjunction with PCR for accurate diagnosis
Prevalence of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Isolates among Pregnant Women of Rural Areas from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
No full textThe aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolated from pregnant women in rural areas of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. During this study, 250 clinical samples were gathered 88 from the outpatient and 162 from the inpatients side. Along the way, researchers identified 110 gram-negative bacilli from the Enterobacteriaceae group using Gram’s stain, negative stain, and the standard biochemical tests. A phenotypic detection was done by the Modified Hodge test and Imp-EDTA disk synergy test. Interestingly, these findings generally match earlier work, which points out that specimen types - blood, sputum, pus, urine, or bronchoalveolar lavage—often show quite a bit of variability. In this sample set, the bacteria turned out to be 60 Escherichia coli, 29 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 13 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 8 Proteus mirabilis, underscoring a diverse picture of infections. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae among pregnant women in rural areas of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Rural Dehradun presents unique conditions that justify focused research: limited healthcare infrastructure, high antibiotic misuse due to over-the-counter access, poor sanitation and lack of routine microbial screening during pregnancy. Overall, this spread highlights why keeping an ongoing, careful watch and making spot-on identifications is so important, both in outpatient and inpatient settings, to guide effective antimicrobial therapy
Fate of Rhizosphere Microorganisms and Growth of Leguminous Plants in Cassava Mill Effluent Simulated Soil
No full textAims: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cassava mill effluent in simulated soil on rhizosphere microorganisms and growth of leguminous plants.
Methodology and Results: The fate of rhizosphere microbes and growth of leguminous plants in cassava mill effluent simulated soil was evaluated using standard physical, microbiological and biochemical techniques. The results showed that the number of buds, leaves and nodules formed fluctuated across the concentration. The fungal isolates from the cassava mill effluent simulated soil were virtually the same across the concentration gradients of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 100%, the only difference was that different fungal genera were found in plots where different leguminous plants were used for the simulation experiment. C. mucunoides at cassava mill effluent (CME) impacted plots (0%-100%) had Saccharomyces sp. and Mucor indicus as it’s predominant fungal isolate while the C. pubescens from the same site had Fusarium sp. and Gliocladium sp. as its predominant fungal isolates. Cassava mill effluent (CME)-simulated soil (0%-100%) had Chromobacterium sp. and Corynebacterium sp as it’s predominant bacterial isolates from the Centrosema pubescens plots. Calopogonium mucunoides plots had Bacillus sp., Acinetobacter sp. and Escherichia coli as it bacterial isolates. Same nitrogen-fixing bacteria were isolated from all the cassava mill effluent simulated plots (0%-100%) irrespective of the legume planted for the phytoremediation exercise. The nitrogen-fixers isolated were: Azotobacter sp., Azospirillum sp., Frankia sp., Bradyrhizobium sp., Hebaspirillum sp., Cyanobacteria (or blue green algae) and Anabaena sp. Other isolates were Nostoc sp., Clostridium sp. and Rhizobium sp.
Conclusion, Significance and Impact of Study: The simulation experiment analysis revealed that soil acidity influences many chemical and biological characteristics of soil including availability of nutrient and toxicity of metals which can also affect microbial community in many ways. It also revealed that acidic soils can significantly reduce nodulation and nodule function in leguminous plants
Oyster-derived Antimicrobial Proteins: A Novel Approach to Combat Multidrug-resistant Pathogens
No full textThe rising threat of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections—commonly termed “superbugs”—necessitates the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. One promising approach lies in the utilization of antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) derived from oysters. These naturally occurring molecules, integral to the oyster’s innate immune system, exhibit potent antimicrobial activities through mechanisms such as membrane disruption, biofilm inhibition, and immunomodulation. Notably, proteins like big defensins (e.g., Cg-BigDef1 and Cg-BigDef5), histone-derived peptides, and other hemolymph proteins have demonstrated strong efficacy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae and S. pyogenes. Proteomic studies have identified several active constituents, such as cystatin B–like proteins and carbonic anhydrases, responsible for the bactericidal effects. Moreover, these proteins exhibit synergistic effects when combined with conventional antibiotics, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes and reducing resistance development. In addition to medical applications, oyster-derived AMPs show potential for use in agriculture and the food industry, particularly for biofilm control, food preservation, and reducing antibiotic reliance in livestock. Despite these advances, challenges such as peptide stability, large-scale production, and immunogenicity must be addressed before clinical implementation. This review highlights the current research, effectiveness, and potential applications of oyster antimicrobial proteins, proposing them as a promising frontier in combating superbug-related infections. Future research should therefore focus not only on therapeutic applications but also on overcoming these limitations to facilitate successful translation into clinical and industrial settings
Emerging Multidrug Resistance in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli: Evidence from University Students in Nigeria
No full textAims: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most prevalent bacterial infections seen in developing nations. This infection occurs in the urinary system like urethra and bladder and can possibly affect anyone. The aim of this study is to determine the rising prevalence of uropathogenic Eshcherichia coli and its multidrug resistance isolates from urine samples of male and female students of Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ebonyi State.
Methodology: A total of seventy (70) urine samples were collected using the mid-stream “clean catch” method from both male and female students of Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ebonyi State to screen for E. coli and tested bacteriologically using standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed for the isolated pathogens using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.
Result: Out of the 70 urine samples analyzed, 48(68.5%) were positive for Escherichia coli amongst female while 22(31.2%) were positive for. E. coli amongst male. The age group with the highest E. coli was those between the age of 25-30 years with 100% for both male and female. Antimicrobial susceptibility result shows that Ceftriaxone (95%), Ciprofloxacin (75%), Tetracycline (75%), Amoxicillin-clavulanic (85%), Nitrofurantoin (70%) and were susceptible to E. coli. while Ampicillin (90%), Gentamycin (60%) Ofloxacin (50%) and Cefoxitin (65%) were highly resistant to E. coli.
Conclusion: This finding showed that E. coli was the most predominant pathogen among female students than the male which may be because of the position of their anatomical structure. The pathogen E. coli shows a very high resistance to the commonly prescribed drugs which in turn leaves the students with very few alternative options of drugs for the treatment of UTIs
Antimicrobial Potential of Artichoke-Derived Compounds in Veterinary Medicine: A One Health Perspective
No full textAntimicrobial resistance has emerged as one of the most critical challenges to global health, affecting animals, humans, and ecosystems alike. Addressing this issue requires innovative and sustainable solutions, including plant derived compounds with microbiological activity. This bibliographic review investigates the antimicrobial potential of bioactive compounds from artichoke (Cynara scolymus), emphasizing their veterinary applications and significance within the One Health context. A total of 36 studies published between 2000 and 2025 were included after applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria through searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. These studies were critically analyzed to synthesize current knowledge on the chemical composition of artichoke extracts, their antimicrobial mechanisms of action, microbiological effects, and veterinary applications.
Evidence shows that saponins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids present in Cynara scolymus possess significant antimicrobial activity against both Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria, for example Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These compounds act mainly by disrupting cell membranes, inhibiting metabolic pathways, and enhancing the efficacy of conventional antimicrobials. In addition, several studies report their ability to modulate ruminal microbiota, improving fermentation efficiency and increasing beneficial microbial populations, which are essential for animal health and productivity.
However, most available data are derived from in vitro studies, with limited in vivo and clinical evidence, and considerable variability in extraction methods and compound concentrations. These factors highlight the need for standardized methodologies and controlled trials.
In conclusion, Cynara scolymus represents a promising source of bioactive molecules that could support the development of innovative and sustainable strategies in veterinary medicine. Integrating these compounds into therapeutic protocols, feed additives, and preventive health approaches may contribute to reducing antimicrobial resistance and advancing the One Health agenda. Recent FAO policy guidance (2021 to 2025) reinforces the importance of multisectoral coordination, integrated surveillance, and the evaluation of phytogenic alternatives to antibiotics. This framework strengthens the rationale for exploring Cynara scolymus bioactives as complementary tools to mitigate AMR at the human animal environment interface
Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi: Diversity and Colonization in Leguminous and Non-Leguminous Crops
No full textThe soil that surrounds plant roots (the rhizosphere), is essential for microbial colonization such as mycorrhizae which is vital for plant development and nutrient uptake, and also alter how plants interact with other soil creatures. The Arbuscular mycorrhizae Fungi (AMF) is one of the division of mycorrhizae and this study investigated their diversity and colonization of the rhizosphere of both leguminous and non-leguminous plant. The study was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RBCD) with 15 plots consisting of five treatments and 3 replicates, AMF spores were extracted from the rhizosphere and subjected to morphological characterization, AMF identification and colonization were carried out, analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P ≤ 0.005 was performed on the data obtained, and least significant difference (LSD) at 5% was used to separate the mean. Results of the study revealed the presence of Acaulospora, Funneliformis, Gigaspora, Glomus, and Rhizophagus, and significant variations in the population of Acaulospora under leguminous crops (Cowpea = 96.0c and Groundnut = 228.3a) and none-leguminous crops (Cucumber = 135.0bc and Melon = 154.3bc), and Glomus under leguminous crops (Cowpea = 42.3abc and Groundnut = 62.3ab) and none-leguminous crops (Cucumber = 26.0c and Melon = 37.0bc). Groundnut had the highest spore count (455a), and root colonization frequency reached the maximum value of 39.7% for groundnut in all the plots invested. The diversity of AMF and abundance of AMF spores vary depending on plants species; highlighting the need of integrating legumes into different cropping systems to improve crop yield
Integrating Real-Time Data and Machine Learning in Predicting Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Enhancing Response Strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textThe field of infectious disease prediction and public health response is changing due to the integration of real-time data with machine learning (ML). This paper examines how diverse real-time data types — including mobility patterns, social media activity, wearable sensor data, environmental signals, and electronic health records — can be successfully combined with machine learning approaches to enhance early diagnosis, forecast illness trajectories, and optimize intervention options. The potential of key machine learning models, such as reinforcement learning, deep learning, and supervised learning, to improve forecasting accuracy and facilitate dynamic decision-making is investigated. There is a critical discussion of issues such as algorithmic opacity, privacy problems, data inconsistencies, and a lack of standards. The COVID-19 pandemic case study demonstrates how these tools have already aided in resource allocation and policy planning. A forward-looking outlook on developments in data collecting, explainable Artificial Intelligence, and the necessity of global cooperation is presented in the manuscript\u27s conclusion. When taken as a whole, these elements emphasize how crucial it is to combine technology and international collaboration to fortify public health systems and better prepare for future epidemics. This paper examines how diverse real-time data types — including mobility patterns, social media activity, wearable sensor data, environmental signals, and electronic health records — can be successfully combined with machine learning approaches to enhance early diagnosis, forecast illness trajectories, and optimize intervention options