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Laboratory Evaluation of the Insecticidal Toxins from Entomopathogenic Nematode Symbiotic Bacteria to Control Vegetable Diseases and Pests
No full textAims: Entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) and its symbiotic bacterium are used worldwide as microbial control agents. Toxins from EPN symbiotic bacteria were isolated and provided basis for using this potential resource as biocontrol agent against vegetable diseases and pests.
Study Design: The toxins were extracted from 28 strains of bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes. The insecticidal activity and antibiotic activity against vegetable diseases and pests were determined through bioassay.
Place and Duration of Study: College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, between May 2020 and September 2021.
Methodology: The toxins were extracted by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation method. The insecticidal activities and antibiotic activities were evaluated using bioassay in the laboratory.
Results: The toxins of the symbiotic bacteria associated with EPN had certain insecticidal activities on the first instar larvae of Plutella xylostella and Laphygma exigua, and strain SY5 showed the most obvious antifungal activities against Trichothecium roseum and Fusarium oxysporum.
Conclusions: The toxins of the EPN symbiotic bacteria SY5 had good insecticidal activity and antibiotic activity. Therefore, it has the potential for use against vegetable diseases and pests as biocontrol agents
Effect of Gravidity on Biochemical Parameters in Normotensive and Hypertensive 3rd Trimester Pregnant Women
No full textBackground: Pregnancy is a period in which a woman carries one or more foetus in her uterus. It is typically divided into three trimesters based on gestational age which is measured in weeks and months. Gravidity is referred to the number of times a woman has been pregnant. Pregnancy comes with several changes in metabolism, resulting to changes biochemical markers in pregnant women, some of which to certain extent may pose health risks in those with existing health conditions such as high blood pressure. The study of these changes becomes necessary to determine and arrest the risks should they exist during pregnancy.
Aim: The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of gravidity on biochemical markers in normotensive and hypertensive 3rd trimester pregnant women.
Materials and Methods: At Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 women. The consenting patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to one of two groups: normotensive (50 normotensive pregnant women at their third trimester) or hypertensive (50 hypertensive pregnant women at their third trimester) (HPW2T). The subjects in each group were subsequently split into three categories depending on gravidity: primigravida (one pregnancy), multigravida (two or more), and grand multigravida (five or more).
For the assessment of TC, TG, HDL, and LDL, fasting blood samples were taken using the venepuncture technique.
AIP, CR-I, CR-II, AC, and APoB/APoA1) biochemical indices were computed quantitatively. At a p<0.05, the data were examined using ANOVA and the Tukey comparison test.
Result: There was no significant difference in the mean levels of the biochemical parameters among the gravidity groups in the normotensive group except for LDL and APoB levels that was significantly higher, p<0.05. The hypertensive group had no significant difference in the mean levels of all studied parameters among the gravidity group, p>0.05..
Conclusion: In this study conducted at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, gravidity had no impact on most biochemical markers in normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women at their third trimester
Expression Assessment of Some Immunity-related Genes in Buffalo Infected with Endometritis
No full textBackground and Aim: Despite the economic importance of buffalo as a main source of milk and meat, only little attention has been directed to its immune and reproductive performance. The early diagnosis of subclinical endometritis may reduce the economic loss of buffalo’s production. The difference in expression profiles of immunity-related genes has an important role in the early detection of subclinical endometritis. This study aimed to assess the expression of five immunity-related genes: TGFBR1, PTGER2, PTGER4, HP and CXCL5 in endometritis-infected buffaloes.
Materials and Methods: Total RNA was extracted from 120 buffalo uterine samples; 60 infected with endometritis and 60 healthy ones. Qt-PCR was performed on cDNA synthesized from extracted RNA using Sybr green and GAPDH as a house-keeping gene.
Results: The results showed the up-regulation of two tested genes; TGFBR1 and CXCL5 in endometritis-infected buffalo compared to healthy animals by 7.9 and 4.3 folds, respectively at a significance level of p<0.05. The other three tested genes; PTGER2, PTGER4 and HP were down-regulated in buffalo during endometritis infection at different levels; PTGER2 and HP (0.6 folds, p<0.05) and PTGER4 (0.4 fold, p= 0.2).
Conclusions: It is to be concluded that the assessment of expression of inflammation-related immunity genes may have an effective role on the detection of endometritis infection in buffalo during its early stages and this early diagnosis can reduce the economic loss of buffalo production and reproduction
Phytochemical Screening and Antimicrobial Activity of Sarcocephalus latifolius Smith Roots Extracts
No full textAims: This work aims to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Sarcocephalus latifolius extracts.
Methodology: Thus, phytochemical screening was qualitatively accessed using colorations or precipitations methods. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity, using the diffusion method, was evaluated on eight strains including two reference strains (Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 49619 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) and six clinically isolated S. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa strains. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined by the microdilution method.
Results: The phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, anthocyanins, mucilages, saponosides, C-heterosides and O-heterosides. Antimicrobial activity showed that the ethanolic extract with the lowest MIC (1.25 mg/ml) inhibited reference strains (S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853) and clinical isolated S. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa strains. The largest inhibition diameter (19± 1.33) was obtained with the ethanolic extract against clinical isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and (15.5± 1) against the reference one. The aqueous extract inhibited only reference strains.
Conclusions: The data of this study indicate that the extracts of S. latifolius present antimicrobial properties. This may justify its traditional use in the treatment of microbial infections
Regulating Function of Exogenous Salicylic Acid on Sugar Metabolism in Tomato Seedlings
No full textAims: SA (Salicylic acid) is a key regulator for sugar metabolic pathway, but the regulating function on sugar metabolism in tomato seedlings is imperfect. In this study, tomato seedlings were sprayed with SA, and then soluble sugar contents, enzyme related to sugar metabolism levels, gene expressions were determined.
Study Design: In order to analyze the mechanism of SA in sugar metabolic pathway, tomato seedlings were sprayed with SA, and then soluble sugar contents, enzyme related to sugar metabolism levels, gene expressions were determined.
Place and Duration of Study: College of Biological Science and Technology, between December 2021 and May 2022.
Methodology: The expressions of genes related to sugar metabolism in tomato were measured by qRT-PCR. The contents of soluble sugar in tomato seedings were measured with HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography).
Results: The sugar metabolism in tomato seedlings was affected by SA treatment for 6 h. The contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose were improved in tomato seedlings by SA treatment. Between 6 to 24 h, enzymatic activities of SlAI, SlNI and SlSS were higher than those in controls, while there was little change in enzyme activity of SISPS.
Conclusion: The contents of soluble sugar, enzyme activities related to sugar metabolism had changed considerably by SA treatment. Especially from 6 h to 24 h after SA treatment, the contents of fructose and glucose were significantly higher than those of the control group, and the changes of sugar contents were mainly related to the increases of enzyme activities of AI, NI and SS, suggesting that SA treatment mainly affected the activities of SlAI, SlNI and SlSS to promote the accumulations of soluble sugars
Effects of Corona Pandemic on Global Environment and Economy
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic is draw into concern as the most reproving international fitness tragedy of the century since December 2019, the era of Second World War. A new transmissible respiratory disease comes in existence in Wuhan, Hubei province, China and the World Health Organization named it as COVID-19 (corona virus disease 2019). For the quarter of 2020 the corona virus epidemic has swamp the international locations of the sector and changed the pace, material and nature of our lives. In this evaluation accompanying, we inspect some of the various social, environmental and economic issues influenced by COVID-19. The COVID-19 epidemic has ended in over 4.3 million confirmed instances and over 290,000 deaths globally. The Indian economy as with the global economy, was faced with multiple curtailment too when the pandemic emerged. Advance estimation recommend that the Indian economy is anticipate to witness real GDP augmentation of 9.2 per cent in 2021-22 after reducing in 2020-21. This implicit that overall economic activity has retrieve past the pre-epidemic levels. Social spacing, self-isolation and travel diminution have led to a less staff throughout all capitalism or economic sectors, and because of that many jobs to be bygone. Schools have closed down, and there is requirement for artefacts and products has reduced. In contrast, there requirement for medical essentials has significantly increases. In reaction to this global epidemic, we summarize the effect of COVID-19 on socio-economic condition on individual factors of the world economy and environment
A Study on the Transcriptional Profile of NOS2 and IFN-γ Genes in River Buffalo with Endometritis
No full textBackground and Aim: Uterine lumen contamination with bacteria is ubiquitous in buffalo after parturition. Nearly one-third of these infected animals develop endometritis which leads to reduced fertility. The present study aimed to evaluate the expressions of IFN-γ and NOS2 genes in uterine tissue of buffaloes with endometritis and comparing them with those in healthy animals using RT-qPCR
Materials and Methods: Uterine samples were collected from 50 apparently healthy and 50 clinically infected buffaloes. RNA was extracted from the collected buffalo\u27s uteri and cDNA was synthesized from extracted RNA. Quantitative Real Time PCR technique was performed using this synthesized cDNA.
Results: Apparent up-regulation of both genes mRNA expression was recorded in endometritis-infected animals with 8.3-folds for IFN-γ and 9.99-folds for NOS2 (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The upregulation of IFN-γ and NOS2 expression in the uterine tissue of endometritis-infected buffaloes can be used as a scale for measuring the efficiency of drugs used for endometritis treatment
Biochemical Characterization of Two Polygalacturonases Purified from the Digestive Juice of the Snail Limicolaria flammea
No full textPolygalacturonases constitute the major part of pectinase preparations for many bioprocess purposes. Investigation on the digestive juice of snail Limicolaria flammea led to purification of two polygalacturonases named PG1 and PG2. Properties of these enzymes were examined to explore their potential in biotechnology applications. A three steps procedure including size exclusion, anion and cation exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography were used for purification. The enzymes PG1 and PG2 had native molecular weights of approximately 46 and 86 kDa, respectively and functioned both as monomeric structures. The purified polygalacturonases PG1 and PG2 showed optimum hydrolysis activities at 50°C in sodium acetate buffer pH 5.6. The common inhibitor of the two purified polygalacturonases activity were Mn2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, EDTA, SDS and L-cystein. NH3+ stimulate the polygalacturonase PG1 while Ba2+ was an activator for polygalacturonase PG2. Substrate specificity indicated that these enzymes hydrolyse a broad range of pectin from different sources. The highest activity of PG1 was observed with apple pectin and lemon pectin while PG2 showed its highest activity with orange pectin. The catalytic efficiency of PG1 was highest for lemon pectin (0.125 µmol/min/mL) and orange pectin (0.124 µmol/min/mL). PG2 displayed highest catalytic efficiency (0.325 µmol/min/mL) towards orange pectin. These results suggest that orange and lemon pectin would be the potential physiological substrates of the two purified enzymes
Effect of Exogenous Abscisic Acid on Sugar Metabolism in Tomato Fruits
No full textAims: This research explored the effect of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment on sugar metabolism in tomato fruits, and provided theoretical basis for the regulation of ABA on the growth and development of tomato fruits.
Study Design: The whole tomato plant was treated by spraying with 50 mg·L-1 ABA. Spraying distilled water was as the control.
Place and Duration of Study: College of Biological Science and Technology, between February 2019 and March 2020.
Methodology: The contents of soluble sugar in tomato fruits were measured with HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography). The enzyme extraction and activities were followed the biochemical method.
Results: Exogenous ABA treatment reduced the weight and transverse meridians of the fruit at the ripening stage, but increased the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose in the fruit. At the same time, it also increased the activities of acid invertase, neutral invertase, and sucrose phosphate synthase at the ripening stage.
Conclusions: Exogenous ABA treatment was beneficial to the accumulation of sugar in tomato fruit and improved tomato quality. Therefore, it could be applied to tomato production
Phytochemical Evaluation and Antioxidant Capacity of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus pulmonarius in Ibadan, Nigeria
No full textAims: To evaluate the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant properties of two selected mushrooms in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Study Design: An experimental and descriptive study was conducted using the fruit bodies of Ganoderma lucidum collected from the Botanical garden University of Ibadan and Pleurotus pulmonarius which was bought from a local store in Ibadan. Successive extraction was done on the mushrooms with four solvents of increasing polarity that is from the non-polar (N-hexane) to a more polar solvent(water).Phytochemical and antioxidant analysis were then carried out on the extract fractions.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Botany, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria and Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria between May 2018 and February 2020.
Methodology: The N-Hexane, Ethyl acetate, Ethanol and Aqueous extract fraction of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus pulmonarius were analyzed in different system, including DPPH, Ferric ion Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC). The various antioxidant activities were compared to the standard ascorbic acid. Phytochemical include: Phenol, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Tannins, Steroids, Saponins, Terpenoids Anthraquinones, and Cardiac glycosides were also analysed.
Results: The Phytochemical screening result shows the presence of Phenol, Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Tannins, Steroids, Saponins, Terpenoids Anthraquinones, and Cardiac glycosides. The quantitative phytochemical screening revealed that the Ethyl acetate fraction of Ganoderma lucidum recorded the highest percentage of Alkaloids (41.70±0.14%) while the Ethanolic fraction of Pleurotus pulmonarius has the lowest percentage of Tannins (0.10±0.24%). DPPH scavenging activity of the Ethanolic extract fraction of Ganoderma lucidum (at 200 µg/ml) was 94.96% higher than that of Pleurotus pulmonarius (22.39%). The extract fraction of all the mushrooms possesses significant TAC content with N-Hexane and Ethyl acetate fraction having the highest. The results of the DPPH, FRAP, and TAC assays indicate that both mushrooms examined showed significant antioxidant activities. Among these, Ganoderma lucidum extract seems to be more effective antioxidant. The antioxidant activity of theses mushrooms has significant importance as it greatly contribute to their nutraceutical properties thus enhancing their nutritive value. Cultivation and production of dietary supplements from Ganoderma lucidum is highly recommended.
Conclusion: The Mushrooms species analyzed have demonstrated to be good sources of phytochemical and antioxidants hence it can be recommended to pharmaceutical industries for the manufacturing of drugs