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Optimization of Selected Process Parameters Affecting Yield of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Activity
No full textAims: To optimize effects of selected process parameters affecting yield of green synthesized silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity.
Study Design: Study was designed with 3 factors Box Behnken Design (Minitab 17) and Response optimizer (Minitab 17) was used to determine optimum values of the factors.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria, from March to November, 2020.
Methodology: After extraction by boiling, qualitative phytochemical analysis of leaves’ extracts of Ipeoma batatas, Commelina africana and Manihot esculenta was carried out. Following synthesis of silver nanoparticles as prescribed by Box Behnken design, yield of AgNPs was optimized with Response optimizer (Minitab 17). Then antibacterial activity of resulting AgNPs was tested against isolates of P. aeruginosa and E. coli.
Results: Extracts contained alkaloids, tannins, proteins and amino acids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds, but no sterols and cardiac glycosides. Optimum pH, temperature and time obtained with Response Optimizer resulted in 62.6%, 55.8% and 54.9% increase in yield of AgNPs, with leaf extracts of C. africana, M. esculenta and I. batatas respectively, compared to un-optimized conditions. Absorbance for resulting AgNPs peaked between 380 to 400 nm. Zones of inhibition (mm) of P. aeruginosa with AgNPs synthesized using extracts of C. africana, I. batatas and M. esculenta were 10, 10 and 9 respectively, under un-optimized condition, and 12, 10 and 8 respectively, for optimized conditions. Against E. coli, they were 11, 11 and 12 for AgNPs synthesized with extracts of C. africana, I. batatas and M. esculenta respectively, under un-optimized condition, and 13, 9 and 11 respectively, for optimized conditions.
Conclusion: Leaf extracts of C. africana, I. batatas and M. esculenta can be used in synthesizing AgNPs, with marked antibacterial activities. Box Behnken design is useful for optimization of effects of process parameters
Effects of AtSPS on the Growth and Development of Arabidopsis thaliana under Abiotic Stress
No full textAims: SPS (Sucrose phosphate synthase) participates in plant growth and yield formation, and plays an important role in plant stress resistance. This study used T-DNA insertion mutant of AtSPS in Arabidopsis as test material. The growth indexes and soluble sugar contents of Arabidopsis thaliana under salt stress, osmotic stress and low temperature stress were determined, which laid the foundation for further understanding the mechanism of SPS in plant growth and development and abiotic stress resistance.
Study Design: In order to analyze the mechanism of SPS in plant growth and development and abiotic stress resistance, this study used T-DNA insertion mutant of AtSPS in Arabidopsis as test material. The growth indexes and soluble sugar contents of Arabidopsis thaliana under salt stress, osmotic stress and low temperature stress were determined.
Place and Duration of Study: College of Biological Science and Technology, between December 2020 and May 2021.
Methodology: The contents of soluble sugar in tomato fruits were measured with HPLC (High
performance liquid chromatography). The growth indexes were determined.
Results: The results showed that AtSPS played positive regulation roles in seed germination and seedling growth of Arabidopsis thaliana. However, under abiotic stress conditions, AtSPS mutant increased the contents of soluble sugar, suggesting that Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings might improve resistance through osmotic regulating substances.
Conclusion: AtSPS played positive regulation roles in seed germination and seedling growth of Arabidopsis. Meanwhile, AtSPS mutant increased the contents of soluble sugar to increase resistance of Arabidopsis under abiotic stresses, and the growth and development were blocked, suggesting that SPS was negative regulatory element to resist abiotic stress
Effects of Process Parameters on the Activities of Enzymes by Different Species of Aspergillus in Crude Polluted Soil Sites
No full textThe effects of temperature, pH and incubation time on amylase, protease and cellulase activity by different species of Aspergillus in crude oil polluted soil sites in Nigeria were studied. Incubation period, Optimal pH values and temperatures for the enzymes produced by the different micro‐organisms were determined. The production of amylase by A. fumigatus and A. niger isolated from crude oil polluted sites showed that both fungi had their peaks on the first day of incubation for amylase, protease and cellulase. A. niger showed higher stability across a range of pH (3-6) and temperature (25-70oC) changes in all the enzyme activities. Further experiments are recommended to purify the secreted enzymes and stability studies will be performed to enhance the application of enzyme to commercial level
Assessment of Some Ripening Parameters (Antioxidant and Enzymes) during Storage of Banana (Musa acuminata) after Treatment with Calcium Chloride
No full textThe valorisation of the large scale production of bananas in the producing countries depends on the safeguarding of the quality during exports throughout the world. The objective of the present study was to extend the shelf life of bananas by elucidating some physical and physiological phenomena that accompany the ripening process. To achieve this, bananas were treated by soaking in solutions of tween 20 for 10 minutes and calcium chloride at 2, 4, 6 and 8% for 30 minutes. The following parameters were evaluated generally in the peel and pulp as a function of time during ripening: green life, firmness of bananas, water content, Brix index, pigments, antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid and flavonoids, activity of two enzymes, chlorophyllase and pectin-methylesterase. The green life was 25 days for bananas treated with tween 20 at 4% calcium chloride and almost 15 days for controls. Firmness was lower in bananas treated with tween 20 at 6 and 8% calcium chloride as well as in control bananas. While the Brix index was higher in the latter, photosynthetic pigment contents such as chlorophylls a and b were lower over time. Lycopene, β-carotene and ascorbic acid contents increased significantly during ripening. Flavonoid content in the skin varied less during the sampling period. However, a regression of the latter was noted in the pulp. The enzymatic activity of both chlorophyllase and pectin-methylesterase was increasing during the whole experiment. The effect of the treatments on the majority of the evaluated parameters was elucidated. Although it was not always statistically significant. The treatments with tween 20 at 2 and 4% calcium chloride were the best, certainly because of an adequate integration of calcium chloride in the tissues. On the other hand, the 6 and 8% treatments showed an unexpected result, similar to the control. The integration of a high calcium content would lead to a tearing of the tissues and consequently to a disorganisation of the membrane, resulting in a faster ripening
Molecular Characterization and Activity Analysis of Promoters from Two Cucumber Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein Genes (CsTCTPs)
No full textAims: The aim of the paper was to isolate and characterize the promoters of two cucumber TCTP genes (CsTCTP1 and CsTCTP2) and evaluate their active domains.
Study Design: CsTCTP1 and CsTCTP2 promoter activity were analyzed under treatments with different exogenous hormones.
Place and Duration of Study: In 2017, these experiments were conducted in College of Bioscience and Biotechnology of Shenyang Agricultural University (Lab 240).
Methodology: CsTCTPpro::GUS constructs were generated by using double digests method. Transient expression was mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101. Histochemical and Fluorometric GUS Assays were follow by the biochemical method.
Results: Bioinformatics analysis revealed some hormone- and defense-related response elements. Histochemical and fluorometric GUS assays demonstrated that the 0.7-kb CsTCTP1 promoter (proT1-0.7kb) and 0.7-kb and 1.3-kb CsTCTP2 promoters (proT2-0.7kb and proT2-1.3kb) had strong transcriptional activity. In addition, we used exogenous hormones (abscisic acid [ABA], salicylic acid [SA], and ethylene [ETH]) for treatment. The results showed that proT1-0.7kb and proT2-1.3kb activity were upregulated in the ABA treatment group, suggesting that these promoter sequences may contain ABA-related response elements. However, in the SA and ETH treatment groups, the activity of all the promoter fragments of CsTCTP1 and CsTCTP2 declined to different degrees, suggesting that SA and ETH may have negative regulatory effects on CsTCTP1 and CsTCTP2 promoters.
Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that the proT1-0.7kb promoter of CsTCTP1 and proT2-1.3kb promoter of CsTCTP2 may contain ABA-related response elements, and SA and ETH may have negative regulatory effects on the CsTCTP1 and CsTCTP2 promoters. This study will help to further understand the expression patterns and the regulatory mechanism of gene transcriptional regulation
Callus Culture as an Alternative Source of Secondary Metabolites in Curtailing Malaria Epidemic
No full textMalaria remains a threat to public healthcare system. In 2018, more than 200 million people were exposed to this disease globally. There have been reports of drug-resistance in the recommended therapy in some endemic regions. This called for relentless efforts in the search for potential antimalarial compounds.
An in vitro culture technique has emerged as a promising option for sustainable and industrial propagation of plant bioactive compounds with wide range of medicinal properties. The demand for these invaluable metabolites is witnessing a continuous increase as a folk medicine, hence, endangering their existence in natural habitats. Besides its use in natural form, the nature’s gift to humans seems to be restricted and limited by environmental conditions. An in vitro culture approach remains the most viable and sustainable alternative for the endangered plant species. Here, we present some plant species reported to have potential antimalarial activities and recommend further study through callus culture induction against malaria
Isolation and Identification of Resistant Bacteria from Petroleum Producing Vicinity by Gene Amplification and Sequencing
No full textThis investigation focuses on molecular identification of antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from petroleum producing vicinity using 16S rRNA sequencing based technique. The bacterial 16s rRNA gene sequences were amplified using polymerase chain reaction, sequenced, characterized and compared by using primers which has been compared to national center for biotechnology information (NCBI) sequence database. The presence of the plasmid mediated antibiotic resistance determinants CTX-M and QNRB genes in the bacterial isolates were analyzed. A total of four bacterial isolates that were resistant to all the antibiotic agents used were identified molecularly. The BLAST results showed 100 % similarity and phylogenetic study indicated that the genes were evolutionarily related to Morganella morganii, Pseudomonas xiamenensis, Chryseobacterium cucumeris and Staphylococcus sp., respectively. The genes obtained were submitted to the NCBI gene bank and were assigned accession number; MN094330, MN094331, MN094332 and MN094333, respectively. CTX-M and QNRB genes were however absent in the bacterial isolates. The result identified some peculiar abilities of the bacterial isolates to be resistant to antibiotics and suggests a correlation with resistance and hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria. The level of resistance could be as a result of the disinfection process during wastewater treatment procedure or the same adaptive mechanisms possessed by the isolates to control the hydrocarbon concentration in their cell. The study also clearly indicates that these wastewaters, when discharged into the environment directly may pose a risk for the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria
Genetic Characterization of Domestic Apple Varieties from Tuzla Canton, BiH
No full textAims: The basic precondition for apple breeding is the genetic diversity of varieties, which implies a large number of different, positive genes that enable adaptation to different weather conditions, resistance to new diseases and pests. One of the reliable sources of genetic diversity are indigenous varieties of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their genetic identification is the first step in a process that has as its ultimate goal the collection of genetic material. The main goal of this research is to analyze the genetic variability of five indigenous varieties of apple in Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of contributing to the management of conservation and expansion of existing genetic resources, spreading this material through registered nurseries.
Study Design: The research included fiveautochthonous apple varieties: "Ovčji nos“ “Dobrić“, "Šarenika“, "Rančica“ and "Petrovača“.
Place and Duration of Study: Samples of young leaves were collected at the site of Donji Moranjci, City of Srebrenik,Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the spring of 2019.
Methodology: In order to determine the genetic diversity of five indigenous apple varieties were genotyped ten SSR(Simple Sequence Repeats) markers.
Results: No cases of synonyms or homonyms were found within the analyzed set.The results of the study indicate a pronounced differentiation, ie all five examined varieties represent unique genotypes.
Conclusion: The examined sets of genotypes possess significant genetic variability, which is important especially when we consider that a relatively small number of samples have been analyzed
Risk Factors for Spoilage of Groundnut Seeds in Shops during Marketing
No full textPost-harvest storage of oilseeds, particularly groundnut, is a real problem for farmers and traders whose stocks are subject to attacks by pests and fungal contaminants in the shops. In order to find alternative solutions to this problem, a survey was conducted in Côte d’Ivoire, specifically in the markets of the communes Abobo, Adjamé and Yopougon in city of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The objective of this work is to evaluate the main risk factors for spoilage of groundnut seeds sold during storage in the Abidjan markets. To this end, a survey was conducted among 75 groundnut seeds sellers in the three aforementioned communes of Abidjan and identified the main risk factors favorable to spoilage of groundnut seeds sold during storage. The lack of exact knowledge of the origin of the groundnut seeds sold (92 to 100%), the storage of groundnut seeds in polyethylene bags (84 to 100%), the lack of knowledge of spoilage (28 to 44%), the long periods of sale (22.2 to 86.7%), moisture (0 to 72.2%) and insect pests (5.6 to 20%° were identified as the main factors of these risk of spoilage
Piranhea trifoliata an Amazonian Plant with Therapeutic Action: A Review
No full textThe use of medicinal plants reflects the reality of a part of human history. The Brazilian population with limited access to public health programs led to the development and conservation of ethnobotanical knowledge-rich information regarding medicinal plants. However, popular wisdom lacks systematization so that it can correctly use it. Herein we present the Piranhea trifoliata (family Picrondendraceae), an Amazonian plant with a wide variety of molecules with biological effects. The antimalarial effect was the dominant description observed in the studies used for this review, followed by antifungal and antioxidant actions. This review provides a synopsis of the recent literature exploring the extracts from P. trifoliata that could efficiently prevent pathologies associated with cellular maintenance mechanisms during malaria or fungal infection and oxidative stress