Biotechnology Journal International
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Analysis of Gene Expression Associated with Copper Toxicity in White Birch (Betula papyrifera) Populations from a Mining Region
No full textThe Greater Sudbury Region (GSR) is one of the most ecologically disturbed regions of Canada. Recent studies have shown that Betula papyrifera accumulate metals in roots or leaves. The main objectives of the present study were to 1) determine the effects of copper treatment on B. papyrifera under controlled conditions and 2) assess the level of expression of genes associated with copper resistance in B. papyrifera populations from metal-contaminated and uncontaminated areas. Significant differences for damage rating were observed among copper dosages after eight days of treatment. There was also a trend of reduced plant growth as the dosage increased. RT- qPCR analysis showed 2x to 25x increase in leaves compared to roots of the expression of the gene for Multi-drug resistance associated protein (MRP4) belonging to the subfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. A significant upregulation (ranging from 3x to 8 x increase) of the Metallothioneins (MT2B) gene in leaves compared to roots was also observed in three of the five sites studied. There were significant differences in expression of MRP4 and MT2 genes among sites, but no association between metal contamination and gene expression was identified. Likewise, no difference in expression of targeted genes was observed among the copper dosages used in growth chamber experiments
Influence of Maturity and Drying Methods on the Chemical, Functional and Antioxidant Properties of Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)
No full textThis study investigated the effect of maturity and drying methods on some chemical, functional and antioxidant properties of breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) flour. Breadfruit flour was produced from mature and immature breadfruit by hot air oven, sun drying and biomass fuelled dryer at 60°C and the effect of maturity and drying methods on the chemical, functional and antioxidant properties of breadfruit flour were also investigated using standard methods. The results showed that there were significant differences in the properties studied in all the mature and immature samples for all the drying methods. For proximate composition, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, minerals, water absorption capacity, swelling power, solubility and bulk density, matured samples had higher and significant values, while for dispersibility and flavonoid, immature samples had higher and significant values. It was also observed that the chemical properties of breadfruit were significantly retained by air oven drying. It was concluded from the results of this study that for better retention of nutritional qualities of bread fruit flour, oven drying method is better and matured fruits should be used
Transgenic Cotton Development: Agro-economic Analysis and Comparative Study
No full textThe development of transgenic crop since its first launched to the public in 1995 results in high expectation in order to boost the agricultural productivity, particularly in cotton. Higher yield and higher return are the expectation of cotton growers especially for poor-resource farmers due to low income household. This study provides the evidence of implementing Genetically Modified (GM) cotton based on the meta-data which derived from indvidual studies more than one decade in China, India, USA and Australia as the comparative study. Economic performance is the analysis of economic indicators such as yield gain, seed cost, pesticide cost, management and labor cost, and net return in which the comparison between GM cotton and its counterpart worldwide overtime. Study findings that it is clear that this technology is not superior and still need to be suitable for the given production situation, and also depending on the specific pest pressure and other relevant local condition to optimize per hectare returns. This study results that this merit technology can vary in different ecological environments
Transferability of Expressed Sequence Tag of Single Sequence Repeats Markers of Tomato Fruit in Different Vegetable Varieties
No full textAims: The expressed sequence tag of single sequence repeats (EST-SSR) primers designed from tomato fruit were studied for their polymorphism and transferability to other vegetable varieties.
Study Design: Primers were designed from ESTs in which the repeat bases of SSR were more than 18 bp. Twenty primer pairs chosen randomly were tested for their ability to amplify among 14 tomato varieties. The primer pairs were further used for 8 Chinese cabbage varieties, 8 muskmelon varieties and 8 eggplant varieties.
Place and Duration of Study: College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, China, between February 2015 and March 2016.
Methodology: Twenty primer pairs selected randomly were used for the amplification of genomic DNA in 14 tomato varieties. Genomic DNA of tomato was isolated and amplified, and tested the transferability of primers.
Results: Eighteen of primer pairs showed the amplification, and 2 primer pairs showed the non-pre-amplification. Seventeen of 18 primer pairs revealed polymorphism. Eighteen primer pairs were further used for PCR to genomic DNA from 8 Chinese cabbage varieties, 8 muskmelon varieties and 8 eggplant varieties. Twelve of 18 primer pairs showed amplification in all of materials provided, and the individual ratios of amplification were 77.8%, 83.3% and 83.3%, the ratios of polymorphism of them were 65.0%, 46.7% and 80%, respectively.
Conclusion: Eighteen primer pairs showed the amplification. Seventeen of 18 primer pairs revealed polymorphism. Twelve of 18 primer pairs showed amplification in 8 Chinese cabbage varieties, 8 muskmelon varieties and 8 eggplant varieties. Tomato EST-SSR markers had highly transferability to other plant species
Mixed Palm Oil Waste Utilization through Integrated Mushroom and Biogas Production
No full textAim of the Study: The study was to integrate mushroom and biogas production using mixed palm oil to provide both food and energy source to palm oil producing communities as well as reducing environmental pollution.
Design of the Study: Mixed palm oil waste was divided into two portions. One portion was used for mushroom cultivation and afterwards the spent mushroom substrate and the untreated portion were used for biogas production.
Methodology: Structural sugars analysis was performed using double acid hydrolysis technique. Total crude protein was determined through kjeldal acid digestion method. Lipids were extracted using a mixture of chloroform and methanol and quantified gravimetrically.
The mushroom strain (Coprinus scinereus) was cultivated on the mixed palm oil waste. Afterwards, the spent mushroom substrate and the untreated palm oil waste were subjected to anaerobic digestion in automatic methane potential test system.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was completed in 2 years from 2014-2015. Mushroom cultivation was carried out at the University of Dar-e salaam, Tanzania, whereas feedstock characterization and anaerobic digestion were performed at Lund University, Sweden.
Results: Compositional analysis disclosed that the feedstock contains (% w/w) 0.1 proteins, 3.3 carbohydrates, 22.5 lipids, and 73 lignin. Mushroom yield was 0.64 g /g of substrate at a biological efficiency of 71.4 g/100 g of substrate and productivity of 21.5±0.5%. Consequently total carbohydrates and lipids were decreased by 70% and 76% while the relative content of lignin and protein increased by 23% and 50%, respectively. Particle size reduction (<4 mm) resulted to increased methane yield by 66%. The untreated and biologically treated mixed palm oil wastes yielded 517 and 287 of CH4 L/Kg VS added which corresponded to 80% and 64.5% of theoretical methane yield, respectively.
Conclusion: Combined mushroom and biogas production offer superior benefits in the utilization of the palm oil waste
Genetic Diversity of Native Bacillus thuringiensis Strains Isolated from Soil of Different Localities in Mali and their cry Gene Profile
No full textAims: To determine the genetic diversity of Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated from soils of different locality in Mali, and select strains with cry1F, cry1B and cry1C genes to control caterpillars and strains with cry2 gene against African rice gall midge.
Study Design: Strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) used in this study belong to collection of Laboratory of Research in Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology (Laborem-Biotech) and that isolated from different ecological environment of Mali. Bt strains used as positive controls were kindly provided by Dr. Fernando Hercos Valicente from Embrapa Milho e Sorgo (Brazil).
Methodology: The total DNA of the native B. thuringiensis and reference strains were extracted from overnight grown culture. Gene identification was performed by amplification (PCR) of DNA of Bt strains using specific primers. The gel revelation was performed using ethidium bromide and the gel photography was performed using an E-Box VX2 system, Version 15.06.
Results: Native B. thuringiensis strains studied, showed high genetic diversity. 48,3% of the studied B. thuringiensis strains of the collection carry cry1 gene, 49,06% of them harbor both cry1 and cry2 gene, 5.7% of the native Bt strains didn’t react with any cry1 and cry 2 specific primers and 94.3% of the strains produce different PCR products. The analysis of cry1 positive B. thuringiensis showed sub-group frequencies of 7.6% for cry1F and 3.8% for cry1B and cry1C. In native Bt strains of our collection, the cry2 gene was always present with one or two cry1 sub-group(s).
Conclusion: In this study, high genetic diversity in the native Bt strains from the bacterial collection in Mali was observed. Most of the native Bt strains studied harbor the cry1 gene only. In the cry1 gene profile, the cry1F sub-group was found to be the most frequently detected. None of studied Bt strains harbored the cry2 gene only
Changes of Lycopene, Beta-carotene, Glucose, GA3 and ABA Contents in Different Parts of Tomato
No full textAims: This research studied the dynamic changes of main pigments, glucose, GA3 (Gibberellic acid) and ABA (Abscisic acid) contents in different parts of tomato fruit during the ripening stage, and provided references for the further research for the coloring mechanism of tomato fruits.
Study Design: When the second cluster of tomato fruits reached green mature stage, fruits were labeled and sampled. The fruits from each ripening stage were sampled and dissected to individual parts for measuring the contents of lycopene, beta-carotene, glucose, GA3 and ABA.
Place and Duration of Study: Horticultural College, between February 2014 and March 2015.
Methodology: The contents of lycopene, beta-carotene, glucose, GA3 and ABA were determined by HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography).
Results: The contents of lycopene and glucose increased during the ripening of tomato fruits, and the contents of β-carotene increased after slightly decreased. At the redⅡstage, the maximum contents of lycopene and glucose were in the peripheral pericarp, and the maximum content of β-carotene was in pectin. The contents GA3 decreased during ripening stage, and the minimum content of GA3 was in peripheral pericarp at the redⅡstage. The change of ABA contents which stayed in a low level in all parts was like a bimodal curve during the whole ripening stage.
Conclusion: Accumulation of lycopene and β-carotene was accompanied by the increasing of glucose and ABA contents, and by the decreasing of GA3 content
Antibiotic Resistance in Non-enterococcal Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Yoghurt
No full textAims: To evaluate the antibiotic resistance in non- enterococcal lactic acid bacteria.
Study Design: Examination of commercially available yoghurts.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Applied microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, from June 2011 and May, 2012.
Methodology: Commercially available yoghurt (25 brands in all) purchased in Awka and Onitsha towns, Anambra State, Nigeria were evaluated for the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains present, their probiotic potentials and their antibiotic resistance/susceptibility. Out of this total, 8 isolates (6 Lactobacillus sp and 2 Streptococcus sp) were obtained for further studies. The probiotic characteristics of the 8 isolates were evaluated in vitro. The in vitro tests used to evaluate probiotic potentials were: tolerance to low pH and bovine bile, cell surface hydrophobicity, and antimicrobial activities.
Results: Generally, Lactobacillus E5 showed the best probiotic characteristics among the strains tested. This strain was able to survive at pH of 2.5 for 3 hours of exposure to fresh bovine bile and had low cell surface hydrophobicity. It was also resistant to some of the commonly used antibiotics and inhibited test pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli 1 and Staphylococcus aureus). The antimicrobial resistance patterns of the 8 isolates were tested against 12 antibiotic agents. All the isolates obtained in this study were found to be resistant to Gentamycin but sensitive to Clindamycin and Lincomycin.
Conclusion: Although the use of LAB has a long and safe history and has acquired the “generally regarded as safe” (GRAS) status, the safety of selected strains should be evaluated before use, not only for virulence factors and other disease-causing traits, but also for the presence of antibiotic resistance determinants and their capability of disseminating these determinants
Antioxidant Property and Phenolic Content of Anthocleista vogelii Root Ethanolic Extract and Fractions
No full textAim: To investigate the antioxidant property as well as the phenolic and flavonoid content of Anthocleista vogelii root ethanolic extract (EE) and fractions (aqueous [AF], ethyl acetate [EAF], dichloromethane [DF] and n-hexane [HF] fractions).
Study Design: Activity directed antioxidant and phenolic content investigation of A. vogelii ethanolic root extract and fractions using in vitro methods.
Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria between June and August, 2014.
Methodology: Evaluation of antioxidant activity was conducted using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS+) free radical scavenging assay. The total Phenolic content and the cupric ions (Cu2+) reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) of the extracts was determined by spectrophotometric method.
Results: The results showed that the ethanolic extract and fractions exerted potent inhibition of DPPH and ABTS+ free radical scavenging activity; EAF (0.23 mg/mL) and DF (1.41 mg/mL) being the most potent respectively. EAF (91.14 mg ascorbic acid equivalent per gram of extract) also exerted a higher CUPRAC when compared with the other extracts. Total Phenol and flavonoid was also present in the ethanolic extract and fractions; DF having the highest content 59.89 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 67.20 mg quercetin equivalents/g extract respectively.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that A. vogelii ethanolic root extract and fractions have antioxidant potentials and it may be used for the treatment of oxidative stress related diseases including diabetes mellitus
Determination of Phenolic Contents, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) Leaf Extracts
No full textAims: This study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of methanolic, ethanolic, ethyl acetate and n-hexanic extract from the leaves of Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) growing in Morocco.
Study Design: Determination of total phenol and flavonoids content, in vitro antioxidant activity and antibacterial study of extracts.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biology (Faculty of Sciences), between July 2015 and November 2015.
Methodology: The extracts were prepared using solid-liquid extraction. The total phenolic content was assessed by the Folin-Ciocalteau assay, total flavonoid content was assessed by aluminium chloride (AlCl3) colorimetric assay. The antibacterial activity of extracts was tested against five reference strains, Escherichia coli K12 MBLA, Staphylococus aureus CECT 976, Listeria monocytogenes serovar 4b CECT 4032 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa IH using the agar well diffusion method and the micro-dilution assays. The antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring the ability of the extracts to scavenge the 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).
Results: The total phenol content of strawberry tree five extracts ranged between 94.51±0.08 and 141.72±0.56 mg GAE/g extract, and the flavonoid content ranged between 17.48±1.02 and 31.61±0.59 mg QE/g extract. All of the extracts presented antioxidant capacity assessed by DPPH scavenging method, but at different levels depending on the concentration and the extraction solvent are found. In addition, all extracts exhibited an antibacterial activity at different levels against strains reported as the causal agents of food borne diseases.
Conclusion: Results suggest the potential use of tested A. unedo extracts as bio-preservatives in the functional food industry