Biotechnology Journal International
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In-vitro Measurement of Glucose Concentration in Human Blood Plasma Mixed Intralipid Phantom Samples by Using Modulated Ultrasound and Infrared Light
No full textNon-invasive blood glucose measurement is one of most innovative domain in Biomedical Engineering. Multiple methodologies have-been introduced over last few decades to fulfil the clinical requirement for non-invasive glucose measurement in human beings, however, without a successful breakthrough. This research article uses modulated ultrasound with infrared light-based technique to study glucose-induced variations in human blood plasma mixed IntralipidTM phantom samples using infrared light of 940 nm and 40 kHz central frequency based ultrasonic transmitter unit. The test uses blood samples of 30 study subjects during oral glucose tolerance test and fasting, postprandial and random stages based blood glucose tests respectively. The result as obtained from oral glucose tolerance tests and fasting, postprandial and random stages blood glucose tests showed peak amplitude values in Fast Fourier Transform domain varies in corresponding to blood glucose levels in in-vitro samples. The Bland Altman plot, Error Grid and statistical analysis represent the potentiality and feasibility of our technique for non-invasive blood glucose measurement
Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils from Some Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
No full textThis research work was designed to examine the antimicrobial activities of some medicinal and aromatic plants. The essential oils of Adansonia digitata, Arachis hypodaea, Capsicum frutecens, Gossypium hirsutum, Hisbiscus esculentus, Nicotiana tabacum L., Piliostigma reticulatum Hochst, Sesamum alatum thoning, Solamum incanum L., Vernonia amygdalin and Vigna unguiculata were extracted by hydro-distillation and the oils were evaluated against some microorganisms. Among the plants tested, essential oils from Vigna unguiculata showed activity against all the tested microorganisms except Bacillius subtilis with minimum inhibition of 75 mm each. Piliostigma reticulatum Hochst showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia Coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans with minimum inhibition of 100 mm each. Sesamum alatum Thoning showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis with minimum inhibition of 100 mm each. The activities of the essential oils against the tested organisms may be responsible for the assumed therapeutic uses of the plants by the traditional healers
Ochratoxin A Production by Cocoa Infested Aspergillus Species in Ondo State, Nigeria
No full textAim: To determine ochratoxin A production by cocoa bean seeds infested Aspergillus species in Ondo State, Nigeria.
Place and Duration of Study: Cocoa bean seeds were randomly collected from six local government areas namely Idanre, Akure, Owo, Akure, Oba-Akoko, and Ile-Oluji known to be highest cocoa seed producers. Samples were collected for a period of one year duration.
Methodology: Sterilized cocoa seeds were plated on potato Dextrose Agar and Sabourard Dextrose agar after which toxigenic strains were inoculated on Czapek Yeast Extract Agar and the resulting culture homogenized and spotted on TLC plate for viewing. Suspected ochratoxin A producers were inoculated separately on sterile cocoa bean seeds for 21 days after which OTA extraction were done and quantified using HPLC.
Results: Fourteen Aspergilli were isolated and identified. Twelve in Ikpenmen, eleven in Akure while the last seven were isolated from samples collected in Idanre. Aspergillus alutaceus were only isolated from Ikpenmen for the 12 months. Aspergillus ochraceus, A. niger, A. niger aggregate, A. carbonarius, A. aculeatus, A terreus, A vesicolor all produced OTA at varying concentration. A. ochraceus isolated from Ikpenmen samples produced the highest amount of OTA (372 µg/kg) while samples infested with A. niger aggregate from Akure alone produced OTA 109 µg/kg. A. carbonarius from all collection venues produced ochratoxin A OTA produced in Oba-Akoko by specie A. carbonarius had the highest value of 539 µg/kg culture.
Conclusion: The study showed that Aspergillus ochraceus, A. niger, A. niger aggregate, A. carbonarius, A. aculeatus, A terreus, A vesicolor were the major OTA producers contaminating stored cocoa produce in Ondo State, Nigeria
Isolation and Purification of Lipase from the Midgut of Fifth Instar Larvae of Antheraea mylitta drury
No full textLipases obtained from healthy and pebrinised larvae were purified by 45-85% (NH4)2SO4 fractionation followed by Sephadex S-100 gel filtration and CM-Sepharose. In both the samples final enzyme purification reported was 19.02 and 17.7 folds(magnitude) and the recovery of final purified enzyme was 19.32% and 17.14% with a specific activity of 7.87 and 7.52 µmol/min/mg. Results also show that activity of purified lipase was highest at pH 8 in both the samples. Highest lipase activity was recorded between 37°C to 40°C temperature and lipase activity was maximum at 37°C temperature in healthy sample and 38°C temperature in pebrinised sample. The enzyme activity reduced with addition of NaCl, Urea and MgCl2 whereas EDTA and CaCl2 increased the activity. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 30 kDa as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Aim: The present study was conducted to isolate, purify and characterize lipases from the midgut of both healthy and pebrinised fifth instar larvae of Antheraea mylitta drury.
Study Design: Study involves dissection of midgut from the fifth instar larvae of fourth day of both healthy and pebrinised larvae, Lipases obtained from both the samples were purified by 45-85% (NH4)2SO4 fractionation followed by Sephadex S-100 gel filtration and CM-Sepharose and specific activity was measured at various temperatures and different pH. Molecular weight of lipase was measured by SDS PAGE.
Place and Duration of Study: Healthy and pebrinised fifth instar larvae of fourth day were collected from the forest patches of Jakaram (18.1E and 79.8 N), Warangal in August 2015.
Methodology: Lipase was isolated from the midgut of both healthy and pebrinised larvae and purification of enzyme was done by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, Sephadex S-100 gel filtration and CM-Sepharose. Temperature, pH suitable for highest lipase activity was measured and specific activity against various chemicals was also measured. Kinetic parameters like Km and Vmax were estimated by Sigmaplot software version 11. SDS Polyacrylamide gel was used to determine the molecular weight of lipase.
Results: In both healthy and pebrinised larvae final enzyme purification reported was 19.02, 17.7 folds and the recovery % of final purified enzyme was 19.32, 17.14 with a specific activity of 7.87, 7.52 µmol/min/mg. Results also show that activity of purified lipase was highest at pH 8 in both the samples. Highest lipase activity was recorded at temperatures between 37 and 40°C with a remarkable activity at 37°C and 38°C in healthy and pebrinised samples. The enzyme activity reduced with addition of NaCl, Urea and MgCl2 whereas EDTA and CaCl2 increased the activity. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 30 kDa as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Conclusion: Pebrine disease has reduced the recovery percentage and also the specific activity of the enzyme. Maximum activity was recorded at high temperature in both the samples. During pebrine infection the midgut of fifth instar larvae has got influenced highly with a significant variation in many biochemical components including enzymes. Pebrine spores are the indicators of disease incidence
Dermatoglyphics and Malocclusion-A Forensic Link
No full textDermatoglyphics is known to be one of the best available diagnostic tools in genetic disorders. Dermatoglyphics refers to the study of epidermal ridges on the finger & palmer region 1 of the hand and sole. The finger prints are unique characteristic features of an individual and remain unchanged over lifetime. The dermatoglyphics patterns, have the same origin as that of the facial structures, as well develop concurrently. Thus, hereditary and environmental factors leading to malocclusions may also set off peculiarities in fingerprint patterns. This article aims to give brief insight of different aspects of dermatoglyphics studies highlighting is utility in diagnosing malocclusion and other developmental disturbances of the oro-facial structures
Mitochondrial Diversity and Time Divergence of Commonly Cultured Cichlids in Nigeria
No full textAim: The aims are to study the genetic diversity and population structure of Tilapia fish species in Nigeria using mtDNA D-loop region and time divergence of these various groups of fish to give a baseline information for fish management and conservation programs.
Methodology: Blood samples from four species of tilapia were collected with the use of FTA cards for DNA extraction and PCR amplification. A 941bp long fragment, including the D-loop, was subsequently used for analysis. Molecular diversity indices and Tajima’s selective test were determined. A phylogenetic tree was constructed for all the four fish species using UPGMA. The divergence time among the four fish species using MEGA5 software.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Biotechnology Centre, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Nigeria between. Genotyping and Optimization of PCR conditions were carried out at STAB VIDA Lda, Madan Parque, Rua dos Inventores, 2825-182 Caparica Portugal. Total duration of study was between February to August 2015.
Results: Sarotherodon melanotheron has the highest nucleotide diversity (π), mean number of pairwise differences and number of polymorphic site, while the least was observed in Sarotherodon galiIaeus. The highest number of monomorphic site and the highest sequences conservation percentage was observed in Sarotherodon galiIaeus.
The Neighbour joining tree revealed six (6) clusters with no clear sub-structuring among the sampled fish populations. The smallest divergence time (about 31 mya) was observed between Sarotherodon galilaeus and Sarotherodon melanotheron. Sarotherodon spp diverged from Oreochromis niloticus about 32.5 mya.
Conclusion: The present study revealed that the sampled Tilapia species from Nigeria represent a single stock. The existing low levels of genetic variability observed here may compromise the evolutionary plasticity of the Tilapia species population. These findings indicate an urgent need for the careful monitoring of the harvesting of Tilapia species in Nigeria
Production and Application of Agar-based Slow-release Fertilizers, in the Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon-impacted Soil
No full textAims: The study was carried out to determine the potentials of novel slow-release fertilizers (SRF) in the bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-impacted soil, in order to determine their potentials in the bioremediation of petroleum-impacted sites and as well evaluate the effect of nutrient concentration on the rate of bioremediation.
Study Design: A marine biopolymer (agar agar) was used as a coating for soluble NPK fertilizer in slow-release formulations (capsular and granular form).
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, between January and June 2015.
Methodology: The contaminated soil sample was recreated in four clean plastic containers and labeled A - D, as follows: Sample A = 300 g Soil + 20 g NPK Capsular SRF; Sample B = 300 g Soil + 20 g NPK Granular SRF; Sample C = 300 g Soil + 20 g Direct NPK; Sample D = 300 g Soil (without fertilizer - control). The determination of the effect of SRF on the population dynamics of total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (THB) and hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (HUB) was achieved through the use of nutrient agar (spread plate technique) and mineral salts agar (vapour phase transfer technique) in the enumeration of THB and HUB respectively.
Results: After a 42-day period, there was a significant difference, (p <0 .05) in the percentage loss of total petroleum hydrocarbon between the various treatment options. Sample D had the least percentage loss (33.6%) of total petroleum hydrocarbon, Sample A (50.5%), Sample B (73.1%) and Sample C had the highest percentage loss of 74.83%. The various bacterial counts (THB and HUB) increased progressively with increase in nutrient concentration.
Conclusion: The results revealed the applicability and effectiveness of slow release fertilizers in the bioremediation of hydrocarbon impacted soil. These novel SRFs are also recommended for their applicability in the bioremediation of water and sediments
Biopharmaceuticals: New yet Natural
No full textBiopharmaceuticals are large complex therapeutic drug molecules composed of amino acids, nucleotides and proteins obtained by extraction from non-conventional sources. The biopharmaceutical products include cytokines, interleukins, enzymes, hormones, monoclonal antibodies and clotting factors. Biopharmaceuticals due to their complex heterogeneity are highly sensitive and unstable in nature and may undergo degradation if temperature or pH is altered. The term “biopharmaceutical” is still debatable and the definition of biopharmaceutical is still unclear. The current review intends to throw a light on the general information regarding biopharmaceuticals such as their regulatory definition(s), types, production systems (microbial, plants and mammalian), characterization and delivery techniques of biopharmaceuticals. The global scenario of the sales of biopharmaceuticals is represented along with a case study of biopharmaceuticals in cancer treatment and the sales of oncological products world over. The Indian biotech industries have grown immensely in the last few years such that various pharmaceutical industries are diversifying into biopharmaceutical production. In contrast to so many therapeutic applications, the biopharmaceuticals possess few limitations such as bioaccumulation in the body, toxicity, immunogenicity, contamination, high manufacturing cost etc. The biopharmaceuticals hold a promising future for the healthcare industry. Many innovations in biopharmaceuticals are underway including biosimilars, biobetters, biodrugs, diagnostic biomarkers such as lab on a chip technology and drug therapy based on genetic buildup of an individual (Pharmacogenomics)
Ex-situ Conservation of the Rare and Threatened Medicinal Climber Corallocarpus epigaeus Rottler through In vitro Regeneration Method
No full textAims: To develop in vitro propagation and callus induction protocol for regeneration and conservation of the rare and threatened medicinal climber, Corallocarpus epigaeus, which is widely acclaimed for high medicinal values.
Place and Duration of Study: The plant was spotted on Nag Pahar hill forest of Ajmer district of Rajasthan, India. Its natural regenerative potential and exploitative practices by human beings were studied during November, 2012 to December, 2013. In vitro regeneration experiments were conducted during January, 2014 and January, 2016 at Regional Institute of Education, Ajmer.
Methodology: The organogenic and callus induction potential of various parts of the plant C. epigaeus were assessed through in vitro cultures. Murashige and Skoog`s (MS) media supplemented with various concentrations and combinations of 6-Benzyladenine (BA), Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), α-Naphthaleneaceticacid (NAA), and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were used for enhanced axillary branching, callus induction, and rooting of microshoots. Acclimatization of rooted plantlets and their successful establishment to the soil conditions were also studied.
Results: An efficient plant regeneration system has been developed through enhanced axillary branching which was initiated from nodal segments cultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BA, and IAA in combination. The maximum number of shoots 8.41±0.29 with average length of 6.29±0.32 cm per explant was achieved in MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L BA and 2.0 mg/L IAA. The best callus induction from stem and leaf explants was obtained on MS medium containing 2.0 mg/L (BA) and 0.5 mg/L NAA. Rooting of microshoots was achieved on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L IBA. Well developed plantlets transferred to the soil conditions showed 67% survival.
Conclusion: The methodology is reliable and highly beneficial for ex situ conservation, maintenance of in vitro biodiversity and multiplication of the Great Root for commercial production of tubers of diverse pharmacological properties.  
Nutrients and Microbial Evaluations of Ginger Pre-treated Smoke-dried African Lungfish (Protopterus annectens Owen, 1883)
No full textThe nutrients assay and microbial evaluation of ginger pre-treated smoked African lungfish (Protopterus annectens) stored for a week at room temperature were studied. Forty five fish samples weighing 1.0 kg each were purchased, killed, eviscerated and washed thoroughly under tap water and grouped into three treatments of fifteen fish each coded as treatments A, B, and C respectively. Fish in treatment A were immersed in 5% brine without spice (ginger) pre-treatment served as the control, treatment B was soaked in mixture of 5% brine and 2.5% ginger extract while treatment C was immersed in a solution containing mixture of 5% brine and 5% ginger extract. Each batch was smoke-dried for a period of six hours. The samples from each batch were subjected to proximate composition within 48 hours and microbial analysis on 7th day of storage at ambient temperature. The results of the proximate analysis showed a significant difference (P<0.05) among the pre-treated samples. Sample A had the highest moisture content (11.85%). The highest concentration of crude protein was obtained in sample C (63.94%) while samples B and A recorded the values of 63.8 and 59.51% respectively (p<0.05). The highest crude fat concentration was obtained in sample C (8.46%), followed by sample B (8.44%) and the least was recorded in sample A (5.78%). The microbiological analysis showed that sample A (control) favoured the proliferation of microorganisms such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp and Micrococcus spp more than samples treated with ginger extract. The overall microbial population ranged between 3.0x104 and 2.0x105 which are within the safety limit (≤ 105 cfu/g) for total bacterial plate count for microbiological food. This result therefore has indicated that the use of brine with ginger extract could be suitable for prolonging the shelf-life of smoked lungfish without negative effects on the nutrients composition and storage quality under ambient conditions