Biotechnology Journal International
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Studying the Cognitive Involvement of Glia Using Stochastic Functional Microscopy
No full textThe latest brain researches are showing the relevance of glia in cognitive processes like learning and memory. One of the main problems related to this type of investigations is about complexity: there are between 10 and 40 times more glia than neurons in the central nervous system of mammalians; the other main problem is about synaptic communication: glia cells (like astrocytes and microglia) use basically a chemical information system, therefore electrophysiological tecniques are not very efficient. The recent development of PALM and STORM microscopy can be a very powerful solution to these two main problems. This strategy can be included in a broader, hypothetical discipline called cognitive gliascience
Toxicological Effects of Plastic Composted Soil on Nitrifying Bacteria
No full textAim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicological effects of plastic composted soil on some nitrifying bacteria which are Nitrosomonas sp. and Nitrobacter sp.
Methodology: Five plastic composted soil samples were collected from different locations within the Edo State Waste Management site located at Iyowa in Benin City which were merged to form a composite sample. Nitrosomonas sp. and Nitrobacter sp. were isolated from the soil samples. Plastic composted soil concentrations were prepared for LC50 and EC50 determination. Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas acute toxicity test was carried out. Initial nitrite concentrations were determined and plates of Winograsky agar were immediately inoculated by spread plate techniques. Nitrite accumulation and utilization were also determined and inoculation by spread plate method was carried out from the various plastic composted soil concentrations after 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 4 h time intervals. Plates were incubated at room temperature (28+/- 2°C) for 24 h. The percentage inhibition of bacteria (Nitrosomonas sp. and Nitrobacter sp.) was determined using the probit regression analysis in Excel Microsoft.
Results: The EC50 values for Nitrosomonas sp. are as follows; 0.52, 0.82, 1.11 and 1.23 with LC50 values of 27.47, 24.14, 19.74 and 16.73. It was observed that the EC50 values were very low which increased gradually with time, this suggest that there was a high percentage inhibition of Nitrosomonas sp. thereby altering and reducing the percentage nitrite accumulation by the bacteria. The EC50 values for Nitrobacter sp. are 52.00, 81.72, 111.31 and 123.13 and LC50 values are 25.04, 23.93, 15.94 and 13.39. The EC50 values for Nitrobacter sp. were high which indicates that there was high nitrite utilization by Nitrobacter sp. as the percentage inhibition gradually decreased with exposure time. The coefficient of determination showed that the bacteria response which could be either inhibition, utilization or accumulation greatly depends on the amount/concentration of the plastic contaminants present in the test soil sample.
Conclusion: The result from this study shows that the EC50 determination was more sensitive than the LC50 determination for Nitrosomonas sp. and that the LC50 determination was more sensitive than the EC50 determination for Nitrobacter sp. Also that the populations of Nitrosomonas sp. were more sensitive to the plastic contaminants than the populations of Nitrobacter sp. The results obtained from this study suggest that autotrophic transformation by nitrifying bacteria which enhances soil fertility may be hindered in an ecosystem polluted with plastics as nitrification processes will be altered
Optimizing Salting and Immersion Time in Liquid Smoke of Farmed Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) Fillets Using Response Surface Methodology
No full textAims: To produce smoked gilthead sea bream fillets using the liquid smoke dipping method during brining and optimize the brining-smoking process using the response surface method.
Study Design: The experimental design was a two-level Central Composite Design that included 14 runs divided into two blocks.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, Messolonghi, Greece, between April 2015 and December 2015.
Methodology: Second order polynomial models for yield, moisture content, salt content, water activity, pH, redness index and instrumental texture parameters of salted and smoked with liquid smoke gilthead sea bream filets were developed as a function of salt brine content (from 8.7 to 19.3% (w/w)) and immersion time (from 30 to139 minutes) in brining solutions that contained 10% w/w liquid smoke. A numerical optimization was used to find the optimum values for salt brine content and immersion time. For the confirmation of the models, smoked gilthead sea breams were prepared using the optimal settings of the factors. The yield, salt content, water content, water activity, redness index and the textural parameters were determined. The results were statistically compared to the values predicted by the mathematical models. A consumer panel evaluated the smoked gilthead sea breams prepared using the optimal settings of the factors. The proximate composition of the smoked gilthead sea bream was also determined.
Conclusion: Within the range of brine salt content and immersion time used in the present work, the response surface model analysis and the model derived from the numerical optimization method proved useful in determining the optimum settings for salting and smoking with the liquid smoke of gilthead sea bream fillets. The optimal conditions for salt brine content and immersion time were 15.867% (w/w) and 109.975 minutes, respectively. Under optimal conditions, yield, water and salt content, water activity, pH, redness index, maximum shear force and work of smoked gilthead sea bream were 79.73%, 61.99%, 3.81% 0.94, 5.55, 0.41, 1269.1 (g*) and 3659.8 (g* sec), respectively. The water, protein, lipid and ash content of the smoked product were 61.87%, 20.89%, 12.43% and 3.56%, respectively, and the consumer panel highly accepted it
Plant Regeneration via Somatic Embryogenesis in an Ethnomedicinal Plant Senna alata (L.) Roxb.
No full textAim: To study the effect of various plant growth regulators (PGRs) for induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration from cotyledon and leaflet explants in Senna alata (L.) Roxb. (Syn. Cassia alata) an important ethnomedicinal plant used in the treatment of fungal skin infections.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biotechnology, Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana, India, between June 2013 to September 2014.
Methodology: Cotyledon and leaflet segments (1-3 cm, 20 day old) were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L N6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) /Thidiazuron (TDZ) in combination with various concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) viz., Indole acetic acid (IAA)/ α-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)/2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). The percentage of somatic embryo induction, maturation and plantlet formation is calculated.
Results: Maximum percentage of somatic embryogenesis (91%) was observed in cotyledon explants on MS medium augmented with 0.5 mg/L TDZ in combination with 3.0 mg/L NAA while the highest number of somatic embryos per explant (66.9±0.10) was formed in leaflet explants on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L BAP+3.0 mg/LNAA followed by 0.5 mg/L TDZ +3.0 mg/LNAA.
Conclusion: Among the explants tested, cotyledon explants were proved to be efficient for induction of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet development compared to leaflet explants and MS medium fortified with TDZ is more effective compared to BAP in both the cotyledon as well as leaf explants. The developed plantlets were acclimatized and transferred to the research field. The regenerated plants were found to be similar to the donor plant phenotypically
Effects of Exogenous ABA on Contents of Lycopene and Endogenous Hormone in Tomato Pericarp
No full textAims: This research studied the regulatory effect of ABA (Abscisic acid) on the contents of lycopene and endogenous hperipheral pericarp of tomato fruit during ripening, and provided an effective measure for improving the quality of tomato fruits.
Study Design: When the second cluster of toormone in mato fruits reached green mature stage, fruits were labeled and sprayed ABA (100 mg·L-1) over fruit surface, with spaying water as control, avoiding polluting the leaves. After treatment for 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20d, 10 fruits were sampled and dissected, peripheral pericarp for measuring the contents of lycopene, GA3 (Gibberellic acid), ABA, ZT (Zeatin) and ETH (Ethylene).
Place and Duration of Study: Horticultural College, between February 2014 and March 2015.
Methodology: The contents of lycopene, GA3, ABA and ZT were determined using HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography). The content of ETH was determined using GC (Gas Chromatography).
Results: The effect of exogenous ABA on the lycopene content in peripheral pericarp of tomato fruits was firstly inhibited then promoted during fruit mature period. Exogenous ABA decreased the content of endogenous GA3, but the endogenous ABA content was inhibited firstly, and then promoted, inhibited finally, and promoted the content decrease of endogenous ZT. The peak value was appeared early, but a little effect on the amount of ETH release.
Conclusion: This work proved the feasibility of elevating of lycopene levels in tomato fruit by the application of exogenous ABA. ABA promoted the accumulation of lycopene by the decreasing of endogenous GA3, ZT and ABA contents, and by releasing peak appear of endogenous ETH
The Screening of EST-SSR Markers Associated with Peel Color in Tomato Fruit
No full textAims: The color of tomato fruit is an important property in improving of tomato breed. So we screened the differences of yellow tomato peel and transparent tomato peel using EST-SSR markers, and it is in favour of the research of the tomato fruit color and tomato breeding.
Study Design: Primers were designed from ESTs in which the repeat bases of SSR were more than 18bp, then tested in yellow peel and transparent peel of gene pools built by F2 from E-95F8(♀) and Zhonghuajufeng8(♂).
Place and Duration of Study: College of Biological Science and Technology, between February 2015 and March 2016.
Methodology: The yellow peel gene pool and the transparent peel gene pool were built according to the trait segregation group of F2, and then screened the differential bands by the primers. In the end, the differential bands were tested in the segregation group of F2.
Results: 250 primer pairs were designed. One (HML52) of 250 primer pairs had diversity between yellow peel and transparent peel of gene pools built by F2 from E-95F8(♀) and Zhonghuajufeng8(♂). In the end, the primer pair of HML52 passed test, and genetic distance was 7.04 cM.
Conclusion: The primer pair of HML52 of EST-SSR marker associated with peel color in tomato was found in this study, and the genetic distance of the primer pair was 7.04 cM
Mutagenicity of Oil Drilling Fluid (Potassium Chromate) on the Seedlings of Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp). in the Niger Delta, Nigeria
No full textThe morphological, leaf epidermal and anatomical distortions caused by the exposure of Vigna unguiculata L. to potassium chromate was investigated using 1-4%w/w of an oil field chemical Potassium chromate and Control (0). Results showed that 2-4%w/w concentrations elicited noticeable effects on the plant. Variations occurred in plant height, leaf area, number of leaves between the treated and the control plants. V. unguiculata treated with 1%w/w concentration had malformed and chlorotic leaves. The treated plant had reduced stomatal indices in both epidermal surfaces: adaxial (18.3%) and abaxial (66.3%) as against (26.3%) and (75.3%) observed in the control. The mid rib of the treated plants had thicker cuticle than the control plant. There were 6 layers of collenchymatous cells in the mid rib of the treated plant as against 5 layers of collenchymatous cells in the control. The petiole of the treated plant also had thick sclerenchyma cells around the vascular bundle while the sclerenchymatous cells around the vascular bundles in the control plant were thin. Oxalate crystals were seen in the parenchyma cells of both the treated and the control plants but more of the crystals were observed in the treated plants. Obviously some mutagenic effects were elicited on the test organism indicating that the oil field chemical should be excluded where this plant is grown so as to avoid losses or other adverse consequences of potassium chromate on V. unguiculata
The Effect of Drying and Salting on the Nutrient Composition and Organoleptic Properties of Talinum triangulare Leaves
No full textAims: The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of drying and salting on the nutrient content and sensory properties of Talinum triangulare leaves.
Study Design: The methods of drying and salting were: oven drying to constant weight at 40°C without any pretreatment, blanching in steam prior to oven drying to constant weight at 40°C, light salting (25 g dry salt/ kg leaves), light brine and vinegar treatment (50 g salt / L +50 ml vinegar/ kg leaves), and heavy salting (250 g/ kg leaves). Each salt treatment was provided for a duration of 14 days.
Methodology: Moisture, pH, ash, Ca, Fe, Na, crude fibre, β- and total carotene and vitamin C content of the fresh leaves and the products of the treatments were determined. Values for the fresh and the treated leaves on one hand, and those for products of the various treatments were then compared statistically. Sensory characteristics were also recorded.
Results: Compared with the fresh vegetable, oven drying, alone or after blanching of the leaves, resulted in a decrease in nutrient content, with retention ranging from 22.08% (for vitamin C in the leaves dried without prior blanching) to 95.69% (for Na in the blanched and oven-dried samples). Blanching prior to drying gave higher retention of β-carotene, total carotene and vitamin C than oven drying alone, but offered no advantage over the latter for the preservation of ash, iron, sodium and calcium (minerals). Compared with the fresh vegetable, salting resulted in high loss of β-carotene, total carotene, vitamin C and iron, and an increase in sodium and calcium
Antifungal Activity of Camel Faeces with Special Reference to Dermatophytes
No full textAim: The present study was conducted to evaluate the antifungal activity of camel faeces on some pathogenic fungi.
Study Design: This is a descriptive evaluation study.
Methodology: Camel faeces was extracted following Harborne method using organic solvents. Organic extracts besides, aqueous extract and ash were screened against clinical isolates using agar-well diffusion and incorporated methods. Parallel experiments were conducted with ketoconazole and nystatin, as positive control whereas; the vehicle solvents were used as negative control. Phytochemical analysis of Camel feaces was carried out following Harborne method.
Results: Water and ethanol extracts exerted significant effect on dermatophytes followed by chloroform and hexane extracts compared to the ash which revealed no activity. Aspergillus and Pencillium species were found insensitive to all test extracts where as Candida albicans was found sensitive only to the hexane extract. Sterols and triterpenes were revealed on phytochemical analysis.
Discussion: The antifungal activity of camel faeces might be due to the sterols and triterpenes.
Conclusion: The study confirms efficacy of camel faeces as natural antifungal agent, and suggests the possibility of employing it for treatment of skin infections, caused by the test pathogens. The present study reveals first report on the use of camel faeces against some pathogenic fungi.
Recommendation: Identification and characterization of novel molecules are highly recommended
Evaluation of Potential Probiotic Characteristics of Isolated Lactic Acid Bacteria from Goat Milk
No full textProbiotics, in point of fact, well-thought-out as the health effective microbial food supplements by fashioning mutuality environment to consumers intestinal gut in an advantageous manner. Goat milk is a broaden source of probiotics in consort with other nutrients. That’s why the focal objective of this study was to insulate probiotic lactic acid bacteria and appraising their potentiality as probiotics. In this study prospective colonies were isolated after pure culture of goat milk sample in MRS media and a series of tests including colonial and morphological observation, catalase test, gram-staining and sugar fermentation were carried out to characterize the bacteria. To scrutinize their probiotic properties, the study was furnished with NaCl, phenol & bile salt tolerance test, milk coagulation test as well as antimicrobial activity test where we witnessed that the isolates were tolerant against 1-6% NaCl, 0.1-0.4% phenol & 0.05-0.3% bile salt, coagulated in milk and only three isolates of Enterococcus faecium and Pediococcus acidilactici disclosed anti-microbial activities to think through them as potential probiotics. These potential probiotics obtained from goat milk sample can be used as food supplements in various food biotechnological applications to become an alternative to other milk sources specifically cow milk