Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Abstract: The isoquinolines are of great importance to humanity because of their medicinal value and different structure. There have been many researches on the isoquinolines, but relatively few pure compounds have been investigated for their antibacterial activity. The in vitro activity of a novel synthetic antimicrobial compound 1-(4-choloro-phenyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4,- tetrahydroisoquinoline was evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27853) using standard methods approved by Clinical and Laboratory Stan…

Abstract: Biodegradation studies of hydrocarbons in untreated produce water from an oil production facility in Nigeria were undertaken over a period of time using pure fungal cultures (Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus niger). The rate of reduction in some petroleum hydrocarbon fractions, such as n-alkanes, aromatics, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen (NSO)-containing compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were monitored by means of gas chromatography and mass spectrometery, using mechanically treated produce water a…

Abstract: Thirty four medicinal plants, belonging to twenty eight different families, were screened for potential antibacterial activity against six bacterial strains belonging to Enterobacteriaceae, viz. Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC13048, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae NCIM2719, Proteus mirabilis NCIM 2241, Proteus vulgaris NCTC8313, and Salmonella typhimurium ATCC23564. Antibacterial activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts was tested by the agar disc diffusion and agar well diffusion methods. The ethan…

Abstract: Ten packaged, freshly sliced watermelon were collected from different street vendors to determine their microbiological quality. Eight different microbial isolates were obtained from the sliced watermelon samples, namely Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rhizopus stolonifer and Mucor spp. The effects of high density polyethylene (HDP) and low density polyethylene (LDP) packaging bags on the microbiological quality of fresh…

Abstract: Animal wastes in the form of manure frequently contain enteric pathogenic microorganisms and land spreading can lead to pathogen entry into the food chain. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the persistence of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium in soil, and on barley and rosemary plants. We observed that Salmonella typhimurium persisted for an extended period of time (203 to 231 days), and could be detected on infected vegetative parts of the rosemary and barley plants even after desiccat…

Abstract: This paper reported the investigation of haemorrhagic enteritis in female elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) and pygmy hog (Sus salvanius) at the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati, Assam, India. An eight year old female elephant and two and half year old female pygmy hog developed haemorrhagic enteritis of unknown cause maintained at the zoo died within four days. Bacteriological investigation revealed that the causative agent Clostridium perfringens was associated with the disease. Erythromycin, clindamycin and metronidaz…

Abstract: Seventy fungal strains were isolated from soils collected from different parts of southern Kerala, India. The strains were screened for xylanase production using Czapek’s agar medium. On the basis of clearing zones formed, 34 fungal strains were selected and identified. Solid state and submerged fermentation were done to identify strains that could produce maximum amount of xylanase, as well as to identify those strains that could produce cellulase- free xylanase under these conditions. All strains produced cellula…

Abstract: A soil bacterium capable of utilizing chlorpyrifos as sole carbon source was isolated by selective enrichment on mineral medium containing chlorpyrifos. The bacterial isolate, designated MS09, was identified and characterized as a strain of Providencia stuartii based on biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Growth studies showed that P. stuartii strain MS09 utilized chlorpyrifos to grow in Luria-Bertani broth containing different concentrations of chlorpyrifos at 50 -700 mg/L. However, the opt…

Abstract: A new virus was discovered by molecular techniques in respiratory samples collected from young children with respiratory diseases in Sweden in 2005. The virus, named human bocavirus, is genetically related to the bovine parvovirus and the canine minute virus, both of which belong to the bocavirus genus of the parvoviridae family. Recent studies conducted in different countries have shown that HBoV is found in 1.5 - 19% of children with respiratory diseases. HBoV has been observed to be associated with a broad spect…

Abstract: The effect of some commonly used chemical preservatives (benzoic acid, sodium benzoate and sodium sulfite) on the shelf-life of Sobo drink was investigated by isolation of microorganisms before and during its ambient storage for 14 days. Three bacterial species, i.e. Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus were isolated. L. acidophilus was found only in the samples without preservatives, while B. subtilis and B. cereus were found in the samples with preservatives. Four fungal species, i.e…

Abstract: The objectives of the present study were Isolation, identification and characterization of xylanase producing fungi, optimization of medium composition and cultural conditions for xylanase enzyme production, production using cheaper sources and extraction and partial purification of extra cellular xylanase enzyme from a potential strain. Xylan has a complex structure consisting of -1, 4-linked xylose residues in the backbone to which short side chains of o- acetyl, -L-arabinofuranosyl, D - - glucuronic and phenolic…

Abstract: In this study the immunomodulatory potential of an Indian medicinal plant, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. (Oleaceae), was investigated. The leaf extracts of N. arbor-tristis is used to treat arthritis, lung injury and some painful conditions such as cancer, chronic fever and rheumatism. An ethanolic extract of N. arbor-tristis (NAEE) was screened in rats for humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Oral administration of the NAEE to rats at a dose of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg significantly enhanced the circulating…

Abstract: The aqueous and organic leaf extracts of the plant Senna siamae, traditionally used for the treatment of infectious disease, were tested for their activity against clinical isolates of Salmonella typhi using the disc diffusion method. The ethanol extracts showed the highest activity (zone of inhibition 10 ± 0.01 mm), followed by acetone extracts (zone of inhibition 8 ± 0.01 mm), while the aqueous extracts showed the lowest activity (zone of inhibition 3.5 ± 0.01 mm) at 40 mg/ml concentration. Preliminary phytochemi…

Abstract: This study was aimed to determine chemical and microbiological changes during plaa-som fermentation process. The results have been considered for use as safety control indices to obtain a higher quality and safer plaa-som. The fermentation process can be divided into an initiation stage (samples 1 to 3) and a maturation stage (samples 4 to 9) based on the changes obtained. At the initiation stage, pH remained stable at 6.3 and then rapidly declined during the maturation stage as from 6.3 to 4.5. Total acidity showe…