MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

文章

Pollen germination, tube growth and longevity in some cultivars of Vitis vinifera L.

Yavar Sharafi* and Ali Bahmani

Abstract: The grapevines (Vitis vinifera, L.) are cultured widely in Maragheh and are made one of the most important commercial fruit crops of its regions. Most of the cultivars are growing with their fruits or are used in rasine, juice and fresh fruits forms. However, pollination is the main factor affecting fruit set and knowledge about pollen traits of cultivars is necessary to plan the vineyards establishment and breeding programs. This study was accomplished to investigate pollen traits of 15 main grape cultivars ('Fakhri', 'Hosaini', 'Khalili', 'Keshmeshi' ('Sefide bidaneh), 'Lale bidaneh', 'Garmian', 'Gizil uzum', 'Sahebi', 'Jigh jigha', 'Shahani', 'Soltanin', 'Rish baba', 'Syahe malahi', 'Razeghi' ('Peikami') and 'Tabarzeh') which are grown in Maragheh. Pollens of cultivars gathered and cultured in the in vitro medium contained sucrose, boric acid and agar. Pollen germination percentage and tube growth were studied by light microscope. Experiment was carried out based on completely randomized design was (CRD) and data were analyzed with SAS software. Pollen germination percentage and tube growth rate showed significant differences among all of the studied cultivars. Finally, cultivars 'Fakhri', 'Khalili', 'Keshmeshi' 'Lale bidane' and 'Rish baba' showed the highest range of pollen germination, tube growth rate, longevity and selected for vineyards establishment and breeding programs.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Grapevine, vineyards, pollen germination, pollen tube growth, pollen longevity, breeding programs

Full text

Download：847

文章

Prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility patterns of some bacterial isolates from a street vended fruit product

Kalsoom Farzana*, Muhammad Rouf Akram and Seema Mahmood

Abstract: The study is aimed to evaluate the food safety status of a street vended fruit product locally known as fruit chat. Sample collection was carried out from four groups of vendors which were discriminated based on their mobility, vending practice and storage facility. The extent of prevalence for Enterobacter species, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Salmonella species, Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis was assessed in fruit chat samples. Bacterial isolates were identified through biochemical characterization. The degree of susceptibility of these isolates was evaluated against six different antibiotics that is, amikacin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, ceftriaxone and co-trimoxazol using disc diffusion method. Results indicated a higher (105 to 1010 CFU/g) total plate count (TPC) and total coliforms count (TCC) ranged from 104 to 109 CFU /g in samples collected from mobile vendors without covering. Mobility of vendors and, use of no covering, resulted in significant (P≤0.05) contamination. However, fruit chat samples collected from stationary vendors with refrigeration facilities exhibited considerably lower bacterial count. The study clearly indicated that consumption of fruit chats from street vendors can be a potential risk for food borne outbreaks because of their contamination level by pathogenic bacteria. Bacterial species had shown variable susceptibility and resistance patterns in response to different antibiotics used in the study. However, all bacterial species had shown greater sensitivity for amikacin, whereas, bacterial strains appeared to develop resistance against other commonly used antibiotics. The mounting resistance against antibiotics is currently one of the foremost challenges to treat food borne infections. Therefore, both preventative and effective curative measures should be adopted. Firstly, the safety status of street vended food products can be enhanced by improving hygienic conditions during the preparation of food stuff. Secondly, the use of effective antibiotics will be of significant importance to cure food borne infections as well as to avoid growing resistance in pathogenic bacteria.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Safety status, street vended fruit product, bacterial prevalence, antibiotics susceptibility.

Full text

Download：842

文章

Species distribution and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of coagulase-negative Staphylococci other than Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from various clinical specimens

O. Bouchami*, W. Achour, and A. Ben Hassen

Abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the species distribution and antibiotic resistance patterns of coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) other than Staphylococcus epidermidis. A total of 142 CoNS (except S. epidermidis) strains were isolated from a variety of clinical specimens in neutropenic patients at the Bone Marrow Transplant Centre of Tunisia between 2002 and 2004. All CoNS isolates were further identified by Api ID32 STAPH and ITS-PCR and antibiotic sensitivity was performed by disc diffusion method. Staphylococcus haemolyticus was the commonest species (38%) followed by Staphylococcus hominis (36%). All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and 8 (6%) strains showed a reduced sensitivity to teicoplanin. Resistance to penicillin G and methicillin was 84 and 60%, respectively. Methicillin-resistant CoNS strains were determined to be more resistant to antibiotics than methicillin-susceptible CoNS strains. The mecA gene was detected by PCR in 65% (92/142) CoNS isolates. Out of 92 mecA-positive isolates, 90 were phenotypically methicillin-resistant and two were methicillin-susceptible. Phylogenetic analysis, carried out to study the evolution of mecA genes between different Staphylococcal species, revealed a high homology for such genes among Staphylococci.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Coagulase-negative Staphylococci, methicillin-resistance, mecA gene.

Full text

Download：844

文章

Trichosporon identification methods for isolates obtained from different clinical specimens

Noha El-Mashad*, Mohamed Taha Mahmoud and Heba allah El-Shewehy

Abstract: Trichosporon is a medically important genus that includes the causative agents of both deep- seated, mucosa-associated infection and superficial infection. In this study, we aimed to present data on the phenotypic and molecular identification of Trichosporon species recovered from various clinical specimens representing both superficial and systemic infections. 397 samples (65 blood cultures, 192 nail scrapings, 140 skin scrapings) were included for isolation, phenotypic and genotypic identification of Trichosporon species. Cases of hematological malignancies, onychomycosis, and Tinea pedis were positive for yeast isolates with percentage of 10.7, 16.6, 20.7%, respectively. Based on the morphologic characters of isolated colonies on Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA), microscopic examination of colonies on rice agar, and stained smears, yeasts identified as Trichosporon were: 9(4.68%) from nail samples, and 5(3.6%) from skin samples and 0(0.0%) from blood cultures. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Trichosporon genus specific primers for 68 yeast isolates was positive in 16 samples (14 were previously identified by morphology and 2 nail scrapings were falsely diagnosed negative) at 170 bp. We subsequently performed 2 PCR runs on the identified 16 samples using specific primers for each of T. asahii and T. mucoides. Their sequences included ITS1, ITS2. They yielded specific amplification of a DNA fragment at 430 bp in 13(16) samples, which is specific for Trichosporon asahii, and 0(0.0%) sample was positive for Trichosporon mucoides specific primers. Occurance of trichosporonosis is not rare in human. T. asahii species is common in our locality. Molecular methods for identification of Trichosporon are more precise. The standardization of laboratory methods for trichosporon identification and antifungal susceptibility tests are necessary to investigate for both superficial and systemic trichosporonosis.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Trichosporon asahii, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Trichosporon mucoides.

Full text

Download：884

文章

Streptomyces sannurensis sp. nov., a new alkaliphilic member of the genus Streptomyces isolated from Wadi Sannur in Egypt

Wael N. Hozzein,*, Mohammed I. A. Ali, Ola Hammouda, Ahmed S. Mousa and Michael Goodfellow

Abstract: The taxonomic position of an actinomycete isolated from a soil sample collected from Wadi Sannur in Egypt was established using a polyphasic approach. The isolate, which was designated WS 51T, was shown to have chemical and morphological properties typical of streptomycetes. An almost complete 16S rDNAgene sequence of the strain was generated and compared with corresponding sequences of representative streptomycetes. The resultant data confirmed the classification of the strain in the genus Streptomyces but also showed that it formed a distinct phyletic line within the 16S rDNAStreptomyces gene tree. The organism was most closely associated to the type strains of Streptomyces hygroscopicus, Streptomyces malaysiensis and Streptomyces yatensis but was readily separated from them using a range of phenotypic properties. It is proposed that strain WS 51T (= CCTCC 001032T = DSM 41834T) be classified in the genus Streptomyces as Streptomyces sannurensis sp. nov.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Streptomyces sannurensis sp. nov., polyphasic taxonomy, alkaliphilic streptomycete.

Full text

Download：890

文章

Comparison of cELISA and IFA tests in the serodiagnosis of anaplasmosis in cattle

Full Length Research Paper

Abstract: This study was performed to compare indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA) test with competitive ELISA (cELISA) for detection of antibodies to Anaplasma marginale in cattle. In this study, a total of 484 cattle were examined on farms that had a positive history of anaplasmosis. Thin blood smears were prepared from each examined cattle and the cELISA and IFA tests were performed. Samples in which the results of microscopic examination and cELISA were compatible were used as a “gold standard” to define sensitivity and specificity of IFA test and these were used to give “real diagnosis”. According to the test result; 62 of 69 samples found positive in “real diagnosis” were positive in IFA test, and all of the 187 samples that were negative in the real diagnosis were defined as negative in IFA test. When compared to gold standard the sensitivity and specificity of the IFA test were 88.95 and 100%, respectively. In conclusion, both IFA and cELISA tests can be used in the diagnosis of A. marginale.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Anaplasma marginale, IFA test, cELISA.

Full text

Download：753

文章

Evaluation of gastric ulcer model based on gray-scale image analysis

Wang Shuai, Bao Yong-rui, Diao Yun-Peng, Meng Xian-Sheng* and Kang Ting-Guo

Abstract: Absolute alcohol, stress, pyloric ligation and others are well-rounded experimental gastric ulcer models widely used to evaluate the anti-ulcer activity of drugs (Wang et al., 2007; Zhang et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2004; Oyagi et al., 2010). In the model evaluation process, ulcer index is a more important indicator. So in this experiment, the absolute alcohol gastric ulcer model is taken as an example to discuss a model of gastric ulcer index, which can be used as a new method to calculate the reduction of the systematic errors that exist in the experiment. The oral ethanol approach was used to establish an absolute alcohol gastric ulcer model, and impose certain medication, while traditional methods and the establishment of grayscale image analysis methods were used for calculating its ulcer index respectively, before comparing the differences between the two methods. Grayscale image analysis methods and traditional methods have significant correlation (r = 0.819, P＜0.01) and similarity (r = 0.951). A grayscale image analysis method not only proves to be a more scientific approach to measure rat gastric ulcer area, but also provide a new method to evaluate drug efficacy to some extent.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Gastric ulcer, ulcer index, gray-scale image analysis, image J.

Full text

Download：740

文章

Physiological studies of cellulase complex enzymes of Aspergillus oryzae and characterization of carboxymethyl cellulase

Ghada A. Youssef

Abstract: Investigation of the production of cellulase complex enzymes by the fungus Aspergillus oryzae on soluble bio- cellulosic waste like cheese whey was the goal of this work. The effects of incubation period, substrate concentration, initial pH and temperature on the production of endoglucanase, exoglucanase and cellulase (filter paper activity FPA) activities, were investigated. Seven days incubation period with an initial pH value of 6 and temperature of 40°C, and cheese whey concentration of 10% yielded the highest specific activities with 1.5 fold increases for endoglucanase and 1.4 fold increases for exoglucanase. Cellulase specific activity represented as FPA showed no fold increase at all. The optimum temperature of endoglucanase was observed at 55°C, and the enzyme activity has abroad pH range between 3.8 to 8.0 and 24.91% of the original activity was retained after heat treatment at 90°C for 30 min. Analysis of the partial purified enzyme preparation by SDS – PAGE revealed one protein band showing cellulolytic activity, The molecular weight of this band was estimated to be around 45.000 Daltons.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Cellulolytic enzymes, Aspergillus oryzae, cheese whey, dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS), fermentation variables.

Full text

Download：830

文章

Isolation and characterization of Acinetobacter sp. ND12 capable of degrading nicotine

Hongjuan Li, Yanqing Duan, Guanghui Ma, Liping Lei, Ke-Qin Zhang and Jinkui Yang*

Abstract: A bacterium strain ND12, was isolated from the tobacco plantation soil and identified as Acinetobacter sp. based on its morphology, physiology, and 16S rRNA gene sequence. The isolate could utilize nicotine as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen, and completely degrade 1.0 g/L nicotine within 14 h at 28°C and pH 6.0. The optimum nicotine concentration for the growth of strain ND12 was 2.5 g/L. Strain ND12 grew at a broader pH range than other reported nicotine-degrading bacteria and showed higher nicotine-degrading activity than those bacteria at acidic environment (pH 4.0). The resting cells of Acinetobacter sp. ND12 could decompose 90% of the nicotine in upper tobacco leaves after treating for 11 h. Moreover, the nicotine metabolites of strain ND12 were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and compared with Arthrobacter sp. HJ2-3 and Pseudomonas sp. Nic22. Our results suggested that strain ND12 could be useful for reducing nicotine concentration in nicotine-polluted environments and tobacco wastes.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Nicotine, biodegradation, Acinetobacter sp. ND12, resting cells, tobacco leaves.

Full text

Download：777

文章

Emergence of extensive drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in North of Jordan

Ghulam N. Dhabaan, Hamimah H and M. A. Shorman*

Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Acinetobacter baumannii and the contribution of the insertion sequence upstream of ampC -lactamase on the susceptibility profile of 64 A. baumannii clinical isolates collected from a Jordan hospital. A total of 64 consecutive clinical isolates of A. baumannii were recovered (between March 2005 and December 2006) at the King Abdullah University Hospital (KAUH). The antimicrobial susceptibility profile against 11 different antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of these antibiotics against all isolates was determined using Etest. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening was carried out to identify the presence of ampC gene and its adjacent insertion sequence. A. baumannii showed high resistance profile to -lactam antibiotics (cefotaxime 92.2%, cefuroxime 98.4%, ceftazidime 89.1%) and ciprofloxacin 89.1%. imipenem and meropenem showed increased resistant rates (70.1 and 71.6%, respectively) with nearly half of the isolates being resistant to amikacin (52.5%). All isolates were susceptible to colistin. AmpC gene was detected in all isolates and only -lactam including carbapenems and -lactamase inhibitor resistant isolates were found to carry the IS-AmpC gene. Our present study confirms the essential role of the insertion sequence which could represent a gene regulatory system, able to regulate various genes in A. baumannii. Finally, inappropriate infection control measures and inaccurate antibiotic usage are highly potential factors that might increase the prevalence and spread of antibiotic resistant A. baumannii isolates.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, Antimicrobial susceptibility, IS-AmpC

Full text

Download：791

Search Filter