December 2009
Enzymes and genes involved in the betalain biosynthesis in higher plants
Betalains, a class of water-soluble nitrogen-containing pigments, replace anthocyanins and serve the analogous functions in 13 families of the order, caryophyllales. They modulate the attractive appearance of plants and protect them against destructive oxidative damage. Their antioxidant roles, radical scavenging properties in human health and their potential uses in food and pharmaceutical industries have...
December 2009
Evaluation of the conserve flavin reductase gene from three Rhodococcus sp. strains isolated in Iran
Previously we isolated three native strains, Rhodococcus FRF, IPF and GAF from Tabriz and Tehran refineries soil samples in a search for flavin reductase gene (dszD). In this study, these three flavin reductase genes were isolated and identified by PCR using the nucleotide sequence of dszD gene from Rhodococcus sp. The amplified dszD DNA sequences were purified and cloned...
December 2009
Development of polymorphic microsatellite loci for Iranian river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Microsatellite loci were developed using PCR-based isolation of microsatellite arrays (PIMA) for Iranian river buffalo. Blood samples of eighty unrelated individuals from four buffalo populations (Khuzestan, Mazandaran, Guilan and Azarbayejan) were taken and following DNA extraction, isolation of microsatellite loci initiated using enrichment with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. RAPD-PCR...
December 2009
Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Anabaena based on PCR fingerprinting
In this study, ten species of Anabaena were used to test the congruence between the traditional morphological classification system and the present molecular classification system. For morphological classification, strains were categorized into two different groups based on the whether or not the akinetes were directly adjacent to heterocysts in the trichome. Genetic diversity was assessed using the...
December 2009
Cloning and characterization of a putative transcription factor induced by abiotic stress in Zea mays
bZIP transcription factors have been reported to play important roles in plant responses to abiotic stresses. Here, we reported the cloning and characterization of a putative bZIP transcription factor (ZmbZIP17) from maize inbred line Han21, which is up-regulated by drought treatment. The open reading frame sequence ofZmbZIP17 was obtained by using 5’RACE and RT-PCR. Sequence analysis showed...
December 2009
Standardization of RAPD assay for genetic analysis of olive
This study aimed at the standardization of PCR conditions for the purpose of determining the genetic similarities and distances in wild and cultivated olives collected from Izmir and Manisa provinces in Aegean Region. Three different PCR mix and three different PCR cycle as well as 20 primers from OP-I series were tried in 13 wild and 12 cultivated samples. A suitable PCR protocol was developed and evaluable...
December 2009
Genomic diversity among Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L) mutants obtained through 60Co gamma radiations using AFLP markers
Mutation breeding can be considered successful in obtaining new cultivars and broadening the genetic base of rice crop. In order to obtain new varieties of rice with improved agronomic and grain characteristics, gamma radiation (60Co) has been used to generate novel mutants of the Basmati rice. In this study rice cultivars; Basmati-370 and Basmati-Pak, were exposed to different doses of gamma radiations and...
December 2009
Intracellular localization of Na+/H+ antiporter from Malus zumi (MzNHX1)
In this study, we examined the intracellular localization of the product of Na+/H+antiporter gene (MzNHX1) cloned from Malus zumi. Analysis using yeast cells expressing a fusion protein of MzNHX1 and green fluorescent protein confirmed the localization of MzNHX1 on the tonoplast. Key words: Intracellular localization, eGFP, Malus zumi, Na+/H+ antiporter, yeast.
December 2009
Effect of soil solarization using plastic mulch in controlling root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) infestation and yield of lettuce at Anse Boileau, Seychelles
A field experiment was conducted from February to May, 2004 and 2005 planting seasons at the Vegetable Evaluation and Research Station Farm located at Anse Boileau, Seychelles to evaluate the effect of soil solarization using plastic mulch in controlling root-knot nematode infestation and yield of lettuce. The experiment consisted of two treatments (solarized mulched plot and solarized non-mulched plot) laid...
December 2009
Roles of gibberellic acid and zinc sulphate in increasing size and weight of olive fruit
Olive trees (Olea europaea L. cv. Shengeh) were treated with gibberellic acid (GA3) at 0, 15, 30 and 45 ppm and zinc sulphate at 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75% when fruit were at 70% of their final size in experiments carried out in 2007 season. The effect of GA3 and ZnSO4 treatments on yield and some variables related to fruit characteristics (fruit, pit and pulp weight, pulp/pit weight ratio,...
December 2009
Effect of foliar application of Zn and Fe on wheat yield and quality
Intensive and multiple cropping, cultivations of crop varieties with heavy nutrient requirement and unbalanced use of chemical fertilizers especially nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers reduced quality of grain production and the appearance of micronutrient deficiency in crops. A field experiment was conducted on clay-loam soil in Moghan region during 2007-2008 to investigate the effect of foliar application...
December 2009
Uptake and compartamentalization of phenanthrene by roots of Cyperus hermaphroditus in hydroponic system
Contaminants enter plants through three major pathways, by the root uptake and subsequent translocation into various plant parts through the transpiration process, by vapour uptake from the surrounding atmosphere and by the deposition of contaminated soils and dusts on plant cuticles and subsequent contaminant diffusion through plant surfaces. The uptake and immobilization of phenanthrene by the radical...
December 2009
Effects of exogenous polyamines and inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis on endogenous free polyamine contents and the maturation of white spruce somatic embryos
The maturation of somatic embryos is a pivotal stage of somatic embryogenesis process. Thus, this study is aimed at investigating the role of polyamines on the maturation of somatic embryos of white spruce (Picea glauca). Two inhibitors of the biosynthesis of polyamines methylglyoxal bis-(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) and dicyclohexylamine (DCHA) or three exogenous polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) were added...
December 2009
Efficient in vitro multiplication protocol for Vanilla planifolia using nodal explants in Ethiopia
Vanilla planifolia Andr. is a tropical commercial spice crop known for its popular flavoring substance called vanillin. Vanillin is the second most expensive spice in the world market, next to saffron. Ethiopia has favorable environment for vanilla production and the crop has huge local and international market. There is a soaring investors’ interest to produce vanilla in the country provided there is plenty...
December 2009
Production of biological nanoparticles from α-lactalbumin for drug delivery and food science application
In recent years, the concept of controlled release of encapsulated ingredients at the right place and the right time has become of more interest to the food and pharmaceutical industry. Whey proteins are valuable by-products from the cheese industry. The physicochemical properties of the whey proteins suggest that they may be suitable for novel food and drug delivery system. The objective of this study was to...
December 2009
High frequency plant regeneration from mature seed-derived callus of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) cultivars
In the present study, we have developed a high-frequency plant regeneration system for Italian ryegrass via callus culture using mature seeds as explants. Optimal embryogenic callus induction was found to occur in MS medium containing 5 mg l-1 2,4-D, 0.5 mg l-1 BA, 500 mg l-1 L-proline, 1 g l-1 casein hydrolysate, 30 g l-1 sucrose, 7 mg l-1 AgNO3, 2 mg...
December 2009
Bayesian dissection for genetic architecture of traits associated with nitrogen utilization efficiency in rice
Nitrogen is one of the key important nutrients in rice production. High rice grain yield is greatly dependent upon economic nitrogen input and genetic factors. In order to locate quantitative loci for traits associated with nitrogen utilization efficiency in rice, F9 recombinant inbred lines derived from a Korean tongil type Dasanbyeo and a Chinese japonica variety TR22183 was genetically designed. The six...
December 2009
In vitro mass propagation of Typhonium flagelliforme as affected by plant growth regulators
Tubers were used as explants in in vitro mass propagation of Rodent Tuber (Typhonium flagelliforme). The explants were obtained from sterile plantlets and placed in shoot induction medium containing basal salts of Murashige and Skoog (MS) and various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Treatment containing 5 mg/l (w/v) of BAP with...
December 2009
Evaluation of rapeseed genotypes for yield and oil quality under rainfed conditions of district Mansehra
Five rapeseed genotypes were evaluated for agronomic parameters, yield, oil quantity and quality. Significant differences were observed for all the parameters except oil and protein percentage. The genotype Siren outperformed the rest of genotypes in yield potential (1104 kg/ha), followed by MRS-1 (866.67 kg/ha). For yield contributing characters like length of inflorescence and pods per plant, genotype Siren...
December 2009
Molecular characterization of Azotobacter spp. nifH gene Isolated from marine source
The nifH gene sequence of the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azotobacter spp. was determined with the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The Azotobacterspecies was isolated from marine source in two different seasons. They were cultivated under laboratory conditions using Nitrogen free Azotobacter specific medium. We observed that they were present in both seasons. The phylogenetic...
December 2009
Decolorization of reactive dyes under batch anaerobic condition by mixed microbial culture
Decolorization of reactive dyes, which are used in textile industry, under batch anaerobic conditions by mixed microbial culture was investigated in this study. Decolorization of C.I. Reactive Black 5 (RB 5), C.I. Reactive Red 24 (RR 24) and C.I. Reactive Blue 49 (RB 49) with initial concentrations ranging from 150 to 2400 mg/L was investigated. Decolorization efficiencies obtained were 93.4% for RB 5 and...
December 2009
Mineral phosphate solubilizing bacterial community in agro-ecosystem
The present communication deals with the assessment of phosphate solubilizing bacterial community structure across artificially created fertility gradient with regards to N, P and K status of soil in the experimental site. 20 randomly phosphate solubilizing bacteria from each fertility gradient were isolated, purified and characterized through their insoluble mineral phosphate-source utilization patterns....
December 2009
Effect of nitrogen and phosphate limitation on utilization of bitumen and production of bitu-oil and gas by a bacterial consortium
Five strains of bacteria; Pseudomonas fragi, Streptococcus zymogenes,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus macerans, capable of utilizing bitumen as source of carbon and energy were isolated from water sample obtained from bitumen producing area, Agbabu, Ondo state, Nigeria. The degradation of bitumen was found to be associated with the production of carbon (IV)...
December 2009
Studies on lignocellulose biodegradation of coir waste in solid state fermentation using Phanerocheate chrysosporium and Rhizopus stolonifer
The solid state fermentation is one of the most economically viable processes for the bioconversion of lignocellulosic coir waste is represented by Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Rhizopus stolonifer. Coir pith is a waste lignocellusic material; it consists of lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose and protein. The two fungal cultures are able to synthesis varying quantities of lignocellulytic...
December 2009
Temporal variability of available P, microbial P and some phosphomonoesterase activities in a sewage sludge treated soil: The effect of soil water potential
Available P and enzyme activities strongly depend on the soil water potential. The objective of this study was to test the effects of water potential on soil available P, microbial biomass P(MBP) and some phosphomonoesterase activities. A semiarid soil classified as Calcic Haploxerept was treated with raw sewage sludge at a rate of 20 g kg-1. Four levels of irrigation (deionized water) were established for 90...
December 2009
Effects of 22 years of re-vegetation on soil quality in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau
Re-vegetation is an important practice for eco-environmental rebuilding of degraded environments. Accordingly, re-vegetation has been widely used to reduce erosion and protect soils against degradation in the Loess Plateau. However, little research has been conducted to study the effects of long-term re-vegetation on soil properties, which is essential to reveal corresponding changes in soil quality....
December 2009
Strain improvement in dye decolourising mutants of Mucor mucedo by protoplast fusion
The amounts of protoplasts obtained in the developed mutants of M. mucedo MMM1(U.V. irradiated mutant) and MMM2 (ethyl methyl sulfonate treated mutant) which are very effective decolourisers were 5.23 x 106 and 5.65 x 106 protoplasts/ml respectively. Among the 385 colonies isolated after protoplast fusion only 3 possessed clamp connections and chosen as fusants (MMFu1, MMFu2 and...
December 2009
QTL analysis of kernel soluble sugar content in super-sweet corn
A genetic linkage map was constructed with SSR markers based on a super-sweet corn population consisting of 208 F2 individuals from the cross Ji557 (sh2) × Ji165 (sh2). Density of the linkage groups varied from 2.2 cM to 65.3 cM, with an average of 13.0 2 cM between two adjacent markers. The map covered 1470.9 cM of the total recombination length of the super-sweet corn. Using Mapmaker/QTL, 11...
December 2009
Application of multi-walled carbon nanotubes to enhance anodic performance of an Enterobacter cloacae-based fuel cell
The effect of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modification of anodes and the optimisation of relevant parameters thereof for application in an Enterobacter cloacae microbial fuel cell were examined. The H – type microbial fuel cells were used for the fundamental studies, with a carbon sheet as a control anode and platinum coated carbon sheets as the cathode. Anodes were...
December 2009
Biocidal potential of clove oils against Aedes albopictus – A comparative study
The first phase of the study involved evaluation of leaf and bud oils of clove,Syzygium aromaticum for their biocidal (i.e. ovicidal and larvicidal) activity againstAedes albopictus. Eggs and fourth instar larvae were exposed to different concentrations of the oils to investigate their comparative efficacy against the target mosquito species. In the second phase of the study, biocidal activity of...
December 2009
Comparison of certain microbial counting methods which are currently commonly used in the soaking process
This study examines the interrelation of the test methods which are commonly applied in the leather industry for hide or skin soaking. For this purpose, five different bactericides were given during the soaking processes and after the presoaking process. The processes were measured at the first 20th min, 24th and 48th h. For this purpose, two different ATP test kits, dip slide and agar pour...
December 2009
Biological activities of Rumex dentatus L: Evaluation of methanol and hexane extracts
Rumex dentatus L. (Plygonaceae) extracts were evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, antitumor and allopathic potential. The leaf, stem and root extracts were prepared in methanol and hexane by simple maceration. The methanol extracts of root and shoot were found effective against all the bacterial strains tested. Zone of inhibition ranged between 9.7 to 12.1 mm. While the hexane extracts...
December 2009
Somatic embryogenesis and root regeneration in Hyoscyamus niger L. for the production of hyoscyamine
Embryogenic calli could be induced from the leaf, petiole and root pieces ofHyoscyamus niger using different induction medium. The embryogenic calli produced were different in term of colour and morphology. Small globular somatic embryos could only be produced from the leaf explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6 mg/L picloram. The globular embryos increased in...
December 2009
Microbial conversion of major ginsenoside Rb1 to minor ginsenoside Rd by Indian fermented food bacteria
Ginsenoside Rb1 is the predominant secondary metabolite (saponin) in Panax ginseng. Hydrolysis of the sugar residues in Rb1 yields more pharmaceutically active ginsenosides like Rd, Rg3, F2, Rh2 and C-K. Among them, the minor ginsenoside Rd enhances the differentiation of neural stem cells, protects neurons from neurotoxic chemicals, decreases urea nitrogen and creatinine in kidney. It also protects the...
December 2009
Food safety knowledge and practices of street food-vendors in Atbara City (Naher Elneel State Sudan)
The study was conducted to evaluate the food safety knowledge and practices of street food vendors in Atbara city between March and April, 2008. The questionnaires respondents were 28% male and 72% were female, 48% of them had primary school education while 42% were illiterates. The most prevalent isolated bacteria from cooked meals, bottled drink and fresh juice were; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus...
December 2009
Integrated agrotechnology with preharvest ComCat® treatment, modified atmosphere packaging and forced ventilation evaporative cooling of carrots
Preharvest ComCat® treatment of carrots was investigated for storage characteristics of treated vegetables in forced ventilation evaporative cooling. The forced ventilation evaporative cooling system was designed such that the temperature could be reduced by 8.4 - 13.4°C below ambient temperature, while maintaining a relative humidity up to 91%. Storage in this EC increased shelf lives of carrots...
December 2009
Discrimination of Xihulongjing tea grade using an electronic tongue
Five grades of Xihulongjing tea (grade: AAA, AA, A, B and C, from the same region and processed with the same processing method) were discriminated using α-Astree II electronic tongue (e-tongue) coupled with pattern recognition methods including principal component analysis (PCA), canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) and back-propagation neural networks (BPNN). Results of PCA and CDA showed that the...
December 2009
Hydrogen peroxide and ferulic acid-mediated oxidative cross-linking of casein catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase and the impacts on emulsifying property and microstructure of acidified gel
Horseradish peroxidase (HRP, EC 1.11.1.7) was used in this study to catalyze oxidative cross-linking of casein in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and cross-linker ferulic acid. Cross-linking of casein was demonstrated by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and ultraviolet absorbance analysis. Oxidative cross-linked casein mediated by hydrogen peroxide and ferulic acid was...
December 2009
Study on the collision-mechanical properties of tomatoes gripped by harvesting robot fingers
The data of collision-mechanical property of tomatoes gripped by robot fingers are important for the gripping control of tomato harvesting robot. In the study, tests of controlling the fingers to grip tomatoes were conducted to ascertain the effects of input current, motor speed and impact positions on the impact force of fingers and maximum deformation of tomatoes. The input current of the motor ranged from...
December 2009
Some technological properties of phenotypically identified enterococci strains isolated from Turkish tulum cheese
In this study, a total of 39 enterococci strains were isolated and identified as 17Enterococcus faecium (43.58%), 11 Enterococcus faecalis (28.21%) and 11Enterococcus durans (28.21%) strains from 28 Tulum cheese samples from Isparta, Turkey. Three E. faecium (EYT6, EYT21 and EYT34) and 1 E. durans(EYT16) strains showed α-hemolytic activity on Sheep Blood Agar. None of...
December 2009
Polyphenols content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts of some wild plants collected from the south of Tunisia
25 wild plants were collected from the south of Tunisia. The dried aerial parts were extracted under a continuous reflux set-up in a Soxhlet extractor with hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. The extracts were screened for total phenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Total phenolic contents were determined using a spectrophotometric technique, based on the Folin-Ciocalteau...
December 2009
Biochemical changes in low-salt fermentation of solid-state soy sauce
Low-salt solid-state fermentation soy sauce was prepared with defatted soy bean and wheat bran. Biochemical changes during the aging of the soy sauce mash were investigated. Results show that after a 15-day aging period, the contents of total nitrogen, formol titration nitrogen, free amino acids, reducing sugar, total sugar and the brown color were increased. However pH was decreased during the fermentation...
December 2009
Optimization of alkaline protease production from Pseudomonas fluorescens isolated from meat waste contaminated soil
A protease producing bacteria was isolated from meat waste contaminated soil and identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens. Optimization of the fermentation medium for maximum protease production was carried out. The culture conditions like inoculum concentration, incubation time, pH, temperature, carbon sources, nitrogen sources and metal ions were optimized. The optimum conditions found for protease...
December 2009
Analysis of the essential oil from the dried leaves of Euphorbia hirta Linn (Euphorbiaceae), a potential medication for asthma
Essential oil was obtained from the dried leaves of Euphorbia hirta, commonly called asthma plant. Analysis of the oil was carried out on a combined gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer fitted with an HP-5 MS (5% phenylmethyl siloxane) column at a temperature programme of 120°C (5 min) increased at 5°C/min to 320°C and held for 5 min. The major components identified include...
December 2009
Preparation and characterization of antigenic properties of gramicidin A- keyhole limpet hemocyanin and gramicidin A- ovalbumin conjugates
A rapid, simple and low cost procedure for preparing hapten-protein conjugates was developed using gramicidin A (GA) and two other water-soluble proteins, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and ovalbumin (OVA). GA was a kind of antimicrobial peptides. Two lysines and a cysteine were linked to amino- terminus and carboxyl-terminus of the peptide chain, respectively, in order to form sulfhydryl groups and improve...
December 2009
Production of phenolic compounds from Spirulina maxima microalgae and its protective effects
The purpose of this study was to illustrate the enhancing process of phenolics synthesis in Spirulina maxima grown in Zarrouk’s medium supplemented with different concentration of NaNO3 and/or combined with phenylalanine (L-PA). Also, the protective efficacy of Spirulina polyphenolic (SPP) extracts against CCI4-induced microsomal lipid peroxidation and scavenging of...
December 2009
Investigation of the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of Elephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels root extract in male rats
The anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of the root extract ofElephantorrhiza elephantina (Burch.) Skeels (Fabaceae) were investigated using wistar rats. The extract was administered intraperitoneally (i.p) to rats at graded doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg BWt. Carrageenan and Histamine were injected into rat paws sub-plantar to induce paw oedema, while acetic acid and formalin were...
December 2009
Antimicrobial activity of the fruit extracts of Coccinia indica
The bioactive compounds of fruits of Coccinia indica were investigated for antibacterial activity against some pathogenic bacteria. The aqueous extracts did not show much significant activity, while the organic extracts (petroleum ether and methanol) showed the highest activity against the test bacteria. The activity was more pronounced on gram-positive organisms with Staphylococcus...
December 2009
Antibacterial activity of seed extracts of Argemone mexicana L. on some pathogenic bacterial strains
Antibacterial activity of seed extracts of Argemone mexicana L. (Papaveraceae) was evaluated against some pathogenic bacterial strains. Chloroform extract of seeds exhibited varying level of antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 2.0 - 5.0 mg/ml, against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The chloroform extract was found to be more active than the other...
December 2009
Assessment of antibacterial activity of three plants used in Pakistan to cure respiratory diseases
The in vitro antimicrobial activity of Justicia adhatoda, Glycyrrhiza glabra andHyssopus officinalis extracts were studied against selected bacteria by using agar well diffusion assay. Methanol, ethanol, chloroform, diethyl-ether and aqueous extracts were tested in crude form for antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtillus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,...
December 2009
Use of gemcitabine and ginger extract infusion may improve the efficiency of cervical cancer treatment
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells, either by preventing them from multiplying or by causing the cells to self-destruct. However, in most cases, high systemic toxicity and drug resistance limit the successful outcomes of treatment regimes. Prevention of cancer through dietary intervention recently has received an increasing interest and dietary polyphenols have become not only important potential...
December 2009
Polistes olivaceous decreases biotic surface colonization
The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the anti-bacterial efficacy of the honeycomb of Polistes olivaceous on oral biotic surface (biofilm) model by means of pH response, population of oral bacteria and enamel mineralization. Three copies of a three-organism-bacterial consortium was grown on hydroxyapatite (HA) surfaces in a continuous culture system and exposed to repeated solution...
December 2009
Malaria in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria
Malaria remains a major cause of mortality among children under the age of five years; it is endemic throughout Nigeria with seasonal variation in different geographic zones of the country. Malaria prevalence studies had been undertaken in many parts of Nigeria but there is probably no data available from the far North Western region. This research study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, monthly...
December 2009
Epithelial lining of the endometrium during the luteal phase in patients under controlled ovarian hyperstimulation
The endometrium is receptive for the embryo and presents an implantation window for a limited time. This study is aimed at highlighting an alternation in pinopod expression and to provide more analysis of the structural characteristics of epithelial lining of the endometrium during luteal phase in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimmulation (COH). Twelve oocyte donors were used. They underwent...
December 2009
High insecticidal activity of Leclercia adecarboxylata isolated from Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Col.: Chrysomelidae)
Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is an important pest on solanaceous crops worldwide. CPB has developed resistance to insecticides used for its control. In this study, in order to find a more effective and safer biological control agent against L. decemlineata, we studied the bacterial flora of CPB, and tested them for insecticidal effects on it. The highest...
December 2009
Cloning and characterization of peptidylprolyl isomerase B in the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Peptidylprolyl isomerases (PPIases) play essential roles in protein folding and are implicated in immune response and cell cycle control. Our previous proteomic analysis indicated that Bombyx mori PPIases may be involved in anti- Bombyx morinucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) response. To help investigate this mechanism, we cloned a B. mori PPIase gene PPIB and characterized it by...
December 2009
Studies on the proteinaceous gel secretion from the skin of the catfish, Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792)
The Catfish Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792) causes injury to the fisherman while handling the fish and it was proven that the skin mucus of the fish have several properties including the toxicity. In the present study, the biochemical property of the catfish skin mucus was characterized and it was found that the protein content of the soluble and insoluble fractions were 9.34 and 12.64 µg/g,...
December 2009
The use of aqueous extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in the control of saprolegniasis in Clarias gariepinus, a freshwater fish
Saprolegniasis infection causes severe damage to fish integument. To control this fungal infection in the fish environment, Asteraceous plant (Vernonia amygdalina) extract at varying concentrations (50, 40, 30, 20%, control) was used to test its potency in controlling the infection and to ascertain its inhibitory capacity. The axenic culture of the test fungus was maintained on PDA at 28oC. The rate of the...
December 2009
Isothermal, kinetic and thermodynamic studies on basic dye sorption onto tartaric acid esterified wheat straw
In this paper, a new cation sorbent, which bore carboxyl and hydroxyl groups of tartaric acid (TA) derived from esterified wheat straw (EWS), was originally prepared by solid phase thermochemistry method. The isotherm, kinetics and thermodynamics of basic dye sorptions from aqueous solution onto EWS were investigated for the first time. Two basic dyes, methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) were selected...
December 2009
The utilization of BSA-modified chip on the investigation of ligand/protein interaction with surface plasma resonance
The kinetic behavior of glutathione (GSH)/ glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was investigated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Here, an alkanethiol-modified chip incorporated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was employed. Subsequently, GSH was anchored on BSA surface only in the experimental channel and the without-active BSA surface was designed as the reference channel to improve the quality of the...
December 2009
Comparison of bacterial communities of tilapia fish from Cameroon and Vietnam using PCR-DGGE (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis)
Fishes in general and tilapia in particular are traded all over the world. However, it is difficult to find out their exact geographical location. One of the techniques used in the traceability of fish and its by-products consist in analysing in a global way the whole viable and non viable bacterial communities. For this purpose, the molecular technique employing the bacterial 16S DNA banding profiles...
December 2009
The chemical composition and biological activities of essential oil from the fresh leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius from Zimbabwe
In the present study, the essential oil from the fresh leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius was extracted using the hydrodistillation method. The oil yield obtained was 0.65%. Gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of the essential oil showed that the major constituents of the essential oil were sabinene, α-pinene, α-phellandrene, β-pinene,...
December 2009
Antidepressant and antioxidant activities of Artemisia absinthium L. at flowering stage
Artemisia absinthium (Asteraceae) is widely used in Iranian traditional medicine. Its effects may be correlated with the presence of antioxidant compounds. Methanolic extract of A. absinthium aerial part at flowering stage was screened for antioxidant activities by five complementary test systems. Also, its antidepressant activity was determined by forced swimming (FST) and tail suspension...
December 2009
Polymorphism and association of microsatellite SJ01 with birth weight and early growth traits in pigs
Myostatin is a negative regulator of animal skeletal muscle development and SJ01is a microsatellite locus flanking porcine myostatin gene. In the present study, the polymorphism of microsatellite SJ01 in three pig populations, that is, Duroc (n = 420), Yorkshire (n = 414) and Landrace (n = 119), were investigated, and its associations with birth weight and early growth traits...
December 2009
The impact of phosphate fertilizer as a pest management tactic in four cowpea varieties
Insect pests constitute serious threat to cowpea production in sub-Saharan Africa. In some severe situations, total yield loss results. Chemical control, although most effective, is very costly, hazardous and unsustainable. Investigation of other control options such as cultural practices that are environment friendly is critically important. This paper reports the effects of four levels of phosphorus...
December 2009
Influence of gamma irradiation on pollen viability, germinability and fruit and seed-set of pumpkin and winter squash
The influence of irradiation dose (50, 100, 200 and 300 Gray), irradiation time (July 9th, 11th, 15th, 21st and 28th) and pollen age (0th and 1st days) on the pollen viability, germinability and fruit and seed-set were investigated in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir.) and winter squash (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam.). Along with increasing of irradiation dose, irradiation period...
Advertisement
Advertisement
