April 2018

Actinomycetes bioactive compounds: Biological control of fungi and phytopathogenic insect

Actinomycetes are aerobic and gram-positive spore forming bacteria. They belong to the order actinomycetales and are characterized by substrates and aerial mycelium growth. They are the most abundant microorganisms in soil. They play important roles in the cycling of organic matter and inhibit the growth of several plant pathogens in the rhizosphere. Due to the presence of enzymes such as proteases and chitinase,...

Author(s): Edelvio de B. Gomes, Léo Ruben L. Dias and Rita de Cássia M. de Miranda  

April 2018

Expression and purification of human IL-2 protein from Escherichia coli

Human interleukin 2 protein (IL-2) is an important cytokine found to be elevated in several types of cancer. A synthetic DNA sequence of the cDNA of mature IL-2 protein was cloned into the pRSET-B expression vector. The expressed IL-2 protein in Escherichia coli [BL21] was associated with the formation of insoluble inclusion bodies (IBs). The effect of different cultivation conditions (temperature,...

Author(s): Ramadan Hassan, Mohammed El-Mowafy and Eman Samy Zaher  

April 2018

Vitamin C, iron and zinc levels of selected African green leafy vegetables at different stages of maturity

Nutrient level at harvest of vegetables is an important aspect in the efforts to combat food and nutrition insecurity in developing countries. However information on the nutrient levels at different maturity stages of most indigenous African green leafy vegetables is scanty. This study was undertaken to determine the levels of vitamin C, iron and zinc in Amaranthus cruentus, Cleome gynandra and Solanum villosum at...

Author(s): Teddy Frederick Mamboleo, John Mbonea Msuya and Akwilina Wendelin Mwanri