African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12496

Table of Content: 5 September 2011; 10(50)

September 2011

The vaccines for Bovine Herpesvirus Type 1: A review

  Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) is the pathogen of Infectious Bovine Rhinothracheitis (IBR) disease, causing great economic losses in the livestock industry. Vaccine is a powerful means to control the virus. Here, the review described the currently available knowledge regarding to the advance in the field of BoHV-1 vaccine including the marker vaccines, DNA vaccines, subunit vaccines and the recombinant...

Author(s): Xuyong Zhao and Jun Xi

September 2011

Cisgenic inhibition of the potato cold induced phosphorylase L gene expression and decrease in sugar contents

  To decrease the accumulation of reducing and non-reducing sugar in potato tubers stored at low temperature, a single gene silencing vector pARTPhL-IR, harboring a part of starch phosphorylase L gene as inverted repeats with pdk intron within was constructed and transformed into potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars Agria and Marfona. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of nptII gene and pdk intron...

Author(s): Morteza Kamrani, Bahram Baghban Kohnehrouz and Ashraf Gholizadeh

September 2011

Allelic polymorphism of 'Makoei' sheep myostatin gene identified by polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformation polymorphism

  Myostatin, a transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) super family member, has been well documented as a negative regulator of muscle growth and development. Myostatin with 376 amino acids is synthesized as a precursor protein. In this study, polymorphism of myostatin gene in Iranian 'Makoei' sheep breeds was investigated by polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformation...

Author(s): M. Farhadian, A. Hashemi, K. Mardani, R. Darvishzadeh, and M. Ranjbari

September 2011

Growth, yield and fiber morphology of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) grown on sandy bris soil as influenced by different levels of carbon

  The effects of carbon levels on plant growth, yield and fiber morphological properties are not available for kenaf that is considered as a potential source of low cost natural fiber and feedstock for energy production as well. A pot-culture experiment was conducted in shade house to determine the effects of carbon levels on plant growth, yield and fiber morphology of different kenaf varieties. The plants...

Author(s): M. D. Hossain, M. M. Hanafi, H. Jol and A. H. Hazandy

September 2011

Mycorrhizal symbiosis enhances Phalaenopsis orchid’s growth and resistance to Erwinia chrysanthemi

  Phalaenopsis is the most important potted orchid genus in the world. However, the low seedling survival rate, long vegetative growth period and disease outbreak are problems in production. Orchid micorrhizal fungi (OMF) are their obligate partners in orchid physiology. Orchids use their symbionts to gain access to organic and mineral nutrients by increasing nutrient absorption and translocation to plants...

Author(s): Po-Hung Wu, Ding-Ding Huang and Doris C. N. Chang

September 2011

Enhancement of callus induction and regeneration efficiency from embryo cultures of Datura stramonium by adjusting carbon sources and concentrations

  Carbon source in the medium is considered to be an essential component for the high production costs of callus and plantlets in tissue culture. We report here the establishment of an efficient tissue culture cycle (callus induction and plant regeneration) for Datura stramonium by adjusting carbon sources and concentrations. Embryo explants of D. stramonium L. were cultured in...

Author(s): S. Amiri and S. K. Kazemitabar

September 2011

Attitude of farmers towards improved agricultural technologies in south-west Nigeria

  The study on farmers’ attitude towards improved agricultural technologies was carried out to investigate the farmers’  attitudes,  demographic, economic, socio-cultural and environmental characteristics as well as the contribution to sustained use index of these and some other independent variables. Two hundred and eight (208) farmers/respondents consisting of 133 that adopted and...

Author(s): Ogunsumi, Lucia Omobolanle

September 2011

Lead-induced changes in plant morphology, cell ultrastructure, growth and yields of tomato

  A pot experiment in plastic greenhouse was conducted to investigate the effect of Pb toxicity on development and ultrastructure of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentumMill. cv. ZZ203) by four levels of Pb addition [0, 150, 450, and 900 mg/kg Pb in soil as Pb(NO3)]. The results showed that excess lead resulted in dwarf plants, wilting and misshapened leaves accompanied by less number, less numbers of...

Author(s): Shouping Zhao, Xuzhu Ye and Jici Zheng

September 2011

Water quality index development using fuzzy logic: A case study of the Karoon River of Iran

  Determination of the status of water quality of a river or any other water source is highly indeterminate. It is necessary to have a competent model to predict the status of water quality and to show the type of water treatment that would be used to meet different demands. By exploring the behavior and limitations of conventional methods for quality evaluation, a better overall index for water quality in Iran...

Author(s): Babaei Semiromi, F., Hassani, A.H., Torabian, A., Karbassi, A.R. and Hosseinzadeh Lotfi, F.

September 2011

New laccase-producing fungi isolates with biotechnological potential in dye decolorization

  Thirty six (36) native fungal strains from the state of Yucatan were first screened for ligninolytic activity on solid media containing ABTS. Molecular identification based on ITS rDNA region and PCR fingerprinting of seven selected fungi isolates werecarried out. Molecular characterization based on genetic fingerprinting was helpful in determining unequivocally the differences between...

Author(s): Raúl Tapia-Tussell, Daisy Pérez-Brito, Rafael Rojas-Herrera, Alberto Cortes-Velazquez, Gerardo Rivera-Muñoz and Sara Solis-Pereira

September 2011

Effects of copper stress on antioxidative enzymes, chlorophyll and protein content in Atriplex halimus

  Our study showed the effect of Cu on Atriplex halimus grown in hydroponics conditions. The aim of this work was to investigate some enzymatic systems response of this plant to copper stress. Analysis was carried on enzymatic profiles, protein tenor and chlorophyll content of A. halimus leaves. Two months after sowing, plants were subjected to different concentrations of CuSO4 (50,...

Author(s): Lotmani Brahim and Mesnoua Mohamed

September 2011

Decomposition characteristics of maize (Zea mays. L.) straw with different carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios under various moisture regimes

  Decomposition of maize straw incorporated into soil with various nitrogen amended carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios under a range of moisture was studied through a laboratory incubation trial. The experiment was set up to simulate the most suitable C/N ratio for straw carbon (C) decomposition and sequestering in the soil. The purpose of this study was to determine organic C decomposition by measuring...

Author(s): Shaukat Ali Abro, Xiaohong Tian, Xudong Wang, Faqi Wu and Jumoke Esther Kuyide

September 2011

Bioethanol fuel production from rambutan fruit biomass as reducing agent of global warming and greenhouse gases

  The depletion of fossil fuels impacts on the increase of petroleum price and has triggered the finding of alternative and renewable energy. Biofuel has attracted the attention of researchers all over the world due to reducing the environmental impacts of elevated carbon monoxide. Abundant of fruits waste can be reused in the bioethanol production. Hence, it can reduce pollution and waste material, thus, helps...

Author(s): A. Hadeel, A. B. M. S. Hossain, Khayyat Latifa, Haitham ALNaqeb, Jama Abear and AlHewiti Norah

September 2011

High-yield cellulase production in solid-state fermentation by Trichoderma reesei SEMCC-3.217 using water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

  In this study, the strain Trichoderma reesei SEMCC-3.217 was used for producing cellulase in solid-state fermentation with water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). The results of fractional factorial design showed that, the addition amount of wheat bran, (NH4)2SO4, CaCl2 and Tween 80 had significant effect on the cellulase production. Then, these four factors were selected for further...

Author(s): Shi-hao Zhao, Xiao-hui Liang, Dong-liang Hua, Tong-suo Ma and Hong-bing Zhang

September 2011

Antifungal activities of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) extract on Fusarium species

  The basil extract composition was determined by the GC-MS method and 38 different components were identified. The major components of the basil extract were estragol (86.72%), trans-α-bergamotene (2.91%), eucalyptol (2.67%), trans-ocimene (1.04%), linalool (0.72%), methyl-eugenol (0.71%), etc. The antifungal potential of the basil extract was tested...

Author(s): Sunčica Kocić-Tanackov, Gordana Dimić, Jelena Lević, Ilija Tanackov and Danijela Tuco

September 2011

Causes of bimodal melting curve:Asymmetric guanine-cytosine (GC) distribution causing two peaks in melting curve and affecting their shapes

  The aim of this study was to present a new situation in which a relatively single short PCR-product might show two separate peaks with sequence specific shapes at the dissociation curve. SYBR-Green I real-time RT-PCR was performed on Lhcgr-gene transcripts in rats. Different programs were used for melting curve simulation and estimating Tm. Statistical tests were performed to determine whether two peaks at...

Author(s): Hosein Abtahi, Mohammad Reza Sadeghi, Mohammad Shabani, Haleh Edalatkhah, Reza Hadavi, Mohammad Mehdi Akhondi and Saeed Talebi,

September 2011

Preparation and structure characterization of soluble bone collagen peptide chelating calcium

  In this study, G-25 gel chromatography, X-diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze soluble collagen peptides chelating calcium. Collagen peptide hydrolysis can be divided into four components using G-25 gel chromatography. Each component of calcium binding capacity was different and the components whose molecular weight...

Author(s): Yong-Guo Jin, Wen-Wen Fu, and Mei-Hu Ma

September 2011

Prokaryotic expression of antimicrobial ovine β-defensin-1 in Escherichia coli

  Ovine β-defensin-1 (sBD-1) is a small, cationic peptide, with three canonical cysteine disulfide intramolecular bonds. It can inhibit the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeast and fungi. We isolated sBD-1 by RT-PCR of small intestinal cDNA. The open reading frame of the cDNA was 192 bp, which codes 64 amino acids, and the mature peptide of the cDNA was 114bp, which encodes 38...

Author(s): Pengwei Zhao#, Ruixia Bai#, Lanling Chen, Wenbing Hu, Shiyong Wen, Yan mi, Jianrong Liang, Guifang Cao, Haijun Li, Yingfeng Yang, Chenguang Du, Liping Jiang and Limin Yang

September 2011

Application of response surface methodology in process parameters optimization for phenol mineralization using Fenton’s peroxidation

  Adverse effect of the highly biorecalcitrant compound phenol to the environment iswell established and its concentrations in industrial effluents vary greatly from 2.8 to 6,800 mg/l depending on the source. Fenton process effectively mineralises to...

Author(s): Diya’uddeen Basheer Hasan, A. R. Abdul Aziz and Wan Mohd Ashri Wan Daud

September 2011

Characteristics of chalcone isomerase promoter in crabapple leaves (M.cv. ‘royalty’) and transient expression assay modified in onion epidermal cell

  Anthocyanins are secondary metabolites found in higher plants that contribute to the colors of plants and chalcone isomerase (CHI) is one of the key enzymes in anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. What characteristic is CHI promoter known as the regulation sequence of CHI gene, has been rarely investigated. We isolated A 329 bp 5’-upstream sequence of McCHI promoter sequence from Malus crabapple cultivar...

Author(s): Ji Tian, Hongxiang Shen, Jie Zhang, Tingting Song and Yuncong Yao

September 2011

Mutagenic and antimutagenic potentials of fruit juices of five medicinal plants in Allium cepa L.: Possible influence of DPPH free radical scavengers

  Mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of freeze dried fruit juices (FDFJ) of Morinda elliptica Ridl. (Rubiaceae), Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae), Averrhoa bilimbi L. (Oxalidaceae), Phyllantus acidus (L.) Skeels (Phyllantaceae) and Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae) in Allium cepa L was evaluated. Testing the mutagenic activity, onions were...

Author(s): Akinboro Akeem, Kamaruzaman Bin Mohamed, Mohd Zaini Asmawi and Othman Ahmad Sofiman

September 2011

Haematological and immunological effect of co-administration of extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Azadirachta indica on normal and diabetic rats

This study evaluated the effect of co-administration of extracts of Vernonia amygdalina Del. (VA) and Azadirachta indica Linn.(AI) on haemapoietic and immunological indices of normal and diabetic rats. White blood cells which were non-significantly decreased (p>0.05) in diabetic control rats relative to the normal control, respectively increased and decreased non-significantly (p>0.05) upon...

Author(s): Eyong U. Eyong, Item J. Atangwho, Esien David-Oku, Margaret A. Agiang and Patrick E. Ebong

September 2011

Development and application of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for rapid detection of Haemophilus parasuis

  Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent of Glässer’s disease that has received much attention recently, due to the increasing economic losses this disease inflicts upon the pig industry worldwide. In this study, loop-mediated isothermal amplification method (LAMP) methodology was designed for diagnosingH. parasuis infections and tested against 56 clinical samples. Two sets of...

Author(s): Jian-Min Zhang#, Hai-Yan Shen#, Cheng-Gang Xu, Li-Li Guo, Bin Zhang, Jing-Yi Li, Ji-Dang Chen, Hui-Ying Fan and Ming Liao

September 2011

The molluscicidal effects of Hyptis suaveolens on different stages of Bulinus globosus in the laboratory

  The molluscicidal effect of the ethanolic extract of the plant Hyptis suaveolens was evaluated against different stages: eggs, juveniles and adults of the freshwater snailBulinus globosus. Ten healthy one week old juveniles were exposed to different concentrations of the extract for 3 h, while three to four weeks old snails and the adults were exposed for 24 h. The egg masses were exposed for seven...

Author(s): Salawu, O. T. and Odaibo, A. B.

September 2011

Examination of liver and muscle glycogen and blood glucose levels of Capoeta umbla (Heckel, 1843) living in Hazar Lake and Keban Dam Lake (Elazig, Turkey)

  This study was conducted between December 2006 and November 2007 onCapoeta umbla fish species obtained from Hazar Lake and Keban Dam Lake (Elazig, Turkey). It was determined that the GSI values reached maximum in May and started decreasing after this month; the liver glycogen and condition factor values started decreasing after May when gonadal development is maximum. This decrease continued until...

Author(s): Mehmet Zulfu Coban and Dursun Sen

September 2011

Recovery of DNA from agarose gel by trap method

  Recovery of DNA from agarose gel electrophoresis is a basic operation during molecular cloning. Circular or linear DNA fragments which vary from 1.5 to 6.5 kb and correspond to 1 kb marker can be recovered from 0.8 to 1.0% agarose gel smoothly with a simple and rapid trap method. The recovery efficiency could be more than 70% and the quality of the recovered DNA is proved to be good enough for future...

Author(s): Hongli Xia, Zui Tan, Jianguo Qiao and Chuan Liang

September 2011

Microspore culture of Zantedeschia aethiopica: The role of monosaccharides in sporophytic development

  Various factors affecting microspore culture were studied in Zantedeschia aethiopica. Starting microspores at late-unicellular stage, NLN as culture medium and treatment of culture at 32°C for 2 days prior to incubation at 25°C, gave the best early sporophytic response. A comparison of different carbohydrates applied in culture medium showed that glucose and fructose favored more occurrences of...

Author(s): Shimin Wang, Xiaolu Li, Lili Yang, Hongzhi Wu, Sixiang Zheng, Xiyan Zhang and Lemin Zhang

September 2011

Metabolic acclimation to heat stress in farm housed Holstein cows with different body condition scores

  The aim of this study was to determine the effects of body condition score to metabolic acclimation in heat stressed Holstein cows. Body condition of cows had no effect on any of the tested parameters during the thermal neutral period, exceptfor the percentage of protein in...

Author(s): Marko R. Cincović, Branislava Belić, Bojan Toholj, Aleksandar Potkonjak, Milenko Stevančević, Branislav Lako and Ivan Radović

September 2011

Lactation performance and serum biochemistry of dairy cows fed supplemental chromium in the transition period

  This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplemental chromium on performance and blood serum biochemistry of dairy cows. Thus, 20 multiparous Holstein cows (parity 3) were equally divided into two groups, group one (control), which received no chromium supplementation and group two (treatment) which received 5 g/day chromium methionine from week 5 prior to parturition...

Author(s): M. Khalili, A.D. Foroozandeh and M. Toghyani

September 2011

Prevalence of Campylobacter foetus and Trichomonas foetus among cattle from Southern Africa

  Trichomoniasis and campylobacteriosis are diseases caused by Trichomonas foetus and Campylobacter foetus respectively. These diseases pose economic losses due to infertility and abortion. The aim of this retrospective study was to estimate the prevalence of C. foetus and T. foetus among southern African cattle. Sheath washings and scrapings were subjected to...

Author(s): Madoroba, Evelyn, Gelaw, Awoke, Hlokwe, Tiny and Mnisi, Mkhevu

September 2011

Reproductive characterization of three species of Giant African land snails (GALs) in captivity

  Duration of reproductive activities (courtship latency, courtship and mating) were studied in three (3) species of Giant African land snails (GALs) namely, Achatina fulica, Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina using mature snails gathered from rural Nigeria. The snails were housed singly for 90 days to acclimatize; shed already fertilized eggs from previous mating and develop...

Author(s): Ugwu, S. O. C., Ogbu, C. C. and Ikechiuno, I. K.

September 2011

Investigation of antibacterial effects of garlic (Allium sativum), mint (Menthe spp.) and onion (Allium cepa) herbal extracts on Escherichia coli isolated from broiler chickens

  This study was done to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the aqueous extracts of garlic (Allium sativum), mint (Menthe spp.) and onion (Allium cepa) in in vitro conditions against the Escherichia coli isolated from broiler chickens. E. coli was isolated from the infected tissues of the chickens which were suspected of Colibacillus infection. In...

Author(s): Ahmad Ziarlarimi, Mehrdad Irani, Shahabodin Gharahveysi and Zahra Rahmani