August 2003
Stable gene transformation in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. walp.) using particle gun method
We investigated the possibility of transforming and obtaining transgenic cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L Walp) plants using the particle bombardment process. Meristematic explants that could give rise to whole fertile plants were used in transformation experiments with reporter and selectable marker genes driven by a 35S CaMV promoter. Conditions for optimal delivery of DNA to explants were established based...
August 2003
Characterization of bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum F1 and Lactobacillus brevis OG1
Lactobacillus plantarum F1 and L. brevis OG1 isolated from Nigerian fermented food products, produced bacteriocins that had broad spectrum of inhibition against both pathogenic, food spoilage organisms and various lactic acid bacteria. The test organisms exhibited activities of 6400 and 3200 AU/ml respectively against Escherichia coliNCTC10418 and Enterococcus faecalis EF1,...
August 2003
Protein enrichment of solid waste from cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) cormel processing using Aspergillus oryzae obtained from cormel flour
Aspergillus oryzae obtained from spoilt cormel flour was subjected to mutation treatments using X-rays, solar radiation and bleach. Following selection and screening of viable colonies on a medium containing Xanthosoma cormel solid process waste as the only carbon source, A. oryzae A7 which significantly (p £ 0.05) produced more biomass at a higher...
August 2003
Constructional features of a 15-litre home-made bioreactor for fed-batch fermentations
A 15-litre bench-top multipurpose bioreactor was designed and constructed. The vessel is a glass type with a stainless flat headplate incorporating 9 access ports allowing for a variety of interchangeable probes and actuators. The stirring speed ranges between 0 and 250 rpm, the aeration rate (0-2 l/m), the pH control loop uses HI 1131 probe, two 100 ml bottles of HCl and NaOH solutions and operates a close...
August 2003
Comparison of an African herbal formula with commercially available haematinics
The haematological changes observed with commercially available haematinics (Fagon 9® and Chemiron®) were compared with those of a local haematinic referred to as African Herbal Formula (AHF). Results showed that AHF produced effects in haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) levels, which are reasonably comparable with the reference commercial and chemically defined...
August 2003
Rhesus negative pregnant women in a traditional birth home in Abeokuta, Nigeria
In a survey of 200 pregnant women (mean age 24 years) attending a traditional birth home (TBH) in Abeokuta, Nigeria, 19 (9.5%) were found to be rhesus negative, 8 (42.1%) of which were primigravidae while 11 (57.9%) were multigravidae. 87.5% of the Rhesus negative primigravidae delivered at the TBH without being given the post partum injection of anti-D-gama globulin within 72 h of delivery, thereby having...
August 2003
Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria
Three patients, 30, 2 and one and a half years, were diagnosed as having falciparummalaria and were placed on chloroquine therapy which failed. They were then placed on quinine therapy that then cleared the parasitaemia. This case report seeks to draw the attention of the presence of possible chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. Key...
August 2003
Genetic fingerprinting and phylogenetic diversity of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Nigeria
Genetic fingerprinting of 18 different isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Nigeria using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was carried out. Ten out of 100 Operon primers showed polymorphism among the isolates tested generating 88 bands, 51 of which were polymorphic with sizes ranging between 200 and 3,000 bp. All the isolates were classified completely into two major groups...
August 2003
Isolation of total DNA from bacteria and yeast
Many procedures in molecular biology require the isolation of high quality genomic DNA. This study investigated a new method to extract DNA from Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria, Mycobacteria and yeasts. Guanidine thioisocyanate present in DNAzol is capable of binding DNA to silica particle column. Subsequently the silica with adsorbed DNA is washed to remove impurities and the clean DNA eluted in...
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