African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5233

Table of Content: 19 February, 2013; 7(8)

February 2013

Isotope effects on cell growth and sporulation, and spore heat resistance, survival and spontaneous mutation of Bacillus cereus by deuterium oxide culture

Deuterated spores of Bacillus cereus were prepared using a multi-stage adaptation protocol and then preserved at -20, 4, 25 and 40°C, respectively, to investigate the genetic mutation effects of deuterium oxide (D2O) isotope. The effects of the D2O isotope on cell growth and sporulation, and spore heat resistance, survival and spontaneous mutation rate of spores were examined. The results suggested...

Author(s): Ming-Feng Lu, Yue-Jie Zhang and Hong-Yu Zhang,

February 2013

RT-PCR assays for the evaluation of the expression of Listeria monocytogenes virulence genes after cold and freezing shock

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne bacterial pathogen that is able to grow at refrigeration temperatures and resist freezing. This organism frequently colonizes and proliferates on preserved food products despite exposure to stress conditions induced by low storage temperatures. To investigate microbial virulence genes expression associated with cold shock, RT-PCR (Reverse Transcript PCR) assays was...

Author(s): Hanene MILADI, Kamel CHAIEB, Mejdi SNOUSSI, Emna AMMAR and Amina BAKHROUF

February 2013

Rapid detection of emetic toxin producing Bacillus cereus strains using triple-primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay

Emetic toxin producing Bacillus cereus can cause emetic food poisoning. In this study, an improved triple-primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed as a reliable and rapid identification method for the detection of emetic toxin producing B. cereus strains based on the unique gene sequences of the CER, ces and groEL. Specificity and sensitivity of the primers was...

Author(s): Gwang-Hee Kim#, Fereidoun Forghani# and Deog-Hwan Oh  

February 2013

Solubilization of inorganic phosphate and production of organic acids by bacteria isolated from a Moroccan mineral phosphate deposit

Three efficient inorganic-phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) were isolated from a phosphate rock deposit of a Moroccan mine. The phosphate solubilization index of these isolates, determined in National Botanical Research Institute's phosphate (NBRIP) medium supplemented with tribasic calcium phosphate, ranging from 2.8 to 4.4. The medium pH dropped from 7.0 to 3.5 units after growth under continuous agitation for...

Author(s): Ilham Mardad, Aurelio Serrano and Abdelaziz Soukri  

February 2013

An innovative microwave process for microbial decontamination of spices and herbs

The microbiological status of some dried spices and herbs from local markets in Jordanand the effect of home microwave on reducing their microbial load were evaluated. The results indicated that the sixteen tested samples were contaminated with aerobic mesophilic bacteria ranging from 1.18 x 103 to 5.1 x 105 CFU/g, mesophilic spore former bacteria 1.2 x 102 to 1.2 x 104 CFU/g,...

Author(s): Basem F. Dababneh  

February 2013

The detection and characterization of multiple tick-borne pathogens in cattle at Ficksburg and Reitz (Free State Province, South Africa) using reverse line blot hybridization

Ticks and tick-borne diseases are widely distributed in southern Africa and limit livestock production of commercial farmers and the subsistence economy of the resource-poor farmers. Reverse line blot hybridization was used to survey the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in cattle of commercial and small scale resource-poor farmers within the north-eastern region of the Free State Province, South Africa. Blood was...

Author(s): Moses S. Mtshali, Helena C. Steyn, Phillip S.Mtshali, Peter A. Mbati, Katherine M. Kocan, Abdalla Latif and Varda Shkap

February 2013

Antagonistic mechanism and control effect of Bacillus subtilis Y2 against Fusarium oxysporum causing soybean root rot

Soybean root rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum is a destructive soilborne pathogen and is of economic importance in all soybean producing areas. Bacillus subtilis strain Y2 is a potential bacterial biocontrol agent against F. oxysporum. An antagonistic mechanism ofB. subtilis Y2 against F. oxysporum was conducted. The antagonistic mechanism of strain Y2 against F....

Author(s): Yonggang Li, Li Zhang, Chunling Wang, Xiaobing Geng and Wenbin Li  

February 2013

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic study of Newcastle disease virus isolates from the 2010 to 2011 outbreaks in Shiraz, Iran

The velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) causes a devastating form of disease in commercial poultry. In this study, we characterized 10 isolates of NDVs that were obtained from recent outbreaks in commercial broiler chickens in Shiraz (in the Southwest of Iran) during 2010 and 2011. The F protein gene was amplified by RT-PCR using kit with F gene specific primers. A piece of 1561 nucleotide including F gene cleavage...

Author(s): Ali Reza Boostani Seyed Ali Pourbakhsh, Reza Momayez and Saied Charkhkar  

February 2013

Antibacterial effect of hydrosoluble extracts of garlic (Allium sativum) against Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus acidophilus

The antimicrobial effects of garlic (Allium sativum) against pathogenic microorganisms have been well documented.  It is generally stated that garlic exhibits differential inhibition between pathogenic and beneficial bacteria. Though there is substantial evidence to support the claim for pathogens, there is limited literature on its effects on beneficial bacteria, specifically probiotic bifidobacteria. This study...

Author(s): Jemma Booyens and Mapitsi S. Thantsha  

February 2013

Genetic characterization of VP6 and NS4 genes of bluetongue viruses isolated in Israel during 2006 to 2011

Twenty-nine (29) Israeli bluetongue virus isolates belonging to eight different serotypes (BTV-2, 4, 5, 8, 12, 15, 16, and 24) were selected to study the nucleotide sequences of segment 9 encoding VP6 protein and the non-structural protein, NS4. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all Israeli BTV isolates were subdivided into three main groups, of which the 1st and 2nd groups each...

Author(s): Natalia Golender, Jacob Brenner, Velizar Bumbarov, Orly Friedgut, Ditza Rotenberg,and Alexander Panshin

February 2013

Antibiotic susceptibility testing of isolated Bacillus thuringiensis from three soil types around Iligan City, Philippines

This study was conducted with the aim of isolating and identifying entomopathogenic isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) from the three different kinds of soils and to determine its antibiotic susceptibility. Soil samples were taken from three different uncultivated sites that have no history of treatment with Bt products. Isolation of the Bt strain was conducted based on the conventional...

Author(s): Jing R. Bautista and Franco G. Teves

February 2013

Isolation and functional study of potentially probiotic Lactobacilli from Taiwan traditional paocai

The objective of this study was to isolate, characterize and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from Taiwan traditional pickled paocai. A total of 207 acid-producing strains were isolated and identified as catalase negative, Gram positive, with rod or bead shape and immobility by microbial and biochemical tests. None of the assayed strains showed haemolytic and gelatinase...

Author(s): Shiao-Ming Chang, Chi-Lin Tsai, Wan-Chen Wee and Tsong-Rong Yan  

February 2013

CTX-M-15 type extended spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: A developing problem in infected outpatients and hospitalised patients in Istanbul, Turkey

Extented-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were shown to be a significant cause of both community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections worldwide. The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiological feature of CTX-M, TEM and SHV producing pathogenic E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains in outpatients and hospitalised...

Author(s): Serdar Mehmet Altinkum, Sevgi Ergin, Hrisi Bahar and Muzeyyen Mamal Torun  

February 2013

Development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with an internal control method to detect Yersinia pestis in the plague foci surveillance

To detect Yersinia pestis in the foci surveillance rapidly and specially, we developed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with an internal control technique. The specific segments of Yesinia pestis were co-amplified by PCR directly from the hosts’ organ samples with an internal control to prevent false negative results that might be caused by PCR inhibitors. Comparing the PCR results...

Author(s): Zhikai Zhang, Ying Liang, Dongzheng Yu, Lianxu Xia and Rong Hai  

February 2013

Flagellin complete sequence as an inter-specific molecular phylogenetic marker among bacteria

Flagellin, a flagelar subunit protein, presents four structural domains, two of which are highly conserved among bacteria, while the other two tend to be variable. Flagellins have been used as phylogenetic molecular markers, mainly intra-specifically. In this work, a marker comparison for bacterial phylogenetic reconstruction was performed by means of five different DNA sequences: the conserved and complete sequence of...

Author(s): Ernesto Borrayo, M. D. Martinez-Pena, J.A. Morales-Valencia, M. Cortes-Cruzand R. Arteaga-Garibay