November 2014

The use of Artemisia tea and occurrence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the PfATPase6 gene

The herb Artemisia annua L. was used in ancient Chinese medicine to treat malaria and fevers. In a Ugandan community (Wagagai flower farm) located at the shores of Lake Victoria in Entebbe Municipality, tea infused with dried leaves of this herb (Artemisia tea) is drank by employees. The effect of drinking Artemisia on changes (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) in Plasmodium falciparum candidate resistance genes is...

Author(s): Dickson Robert Opio, Anne Kazibwe and Adaku Vivien Iwueke

November 2014

Effects of flashing light-emitting diode (LED) of several colors on the growth of the microalga Isochrysis galbana

The growth rate of Isochrysis galbana was determined under flashing light conditions (104 μmol m-2s-1 light intensity, 10 kHz frequency, and 50% of the duty cycle) of several colors. The most suitable light for the growth of I. galbana was blue (dominant wavelength: 470 nm). After six days, the cell density under blue light was 34.0 × 105 cells mL-1, and was 1.4, 1.6, 1.8,and 2.2 times higher than those under...

Author(s): T. Yago, H. Arakawa, K. Akima, Y. Okumura and T. Morinaga

November 2014

Improved multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of Bacillus cereus group and its toxic strains in food and environmental samples

A multiplex PCR assay for the rapid detection of Bacillus cereus group, enterotoxic and emetic strains was developed. A panel of emetic and enterotoxic reference strains, B. cereus group members and non-target strains were used for the evaluation of the assay. Verification of PCR results on pure culture and inoculated foods successfully confirmed the specificity of approach for detection of target genes for B. cereus...

Author(s): Fereidoun Forghani, Kun-Ho Seo and Deog-Hwan Oh

November 2014

Races and virulence of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici in some regions of Iran

Stem rust represents the major threat to wheat production in Iran. It has been present for many years and epidemics occur in different regions on both winter and spring wheat. The objective of this study was to characterize races of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici present in Khuzestan and Lorstan provinces of Iran in 2012. Using the international system of nomenclature for P. graminis f. sp. tritici, 20 races were...

Author(s): S. Elyasi-Gomari

November 2014

Optimization of parameters for decolorization of a textile azo dye, Remazol Black B (RBB) by a newly isolated bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis BYJ1

Bacillus thuringiensis BYJ1, a newly isolated bacterium from textile effluent contaminated soil was exploited to decolorize a textile azo dye, Remazol Black B (RBB). Various process parameters like initial RBB concentration, temperature, pH and cultural conditions on the process of dye decolorization were studied in order to determine optimum condition. Decolorization process was largely affected under aerobic process....

Author(s): Joshi A. Y., Kothari V. V., Kothari C. R., Bhimani H. D. and Kothari R. K.