January 2015

Prospect of bioactive molecules from Jatropha curcas to improve soil and microbial quality for sustainable agriculture

Recently, there has been increased interest promoting bioenergy as an alternate renewable energy source. Biodiesel from Jatropha curcas is an important form of bioenergy and have potential application in transportation sector. However, there is lack of understanding on relevance of J. curcas influencing soil properties and agriculture important for ecological services. Review defines different bioactive molecules found...

Author(s): Garima Dubey, Kollah Bharati, Usha Ahirwar, Renu Mishra, Sneh Tiwari and Santosh Ranjan Mohanty

January 2015

Antimicrobial potential of chitosan

Chitosan is a biopolymer that has been used in the production of biomaterials and is the focus of numerous studies due to its antimicrobial activity. Chitosan has high value-added applications in medicine, agricultural and cosmetics. Its broad spectrum of action, strong bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity and low cytotoxicity are some of the many advantages of chitosan as an antimicrobial agent. This paper consists of...

Author(s): Pedro Henrique Sette-de-Souza, Francinalva Dantas de Medeiros, Martina Gerlane de Oliveira Pinto, Júlio César Queiroz, Rayanne Izabel Maciel de Sousa, Patrícia Meira Bento, Daniela Pita de Melo, Pollianna Muniz Alves and Ana Cláudia Dantas de Medeiros

January 2015

Evaluation of antagonists against Macrophomina phaseolina causing root rot of groundnut

Efficacy of antagonists isolated from rhizosphere was tested against different isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina collected from groundnut growing areas of Rajasthan and adjoining states. One isolate of Trichoderma harzianum, one isolate of Trichoderma viride and one isolate of Bacillus subtilis gave distinct antagonistic reactions against all the isolates of M. phaseolina in dual culture plate method. T. viride, T....

Author(s): Pardeep Kumar, V. K. Gaur and Ritu Rani

January 2015

Culture media evaluation for biosurfactant production by Pseudomonas putida CB-100 using Plackett-Burman experimental design

Oil and fat wastes produced by food industries are hydrophobic compounds that are difficult to remove from contaminated sites, that is why they are an important environmental issue. Biosurfactants can be used to enhance the accessibility of these compounds to microorganisms for degradation. The aim of this study was to determine favorable nutrient and culture conditions for biosurfactant production by Pseudomonas putida...

Author(s): Ángeles Martínez-Toledo, Refugio Rodríguez-Vázquez and César Arturo Ilizaliturri Hernández

January 2015

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus in a tertiary institution in North Western Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. The study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of HBV infection and the possible potential risk factors among students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and August, 2013. Structured questionnaires were administered to obtain socio demographic data and possible risk factors that...

Author(s): Isa I., Aminu M., Abdullahi, S. A., Sani, M. A. and Esona M. D.

January 2015

Prevalence of beta-lactamases in Salmonella and Shigella species in different hospitals in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Beta-lactams are the most widely used antibiotics. Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is an increasing problem worldwide and beta-lactamase production is the most common mechanism of resistance to these drugs. Species of Salmonella and Shigella isolated from hospital patients in Anyigba, Kogi State, were analyzed for the presence of beta–lactamases using Nitrocefin, Iodometric, Acidimetric and Double Disc...

Author(s): Eze E. A., Ocean H. O. and Eze C. N.

January 2015

Morphological characteristics of wet bubble disease (Mycogone perniciosa) isolated from button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and assessment of factors affecting disease development and spread

Wet bubble disease (Mycogone perniciosa) is a devastating disease in the crop production of mushrooms. In India, it has been reported to cause serious crop losses. It is also a common contaminant, occurring in mushroom houses in the Kashmir valley. The aim of the study was to investigate physiological characteristics of M. perniciosa isolated from button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). The assessment of the factors...

Author(s): Shaheen Kouser, Shaiesta Shah, M. Ahmed, M. D. Shah and P. A. Sheikh

January 2015

Molecular identification of fungal species associated with leaf lesions of marama bean seedlings in Namibia

During one of our greenhouse experiments on the marama bean plant (Tylosema esculentum) at the University of Namibia, various signs of necrosis and spotting were observed on leaf tissues of the newly developed seedlings. In this study, we hereby describe findings of the investigations undertaken to attempt and determine the possible causative agent(s) of such plant leaf infections. In brief, infected seedling leaves...

Author(s): Takundwa M. M., Ruzvidzo O., Uzabakiriho J. D., Titus P. E. and Chimwamurombe P. M.