AJMR | Table of Contents

Table of Contents 2017

Research Article

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

Full Length Research Paper

Protease and amylase enzymes for biofilm removal and degradation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria

I. Phyllis Molobela¹*, T. Eugene Cloete² and Mervyn Beukes³

¹Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

²Faculty of Science, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.

³Department of Biochemistry, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

Accepted 8 June, 2017

Abstract

Removal of biofilms is difficult. In industrial settings, both the inactivation and removal of biofilms are of huge concern. If only disinfection without the removal of attached biofilms occurs, the inactivated biofilm cells may provide an ideal environment for further adhesion and growth, resulting in a complex matrix. Microbial resistance to biocides and their negative environmental impact are the main reasons for finding alternative biofilm control strategies. Enzymes may offer such an alternative. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of commercial proteases and amylases on biofilms formed by Pseudomonas fluorescens. Biofilms were grown in diluted medium containing glass wool used as the attachment surface. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were extracted and EPS composition was determined. Protease (savinase, everlase and polarzyme) and amylase (Amyloglucosidase and Bacterial Amylase Novo) activity was tested on both biofilms and on extracted EPS. After testing enzymes, biofilm integrity was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. EPS composition consisted predominantly of proteins. Everlase and Savinase were the most effective enzymatic treatments on removing biofilms and degrading the EPS.

Key words: Biofilms, extracellular polymeric substances, Pseudomonas fluorescens, proteases, amylases.

T. Eugene Cloete and Mervyn Beukes, I. Phyllis Molobela*

Page: 1 - 10

Research Article

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

Full Length Research Paper

Studies on major respiratory diseases of Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Northeastern Ethiopia

Fekadu Kebede and Esayas Gelaye*

National Veterinary Institute, P. O. Box 19, Debre zeit, Ethiopia.

Accepted 16 April, 2017

Abstract

A comparative serological test was carried out to identify the primary causative agent involved in the camel respiratory disease outbreak that occurred in Ethiopia. The samples were collected during and post outbreak time and analyzed for parainfulenza-3 and pasteurellosis. According to the result, parainfulenza-3 was found as a primary causative agent as 70.5% in outbreak and 6.8% in surveyed areas and there is a statistical significant variation observed between the outbreak and survey sera samples (P < 0.01). Manhaemiya hemolytica was involved as secondary bacterial complications. The association of parainfulenza-3 and pasteurellosis was also assessed and has shown that M. haemolytica A2 was a dominant serotype over others which account 50% in higher antibody titration ranging from 1:80 - 1:320 in outbreak samples. Camel respiratory diseases are still flaring up in various parts of the country and reports are coming year after year urging for an intervention measures. Further studies have been recommended on the epidemiology of the disease and the identification of the responsible pathogens and its serotypes to be involved for the development of vaccines.

Key words: Ethiopia, camel respiratory diseases, Manhaemiya hemolytica, parainfulenza-3, serotyping.

Esayas Gelaye*, Fekadu Kebede

Page: 1 - 10

Research Article

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

Full Length Research Paper

Moulds on paintings in Serbian fine art museums

Jelena Vukojevi and Milica Ljaljevi Grbi*

Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Takovska 43, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.

Accepted 19 May, 2016

Abstract

The main reasons of fungal expansion in museums are inadequate relative humidity and temperature and the spore’s germination can be controlled by regulation of these two factors. Numerous paintings, originated from 11 Serbian museums, were analyzed for presence of moulds. Samples from canvas, dyes and wooden frames with visual changes were subjected to the analysis. Species of genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Drechslera, Epicoccum, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Trichoderma, Ulocladium and Wardomyces were isolated and identified. Some of the found species are known as potential producers of lignocellulolytic enzymes and other destructive metabolites, as well as causative agents of human diseases.

Key words: icromycetes, paintings, dyes, fungal deterioration.

Jelena Vukojevi, Milica Ljaljevi Grbi*

Page: 1 - 10

Research Article

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

Full Length Research Paper

Microbiological impacts of produce water discharges in nearshore shallow marine waters near Chevron’s Escravos tank farm, Nigeria

Chuma C. Okoro

Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 08033072754, 01-7430285.

Accepted 14 January, 2017

Abstract

Microbiological and Physicochemical survey was undertaken in produced water and its receiving environment with the aim of verifying the likely impacts of produced water constituents on the immediate receiving marine near shore shallow environment. The sampling was carried out in two seasons, late wet season and late dry season. The results obtained indicate that the chemical constituents of the discharged produce water are capable of sustaining microbial growth and proliferation. Produce water from Escravos tank farm had relatively moderate concentrations of hydrocarbon utilizing microorganisms and sulphate reducing bacteria and the concentration of these organisms were much higher at the point of discharge of the produced water. Physicochemical analysis showed that Produce water had lower salinity and sulphate levels than the receiving marine water but the reverse was the case with the BOD, COD and Hydrocarbon constituents. The two seasons under investigation showed similar results. From the analytical data, it can be advanced that the impacts of produced water microbial flora on the receiving environment is limited to the vicinity of the discharge point of about 100 m in diameter and also to some extent up to a distance of 500 m upstream along the direction of flow of produced water discharges. It is expected that while the hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms plays a beneficial role of degrading and detoxifying abundant produced water hydrocarbons in the sediment and the surface water, Sulphate reducing bacteria might at the same time be playing a detrimental role of oxidizing certain organic compounds or hydrogen and reducing sulphate and other reduced sulphur compounds in the marine water and sediment to hydrogen sulphide which can be very toxic to bacteria, aquatic animals and man.

Key words: Produced water, sulphate reducing bacteria, hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria.

Chuma C. Okoro

Page: 1 - 10

Research Article

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

Full Length Research Paper

Molecular detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among voluntary blood donor's HBsAg positive in shahrekord, Iran

Elahe Tajbakhsh^1*, Hassan Momtaz², Manouchehr Momeni³ and Sodabe Hamedi⁴

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Science, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord branch, P.O.Box:166, Shahrekord, Iran.

²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord branch-Shahrekord- Iran.

³Biotechnology center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord branch- Shahrekord- Iran.

⁴Biostatistic Medical University, Zabol, Iran.

Accepted 19 May, 2016

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus, a common cause of viral hepatitis, consumes a large portion of health resources in developing countries. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevalence has been decreased dramatically in Iran population during the last decade, and now it is classified as having low endemicity for hepatitis B infection. Improvement of the people’s awareness about HBV risk factors, national vaccination program since 1993 for all neonates, and vaccination of high risk groups could be the cause of this decrease. In this investigation, we announce the detection of HBV- DNA sequence from 90 HBsAg positive blood donors in shahrekord by nested PCR, using specific primers of the surface antigen region of the HBV genome. Of the 11472 volunteer blood donors admitted to Shahrekord blood transfusion organization center in Iran during 2007 - 2008, 90 specimens were positive for HBsAg. From 90 HBsAg positive serum samples, 75 specimens were positive in PCR.

Key words: Blood donors, HBsAg positive, Hepatitis B, Iran, PCR, Shahrekord.

Elahe Tajbakhsh*, Manouchehr Momeni and Sodabe Hamedi, Hassan Momtaz

Page: 1 - 10

Research Article

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2017

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

Full Length Research Paper

Screening and fermentation optimization of microbial lipid-producing molds from forest soils

Gao-Qiang Liu^1,2*, Qin-Lu Lin², Xian-Chun Jin³, Xiao-Ling Wang¹and Yan Zhao¹

¹College of Life Sciences and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, P.R. China.

²National Engineering Laboratory for Grain Further Processing, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, P. R. China.

³College of Life Science, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou 450002, P. R. China.

Accepted 22 June, 2016

Abstract

Sixty-one isolates including molds, yeasts and bacteria from the forest soils collected from Hunan Province, China were tested for their potentiality to accumulate microbial lipid as alternative sources for biodiesel production. The results showed that sixteen mold isolates were potential oleaginous microorganisms, among which, strain SCIM 3.009 was the best lipid producers, which may accumulate up to 50.4% of lipids in dry biomass. Further study showed that the components profile of the lipid from strain SCIM 3.009 had the similar characters to that of vegetable oil, abundant in low degree unsaturated long chain fatty acid (C18:1) and saturated long chain fatty acids (C16:0), suggesting the lipid is a potential source for biodiesel production. Based on the morphology and a commercial identification system, the strain SCIM 3.009 was found to be Thamnidium ctenidium. To enhance the lipid production by the strain, the fermentation parameters were optimized, the optimium conditions were as follows: glucose as carbon source with initial concentration 60 g/L, NH₄NO₃ as nitrogen source at 3.0 g/L, culture temperature was 30°C, initial pH = 6.5, culture volume was 50 mL in a 250 mL flask, agitation speed was 220 rpm. Results on verification of the optimium conditions in a 5 L stirred-tank bioreactor reveal that the strain accumulate up to 66.02% of lipids in dry biomass and the lipid yield significantly enhanced from 6.4 ± 0.39 to 13.6 ± 0.37 g/L, while biomass enhanced from 12.7 ± 0.72 to 20.6 ± 0.52 g/L.

Key words: Biodiesel, microbial lipid, oleaginous microorganism, strains screening, submerged fermentation.

Qin-Lu Lin, Xian-Chun Jin, Xiao-Ling Wangand Yan Zhao, Gao-Qiang Liu*

Page: 1 - 10