ISSN 2736-1756
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Antimicrobial activities of Garcinia kola on oral Fusobacterium nucleatum and biofilm
Francisca Nwaokorie1*, Akitoye Coker1, Folasade Ogunsola1, Elerson Gaetti-Jardim Jr.2, Oyedele Gabriel3, Ayanbadejo Patricia4, Abdurrazaq Taiwo5 and
Umezudike Adesola4
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
2Anaerobe Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
3Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
4Department of Preventive Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
5Department of Oral /maxillofacial surgery, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Accepted 24 February, 2014
Abstract
The extracts from the root, bark and seed of Garcinia kola are currently used in traditional medicine in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of crude extracts of G. kola on Fusobacterium nucleatum isolated from the oral cavity. Methanol and aqueous extracts were prepared from the seed and the minimal inhibitory concentration was evaluated by the agar dilution method, using a Wilkins-Chalgren agar supplemented with horse blood (5%), hemin (5 µg/ml) and menadione (1 µg/ml). Antimicrobial activity of plant extracts on microbial biofilms was determined in microtiter plates. The seed of G. kola demonstrated significant inhibitory action on F. nucleatum isolates at a concentration of 1.25 and 12.5 mg/ml for amoxicillin resistant strain. It was able to inhibit the microbial biofilm formed by the association of F. nucleatum with Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ATCC 33384 and Prevotella intermedia ATCC 2564 at a concentration of 25 mg/ml. The in-vitro inhibitory effect of G. kola on F. nucleatum population suggests a potential role for its use in oral hygiene.
Key words: Fusobacterium nucleatum, Garcinia kola, oral disease, natural medicine, anaerobic bacteria, biofilm.
Folasade Ogunsola, Akitoye Coker, Francisca Nwaokorie*, Oyedele Gabriel, Elerson Gaetti-Jardim Jr., Abdurrazaq Taiwo and Umezudike Adesola, Ayanbadejo Patricia
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Functional analysis of a putative transcriptional regulator gene dr2539 in Deinococcus radiodurans
Shao Hua, Chang Shenghe*, Li Zongwei, Wang Yanping and Qin Guangyong
Ion Beam Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Physics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
Accepted 23 December, 2014
Abstract
The radiation resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans R1 possesses a high intracellular Mn/Fe concentration ratio. Non-enzymic Mn(II) in D. radiodurans acts as an antioxidant to scavenge reactive oxygen species which contributes to its extreme radioresistance. The gene dr2539 encodes a transcriptional regulator that is predicted to be involved in regulating the transportation of Mn(II) or Fe(II) in D. radiodurans R1. In this study, we constructed a dr2539 disruption mutant with D. radiodurans R1 and compared them in growth rates and in intracellular Fe and Mn ions concentrations. We also investigated the phenotypes of the two strains including protease secretion and resistance to heavy metal ions, H2O2 and MV. The results showed that D. radiodurans R1 did not exhibit strong resistance to Hg(II), Ag(I), Cr(VI) and Pb(IV). Disruption of the gene dr2539 in D. radiodurans R1 resulted in an obvious growth defect in Mn-depleted medium and a remarkably-increased sensitivity to Mn(II). The disruption mutant obviously accumulated the intracellular Mn ion and raised the intracellular Mn/Fe ratio in Mn(II)-replete medium, but it had the similar intracellular Mn/Fe ratio with the wild strain in Fe(II)-replete medium. Furthermore, although the mutant accumulated high levels of intracellular Mn/Fe ratio in Mn(II)-replete medium, disruption of the gene dr2539 had no apparent effect on its resistance to H2 O2 and MV. These results suggest that the gene dr2539 in D. radiodurans R1 plays an important role in regulating the transportation of Mn(II) and the correlation between the intracellular Mn/Fe ratio and the antioxidant capacity in D. radiodurans need further study.
Key words Deinococcus radiodurans, intracellular Mn/Fe concentration ratio, reactive oxygen species, minimal inhibitory concentration.
Li Zongwei, Shao Hua, Chang Shenghe*, Wang Yanping and Qin Guangyong
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
An empirical evaluation of the determinants of household hurricane evacuation choice
Daniel Solís1*, Michael Thomas2 and David Letson1
1Division of Marine Affairs and Policy (MAF), Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS),
University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker CSWY, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
2Division of Agribusiness, Florida A&M University, 1740 S Martin Luther King Jr., 217 Perry-Paige Bldg., Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA.
Accepted 25 March, 2014
Abstract
In this study, we implement a set of probit models to analyze the determinants of household hurricane evacuation choice for a sample of 1,355 households in Florida. This article contributes to the literature by accounting for two issues normally neglected in previous studies; namely, regional variability and within season variability. The empirical results suggest that households living in risky environments (mobile home and flooding areas) are more likely to evacuate. In addition, households with children and those who have experienced the threat of a hurricane also display higher probabilities to evacuate. Opposite results are found for homeowners and households with pets. Regional differences are also clearly demonstrated with households in southeast Florida less likely to evacuate than those in Northwest Florida.
Key words: Hurricane, evacuation, household behavior.
Daniel SolÃs*, Michael Thomas and David Letson
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
The international trade prospective of agriculture sector in South African
M. Y. Teweldemedhin1* and Van H. D. Schalkwyk2
1Department of Agricultural Economics, Polytechnic of Namibia and University of Free State, South Africa.
2North West University (NWU), Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa.
Accepted 26 July, 2014
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to analyse the international trade performance of the South African agricultural industry in aggregate and by product group categories. A useful tool in this regard is the Gini and intra-industrial trade coefficient (IIT), which is used to examine the international trade balance of South Africa. Moreover, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) is also used to identify factors that may be necessary to achieve high IIT. The IIT coefficient, after 1994, achieved more than 85 percent, which is a record level even for industrialised countries. This high IIT performance reveals trade liberalisation between the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) and the European Union (EU), opening South Africa’s market to the world. It also reveals that South Africa is able to increase its specialisation and flexibility to gain market access, and has shown a greater ability to compete in a changing trade environment. The results of the econometric analysis of IIT determinants give a greater magnitude to the coefficients export to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and export -to -import ratios. These results imply that if South Africa’s industries take measures to increase trade liberalisation, diversity, and the level of industrial specialisation, the IIT level would be higher, and significant economic gain might be achieved by minimising costs.
Key word: Gini and intra-industrial trade coefficient, the international trade performance.
Van H. D. Schalkwyk, M. Y. Teweldemedhin*
Page: 1 - 10
Research Article
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Geographical development of agricultural entrepreneurship: The case of pig farming in Greece
Aggelopoulos S.1*, Pavloudi A.1 and Galanopoulos K.2
1Department of Agricultural Development and Agribusiness Management, Alexander Technological Educational Institute
of Thessaloniki, Sindos Thessaloniki, Greece.
2Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, 193 Pantazidou Str, 68 200, Orestiada, Greece.
Accepted 2 December, 2014
Abstract
This paper focused on the spatial and typological analysis of the economic activities of a major entrepreneurial sector of agricultural economy: pig farming. By applying the K-Mean Cluster analysis methodology, the “profile” of various pig farms was studied, regarding the geographical region, corporate structure, educational level of their owners and the type of invested capital. The K-Mean Cluster analysis results indicated that there were three clusters of farms that verified its criteria. The farms in first cluster were mainly active in the regions of Western Thessaly and the area of Evia-Viotia. The majority was family farms, which had not yet invested in the modernisation of their fixed assets, and this led to a high cost of use of the said assets. The farms in second cluster were active in the regions of Central Thessaly, Attica and Viotia. They were shareholder enterprises, and attained the best financial results compared to the other clusters. These farms combined a high productivity rate with investments in a more rational exploitation of their fixed assets. The farms in third cluster were active in Eastern Thessaly, Etoloakarnania, Attica and Viotia, and were also shareholder enterprises. They presented a high rate of modernisation, but still required investments of a higher quality in order to improve their performance.
Key words: Pig farms, agricultural investments, financing, K-mean cluster analysis.
Aggelopoulos S.*, Pavloudi A and Galanopoulos K.
Page: 1 - 10
Review
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2015
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2015 International Scholars Journals
Review
Ideas for the development of post-independence Sub-Saharan Africa
F. I. Kabuya
Department of Agricultural, Economics and Management, Faculty of Agriculture University of Swaziland, P. O. Box Luyengo, Swaziland. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 17 December, 2015
Abstract
Most sub-Saharan African leaders seem to misunderstand the development concepts or ideas by embracing the African socialist system as a path of economic development. The leaders focused on strong nationalist sentiments and economy of affection and neglected the rural development, a sine qua none condition of economic growth and development in Africa. This study defines the development concepts and different economic systems, analyzes the relationship between governance, leadership and development, describes the common characteristics of African economies, and puts forward a view on the developmental policies that might address the development challenges of the region. African policy makers should recognize the failed policies of the past and be attentive to agricultural and rural development ideas in their economic development process.
Key words: Development, economic growth, governance, leadership, agriculture, pro-poor policies.
F. I. Kabuya
Page: 1 - 10