African Journal of Virology Research

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 19 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Mycorrhizal Mediation of Salt Stress: Effects of Glomus mosseae on Paeonia suffruticosa Leaf Development

Guo Shaoxia1,2* Han Tingting2 and Liu Runjin1

1Institute of Mycorrhizal Biotechnology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao Shandong Province 266109, China.
2College of Garden and Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao Shandong Province 266109, China.

Accepted 18 March, 2025

The effects of Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the characteristics of leaf development of Paeonia suffruticosa at different levels of salt stress (0, 8, 16 and 24%) were studied. Potted ‘Feng Dan’ seedlings were inoculated with Glomus mosseae, and the non-inoculated was used as the control. The results showed that under salt stress leaf relative water content, sclerophyllous index of leaves and leaf succulence level of P. suffruticosa seedlings inoculated with G. mosseae were significantly higher than those of non-inoculated seedling, and specific leaf area was significantly lower than that of the control. Leaf water loss rate of the non-inoculated peony was faster, the percentage of water loss in the total amount of water each time point is the highest. These results suggest that G. mosseae may play an important role in the leaf traits and enhanced salt tolerance of tree peony seedlings.

Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, characteristics of leaf development, Paeonia suffruticosa, salt stress.
 

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 19 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Rapid PCR Methodology for Accurate Detection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens in Soil Samples

Wei Yang1,2, Lei Ji3, Li-Rong Tan2, Shi-Mo Li1, Yan Wang3, Hong-Xia Liu2*,
and Yu-Ming Luo1*

1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Eco-Agricultural Biotechnology around Hongze Lake, Huaiyin Teacher’s College, No. 111, Changjiang West, Huai’an, 223001, Jiangsu Province, China. 2Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. 3Shanghai Forestry Station, Shanghai, 200072, China.

Accepted 28 March, 2025

One pair of primers was designed based on the sequence of tmr locus for specific and sensitive detection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Only the A. tumefaciens strain can produce the 236bp target fragment among the fourteen bacterial species that tested. The sensitivity of the specific PCR system was determined by a nested-PCR amplification which can numbered the copies of the template DNA. According to the results, it can give positive band when only 100 copies were in the template. The protocol was carried out for detection A. tumefaciens of twelve soil samples collected from six different gardens in Shanghai where crown gall happened. Two of the samples which collected from symptomless gardens also give the positive band. Based on the results we can make a conclusion that this pair of primers can be a useful tool in detecting A. tumefaciens, especially in detecting latent infection of this devastating pathogen.

Key words: Agrobacterium tumefaciens, detection, polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
 

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 19 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Molecular Characterization of Karakul Sheep Genetic Resources Using Microsatellite Markers

Shahram Nanekarani1*, Cyrus Amirinia2 and Nour Amirmozafari3

1Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Broujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Broujerd, Iran.
2Department of Animal Biotechnology, Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Karaj, Iran.
3Department of Molecular Biology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Accepted 1 March, 2024

In this study, the genetic variation in Karakul sheep was investigated using 15 microsatellite markers (MCMA2, BMS460, BM1815, OARCP26, OARFCB20, MAF64, OARAE129, BMS332, LSCV38, BM6444, BMS995, MCMA26, BMS678 and OARCP49) and all fifteen loci were amplified successfully. Genomic DNA was extracted from 120 blood samples, using modified salting-out method. Tests of genotype frequencies for deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were performed at each locus and revealed significant departure from HWE (P < 0.001) due to heterozygote excess. Parameters of variability such as effective number of alleles and gene diversities corroborated with the high level of variation frequently displayed by microsatellite markers. The fifteen tested loci were all polymorphic. Furthermore, other criteria of genetic variation including polymorphism information content (PIC) values and Shanon information index were calculated in this study. Results showed that, high level of genetic diversity was observed in Karakul breed and this breed was not at risk for conservation concept. This research has also shown that microsatellite technique is a useful tool for evaluation of genetic variation among domesticated animals.

Key words: Karakul sheep, microsatellite markers, genetic variation, polymorphism. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE).
 

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 19 (4), pp. 001-008, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Stability of the foot-and-mouth disease virus stored in cellulose-based FTA cards at different temperatures

R.A. Max¹*, T. R. Sanga^1,2, and C. J. Kasanga¹

¹College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3017, Morogoro, Tanzania.
²College of Science and Technical Education, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 131, Mbeya, Tanzania.

Received 21 February, 2025; Revised 19 March, 2025; Accepted 24 March, 2025; Published 30 April, 2025

Abstract

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection affecting cloven-hoofed animals. In FMD-endemic regions, proper storage and transportation of clinical samples are critical for preserving virological and epidemiological data. This study evaluated the suitability of Advantec® filter paper, a novel cellulose-based medium, for storing foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) RNA for subsequent amplification and sequencing. FMDV RNA stability was tested under four temperatures (-40°C to 25°C) and storage durations (2–12 weeks). Stability was assessed using RT-PCR and VP1 coding region sequencing, with nucleotide alignment performed to determine genomic integrity. Results showed that FMDV RNA remained stable for up to 10 weeks at room temperature (25°C) and 4°C, and over 12 weeks at -20°C and -40°C. Furthermore, nucleotide sequences extracted from filter paper were 100% identical to those from epithelial tissues stored at -80°C. These findings suggest that Advantec® filter paper is a viable alternative to conventional FTA cards, effectively preserving FMDV RNA for up to 10 weeks at moderate temperatures. This highlights its potential as a cost-effective transport medium for field-based virus surveillance and diagnostics, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Keywords: FTA cards, Advantec® filter paper, FMD virus, viral RNA isolation, storage temperature.
 

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 19 (4), pp. 001-013, April, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Utilization of Enterobacter aerogenes 12Bi Strain for Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Biosynthesis from Domestic Wastewater

Nur Ceyhan¹* and Guven Ozdemir²

¹Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mugla University, Mugla-48170, Turkey.

²Basic and Industrial Microbiology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ege University, Izmir-35100, Turkey.

Accepted 22 March, 2025

Abstract

A strain  of  poly- -hydroxybutyrate (PHB)-accumulating  bacterium  was isolated  and  identified  as Enterobacter aerogenes (designated E. aerogenes 12Bi) by using biochemical and phylogenetic characterization. The accumulation of a large amount of granules in its cells cultured in the domestic wastewater medium (DWWM) were showed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). When PHB production by our strain was determined by Hypochlorite method, it was found that PHB production ranged from 16.66 to 96.25% (w/w). The highest PHB yield by our microorganism was up to 96.25% within 18 h in DWWM 5 (supplemented with 100% DWW). This is the first report of the use of DWW for production of PHB by E. aerogenes. The results obtained in the study demonstrated that PHB could be efficiently produced to a high concentration with high productivity by using DWWM as an inexpensive substrate. Thus, it can contribute to the reduction of high production cost of PHB.

Key words: Poly- -hydroxybutyrate (PHB), bioplastics, domestic wastewater, Enterobacter aerogenes, biochemical identification, phylogenetic identification.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 2756-3413 Vol. 19 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antimicrobial Resistance and Risk Factors Associated with Bacteriuria in Diabetic Women: A Study from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Eligius F. Lyamuya¹, Sabrina John Moyo¹*, Ewaldo V. Komba² and Martin Haule¹

¹Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
²Department of Internal medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Accepted 18 November, 2024

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur frequently among women with diabetes. The present study aimed at determining prevalence and risk factors of bacteriuria in diabetic women and antimicrobial resistance pattern of the isolates at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), Dar es Salaam. Three hundred diabetic women attending clinic at MNH from June to November 2010 were included in the study. Demographic and clinical information were collected using a structured questionnaire. Urine specimens were collected for urinalysis, microscopy, culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Significant, asymptomatic and symptomatic bacteriuria was found in 13.7% (41/300), 13.4% (31/231), and 14.5% (10/69) diabetic women, respectively. The isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli (39.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.0%), coagulase negative Staphylococci (14.65) and Proteus spp. (12.2%). Both Gram positive and negative bacteria showed high rate of resistance towards co-trimoxazole (55.6% and 50.0%, respectively). Gram negative bacteria showed high rate of resistance to ampicillin (62.55%), penicillin (53.1%) and moderate resistance to cefotaxime (18.8%). Advanced age and glycosuria were significantly associated with bacteriuria (P < 0.05). E. coli was the commonest aetiological agent for both symptomatic and asymptomatic bacteriuria among diabetic women, especially those with advanced age and glycosuria. Most uropathogens were resistant to co-trimoxazole, ampicillin and ciprofloxacin.

Key words: Diabetes mellitus, bacteriuria, antimicrobial resistance.