International Journal of Histology and Cytology

Keywords: Renal ischemia–reperfusion, estrogen, erythropoietin, ovariectomy.

International Journal of Histology and Cytology ISSN 2447-9535 Vol. 5 (7), pp. 445-448, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of caprine brain cells with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus by direct virus application

Adebayo, I. A.¹*, Awoniyi, T. A. M. ¹ and Olaleye, O. D.²

¹Department of Animal Production and Health, Animal Parasitology and Microbiology Research Unit, Federal University of Technology, P M B 704, Akure, Nigeria.

²Department of Virology, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 12 February, 2017

Abstract

One of the constraints in unraveling the mysteries blurring the advancement of research in the quest to totally put HIV problems under control is getting the appropriate animal model that would truly simulate human cases. This problem is more apparent in studies involving the central nervous system. Consequently, a viable animal model to generate information for the production of drugs and vaccines for the prevention and or control of lentiviral induced dementia in affected host animals is pertinent and vital. In this study, explant cultures prepared from the brain of new-born goat-kid were infected with Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) virus- a retrovirus affecting goats. The specific brain cell types infected by the (CAE) virus were determined using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM techniques). TEM showed that in 85 – 90% cases, microglia were the cells specifically infected by the virus. Amplification of the genomic sequence of the envelope and the gag genes by RT- PCR confirmed the presence of CAEV proviral DNA in the brain cells of affected animals. No productive infection of the astrocytes was observed. The results of this study showed a lot of similarities in the tropism of CAE virus infection of goat brain cells to that of HIV infection in humans thus suggesting the potential usefulness of the caprine model for the study of HIV neuropathology. The goat model system as a non-primate model therefore could be more adaptable as a simple animal model than primate models with their complexity of anthropological, environmental and safety problems.

Key words: CAEV, HIV, affinity, brain cells, RT-PCR, TEM.

International Journal of Histology and Cytology ISSN 2447-9535 Vol. 5 (7), pp. 449-455, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of pesticides, chlorpyrifos, Alpha-thrin, Efekto virikop and springbok for their onion root tip assay

Asita Okorie Asita* and Rets’elisitsoe Makhalemele

Department of Biology, National University of Lesotho, P. O. Roma 180 Maseru, Lesotho, Southern Africa.

*Corresponding  author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +26622213171. Fax: +266 22 340000.

Accepted 09 April, 2017

Abstract

The pesticides, chlorpyrifos, Alpha-thrin, Efekto virikop and springbok were assessed for cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in the onion root tip assay. Onion seeds were germinated on moistened filter paper in petri dish at room temperature until radicles appeared. Germinated seeds were exposed to three concentrations of each pesticide for 20 h. About 1 – 2 mm length of root tip was cut, fixed in acetic alcohol, washed in ice cold water, hydrolyzed in warm 1 N HCl, stained with aceto-carmine and squashed on glass slide. For each treatment, about 3000 cells were scored and classified into interphase and normal or aberrant division stage. Cytotoxicity was determined by comparing the mitotic index (MI) of treated cells with that of the negative control. The MI of cells treated with chlorpyrifos, Alpha-thrin or springbok was half or less, that of the control at one or more doses and adjudged cytotoxic. Efekto virikop was not cytotoxic. Genotoxicity was measured by comparing the number of cells/1000 in aberrant division stages at each dose with the negative control using the Mann-Whitney test. Chlorpyrifos was genotoxic (P < 0.05), inducing chromosome lagging and bridges, pulverized and stick chromosomes, multipolar anaphase and telophase. Efekto virikop and springbok induced lagging chromosomes. Alpha-thrin was not genotoxic.

Key words: Allium cepa, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, mitotic index, pesticides, root tip cells.

International Journal of Histology and Cytology ISSN 2447-9535 Vol. 5 (6), pp. 434-438, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of citric acid on the induction of cellulase production by the fungus under different cultural conditions

Prashanth Shanmugam*, Madhumathi Mani and Mathivanan Narayanasamy

Center for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, Chennai, 600025, India.

*Correspondingauthor.E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 25 March, 2017

Abstract

TRICOTHECIUM ROSEUM, an unexplored fungus for the production of cellulolytic enzymes, was used in this study for carboxymethylcellulase (CMcase) and β-glucosidase production. The culture filtrate of this organism exhibited highest total cellulolytic activity and extracellular protein content on 9^th day during the course of its growth on potato dextrose yeast extract (PDYE) broth medium supplemented with 1.0% (w/v) carboxymethylcellulose. Among various soluble carbon and complex nitrogen sources tested in this study, caboxymethylcellulose and peptone supported maximum production of both cellulolytic enzymes. Under all suitable growth conditions, the enzyme biosynthesis was remarkably increased when the inducer citric acid was added to the PDYE media containing carboxymethyl-cellulose. Maximum CMcase production (1.59 U/ml) and β-glucosidase production (1.82 U/ml) were achieved in citric acid amended PDYE media at 37°C. Both the cellulolytic enzyme production was highest at initial pH 6.5 and after 7 days incubation. The study clearly demonstrated that citric acid is a good inducer for extracellular cellulolytic enzyme production by the fungus.

Key words: Tricothecium roseum, cellulolytic enzymes, CMcase, β-glucosidase.

International Journal of Histology and Cytology ISSN 2447-9535 Vol. 5 (5), pp. 429-433, May, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of protease production from Bacillus licheniformis strains from traditionally fermented African locust bean

Folasade M. Olajuyigbe* and Joshua O. Ajele

Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.704 Akure 340001, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 12 April 2017

Abstract

Twelve strains of Bacillus licheniformis isolated from traditionally fermented African locust bean (iru) were evaluated in respect to production of protease on skim milk agar. B. licheniformis LBBL-11 exhibited the highest proteolytic activity with a diameter of clear zone measuring 35.0 mm. Production of protease from B. licheniformis LBBL-11 was further studied by growing the strain on nutrient broth. Maximum protease production was 18.4 U/ml at 48 hour of growth which coincided with the end of exponential phase. The protease from this Bacillus sp had optimum pH of 8.0 and was stable over a wide pH range of 5.0 - 11.0. The optimum temperature for the protease activity was 60^oC. The enzyme was 95% stable at 60^oC after 60 min of incubation. These properties indicate possible application of B. licheniformis LBBL-11 as potential starter culture for the fermentation of African locust bean under controlled conditions of temperature and pH.

Key words: Fermented locust bean, iru, protease, thermostable, Bacillus licheniformis.