Department: Microbiology Project Topics and Materials

PREVALENCE OF MULTIDRUG RESISTANT LIVESTOCK ASSOCIATED STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM NASAL PASSAGE OF HEALTHY CATTLE IN KARA MARKET OGUN STATE NIGERIA ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus, ‘one of the most adaptable and virulent pathogens in modern times’ is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium able to infect any tissue of the human body to cause ailments ranging …

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OPTIMIZING ALPHA AMYLASE PRODUCTION FROM LOCALLY ISOLATED Aspergillus species USING SELECTED AGRO WASTES AS SUBSTRATES ABSTRACT α-Amylase are enzymes that are used in the degradation of starch. This study focuses on optimizing the production of α-Amylase using locally isolated Aspergillus japonicus in defined and undefined medium. Five grams of cocoyam waste, sweet potato waste, wheat …

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MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE PROFILE AND METALLO-BETA-LACTAMASE PRODUCTION IN Pseudomonas aeruginosa ISOLATED FROM THE NASAL CAVITY OF CATTLE FROM KARA MARKET OGUN STATE NIGERIA ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an ubiquitous, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, monoflagellated bacterium, capable of causing serious infections in immunocompromised host. It is one of the most difficult multidrug resistant microorganisms capable of producing metallo-β-lactamase (MBL). Though …

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PRODUCTION OF ANTIMICROBIAL SUBSTANCES BY LACTIC ACID BACTERIA (LAB) IMMOBILIZED IN CALCIUM GEL BEADS. ABSTRACT           Twenty six lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from fresh fish. Ten isolates were confirmed to produce antimicrobial substances by agar well diffusion. Four isolates with the highest antimicrobial activities were selected. Based on standard microbiological and biochemical tests, …

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PRODUCTION OF STARCH-DERIVED BIOPLASTIC FILM FROM CASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA) TUBERS ABSTRACT The use of synthetic plastic has caused a lot of environmental problems especially to the agricultural and available lands where they are dumped because of their inability to degrade. This study therefore was aimed at producing biodegradable plastic film using starch extracted from Manihot …

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PRODUCTION, CHARACTERIZATION AND OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE STUDIES OF GLUCOSE ISOMERASE BYACHROMOBACTER XYLOSOXIDANS MCK-4 ISOLATED FROM STARCH MILLING WASTES. ABSTRACT D-glucose/xylose isomerase (D-xylose ketol isome rase; EC 5.3.1.5) catalyzes the reversible isomerization of D-glucose and D-xylose to D-fructose and D-xylulose, respectively. It is used essentially for the production of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS); the sweetener of …

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RISK ASSESSMENT OF CASSAVA WASTEWATER FOR SURVIVAL, GROWTH AND DISSEMINATION OF SALMONELLA AND SHIGELLA ORGANISMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. ABSTRACT Waste water samples from six cassava processing plants around Nsukka were cultured in MacConkey and Xylose lysine Deoxycholate Agar, after enrichment in Selenite F broth for isolation of Salmonella and Shigella species. Isolates were characterized using …

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SCREENING OF FUNGI ISOLATED FROM SELECTED AGRO-WASTE MATERIAL FOR LACCASE PRODUCTION ABSTRACT Laccases are polyphenol oxidases that have numerous industrial and bioremediation applications. They are well known as lignin degrading enzymes. Majority of laccase activity has been demonstrated in fungal species and their physiological roles is mainly the oxidation of phenolic subunit which leads to …

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STUDIES ON THE CO-INFECTIVITY OF HIV AND ATYPICAL MYCOBACTERIA IN NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ENUGU STATE ABSTRACT The increasing global incidence of tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been attributed to immunosuppresion due to the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic.  The paucity of information on the contribution of NTM to mycobacterial infections in Africa …

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STUDIES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF BETA-LACTAMASES IN MEMBERS OF THE GENERA SALMONELLA AND SHIGELLA ISOLATED FROM VARIOUS HOSPITALS IN ANYIGBA, KOGI STATE. ABSTRACT Salmonella and Shigella species isolated from human faecal samples were examined for Beta-lactamase production and resistance to some antibiotic agents. Age distribution of sources of resistant isolates showed that Shigella isolates from …

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STUDIES ON THE PREVALENCE AND CO-INFECTION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV) AND HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA ABSTRACT This study carried out in Benue State was to determine the distribution of HBV infection markers with HDV and the state of HBV infection among the sample population, determine the prevalence of HBV and …

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SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF BACTERIOCIN-LIKE INHIBITORY SUBSTANCES PRODUCED BY VAGINAL LACTOBACILLUS AGAINST GROUP B STREPTOCOCCI ABSTRACT The vaginal normal flora of a healthy woman is dominated by species of Lactobacillus. The balance between the vaginal flora is maintained by the protective antagonizing compounds produced by Lactobacillus. Group B Streptococci (GBS) is an opportunistic organism usually carried …

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THE USE OF ADDITIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GRASS SILAGE ABSTRACT Panicum maximum, a traditional forage grass was subjected to lactic fermentation to produce silage. Ensiling was carried out on P. maximum alone or supplemented with sucrose, common salt or lactic acid bacteria. P. maximum with sucrose, sucrose and salt; sucrose salt and LAB; and …

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TREATMENT AND VALORISATION OF PALM OIL MILL EFFLUENT (POME) THROUGH PRODUCTION OF MICROBIAL BIOMASS. ABSTRACT Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is high strength wastewater capable of polluting the environment. It is produced in large quantities in Nigeria and is amenable to microbial degradation. The use of POME as microbial fermentation media is largely due to …

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INCIDENCE OF FLUOROQUINOLONE RESISTANT SALMONELLA SPP. IN INTENSIVELY REARED PIGS AND BROILER CHICKENS IN NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ENUGU STATE ABSTRACT Salmonella represents a challenge in modern animal husbandry with a widespread occurrence among food animals such as poultry, pigs, cattle, e.t.c., and may be encountered in raw food products from such sources. Fluoroquinolones are …

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ISOLATION AND EVALUATION OF XYLOSE-FERMENTING THERMOTOLERANT YEASTS FOR BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION ABSTRACT Xylose is the main fermentable sugar obtained by hydrolysis of hemicellulosic fraction of lignocellulosic materials. Xylose-fermenting microorganisms are essential for the economic conversion of lignocellulose to ethanol. The aim of this work was therefore to isolate and evaluate thermotolerant xylose fermenting yeasts. Natural habitats …

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ISOLATION AND TYPING OF SALMONELLA SPECIES AND SCREENING FOR SALMONELLA-PHAGES IN THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA ABSTRACT Wastewater may contain high number of potentially pathogenic organisms. Despite large advances in water and wastewater treatment, waterborne diseases still poses a major worldwide threat to public health. Salmonella species are widely distributed in nature …

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ISOLATION OF BACTERIOCIN-PRODUCING LACTIC ACID BACTERIA AND IMMOBILIZATION IN MICRO-POROUS CALCIUM ALGINATE GEL BEADS FOR EFFICIENT PRODUCTION OF ANTI-MICROBIAL SUBSTANCES ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to isolate bacteriocin-producing Lactic Acid Bcateria (LAB) capable of inhibiting the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and to optimize their culture conditions. A total of fourty-two …

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LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF PICRALIMA NITIDA, AN APPROACH IN MALARIAL VECTOR CONTROL. ABSTRACT Mosquitoes constitute a serious Public Health menace, resulting in millions of death worldwide each year. Emergence of insecticide resistant strains of the mosquitoes poses a serious threat and hence calls for alternative control measures. This study assessed the larvicidal efficacy of the methanolic …

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MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE PROFILES OF CLINICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISOLATES OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA AND ESCHERICHIA COLI ABSTRACT The emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance in bacteria and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics contribute to the dissemination of resistant pathogens in the environment which may cause problems in therapy and is a serious public health issue. This study was …

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OCCURRENCE OF BETA-LACTAMASES IN ESCHERICHIA COLI AND KLEBSIELLA SPECIES ISOLATED FROM ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCES AND HOSPITAL PATIENTS IN NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE ABSTRACT The increase in β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae particularly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species is currently posing a serious public health problem. A total of 179 isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species from various environmental …

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OPTIMIZATION OF FOOD COLOURANT PRODUCTION IN CAPABLE FUNGI ISOLATED FROM THE SOIL IN NSUKKA ABSTRACT Colouring of food substances has been an age long practice by man in order to improve appearance, preserve or add nutrient to foods. Health risk and damages caused by the use of currently more available synthetic colourants in foods had …

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OPTIMIZATION OF SOLID-STATE CULTURE FOR CITRIC ACID PRODUCTION USING SOME LOCAL STARCHY MATERIALS ABSTRACT   This study compares the production of citric acid in different starchy materials; cassava flour, corn flour and rice grain. The effect of nutrient supplementation, initial pH and alcohol addition on citric acid production by Aspergillus niger under solid-state culture was …

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PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL ROTA VIRUS INFECTION AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN YENEGOA, BAYELSA STATE ABSTRACT The daily increasing of HIV and rotavirus infection in Nigeria has become a public health concern. Gastrointestinal rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children (0-10 years) and immune compromised individuals. A total …

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EFFECTS OF VARIOUS PHYTOHORMONES ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CHLORELLA SOROKINIA AND SPIRULINA PLATENSIS ABSTRACT The effects of indoleacetic acid, indolebutyric acid, gibberellic acid and kinetin on growth and biomass productivity of Chlorella sorokiniana and Spirulina platensis were investigated. The optimum concentration of the phytohormones for Chlorella sorokiniana cell enlargement was 20ppm for GA3, Kinetin, …

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EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS IN SOME COMMUNITIES IN EBONYI AND ENUGU STATES, NIGERIA ABSTRACT This study evaluated the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in Ebonyi and Enugu states. A total of 955 human faecal samples were collected and analysed for Cryptosporidium infection. Of the 955 samples, 561 were analysed by direct wet mount and modified Ziehl Neelsen staining …

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EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL AND RESISTANCE MODIFYING POTENCY OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACTS OF FOUR MEDICINAL PLANTS. ABSTRACT In vitro antibacterial and resistance modulatory potency of ethanolic leaf extracts of four medicinal plants (Picralimanitida, Chromolaenaodorata, Aspiliaafricanaand Hyptissuaveolens) were evaluated using agar well diffusion and macrobroth dilution techniques. Four isolates of each of the following bacteria were treated …

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EVALUATION OF MALTS FROM SOME ACHA VARIETIES AS SOURCE OF ENZYMES FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM STARCHY MATERIALS ABSTRACT         Three acha varieties were malted and their enzyme activities were compared with that of barley malt. The maximum amylase activity was achieved on day 3 for white and black acha but in the case of brown …

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EVALUATION OF SOME NIGERIA CORN VARIETIES FOR FUEL ETHANOL PRODUCTION. ABSTRACT Fossil fuels are non-renewable, and their excessive use has resulted in a lot of environmental problems. There is an urgent need to develop alternative renewable and environmental friendly energy sources. The objectives of this study were to: (i) compare the carbohydrate contents of some …

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GROWTH RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS FACTORS BY OSMOPHILIC YEASTS ISOLATED FROM HONEY ABSTRACT Yeasts are continuously exposed to series of changes within their natural habitat in the environment. Their growth and proliferation are readily affected by certain factors in their environment. This study was designed to isolate osmophilic yeast from honey and to evaluate the …

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HEAT RESISTANCE PATTERNS OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINANTS OF READY- TO- EAT SMOKED FISH ABSTRACT Fish is an important animal protein food available to millions of people. Fish spoilage is brought about as a result of three basic processes- enzymatic autolysis, oxidation and microbial growth and this is as a result of not being properly handled. In …

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IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF IMMUNO-MODULATORY PROPERTIES OF PREBIOTICS EXTRACTED FROM VERNONIA AMYGDALINA ABSTRACT Prebiotics are non-digestible food substances that when consumed provide a beneficial physiological effect on the host, by selectively stimulating the favourable growth or activity of a limited number of indigenous bacteria. Most known prebiotics are complex carbohydrates commonly found in fruits, vegetables …

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IMPACT OF WATER ACTIVITY AND MOISTURE SORPTION CHARACTERISTICS ON MOULD RELATIONS IN GARRI ABSTRACT The moisture content of garri samples were determined by standard method at 1050C. The mean moisture content of yellow and white garri was 11.10% and 10.81%, respectively within 24 hrs of sampling from the market and 17.27% and 16.14% following 3 …

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IN VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF SOME SELECTED EDIBLE AND NON- EDIBLE MUSHROOMS. ABSTRACT Antimicrobial resistance has become a global concern in recent years. Infectious diseases remain one of the major threats to human health. In this study, antimicrobial activities of extracts of five wild mushrooms (Auricularia auricular, Pleurotus squarrosulus, Armillaria mellea, Lycoperdon perlatum, Polyporus alveolaris) …

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ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF PIPER GUINEENSE, XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA AND ALLIUM CEPA AGAINST BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM SPOILT SOUP PREPARATIONS ABSTRACT The antibacterial activity of ethanol, hot water and cold water extracts of Allium cepa, Xylopia aethiopica and Piper guineense were determined against bacteria isolated from spoilt egusi soup and veterinary unit of the university.  Antimicrobial testing was …

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ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF DISCHARGED BREWERY EFFLUENT ON A RECEIVING BODY OF WATER ABSTRACT Industrial wastewater entering a water body represents a heavy source of environmental pollution in Nigerian rivers. It affects both the water quality as well as the microbial and aquatic flora. This study was carried out to assess the impact of …

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BACTERIAL LOAD AND ENTEROTOXIN PRODUCTION BY ESCHERICHIA COLI, IN FISH SAMPLES SOLD IN NSUKKA, NIGERIA. ABSTRACT This study was carried out to determine the level of bacterial contamination of fish retailed in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, during the period of September 2010 to March 2011. A total number of 120 fish samples …

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BIODEGRADATION OF GROUNDNUT SHELLS TO FERMENTABLE SUGAR USING FUNGAL ISOLATES ABSTRACT Groundnut (Arachis hypogea) is an important oil seed crop in Nigeria. The pulp or dry pericarp contains about 25-40 percent shell. Large amount of lignocellulosic waste is generated through agricultural practice and they are of environmental concern. Microorganisms play a lot of roles in …

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BIODIESEL PRODUCTION POTENTIALS OF MICROALGAE ISOLATED FROM ARID ENVIRONMENTS OF NIGERIA ABSTRACT Biodiesel production potentials of microalgae isolated from arid environments of Nigeria were investigated. Twenty-five strains of microalgae were isolated from Maiduguri, and screened for growth and lipid contents. Each isolate was cultivated in a 600 mL transparent bottle containing 200 mL of sterile …

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CLINICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISTRIBUTION OF SALMONELLA ENTERICA VAR TYPHI PARATYPHI WITH CONCOMITANT ENDEMIC MALARIA IN ENUGU URBAN AND PERI-URBAN AREAS OF NIGERIA. ABSTRACT Evaluation of distribution rates of Salmonella enterica typhi/paratyphi in subjects at acute and convalescent stages of typhoid fever was carried out using Widal test, stool and blood cultures. Incidences of the concurrent …

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COMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF CRUDE OIL AND KEROSENE ON THE GROWTH OF NITRIFYING BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM SOIL ABSTRACT Crude oil and kerosene have useful applications in the society and are, therefore, used as sources of income and energy. However, the spills arising from crude oil and kerosene in our environment are becoming a visible problem in …

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COMPARISM OF ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF MEMBERS OF ENTEROBACTERIACEAE ISOLATED FROM WILDLIFE AND HUMAN SOURCES ABSTRACT Human sources ( Human not  on antibiotics HN, Human on antibiotics, HA) as well as wild life (WL) isolates of Enteric organisms were examined for resistance to some antibacterial agents. The isolates include Escherichia coli , Klebsiella spp, Citrobacter …

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DEVELOPMENT OF MICRO-POROUS BEADS FOR IMMOBILIZATION OF AEROBIC ORGANISMS ABSTRACT Biocatalytic efficiency of immobilized cells has been known to be significantly higher than that of free cells.  Increases in specific rates of substrate uptake and product excretion have been reported for immobilized cells. However, for immobilized (entrapped) aerobic organisms, significant substrate concentration gradients may exist …

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EFFECTS OF VARIATIONS IN THE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF SOME PROCESS PARAMETERS ON THE BACTERIAL LEACHING OF A NIGERIAN IRON ORE SAMPLE ABSTRACT In this study, a bacterial isolate tentatively identified as Bacillus subtilis, obtained from a Nigerian iron ore sample was evaluated for its ability to beneficiate the ore under aerated (shake-flask) and static conditions …

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A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SEROLOGICAL STATUS FOR NEWCASTLE DISEASE IN LOCAL CHICKENS OF LIVE BIRD MARKETS AND HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE OF NIGERIA ABSTRACT Newcastle disease (ND) is the most important viral disease of poultry in the world including developing countries. In Africa and Asia, it is a major constraint against the development …

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