Abstract: The microbiological and physicochemical
characteristics of wetland soils in Eket Local Government Area were
studied between May 2001 and June 2003. Total heterotrophic
bacterial counts (THBC), total fungal counts (TFC), and total
actinomycetes counts (TAC) were determined from soil samples
taken from four locations at two depths in the wet and dry seasons.
Microbial isolates were characterized and identified. Particle size and
chemical parameters were also determined using standard methods.
THBC ranged from 5.2 (+0.17) x106 to 1.7 (+0.18) x107 cfu/g and
from 2.4 (+0.02) x106 to 1.4 (+0.04) x107cfu/g in the wet and dry
seasons, respectively. TFC ranged from 1.8 (+0.03) x106 to 6.6 (+
0.18) x106 cfu/g and from 1.0 (+0.04) x106 to 4.2 (+ 0.01) x106 cfu/g
in the wet and dry seasons, respectively .TAC ranged from 1.2
(+0.53) x106 to 6.0 (+0.05) x106 cfu/g and from 0.6 (+0.01) x106 to
3.2 (+ 0.12) x106 cfu/g in the wet and dry season, respectively.
Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckja,
Enterobacter, Micrococcus, Flavobacterium, Serratia, Enterococcus,
and Pseudomonas species were predominant bacteria while
Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, and Rhizopus were the
dominant fungal genera isolated. Streptomyces and Norcadia were
the actinomycetes genera isolated. The particle size analysis showed
high sand fraction but low silt and clay. The pH and % organic
matter were generally acidic and low, respectively at all locations.
Calcium dominated the exchangeable bases with low electrical
conductivity and micronutrients. These results provide the baseline
data of Eket wetland soils for its management for sustainable
agriculture.
Abstract: An alarming emergence of multidrug-resistant strains
of the tuberculosis pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis and
continuing high worldwide incidence of tuberculosis has invigorated
the search for novel drug targets. The enzyme glutamate racemase
(MurI) in bacteria catalyzes the stereoconversion of L-glutamate to
D-glutamate which is a component of the peptidoglycan cell wall of
the bacterium. The inhibitors targeted against MurI from several
bacterial species have been patented and are advocated as promising
antibacterial agents. However there are none available against MurI
from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, due to the lack of its threedimensional
structure. This work accomplished two major objectives.
First, the tertiary structure of MtMurI was deduced computationally
through homology modeling using the templates from bacterial
homologues. It is speculated that like in other Gram-positive bacteria,
MtMurI exists as a dimer and many of the protein interactions at the
dimer interface are also conserved. Second, potent candidate
inhibitors against MtMurI were identified through docking against
already known inhibitors in other organisms.
Abstract: The assessment of surface waters in Enugu metropolis
for fecal coliform bacteria was undertaken. Enugu urban was divided
into three areas (A1, A2 and A3), and fecal coliform bacteria
analysed in the surface waters found in these areas for four years
(2005-2008). The plate count method was used for the analyses. Data
generated were subjected to statistical tests involving; Normality test,
Homogeneity of variance test, correlation test, and tolerance limit
test. The influence of seasonality and pollution trends were
investigated using time series plots. Results from the tolerance limit
test at 95% coverage with 95% confidence, and with respect to EU
maximum permissible concentration show that the three areas suffer
from fecal coliform pollution. To this end, remediation procedure
involving the use of saw-dust extracts from three woods namely;
Chlorophora-Excelsa (C-Excelsa),Khayan-Senegalensis,(CSenegalensis)
and Erythrophylum-Ivorensis (E-Ivorensis) in
controlling the coliforms was studied. Results show that mixture of
the acetone extracts of the woods show the most effective
antibacterial inhibitory activities (26.00mm zone of inhibition)
against E-coli. Methanol extract mixture of the three woods gave best
inhibitory activity (26.00mm zone of inhibition) against S-areus, and
25.00mm zones of inhibition against E-Aerogenes. The aqueous
extracts mixture gave acceptable zones of inhibitions against the
three bacteria organisms.