Motunrayo Yemisi Jibola-Shittu

Bamboo is an economically important crop that has gained prominence as an alternative to wood to reduce deforestation and ecosystem destruction. Diseases of bamboo that typically occur on leaves and stems can cause significant loss, reducing the quality and yield of the bamboo. However, there are few reports identifying the fungal species diversity and potential pathogens of bamboo. Here, we describe four new species of plant fungi from the leaves of bamboo within Fujian provinces, China. Fungi were isolated from diseased leaves collected within Fujian province and identified based on their morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenies using nucleotide sequences derived from combined datasets of the intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene (ITS), the 28S large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU), the large subunit of RNA polymerase I (rpb1), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1-α), and the partial beta-tubulin gene (tub2). These analyses helped reveal and clarify taxonomic relationships in the family Magnaporthaceae. The new species of bambusicolous fungi identified include two species of Bifusisporella, described as B. fujianensis sp. nov. and B. bambooensis sp. nov., and two species of Apiospora, described as A. fujianensis sp. nov. and A. fuzhouensis sp. nov. This study further expands the characterization and distribution of fungi associated with bamboo.

Members of the fungal order Diaporthales are sac fungi that include plant pathogens (the notorious chestnut blight fungus), as well as saprobes and endophytes, and are capable of colonizing a wide variety of substrates in different ecosystems, habitats, and hosts worldwide. However, many Diaporthales species remain unidentified, and various inconsistencies within its taxonomic category remain to be resolved. Here, we aimed to identify and classify new species of Diaporthales by using combined morphological and molecular characterization and coupling this information to expand our current phylogenetic understanding of this order. Fungal samples were obtained from dead branches and diseasedleaves of Camellia (Theaceae) and Castanopsis (Fagaceae) in Fujian Province, China. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses derived from the combined nucleotide sequences of loci of the internal transcribed spacer regions with the intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene (ITS), the 28S large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1), the partial beta-tubulin gene (tub2), and partial RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit gene (rpb2), three new species of Diaporthales were identified and characterized. They are as follows: Chrysofolia camelliae sp. nov., Dendrostoma castanopsidis sp. nov., and Pseudoplagiostoma wuyishanense sp. nov. They are described and illustrated. This study extends our understanding of species diversity within the Diaporthales.

Antibiotic-resistant (AR) bacteria especially from commonly shared surfaces in the environment, pose a serious threat to global public health. The increasing demand for electronic banking and the associated risk of the spread of pathogenic bacteria makes it crucial to assess the antibiotic susceptibility and the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes in bacteria isolated from automated teller machines (ATMs). Following standard procedures, a total of 22 samples were collected randomly from different ATMs using sterile cotton swabs soaked in physiologic saline and cultured on selective media. Isolates were characterized biochemically. Antibiotics susceptibility test was carried out on isolates using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. All Gram-negative isolates were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate the common extended-spectrum beta-lactamase –encoding (ESBL) genes. Bacterial isolates were characterized as Klebsiella pneumoniae (33.33%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.61%), Escherichia coli (15.69%), Staphylococcus aureus (9.80%), Acinetobacter spp. (7.84%), Enterobacter spp. and Bacillus subtilis (5.88%), and Enterococcus faecalis (1.96%). The highest antibiotic resistance pattern was displayed against ceftazidime (45.1%), followed by tetracycline (43.1%), cefixime (41.2%), ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol (29.4%) and meropenem (9.8%). The TEM gene (54.8%) was recovered most, followed by CTX-M (28.6%) and SHV (19.0%). This study reveals that ATMs could harbour pathogenic bacteria with antibiotic resistance (AR) genes especially ESBL genes (blaTEM) which could be responsible for the widespread resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, adequate personal hygiene by users, proper cleaning regimen to sanitize these facilities regularly and public enlightenment are recommended to reduce the accompanying risks of spreading AR genes within the environment

Introduction: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major pathogen implicated in healthcare-associated infections. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates are a public health concern. This study investigated the existence of some ESBL and carbapenemase genes among clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae in Southwest Nigeria and additionally determined their circulating clones. Materials and Methods: Various clinical samples from 420 patients from seven tertiary hospitals within Southwestern Nigeria were processed between February 2018 and July 2019. These samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar, and the isolated bacteria were identified by Microbact GNB 12E. All K. pneumoniae were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the 16s rRNA gene. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) was done on these isolates, and the PCR was used to evaluate the common ESBL-encoding genes and carbapenem resistance genes. Genotyping was performed using multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST). Results: The overall prevalence of K. pneumoniae in Southwestern Nigeria was 30.5%. The AST revealed high resistance rates to tetracyclines (67.2%), oxacillin (61.7%), ampicillin (60.2%), ciprofloxacin (58.6%), chloramphenicol (56.3%), and lowest resistance to meropenem (43.0%). All isolates were susceptible to polymyxin B. The most prevalent ESBL gene was the TEM gene (47.7%), followed by CTX-M (43.8%), SHV (39.8%), OXA (27.3%), CTX-M-15 (19.5%), CTX-M-2 (11.1%), and CTX-M-9 (10.9%). Among the carbapenemase genes studied, the VIM gene (43.0%) was most detected, followed by OXA-48 (28.9%), IMP (22.7%), NDM (17.2%), KPC (13.3%), CMY (11.7%), and FOX (9.4%). GIM and SPM genes were not detected. MLST identified six different sequence types (STs) in this study. The most dominant ST was ST307 (50%, 5/10), while ST258, ST11, ST147, ST15, and ST321 had (10%, 1/10) each. Conclusion: High antimicrobial resistance in K. pneumoniae is a clear and present danger for managing infections in Nigeria. Additionally, the dominance of a successful international ST307 clone highlights the importance of ensuring that genomic surveillance remains a priority in the hospital environment in Nigeria.

Background and study aim: Candida species is a leading cause of recurrent inflammation of both the vagina and vulva known ‎as vulvovaginitis. The increasing occurrence of vulvovaginitis among women of reproductive ‎years makes it important to investigate the risk factors associated with vulvovaginitis and the ‎antifungal effect of selected plant extracts on Candida species associated with vulvovaginitis. Materials and Methods: ‎‎‎ Three hundred women of reproductive age (15 – 50 years) with complaints suggesting ‎vulvovaginitis were assessed for possible risk factors associated with vulvovaginitis. High Vaginal ‎swabs (HVS) were collected and cultured for the presence of Candida species on Sabouraud ‎Dextrose Agar (SDA). Colonies were identified based on colony morphology, germ tube test, and ‎biochemically using API 20C AUX. Agar-well diffusion was used to determine the effect of ‎Gomphrena celosioides and Vernonia perrottettii extracts on the isolates. Chi square (P<0.05) was ‎used to determine the factors associated with vulvovaginitis‎‎.‎ Results: There was a significant association (P<0.05) with the use of birth control pills, tight underwear, ‎tight clothing, pregnancy and vulvovaginitis. (χ2= 82.78, P<0.001, χ2= 23.06 P<0.001, χ2= 8.292 ‎P<0.004, χ2 = 30.95 P≤0.0001 respectively). Twenty-one (21) isolates of Candida species were ‎identified as Candida tropicalis 13(59.1%)), Candida glabrata 3(13.6%), Candida albicans ‎‎3(13.6%), Candida parasiplosis 1(4.6%) and Candida lambica 1(4.6%).‎‎‎‎‎‎. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that birth control pills, tight underwear, tight clothing and pregnancy had a ‎significant association with vulvovaginitis. All Candida species isolates were resistant to plant ‎extracts. Women should be educated on the risk factors associated with vulvovaginitis‎‎‎‎‎.

Background: The emphasis on sustainable good health through the consumption of a healthy diet has necessitated the consumption of fresh vegetables, which could harbour the presence of members of the Enterobacteriaceae, antibiotic resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). As a result, this study investigated the presence of antibiotics resistance (AR) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from garden eggs.Methodology: One hundred (100) garden egg samples were randomly purchased from 10 different vendors into sterile bags. Samples were serially diluted and cultured on Mac Conkey agar, characterised and identified. Antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out on isolates following the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Double disc synergy test (DDST) was used to detect ESBL production.Result: Forty-three isolates were identified to belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae with Klebsiella spp. being the most dominant specie (51.16%), Escherichia coli (30.23%), Salmonella (11.23%) and Enterobacter aerogenes (6.98%). Of all the isolates, (65.12%) were multi-drug resistant (MDR). The isolates showed highest frequency of resistance to Erythromycin (90.7%), Gentamicin (34.9%), Sulphamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (32.6%), Ofloxacin (30.2%), Ciprofloxacin (25.6%), Imipenem (14%), Ceftriaxone (11.6%) and Nalixidic acid (0.0%). For ESBL production, 23(53.49%) were positive. The ESBL positive isolates (n=23) were Klebsiella spp. 14(60.87%) and Escherichia coli 9(39.13%). No ESBL production was detected in Salmonella spp. and Enterobacter aerogenes isolates. Conclusion: This study detected the presence of antibiotic resistance and ESBL in Enterobacteriaceae from garden eggs. Consumption of garden eggs contaminated with these bacteria pose a potential problem of infection and spread of resistance in the environment through food.