Dinebari Philip Berebon

Purpose: To investigate the antimicrobial profile of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), also called friendly bacteria or probiotics, found in Nigerian fermented spice condiment Okpeye (Prosopis africana). Methods: The LAB was isolated by enrichment and serial dilution. Biochemical characterization of isolates was done using standard microbiological protocols and determined using 16S rDNA gene sequencing. The survival of LAB in low pH 2.5 and 0.3 % bile salt media were evaluated. Using the agar well diffusion assay, the cell-free supernatant (CFS) standardized to 0.5 McFarland was evaluated for antibacterial, hydrogen peroxide, and bacteriocin activities to combat multi-drug resistant and foodborne pathogens (MDR-FBPs). Antibiotic susceptibility profile of isolates was profiled against seventeen antibiotics comprising twelve different classes using disk diffusion method. Results: Isolates identified were Pediococuss pentosaceus, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus plantarum, with strong antibacterial activities against S. aureus, moderate activities against L. monocytogenes, and weak activities against P. aeruginosa, B. cereus, and E. coli. The isolate retained viability greater than 80 % at pH 2.5 and 0.3 % w/v bile condition after 4 h of exposure. The isolates showed a wide range of activities against MDR-FBPs. Regarding antibacterial activity, all isolates were effective against S. aureus, moderate against L. monocytogenes ATCC 13932, and weak against P. aeruginosa ATCC 27883, Bacillus cereus and E. coli. Conclusion: Okpeye is not just a spice; it contains high probiotics, which have antibacterial properties against foodborne and multidrug-resistant organisms, making it a beneficial addition to any diet.

The powdered plant parts (bark, stem, and leaf) were extracted with methanol, and cold and hot water using the maceration method. A modified agar well diffusion technique was used for the assessment of the antibacterial activities of the aqueous and methanol extracts of J. tanjorensis and A. digitata. The methanol extract of A. digitata bark gave the highest yield of 75 % while the lowest yield was observed with the cold water extract of A. digitata bark of 33 %. The phytochemical screening showed an abundance of alkaloids, terpernoids, saponins, flavonoids, tannin, glycoside, and phenol. The bark, leaf, and stem of J. tanjorensis and A. digitata showed varying degrees of antibacterial activities. against the Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus spp, and Klebsiella spp) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumonia). The bark, stem, and leaf extract of J. tanjorenis significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited all the pathogens except P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.The result of the minimum bactericidal concentration MBC for the combined extracts of A. digitata and J. tanjorenis subfractions showed that the extracts have greater antibacterial activities at concentrations not lesser than 100 mg/ml. Thus, J. tanjorensis and A. digitata could be used as potent herbal remedies to mitigate the adverse effects of Gram-negative and positive clinical pathogens. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis and Adansonia digitata against selected Clinical bacteria pathogens.

Bacteriophages (phages) are nano-sized viruses characterized by their inherent ability to live off bacteria. They utilize diverse mechanisms to absorb and gain entry into the bacterial cell wall via the release of viral genetic material, which uses the replication mechanisms of the host bacteria to produce and release daughter progeny virions that attack the surrounding host cells. They possess specific characteristics, including specificity for particular or closely related bacterial species. They have many applications, including as potential alternatives to antibiotics against multi-resistant bacterial pathogens and as control agents in bacteria-contaminated environments. They are ubiquitously abundant in nature and have diverse biota, including in the gut. Gut microbiota describes the community and interactions of microorganisms within the intestine. As with bacteria, parasitic bacteriophages constantly interact with the host bacterial cells within the gut system and have obvious implications for human health. However, it is imperative to understand these interactions as they open up possible applicable techniques to control gut-implicated bacterial diseases. Thus, this review aims to explore the interactions of bacteriophages with bacterial communities in the gut and their current and potential impacts on human health.

Due to the increasing limitations and negative impacts of the current options for preventing and managing diseases, including chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation, alternative therapies are needed, especially ones utilizing and maximizing natural products (NPs). NPs abound with diverse bioactive primary and secondary metabolites and compounds with therapeutic properties. Marine probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that inhabit marine environments and can benefit their hosts by improving health, growth, and disease resistance. Several studies have shown they possess potential bioactive and therapeutic actions against diverse disease conditions, thus opening the way for possible exploitation of their benefits through their application. Pseudoalteromonas spp. are a widely distributed heterotrophic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, and gram-negative marine probiotic bacteria species with reported therapeutic capabilities, including anti-cancer and -bacterial effects. This review discusses the basic concepts of marine probiotics and their therapeutic effects. Additionally, a survey of the anticancer and antibacterial effects of Pseudoalteromonas spp. is presented. Finally, marine probiotic production, advances, prospects, and future perspectives is presented.

The isolation, characterization and effects of lactobacillus spp. from fresh palm wine was undertaken in this study. The aim of this study was to isolate and investigate the in vivo effects of the isolates on innate and cellular immune system. The result of the phenotypic and genotypic characterizations showed the presence of Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. Tolerans, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus yonginensis, which are members of Lactobacillus spp., isolated. The effects of the isolates on innate and cellular immunity were investigated, using two models namely: in vivo leukocytes mobilization rate (LMR) and delayed type hypersensitivity response (DTHR). The different isolates had very significant effect on cellular immunity as represented by their ability to stimulate delayed type hypersensitivity response in treated rats. They caused a percentage increase of 300, 600, 600, 500 and 650% for L. brevis, L. paracasei subsp. Tolerans, L. paracasei, L. yonginensis and positive control respectively when compared with the negative control. Similarly, the various isolates also affected significantly the innate immune system through their marked influence on the total leukocyte count according to the result of the experiment. They were able to produce a percentage increase of 213, 204, 188.6, and 152.5% for L. paracasei, L. yonginensis, L. paracasei subsp. Tolerans and L. brevis respectively; while the positive control produced 83.8% increase when compared with the negative control. The result of this study showed that the four lactobacillus spp. isolated from fresh palm wine significantly affected the innate and cellular component of the immune system positively. Key words: Delayed type, hypersensitivity response, innate immunity, cellular immunity, leukocyte mobilization.