Elijah I. Ohimain

Recent advances in the development of vaccines for Ebola virus disease

Ebola virus is one of the most dangerous microorganisms in the world causing hemorrhagic fevers in humans and non-human primates. Ebola virus (EBOV) is a zoonotic infection, which emerges and re-emerges in human populations. The 2014 outbreak was caused by the Zaire strain, which has a kill rate of up to 90%, though 40% was recorded in the current outbreak. The 2014 outbreak is larger than all 20 outbreaks that have occurred since 1976, when the virus was first discovered. It is the first time that the virus was sustained in urban centers and spread beyond Africa into Europe and USA. Thus far, over 22,000 cases have been reported with about 50% mortality in one year. There are currently no approved therapeutics and preventive vaccines against Ebola virus disease (EVD). Responding to the devastating effe1cts of the 2014 outbreak and the potential risk of global spread, has spurred research for the development of therapeutics and vaccines. This review is therefore aimed at presenting the progress of vaccine development. Results showed that conventional inactivated vaccines produced from EBOV by heat, formalin or gamma irradiation appear to be ineffective. However, novel vaccines production techniques have emerged leading to the production of candidate vaccines that have been demonstrated to be effective in preclinical trials using small animal and non-human primates (NHP) models. Some of the promising vaccines have undergone phase 1 clinical trials, which demonstrated their safety and immunogenicity. Many of the candidate vaccines are vector based such as Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), Rabies Virus (RABV), Adenovirus (Ad), Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV). Other platforms include virus like particle (VLP), DNA and subunit vaccines.

Physicochemical and Microbial Screening of Palm Oil Mill Effluents for Amylase Production

With the advent of biotechnology, several industries are dependent on enzyme for production processes. This study evaluated the physicochemical and microbiological quality of POME for amylase production. Triplicate POME samples were collected aseptically from semi-mechanized oil palm processing mills in Bayelsa state, Nigeria. The physicochemical properties of the POME samples were determined using standard analytical procedures. The results of the physicochemical quality assessment result were 6.56 (pH), 4.69 mg/l (DO), 1806.33 mg/l (COD), 382.93 mg/l (BOD), 8.18 mg/l (PO 4 3 -), 19.64 mg/l (K), 12.87 mg/l (N), 73.07 mg/l (oil and grease), 0.03 mg/l (Cd), 2.44 mg/l (Cu), 5.62 mg/l (Fe) and 2.01 mg/l (Cr). The microbial populations of the samples were1.3 x 10 5 cfu/ml and 6.9 x 10 3 cfu/ml for total heterotrophic bacteria and total fungi respectively. The bacteria isolates are Micrococcus species , Bacillus species , Pseudomonas species, Staphylococcus aureus, while the fungi isolates are Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida species , Fusarium species, Mucor species and Penicillium species. Of bacterial isolates, Micrococcus species and Staphylococcus aureus has the highest and least occurrence frequency of 34% and 13% respectively, while in fungi isolates Penicillium species and Fusarium species has the highest and least isolates with 23% and 7% respectively. Of the microbial isolates of POME, Bacillus species , Pseudomonas species, Staphylococcus aureus, Penicillium species, Fusarium species, Mucor species, Candida species and Aspergillus niger were predominant for the production of amylase. This amylase can be utilized in several industrial/biotechnological sectors including biofuels.

Lignin degradation, ligninolytic enzymes activities and exopolysaccharide production by Grifola frondosa strains cultivated on oak sawdust

Fourteen strains of Grifola frondosa (Dicks.) S. F. Gray, originating from different regions (Asia, Europe and North America) were tested for lignin degradation, ligninolytic enzyme activities, protein accumulation and exopolysaccharide production during 55 days of cultivation on oak sawdust. Lignin degradation varied from 2.6 to7.1 % of dry weight of the oak sawdust substrate among tested strains. The loss of dry matter in all screened fungi varied between 11.7 and 33.0%, and the amount of crude protein in the dry substrate varied between 0.94 to 2.55%. The strain, MBFBL 596, had the highest laccase activity (703.3 U/l), and the maximum peroxidase activity of 22.6 U/l was shown by the strain MBFBL 684. Several tested strains (MBFBL 21, 638 and 662) appeared to be good producers of exopolysaccharides (3.5, 3.5 and 3.2 mg/ml respectively).

Methanol contamination in traditionally fermented alcoholic beverages: the microbial dimension

Incidence of methanol contamination of traditionally fermented beverages is increasing globally resulting in the death of several persons. The source of methanol contamination has not been clearly established in most countries. While there were speculations that unscrupulous vendors might have deliberately spiked the beverages with methanol, it is more likely that the methanol might have been produced by contaminating microbes during traditional ethanol fermentation, which is often inoculated spontaneously by mixed microbes, with a potential to produce mixed alcohols. Methanol production in traditionally fermented beverages can be linked to the activities of pectinase producing yeast, fungi and bacteria. This study assessed some traditional fermented beverages and found that some beverages are prone to methanol contamination including cachaca, cholai, agave, arak, plum and grape wines. Possible microbial role in the production of methanol and other volatile congeners in these fermented beverages were discussed. The study concluded by suggesting that contaminated alcoholic beverages be converted for fuel use rather than out rightly banning the age—long traditional alcohol fermentation.

Traditional Fermentation and Distillation of Raffia Palm Sap for the Production of Bioethanol in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The production of alcoholic beverages from the sap of raffia palm, Raphia hookeri, has continued for decades in West Africa, but the detailed processes had never been documented before. The objective of this study is to document the traditional process of ethanol production, with the aim of scaling up the process for the production of fuel ethanol. Ten smallholder ethanol production facilities were randomly selected, and triplicate samples of the process intermediates were collected and analysed, including fermented palm sap, first and second distillate, first and second stillage. Results show that the percentage of ethanol was significantly different (P<0.05) among the different intermediates. The highest ethanol presence was recorded in the second distillate (39-61.5%), followed by the first distillate (18.83-39%), then the first stillage (5.80-10.20%), the palm sap (10.50-15.30%) and finally the second stillage (3.40-5.80%).Yeast population, pH, sugar, specific gravity and electrical conductivity differed significantly among the various sites and intermediates. Wood (105-155kg) was used as fuel to boil 280-480L of fermented palm sap producing 20L of 39-61.5% ethanol. The smallholder processors are however challenged by the poor distillation apparatus and the lack of ethanol dehydration facilities. The study concludes by recommending the modification of the Nigerian Biofuel Policy (2007) to allow the use of hydrous ethanol in automobiles and low concentration ethanol for household cooking.

Possible Contributions of Palm Oil Mill Effluents to Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Nigeria

Aims: Environmental degradation associated with greenhouse gases (GHG) including methane and carbon dioxide which causes global warming is one the challenges facing global environmental sustainability. This study was designed to assess the possible contribution of palm oil mill effluents (POME) to GHGs generation in Nigeria. The paper also discusses emissions from projection of three growth scenarios (current, low and high

Employment and Socioeconomic Effects of Semi-Mechanized Palm Oil Mill in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Aims: The unemployment rate in Nigeria has risen in recent years. Activities related to the oil palm industry could employ millions of people. This study evaluated the employment and socioeconomic influence ofsemi-mechanized oil palm processing in Elebele, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Methodology: Direct observations and interviews of the employees of the processing units of the mill were used to obtain the data. Results: The mill employed eleven workers for eachshift and each person had the capacity of producing 9.1 liters of palm oil per day. The labor force was comprised of able bodied men and women (72.7 and 27.3% respectively). During processing, women sieved the oil while men received the palm bunches at th e plant.Men also loaded bunch on stripper, stripped, sieved, sterilized/boiled, digested/pressed, clarified and dried the oil. The processors ranged from 21 to 51 years old. The educational background showed that they were graduates of universities (degre e), polytechnics (diploma), secondary (high)

Bioenergy Potentials of Elephant Grass, Pennisetum purpureum Schumach

Aim: Wild strains of elephant grass, Pennisetum purpureum , occur as invasive weed especially in disturbed freshwater swamps of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. A study was undertaken to assess the productivity and bioenergy potentials of the grass. Study Design: A completely randomized experimental design was used. Place and Duration of Study: Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria and January‐ May 2012. Methodology: Triplicate samples of the wild elephant grass were randomly collected at ten different locations from Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State. Liquid extract were recovered from the grass, while the resulting bagasse was dried. Results: The grass was found to have a biomass productivity of 7-11t/ha. The liquid extract was analyzed and was found to have the following characteristics; pH (5.55‐5.98), electrical conductivity (14,610-48,214 µS/cm), specific gravity (1.56‐1.60), sugars (2.59‐ 4.47%), and ethanol (1.36‐2.85%), while the gross calorific heating value of the bagasse ranged from 15.76‐17.07 MJ/kg. Conclusion: With these properties, the liquid extracts of elephant grass could be used as

Antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of the defatted seed and seed coat of Moringa oleifera

Recent interest in infectious disease threats to clinical microbiology and public health is the emergence of pathogens with high multidrug resistance especially to available newer broad spectrum antibiotics that is cost prohibitive and are not even within the reach of the poor, making infectious diseases a global burden and therefore prompting the need for the search of potential plants in the treatment of diseases. However antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera defatted seed (MODS) and seed coat (MOSC) was conducted. Paper disc diffusion method was used to assess the effect of the extracts on Pseudomonas aerogenosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Salmonella Typhi, Proteus mirabilis, all the examined extract showed varying degrees of antibacterial activities against the selected pathogens. Highest inhibitory effect was observed in Proteus mirabilis (19mm) following Salmonella Typhi (16mm) with the Moringa oleifera seed extract, these strains S. Typhi and Proteus mirabilis were resistant to ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera seed coat along with their respective minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from extract on the test isolates ranges from a 0.1mg/ml- 100mg/ml concentration. This study has shown that the ethanol extract of Moringa oleifera seed possess some degree of antimicrobial activity than ethanol extract of the seed coat and could be a valuable Drug in the treatment of infections caused by the test organisms especially at high dose, therefore these findings support the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of different infections in the area.

Changes in the Treatment of Some Physico-Chemical Properties of Cassava Mill Effluents Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cassava is majorly processed into gari by smallholders in Southern Nigeria. During processing, large volume of effluents are produced in the pressing stage of cassava tuber processing. The cassava mill effluents are discharged into the soil directly and it drain into nearby pits, surface water, and canals without treatment. Cassava mill effluents is known to alter the receiving soil and water characteristics and affects the biota in such environments, such as fishes (water), domestic animals, and vegetation (soil). This study investigated the potential of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to be used for the treatment of some physicochemical properties of cassava mill effluents. S. cerevisiae was isolated from palm wine and identified based on conventional microbiological techniques, viz. morphological, cultural, and physiological/biochemical characteristics. The S. cerevisiae was inoculated into sterile cassava mill effluents and incubated for 15 days. Triplicate samples were withdrawn from the setup after the fifth day of treatment. Portable equipment was used to analyze the in-situ parameters, viz. total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, salinity, and turbidity. Anions (nitrate, sulphate, and phosphate) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were analyzed using spectrophotometric and open reflux methods respectively. Results showed a decline of 37.62%, 22.96%, 29.63%, 20.49%, 21.44%, 1.70%, 53.48%, 68.00%, 100%, and 74.48% in pH, conductivity, DO, TDS, salinity, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, and COD levels respectively, and elevation of 17.17% by turbidity. The study showed that S. cerevisiae could be used for the treatment of cassava mill effluents prior to being discharged into the environment so as to reduce the pollution or contamination and toxicity levels.