A fission yeast isolated from palm‐wine was found capable of degrading hydrocarbons in kerosene and diesel. Confirmatory evidence was derived from gas chromatographic analysis. Degradation was enhanced by pre‐adaptation to the hydrocarbons. Growth yield data indicated that the yeast utilized diesel, kerosene and methanol as sole carbon and energy sources for growth and that diesel produced better yield than glucose on a carbon content basis. The hydrocarbon degradative capability and the ability to utilize kerosene, diesel and methanol as growth substrates by the isolate suggest its potential application in oil spill clean‐up as well as in single cell protein production using hydrocarbon feedstocks.

Antibacterial treatments for frozen poultry, including holding at -5 degrees C and slow thawing at 4 degrees C to which exponential phase cells of Salmonella typhimurium were susceptible, were found to be relatively ineffective against stationary phase cells. Exposure of the latter, however, to a pre-freezing triple stress treatment of cold-shock exposure at 5 degrees C to a solution containing 5 mg/l of free available chlorine in 1% succinic acid (pH 2.5) for 20 min substantially lowered the resistance of the cells to subsequent freezing, storage and thawing in poultry flesh exudate. Cell survival was further decreased by storage of exudate at -18 degrees C for 28 d and this reduced the proportion of stationary phase cells to less than 1% of initial numbers, with a concomitant increase in sensitivity to deoxycholate. Such a combined pre-treatment may have practical potential for salmonella decontamination in the production of frozen poultry.

Aims: Bacteriological quality assessment and antibiogram profile of bacteria associated with sachet drinking water was carried out with view to determine the bacterial load and fitness of the water sold in the study area for human consumption. Materials and Methods: Ten samples of different brands were aseptically collected and analyzed using heterotrophic count and most probable number technique. The isolated bacteria were microscopically and biochemically characterized and finally confirmed using Box™ Easygel® E. coli Quantitube™ Test Kit (Micrology Laboratories manufactures, Easygel®, USA) biotyping. Physicochemical analysis of the samples was done using standard methods. The isolated bacteria were screened for antimicrobial susceptibility using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Results: The total heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 1.0×102 to 3.0×102 cfu/ml, with MPN/100ml values ranged from <0.03 to 1.2. The temperature ranged from 8 to 18°C, at the pH range of 5.0 to 7.6. The findings showed that, high temperatures and pH was associated with high bacterial counts. There was no statistical relationship between microbial loads and the temperature (p= 0.454) of the analyzed sachet water. Also, there was no statistical relationship between microbial loads and pH (p= 0.446) of the sachet water. The bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella sp, Citrobacter freundii and Proteus vulgaris. Most 9 (90%) of the water analyzed fell within the statutory limits. While, the remaining 1 (10%) fell within the contamination level, which recorded high bacterial counts beyond the standard of safe drinking water set by water and food regulatory bodies. Conclusion: The isolation of E. coli and Salmonella sp. in sample brand “A” in this study is an indication that if not promptly checked, an outbreak could occur in the near future. All the isolates are susceptible to variety of antibiotics used, except Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella sp. and Citrobacter freundii which recorded resistance to amoxicillin, and Proteus vulgaris which recorded multidrug resistance.

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