Aim: This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Moringa, Neem, and Ginger plant extracts on the bacteria species isolated from fruit juice samples. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, between October 2019 and November 2019. Methods: The fruit juice sample was prepared and cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB), Salmonella Shigella Agar (SSA), and Blood Agar using streak plate techniques. Four (4) bacteria species were isolated and identified from the fruit juice sample. These organisms served as the test isolates. Two (2) solvents (methanol and water) were used to get a comparative result. Disc diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial effects of the Moringa, Neem, and Ginger on the test organisms. Results: The methanolic extract of Moringa, Neem and Ginger was found to exhibit high degrees of antibacterial activities against the test isolates. This was shown by the clear zones of inhibition produced by the methanolic extract on the test microorganisms. The highest in-vitro antibacterial activity is 16 mm, which was exhibited by the methanolic extract of Moringa at the highest concentration of 200 mg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus. In comparison, the Methanolic extract exhibited no antibacterial activity (0.0 mm) at the lowest concentration of 50 mg/ml against all the test organisms. The minimum bactericidal concentration from this study revealed that methanolic and aqueous extract was active against Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella species, Bacillus species, and Escherichia coli. However, the water extract of Moringa demonstrated more significant antibacterial activity on Shigella species, Bacillus species, and Escherichia coli with the range of 200 mg/ml each. In contrast, methanol extract of neem demonstrated antibacterial activity on Shigella species alone, with the range of 200 mg/ml each. Conclusion: Moringa, Neem, and Ginger extract had both a bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity when tested in vitro using methanolic and aqueous preparation of Moringa, Neem, and Ginger extract. Therefore, these plants may be used successfully for treating illness caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Aim: To evaluate the nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic potentials of artesunate in humans. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria, between November and December 2019. Methodology: 70 blood samples were collected from 35 normal individuals (control group), and 35 malaria patients treated with parenteral artesunate (treatment group). These were analyzed for biochemical parameters, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total bilirubin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The treatment group was further regrouped according to gender (19 males and 16 females), age (20 patients aged 20-29 and 15 patients aged 30-40 years) and duration of treatment (29 patients on 3rd or 4th day and 6 patients on 5th or 6th day of treatment). Biochemical tests were carried out using standard Randox test kits. One-way ANOVA was done on the parameters using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), and comparisons were made. Results: Compared to control group, the treatment group showed significant increases (p<0.05) in BUN (15.89+1.30 against 11.69+0.62), Creatinine (0.96+0.62 against 0.82+0.03) and AST (22.14+2.45 against 16.66+0.85), a non-significant increase (p 0.05) in ALT (26.57+3.18 against 21.66+2.56) and ALP (85.31+4.06 against 77.54+3.09) and a non-significant decrease (p 0.05) in total bilirubin (0.59+0.06 against 0.65+0.06). However, all parameters examined were within the normal ranges. There was no significant relationship found in any parameter in a comparison of gender, age and duration of treatment. Conclusion: Since all parameters examined were in the normal ranges, administration of artesunate in the recommended dosage and the right duration may not have any significant toxic effect on the kidney and liver. However, further studies may be necessary to ascertain if the observed elevations could be attributed wholly to artesunate or other medications taken by the malaria patients.

Aim: The study is aimed at determining the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and production of Extended-spectrum Βeta-Lactamase (ESBLs) among Escherichia coli isolates from urine samples. Methods: A total of 35 samples of early morning mid-stream urine samples of about 10-15 ml were collected from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) female hostel students; using sterile plastic containers. Each urine sample was inoculated on MacConkey Agar (MCA). Isolates were identified based on morphological features, Gram staining, and biochemical characterization. The antibiotic susceptibility test was done by the Kirby Bauer Disc diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar. ESBL detection was done as per Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines, using the double disc synergy test method. Results: The study reviewed a total of 12 isolates of Escherichia coli of which is (34.29%) of which were obtained from urine samples. The susceptibility test results showed that most isolates were susceptible to Ofloxacin with 83.3% susceptibility, followed by Levofloxacin (66.7%), whereas gentamicin, nalidixic acid, cefuroxime, and cefotaxime exhibited a susceptibility rate of 33.3%. On the other hand, the highest resistance rate was to imipenem (96.7%), followed by Amoxicillin and ampiclox with 83.3%, while the least percentage resistance was observed in Ofloxacin with (8.3%) and Levofloxacin with (16.7%). Extended-spectrum Βeta-Lactamase (ESBLs) production among E. coli isolates was detected in 25.0% of the potential ESBL producers. The result of the multiple antibiotic resistance index showed that the isolate (E20) was significantly higher than other isolates with p<0.05, whereas E3, E7, E10 and E12 had same resistance pattern. Conclusion: So drug resistance due to ESBL production is a severe threat in UTIs, narrowing down the choice of antibiotics for treatment. So, there is a need to introduce routine screening for ESBL production for all uropathogenic Escherichia coli, causing urinary tract infections.

Bacteriocins produced by various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have found enormous use in the food industries as biopreservatives. This study evaluated the effect of varied culture conditions (temperature, pH, and NaCl concentration) on bacteriocin production by Lactococcus lactis MT186647 isolated from fermenting African oil bean seeds (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) using response surface methodology. A three-factor central composite design (CCD) was adopted with the interest of estimating the optimal conditions for its production using the response surface regression model, which evaluated the linear, squared, and interactive relationship between the response variables. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Minitab statistical software version 14.13 showed an R 2 = 0.869 variations in the response variable for culture conditions. It was accounted for by the predictors suggesting that the model was adequate. The optimal culture condition for bacteriocin production by L. lactis was estimated at 30.5°C, pH 5.9, 1.94% NaCl concentration at Y = 12.31 mm where Y represents the response (zone of inhibition) against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 19095 using the agar well diffusion assay method. Validation of optimal values according to the regression model, produced an inhibition zone at Y = 13.33 ± 0.29 mm. There was a 19.33% increase in bacteriocin activity compared to an OFAT optimized medium from a previous study.

Aim: This study is carried out to determine the prevalence of nasal carriage of staphylococcus aureus among Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) students and determine the antibiotics susceptibility pattern. Methods: Nasal swab specimens collected from the anterior nares were cultured on mannitol salt agar. S.aureus isolates were identified by mannitol fermentation, coagulase positivity and catalase positivity. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed on Meuller-Hinton Agar (MHA) by modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Result: Out of the 100 swabs collected, S.aureus was isolated from 60% of the samples. Among colonized students, 63.3% (n=38) were from male students whereas 36.7% (n=22) were from female. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates indicates that Staphylococcus aureus isolates showed high rate of sensitivity towards antibiotics as follows; Gentamycin (81.67%), followed by Ciprofloxacin  (80%), Levofloxacin (76.67%), Ceftriaxone (58.33%), and resistance towards antibiotics Imipenem (100%) followed by Cefotaxime (90%), Cefexime (83.33%), Cefoxitin (65%), azithromycin (55%) and cefuroxime (50%). Conclusion: This study showed a high rate of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among MOUAU students and a high incidence of antibiotics resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage.