Emergent Life Sciences Research

1-3

Authors: Sheeba Khan, Saumya Choudhary, Anamika Pandey, Mohd Kamran Khan, George Thomas

Oil crops are well distinguished for supplying protein and energy in human diet (Mehran et al. 2011). Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a significant crop possessing 15-21% protein and 50% oil content (Ayeen 1996). It holds second position in the world in edible oil manufacturing following soyabean oil (Nandha et al. 2014) and grouped among preeminent plant oils for human diet due to its nutritional worth (Skoric et al. 2008). Its seeds provide considerable amount of vitamins, minerals and tocopherols (Skoric 2009) and found to be rich in minerals like magnesium, iron, copper, calcium, zinc, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, selenium and manganese (Nandha et al. 2014). Regular sunflower oil contains 69% linoleic acid, 20% oleic acid and 11% saturated fatty acids, but a number of strategies have been adopted to present advance range of sunflower oils with elevated oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and low saturated acid.

8-12

Authors: Ibrahim Ali Altayyar, Alsadig Mohammed Abdalla, Mohammed Abd Alrzak Alfellani, Omran Othman Abdullah

Dental plaque is the biofilm found naturally on teeth and it is the etiologic agent in dental caries and periodontal diseases. A better understanding of bacterial communities found in biofilms provides opportunities for new methods to control biofilm formation. Therefore, control of the dental plaque biofilm is a major objective of dental professionals and critical to the maintenance of optimal oral health. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify aerobic bacteria from dental plaque biofilm on the external surface of the teeth and gums and to determine their role in the etiology of gingivitis and dental caries. Fifty nine samples of dental plaque from gingiva and teeth were collected randomly from patients attending Sebha dental clinic, Libya, males and females of different age groups. All samples were cultured on different media, conventional methods used for isolation and identification. Results revealed that 52 samples (88%) were positive for culture, and they were polymicrobial. Bacteria isolated were 110 species, 93 (84.5%) were gram positive composed of Streptococcus species 43 (39%), Lactobacillus 27 (24.5%), Staphylococcus 23 (21%) and 17 were gram negative (15.5%), they were E.coli 7 (6.4%), Enterobacter 6 (5.5%), Proteus 4 (3.6%). Isolates from males were 66 (60%) and females were 44 (40%), 61 (55.5%) of the isolates were from children (5-15) years old (44% were Streptococcus species and 25% were lactobacilli, Staphylococcus 18%) and 49 (44.5%) were from the age group (16-68) years old (28% were Streptococci and 21% were Lactobacilli). Most of the isolated bacteria (58%) was from patients who do not clean their teeth by daily brushing with toothpaste.

26-37

Authors: Bruno Rodrigues Sampieri, Karim Christina Scopinho Furquim, Pedro Luiz Pucci Figueiredo de Carvalho, Odair Corrêa Bueno, Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias

Ticks of the genus Amblyomma have medical and veterinary importance because they can transmit pathogens to humans, as well as domestic, wild and livestock animals. The management and control of this tick has led livestock farmers to an inadequate use of synthetic chemical acaricides, consequently creating environmental problems and selecting resistant populations. Thus, the search for new substances that can be efficient in tick control and have low toxicity to the environment and non-target organisms is latent. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of ricinoleic acid esters from castor oil as modifying agents of A. cajennense male reproductive system, seeking an alternative method to control these parasites. Hence, esters from castor oil were incorporated to the diet of rabbits, which were then infested with A. cajennense. Male ticks were collected from the hosts and their reproductive systems were removed and prepared for histological and histochemical techniques. The results showed that the effects of esters became more evident at the highest concentration available, leading to morphophysiological changes in the secretory cells of the accessory gland complex, altering the secretion content and causing morphological changes in spermatids. The esters changed development dynamics and gamete production, probably affecting the production of spermatophores and seminal fluid. Our results confirmed that these substances have the potential to interfere with reproduction, one of the most important biological processes for a species.

46-51

Authors: S. M. Matug, K. E. Aidoo and A. M. Elgerbi

Eighty four samples of infant food commercially available in Libya were studied for their microbiological status. The microbiological quality of these infant foods varied over the range 1.0 to 6.0 log10 CFU/g with the mean total viable count of ≥ 3.0 log10 CFU/g. Twenty four (19 samples) were unsatisfactory for infant consumption because they contained more than recommended limit. Bacterial isolates were identified by API system. The study was concluded with identification of Cronobacter sakazakii isolates by PCR techniques. The safety of these infant foods can be assured by a preventative approach based on the application of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) in the food and food related industry.