Efficacy of Sakacin on Selected Food Pathogenic Microorganisms Isolated from Fermented Milk Products

The efficacy of sakacin on selected food pathogenic microorganisms isolated from fermented milk products was investigated. The L. sake was isolated using the pour plate technique and was characterized based on it colony, cell morphology and some biochemical tests. This isolate was identified using standard scheme. The L. sake FCF 33 was propagated in De Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth for bacteriocin (sakacin) production. The sakacin had inhibitory effects on all test microorganisms (ranging from +5mm to +6mm) except Shigella dysenteriae N11, Salmonella typhimurium N8, Klebsiella ozaenae W24 and Proteus mirabilis N16a). Bacteriocins are antimicrobial substances of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have gained tremendous attention as potential bio preservatives in the food and dairy industries. The LAB can serve as probiotics, which are products aimed at delivering living, potentially beneficial bacterial cells to the gut ecosystem of humans and other animals.

Impact of Hypoxia on the Community Structure of Benthic Macroinvertebrates of Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

Study of the Lagos lagoon was conducted for two years to investigate the impact of hypoxia on the benthic macroinvertebrates. Water and benthic samples were collected monthly along the study stretch and analysed in a standard laboratory. Temporal variation in water physico-chemistry was largely controlled by rainfall pattern while the spatial variation was influenced by proximity to the Harbour as well as the pollution sources and types. A total of 3,159 individuals comprising three phyla, five classes, nineteen families and twenty three species were recorded. Iddo I, Iddo II, Ogudu and Agboyi study stations recorded very low individuals, but relatively high number of polychaetes. Benthic macro- invertebrate community was dominated by the molluscs. Margalef’s index of species richness ranged from 0.79 to 2.57 while Shannon-Wiener index ranged from 0.40 to 2.19. Species evenness index ranged from 0.29 to 0.80. There was generally low biodiversity indicating the stressed nature of the study area.