DIRECT SCIENCES: SOLVING PROBLEMS THROUGH SCIENTIFIC NETWORKING

The effect of plant derived smoke solutions on seed germination and seedling vigor is well documented. The present study was designed to find out the effect of Cymbopogon-derived smoke solution (1:500 dilution) on root of Ipomoea marguerite under CoCl2 (10, 20 and 30 ppm). Inhibitory effect of CoCl2 was observed on number of adventitious roots, numbers of lateral roots and adventitious root length as the concentration of CoCl2 (10, 20 and 30 ppm) increases. It was observed that 1:500 dilution of smoke significantly increased number of adventitious roots, numbers of lateral roots and adventitious root length. Plant derived smoke solution alleviated significantly inhibitory effects of CoCl2 at lower concentration (10 and 20 ppm). These results suggest that plant derived smoke dilution (1:500) showed positive effects and alleviated the inhibitory effect of CoCl2 on plant cuttings.

Alleviating solution, CoCl2, seedling length, smoke solution

The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an enveloped, positive strand RNA virus and has been classified as a separate genus Hepacivirus of the family Flaviviridae. The HCV genome is a linear molecule with a length of approximately 9.6 kb that is flanked by 5` and 3’ untranslated regions (UTRs) and encodes to a nearly 3,010 amino acids polyprotein precursor. It is cleaved by combination of viral and host proteases into structural (C, P7, El, and E2) and non-structural proteins (NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B), essential for viral replication and viron formation in post-translational process. The 5` and 3’ UTRs are highly conserved regions in HCV genome, crucial for molecular processes such as replication and translation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about HCV molecular and structural HCV biology. This knowledge may help to improve treatment strategies and development of vaccine against HCV.

HCV, replication, post-translational process, nonstructural proteins, Untranslated regions

A study was conducted to investigate the microbial quality of food (drinking water and processed meat) at popular food street (Namak-Mandi Peshawar Pakistan). For this purpose, 30 different food samples from different shops, including processed meat (Tikka Karahi (7), Meat Kari (Gosht Karahi) (7), Mutton kari (Mutton Karahi) (5), Chicken Karahi (6) and drinking water (5) were analyzed for Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and fungi isolation. Total Viable Count for all samples was also determined. The drinking water samples showed the average percentage of 20, 100, 100 and 40 for S. aureus, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli and fungi, respectively. The highest total viable count of water samples was 4.2x107CFU ml-1. The processed meat samples showed 32.95, 51.81, 64.85 and 72.76% average presence of S. aureus, Salmonella, Shigella, E.coli and fungi, respectively. The highest Total Viable Count (2.5 x 109CFU ml-1) observed in Tikka Karahi and Mutton Karahi.

Namak Mandi; Processed Meat; E. coli; S. aureu; Shigella; Salmonella

Atrazine; a member of s-triazine group, is a preferred herbicide used globally either individually or as adjunct with other herbicides. Beside its use, problem arises because of its low degradability leading to elevation of Atrazine concentration above the permissible limit resulting in the contamination of soil and water which eventually can greatly affect the living organisms. This contamination level of Atrazine in soil and water can be effectively determined by using high performance liquid chromatography; one of the most effective tool to analyze or quantify the concentration of any compound residues and its byproducts. This study was aimed to isolate the microorganisms capable to degrade Atrazine from soil, obtained from farmed areas of Gomal University D. I. Khan in December, 2011, having history of at least eight years continuous exposure to Atrazine. Isolated fungal and bacterial strains were observed for their potential to degrade Atrazine. Fungal isolates were identified on the basis of colony morphology and spore characteristics while bacteria were identified on the basis of the biochemical parameters. Out of twelve fungal strains, Aspergilus fumigates showed the highest biodegradation rate (58.24%) while the lowest biodegradation was shown by Aspergillus terreus (17.56%). Among the bacterial isolates three were Gram negative and five were Gram positive. The highest degradation potential (62.77%) was shown by Streptococcus specie while E. coli with lowest degradation rate (26.48%). Bacteria showed more average degradation potential than fungal isolates as the total average of degradation rate observed was 44.62% by bacteria and 40% by fungal isolates.

Atrazine, Atrazine Degradation, HPLC, Atrazine Degrading Microorganisms

In this study protease producing bacteria from different regions of Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan were isolated and screened for protease production on skimmed milk agar and casein agar plates. Out of 100 isolates, 12 were found to be protease producing on skimmed milk/casein agar plates. These isolates were subjected to several biochemical tests and gram staining and were identified to be mainly Bacillus species. Optimum enzymatic activity was found to be at 55˚C and pH 8-9.SDS-PAGE and Zymographic analysis showed that there is mainly one protease with molecular weight of around 50 kDa.

Protease; Bacillus species; Casein and skim milk agar