Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

About: Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is a education organization based out in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 2786 authors who have published 3066 publications receiving 36850 citations. The organization is also known as: Oyo State University of Technology & LAUTECH.

Bacillus safensis LAU 13: a new source of keratinase and its multi-functional biocatalytic applications

Abstract: A newly isolated bacterium identified as Bacillus safensis based on biochemical tests and 16S rRNA analysis and its mutant variant created by exposure to ultraviolet radiation at 254 nm were investigated for keratinolytic activity. The wild-type strain produced 35.4–50.4 U/mL keratinase over a period of 120 h, while the mutant one yielded 64.4–108.5 U/mL keratinase for the same period of 120 h. The optimal conditions for the enzyme activities were pH 7.5 and 40 °C. The mutant and wild-type strain keratinases retained 59% and 54% of their activity after 12 h pretreatment at 40 °C, and 64% and 60% of their activity after 12 h at pH 7.5, respectively. The keratinases showed high substrate specificity for feathers, but low specificity for human and bovine hairs. The enzymes were activated by Na+, Ca2+, Fe2+ and Mg2+. However, while Mn2+ activated the enzyme from the mutant strain, it inhibited that of the wild type. The mutant and wild-type strain completely degraded whole chicken feathers after 6 and 9 days ...

Antibiotic resistance and resistance genes in Escherichia coli from poultry farms, southwest Nigeria.

Abstract: Introduction: This study investigated the mechanisms of resistance in 36 E. coli isolated from waste, litter, soil and water samples collected from poultry farms in Southwestern Nigeria. Methodology: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) distributions of the isolates were determined using the methods of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute and resistance genes detected by PCR. Results: A total of 30 isolates (94%) showed resistance to more than one antimicrobial. Percentage resistance was: tetracycline 81%, sulphamethoxazole 67%, streptomycin 56%, trimethoprim 47 %, ciprofloxacin 42%, ampicillin 36%, spectinomycin 28%, nalidixic acid 25%, chloramphenicol 22%, neomycin 14%, gentamicin 8%, amoxicillin-clavulanate, ceftiofur, cefotaxime, colistin, florfenicol and apramycin 0%. Resistance genes found among the isolates include bla-TEM (85%), sul2 (67%), sul3 (17%), aadA (65%), strA (70%), strB (61%), catA1 (25%), cmlA1 (13%), tetA (21%) and tetB (17%). Class 1 and 2 integrons were found in five (14%) and six (17%) isolates, respectively, while one isolate was positive for both classes of integrons. Seven out of eight isolates with resistance to ciprofloxacin and MIC ≤ 32 mg/L to nalidixic acid contained qnrS genes. Conclusions: Our findings provided additional evidence that the poultry production environment in Nigeria represents an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes such as qnrS that may spread from livestock production farms to human populations via manure and water.

Kolanut ( Cola nitida ) Mediated Synthesis of Silver–Gold Alloy Nanoparticles: Antifungal, Catalytic, Larvicidal and Thrombolytic Applications

Abstract: This study investigated use of leaf, seed, seed shell and pod extracts of Cola nitida for the green synthesis of silver-alloy nanoparticles (Ag–AuNPs). The Ag–AuNPs formed were dark brown with maxima absorbance in the range of 497–531 nm. FTIR peaks at 3290–3396 and 1635–1647 cm−1 showed that proteins were the capping and stabilization molecules for the synthesis of Ag–AuNPs. While leaf, seed and seed shell extract-mediated Ag–AuNPs had near spherical morphology, anisotropic structures of sphere, rod, hexagon and triangle were formed by pod extract. The polydispersed particles were 17–91 nm in size, with crystalline characteristics and prominent presence of Ag and Au in the EDX spectra. Ag–AuNPs inhibited growth of Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus and A. niger by 69.51–100 %. Exposure of Anopheles mosquito larvae to Ag–AuNPs resulted in 80–100 % mortality in 24 h. Catalytic degradation of >90 and >60 % were obtained for malachite green and methylene blue respectively after 24 h. The particles displayed potent blood anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities, indicative of their potentials in the management blood coagulation disorders. This study showed that C. nitida can be used for green synthesis of Ag–AuNPs, which is the first report of its kind.

Adsorption of cyanide from aqueous solution using calcinated eggshells: Equilibrium and optimisation studies

Abstract: Eggshells were calcined and used to adsorb cyanide from its aqueous solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were used to characterize both raw and calcined eggshell (CE) while UV spectrophotometer was used to monitor the cyanide concentration. The XRD and FTIR showed the conversion of CaCO3 to CaO. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out using 10 ml each of 0.01 mol/L to 0.05 mol/L cyanide solutions at different contact times, and adsorbent dosages. To establish optimum adsorption conditions, Central Composite Design (CCD) in Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed using the time, concentration and adsorbent dosages as variables at a fixed pH of 7. Adsorption efficiency of 84.53% was obtained with 0.01 mol/L, 8.98 g of calcined eggshell at 26.58 min contact time using RSM. Pseudo second order kinetic model best fitted the experiment. The coefficients of determination of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were 0.988 and 0.650 respectively, with Langmuir isotherm giving a better fit for the adsorption. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity from Langmuir isotherm was 3.27 mg/g at pH 7 and a temperature of 30 °C