Research articles (Dept of Biological Sciences): Recent submissions
Now showing items 1-20 of 78
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Biosurfactant production by halophilic yeasts isolated from extreme environments in Botswana
(Oxford University Press, https://academic.oup.com/femsle, 2021)Nine morphologically distinct halophilic yeasts were isolated from Makgadikgadi and Sua pans, as pristine and extreme environments in Botswana. Screening for biosurfactant production showed that Rhodotorula mucilaginosa ... -
Advances in the use of biocontrol applications in preharvest and postharvest environments: a food safety milestone
(John Wiley & Sons, Inc., https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17454565, 2022-04)Increasing concerns toward food safety and public health have rendered the use of synthetic chemicals in agricultural environments unacceptable. A shift toward biologically safe approaches has been considered a preferred ... -
Prevalence of Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia intestinalis and molecular characterization of group A rotavirus associated with diarrhea in children below five years old in Gaborone, Botswana
(Pan African Medical Journal, https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/, 2020-10-14)Introduction Cryptosporidium, Giardia and rotaviruses are amongst the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis in children ≤5 years worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium ... -
Technological advances in phytopathogen detection and metagenome profiling techniques
(Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020, https://www.springer.com/journal/284, 2020)The use of advanced molecular methods in plant pathology and applied microbiology has necessitated for more accurate, rapid detection and identification of plant pathogens. This is particularly significant given accelerated ... -
Isolation and characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria and indicator microorganisms of food safety from Omaere, a traditionally fermented milk product in Botswana
(University of Botswana, www.ub.bw, 2018)Botswana has many traditional foods and beverages that are prepared by means of natural/spontaneous fermentation. The traditional preparation of these foods is for the most part largely undocumented and the microorganisms ... -
Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles with potent antimicrobial activity using lactic acid bacteria
(Society for Advance Healthcare Research, http://www.ejbps.com/, 2019-03)In this study, Lactic Acid Bacteria isolated from traditional fermented foods were screened for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Antimicrobial activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was assayed against several ... -
Analysis of genetic diversity of Cercospora beticola isolates from Swiss chard in Southern Botswana
(Allied Journals, https://www.ijbio.com/, 2018)Cercospora Leaf Spot (CLS) of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla) remains an important foliar disease worldwide, yet the causative agent Cercospora beticola genetic variability remains incompletely understood in ... -
Antibacterial and antioxidant potential of Albizia anthelmintica as a medicinal plant on pathogenic veterinary isolates
(Academic Journals, https://academicjournals.org/, 2018-11-10)Albizia anthelmintica is a medicinal plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. It is widely used by smallholder farmers and pastoralists to treat internal parasites in their livestock. This study aimed to determine the ... -
Oyster mushrrom cultivation at different production systems: a review
(Dr. Petkova V., http://www.ejbps.com/, 2018-05)This paper aims to review historical perspectives, nutritional and medicinal benefits, biodiversity, cultivation, diseases and their control, pathogen detection systems, food safety concerns and use of spent mushroom compost ... -
Potential effects of prolonged ultraviolet radiation exposure in plants: chloroplast DNA analysis
(IDOSI Publications, http://idosi.org/, 2007)The present study on the Namaqualand daisy, Dimorphotheca sinuata sought to address two main questions: - first whether the natural populations show any evidence of variation in the chloroplast genome, and secondly if the ... -
Refining the Y chromosome phylogeny with southern African sequences
(Springerlink, http://www.springer.com/, 2016)The recent availability of large-scale sequence data for the human Y chromosome has revolutionized analyses of and insights gained from this non-recombining, paternally inherited chromosome. However, the studies to ... -
Screening for genetically modified organisms sequences in food samples in Botswana using the Biosmart Allin 2.0 GMO screening system
(Botswana Journal of Technology, http://journals.ub.bw/index.php/bjt, 2017-04)We used the Allin 2.0 GMO screening system from Biosmart, Switzerland to screen for the presence of genetically modified food sequences in maize meal samples, fresh fruit and vegetables from some retailers around Gaborone, ... -
Occurrence of antibiotic-resistant enterococci in some insects from stored food products in Botswana
(Applied Zoologists Research Association (AZRA), http://www.azra-india.com, 2017)The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant enterococci in some insects from stored food products from fourteen geographical areas in Botswana was investigated in the present study. Eleven insect species were identified from a ... -
Study of Muscid and Calliphorid flies in Gaborone (Insecta : Diptera)
(Uttar Pradesh Zoological Society, 2015)A survey of synanthropic species of flies in Gaborone, Botswana was carried out in various areas namely Block 9, Block 8, Village, Extension 16, Tlokweng, Block 3, Phase 4, Gaborone West, Block 5 and Extension 10. Fly ... -
Fungal infestation of termite mounds in Kopong, Botswana and their effects in mice red blood cells
(Society for Advance Healthcare Research, http://www.ejbps.com/ejbps/index, 2017-02)This paper aims to determine the fungal infestation, pH and moisture contents of termite mound soil from five locations in Kopong, Botswana and in vitro, effect of fungal extracts of species recovered from termite mound ... -
Insect infestation of biltong, a salted dried meat product consumed in Botswana
(Applied Zoologists Research Association (AZRA), http://www.azra-india.com/journal.html, 2017)A survey of home and commercial biltong in Botswana showed that hidden infestation by insects undetected before storage affects the quality of biltong. Seventy-nine (79) samples; made up of sixty-one (61) commercial biltong ... -
Fly maggots (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Muscidae) and associated microorganisms in Gaborone
(Applied Zoologists Research Association (AZRA), http://www.azra-india.com/journal.html, 2017)Synathropic species of flies carry pathogenic organisms that result in diseases such as bacillary dysentery, salmonellosis, cholera and diarrhea. Microorganisms associated with fly maggots were isolated and identified in ... -
Assessing the effectiveness of locally available fungicides in managing Cercospora leaf spot of Swiss chard under field conditions in Botswana
(Centre for Info Bio Technology, http://www.cibtech.org/, 2017)Cercospora leaf-spot (CLS), caused by Cercospora beticola, is an important foliar disease of Swiss chard in Botswana. The regularity of outbreaks of the disease in Botswana is a major cause of concern and thus, have ... -
Efficacy of locally available fungicides in controlling powdery mildew of Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poiret) in greenhouse at Sebele, Botswana
(Sjournals Publishing Company, http://www.sjournals.com/index.php/SJCS, 2017)The powdery mildew of butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poiret) caused by Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun and Shiskoff is the most severe disease in Botswana. The disease causes a significant reduction ... -
Uropathogenic and antibiotic resistance of Candida species among women visitinga tertiary care hospital in Gaborone, Botswana
(Centre for Info Bio Technology (CIBTech), http://www.cibtech.org/jms.htm, 2016)The present paper aims to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of Candida uropathogens among women at a tertiary hospital in Gaborone, Botswana. A total of 180 urine samples were collected from females ...