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Okpiye is a food condiment prepared by the fermentation of Prosopis africana seeds. The traditional process for the production and microbiological characteristics of the condiment were investigated. During laboratory fermentation that lasted 96 h, the mesquite seeds underwent a natural fermentation that was characterised by the growth of microorganisms to 10(6)-10(8) cfu/g. Several species of bacteria especially B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, B. megaterium, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus spp were found to be the most actively involved organisms. However, significant contributions to the microbial ecology were made by Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Lactobacillus spp were present in low numbers towards the end of the fermentation. The presence of Proteus and Pseudomonas spp in traditional fermented samples demonstrate the variability which may exist in the microflora of individual fermented samples. Variations in the important microbial groups show that Bacillus spp were the most prevalent species and occurred until the end of fermentation. Temperature, pH and titratable acidity varied with time and were influenced by the metabolic activities of the microorganisms.

Obiolor is an acidic non-alcoholic beverage prepared by fermenting sorghum and millet malts. The traditional process for the production and microbiological characteristics of the beverage were investigated. Bacillus spp., Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus lactis were the associated micro-organisms most actively involved. Yeasts were present in low numbers towards the end of the fermentation. Other micro-organisms isolated did not appear to play a role in the fermentation process. Variations in the important microbial groups involved and their metabolic products were studied. Titratable acidity increased gradually until the end of the fermentation while the total soluble solids and pH declined. Acetobacter spp. were probably responsible for the unacceptability of the product after 24 h.

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A water-soluble gum was extracted from the endocarp capsule of the seed coat of Prosopis africana. The gum yield varied substantially with the method of dehulling. Maximum yield was obtained after boiling in 0.1 m Na 2 CO 3 for 4 h. The effects of two different gum concentrations on the rheological properties of gum solutions were examined. The gum formed viscous solutions at low concentrations and exhibited stable viscosity in the pH range 6.0-8.0. Chemical analyses showed that the purified gum had a composition of 2.4% fat, 1.04% protein, 21.5% crude fibre and a gelation concentration of at least 10%. Galactose and mannose were the major polysaccharides identified. Large reductions in viscosity were observed with the addition of various concentrations of Na + salts. The activation energies of flow for 2 and 3% gum solutions were in the range of 19.2-22.8 kJ mol )1 and were characteristic of systems with little intra-and intermolecular interactions.

Seasonal variation in bacterial heavy metals biosorption from soap and brewery industrial effluent samples from Eziama River in Abia State were analyzed for Pb, Hg, Fe, Zn, As, and Mn, using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Bioaccumulation of the metals by bacteria showed the following trend > Fe >Zn >As > Pb > Mn (Rainy Season) and Zn > Fe > Mn > As > Hg > Pb (Dry season). Statistical analysis using of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences in concentrations of Pb, Hg, Fe, Zn, As, and Mn level between the sampling zones at Eziama River. Seasonal changes in heavy metal concentrations, showed increases in Pb, Fe, and As from 1. Key words: Industrial effluent, water contamination, heavy metals, health effects INTRODUCTIONIndustrial effluent characteristics provide basic information about the integrity of the aquatic habitat within such rivers and streams into which they are discharged. Most of these effluents pose inestimable harm to which the microbial entity is the most adversely affected (Dallas, 2004;Barnes,). Most of the industrial effluents are shown to contain significant concentrations of inorganic chemicals which affect not only the normal pH values but also lead to the hardness of the water. These aquatic environments may put some components of the habitat on a disadvantaged position. Industrial effluents from soap manufacturing industries are known to contain complex chemicals most of which are very toxic and are capable of destroying the microbial habitats in a serious adverse way. For example, el-Gohary, et al., (1987) presented the wastewater management of an industrial complex, which produces different products, i.e. soap, perfume extract, macaroni, jam and juices. A continuous monitoring programme effluents and characterization of the composite wastewater from both soap and brewery manufacturing processes indicated that the waste was highly contaminated with organic compounds as indicated by COD and BOD values. Moreover, effluent from the soap manufacturing plant contains significant concentrations of oil and grease amounting to 563 mg l-1. Soap manufacturing effluent and the combined wastes discharged from the whole industrial complex were subjected to different treatment processes, namely dissolved air flotation, chemical coagulationsedimentation, and biological treatment via a completely mixed activated sludge process (Agedengbe, et al., 2003). The purpose of this present study is mainly to determine the seasonal variation in heavy metal biosorption by bacteria isolated from Eziama River near Soap and Brewery Industries in Aba, Abia State Nigeria and to discuss the overall environmental Health implications. Seasonal variation in bacterial heavy MATERIALS AND METHODS Sampling location and backgroundThe industrial effluent water samples for this analysis were obtained from selected representative areas of the Eziama River directly affected by the Soap and Brewery industries discharges. The sampling area within the Eziama River and the sampling point stretches from the Ok...

Maximum activity of the amylase ofBacillus alvei was attained after growth of the organism on sorghum starch. Rice, corn, yam, cassava and potato starch gave high enzyme activities as did soluble starch. Glucose, maltose and glycerol were less effective. Optimum conditions for both growth and enzyme production were pH 6.8 at 40°C.

Red fluorescent protein (DsRed) from reef coral was evaluated in comparison with green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter gene for cassava transformation. Cassava friable embryogenic callus (FEC) was transformed with ERtargeted versions of DsRed and GFP constructs driven by the 35S cauliflower mosaic virus promoter. Efficiency of transformation was comparable for both visual marker genes at averages of 119 and 163 expressing plants recovered per cc of settled cell volume FEC for GFP and DsRed, respectively. High and uniform DsRed expression was observed at the single cell and proliferating callus stages, in somatic embryos and within organs of whole in vitro and greenhouse-grown plants in a manner similar to GFP. Plants expressing GFP and DsRed were robust and phenotypically normal with regard to growth, vigor, and formation of storage roots when grown in the greenhouse. Expression of marker genes within cross sections of petiole, woody stem, and storage roots from greenhousegrown plants was determined. The interference of phenolic compounds and chlorotic tissues characteristic of the signal from GFP-expressing tissues was not observed within tissues transgenic for DsRed. Tissues and plants co-expressing DsRed and GFP were produced by co-culturing FEC with a mixed Agrobacterium suspension carrying GFP and DsRed gene constructs or by re-transformation of an existing GFP transgenic line with DsRed. Re-transformation of GFPexpressing tissues was the more efficient method for production of GFP/DsRed stacked plants. Co-expression of both marker genes within the same transformation unit was easily visualized at their respective wavelength with the aid of appropriate filters thus validating their potential for coexpression studies.