This research work investigated cellulase production potentials of the microbial profile of three sugarcane bagasse dumping sites at Zango area, Ilorin, Nigeria. The microbial isolates were screened for cellulase production with a view to select the best organism for eventual cellulase production. Pour Plate method was used for the isolation and a total of thirteen (13) different organisms including both fungal and bacterial species were isolated and screened. Six (6) fungal isolates identified as Mucor racemosus Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Neurospora sitophilus, Penicillium oxalicum and Penicillium citrinum were isolated, while seven (7) different bacterial species isolated include Clostridium cellobioparum, Clostridium thermocellum, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumillus, Lactobacillus spp, Pseudomonas flavescens and Serratia spp. Generally, bacterial isolates were more in abundance than fungal species. However; fungal isolates were constant and were isolated through the experimental period of three weeks. All the isolates showed cellulase production potential in varying degrees as reflected in the clearance zone around their colonies. Fungal isolates produced more cellulase than the bacterial isolates. Mucor racemosus had the highest clearance zone (75.0 mm) among the fungal isolates while Clostridium cellobioparum (35.0 mm) were the best producer among bacterial isolates. The least producer among fungal isolates, Penicillium citrinum (40.0 mm), is a little more than the bacterial cellulase producer (35.0 mm) and is far greater than the least bacterium Serratia spp (14.0 mm).

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) have been reported to be a component of the human and animal microbiome, functioning as probiotics. Their capacity to stick to the epithelial or mucosal surface is mostly dependent on receptor specific binding, charge, and hydrophobicity interaction. Much work have been done on the hydrophobicity and some physiological properties of LAB from different sources but there is a dearth of knowledge on those of the oral cavity, hence this study. Oral samples were collected from respondents from different areas of the University Of Ibadan with sterile swab stick and were brought to the microbiology laboratory of the University of Ibadan for analysis. The isolates were subjected to morphological, biochemical, molecular and physiological tests using standard procedures. In this study, nine colonies of LAB were isolated and characterized from oral samples of respondents from the University of Ibadan. They were identified as, Pedicoccus acidilactici, Leuconostoc lactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus plantarium, and Lactobacillus casei. All the isolates inhibited the growth of the four pathogens used, survived at 4% concentration of NaCl, MgSO4, KNO3, NaNO3, MnSO4 and 3% bile salts used. They exhibited low surface hydrophobicity, survived in the acidic and temperatures of the media used.

This study was carried out to investigate the microbial and physiochemical quality of common borehole water filter installations. Ten (10) borehole filter samples were collected from private homes in Ijebu-Ode, Southwestern Nigeria. These were analyzed using standard procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was determined using the standard disc diffusion method. The temperature o oand pH range of filter samples recorded was 27.6 – 28.9C and 6.09 – 6.90C respectively. Total dissolved solid, total suspended solid and total dissolved oxygen of filter samples recorded ranged 3 3between 10 - 55mg/L, 0.5 x10 - 17.14 x 10mg/L and 4.7 - 9.7mg/L respectively. Chemical oxygen demand ranged from 9.5 - 13.25mg/L while biochemical oxygen demand ranged from 4.5 - 8.5mg/L. Total heterotrophic count, Salmonella-Shigella count and Escherichia coli count ranged from 16 x 3 5 3 5 3 510 - 52 x10, 0 x 10 - 12 x 10 and 0 x 10 - 12 x10 CFU/mL respectively. Faecal coliform count 3 5ranged from 0 x 10 - 12 x10 CFU/mL. Nine bacteria isolated and identified includes: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus species, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter species and Salmonella species. Escherichia coli was sensitive to all antibiotics, except augmentin. The highest level of resistance was exhibited by Enterobacter sp. This study revealed that the borehole water filter from Ijebu-Ode is of poor microbial and physiochemical quality. Further work needs to evaluate the filter composition and quality. Disinfection of water in storage tanks before distribution is strongly recommended as a short term solution.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Pleurotus pulmonarius on proximate composition and solid-state fermentation of sawdust and waste paper, and to quantify the soluble sugar produced in the biodegraded samples. Studies were carried out on the biodegradation of sawdust and paper using P. pulmonarius in cultures incubated for 90 days. The results of proximate analysis showed decrease in moisture content crude fiber and hemicellulose, while ash and cellulose were increased. Sawdust has higher soluble sugar content at 30-90 days of fermentation. The crude fibre decreased significantly from 45.5% to 32.4%, 48.2% to 32.9%, 55.5% to 32.8%, 53.4 to 32.1%, 44.5% to 27.5% for sawdust (SD), paper-waste (PW), and three proportional ratio mixtures (PW1:SD3, PW3:SD1, PW1:SD1) substrates respectively. The nutrient contents, pH values, (%) fiber fractions showed significant differences of (P≤0.05) in the five substrates as the fermentation. Lignin contents of treated paper waste and sawdust were degraded by P. pulmonarius and a decrease was observed. There were also consistent significant decreases (P< 0.05) in the values obtained for NDF, ADF, ADL. Percentage NDF 75.4% to 57.32%, 68.1% to 57.05%, 67.21% to 56.8%, 75.49% to 58.36%, 74.3% to 59.13% for SD, PW, PW1:SD3, PW3:SD1, and PW1:SD1 substrates, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the hemicellulose and cellulose contents. The results obtained from the bioconversion process of selected wastes reveals the potential of extracellular enzymes produced by P. pulmonarius as a biotechnological tool for the transformation of waste in biological product.

Higher-fungi (Hf) of the polypore mushrooms are considered to have unique secondary metabolites, making them reservoirs of therapeutically significant bioactive compounds. Phytochemical and antioxidant properties of the Hf were accessed in this study. Four Hf, which were found in several wild locations in Oyo state, Nigeria, were collected. At the University of Ibadan Botany Department Laboratory, the species of the four Hf were determined. In-vitro antioxidant activity were assessed using the 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), and Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) assays using methanol extracts of air-dried and powdered Hf. Results were presented as Mean SEM, graphs were created in Excel, one-way ANOVA was used for the analysis, and p ≤0.05 was regarded as significant. These Hf were identified as Lycoperdon rimlatum (Lr) FFUI1, Trametes versicolor (Tv) FFUI2, Ganoderma lucidum (Gl) FFUI3, and Daedelia quarcina (Dq) FFUI4 and were recorded on the NCBI with accession numbers EU833664.1, JQ621899, JQ520179.1 and KP171209.1, respectively. All the Hf showed positive tests for the presence of saponin, tannin, alkaloid, terpenoid, carbohydrate,tannin and flavonoids. The Hf showed antioxidant activities, the highest DPPH inhibition was by Tv (94.48%), FRAP was by Gl (0.16 mg/g) and H2O2 inhibition was by Lr (70.90%). The antioxidant activities observed were due to the presence of useful phytochemicals making them therapeutically significant.