Screening For Anti-plasmodium Activity Using Extracts From Extremophiles Found In Lake Bogoria, Kenya
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that microorganisms living in extreme environments are a
potential source of medicinal compounds from their secondary metabolites. The Kenyan Rift
Valley has several soda Lake and hot spring environments that are inhabited by extremophiles,
whose medicinal value has not been investigated. This study therefore aimed at isolating and
extracting secondary metabolites from extremophiles with bioactivity against P. Jalciparum
parasites and eventual characterisation and molecular identification of these isolates.
Water samples were collected from soda lakes and streaked on alkaline agar media. The
bacterial colonies that grew were picked and replica plated on fresh agar plates. Forty-three pure
colonies were isolated based on colony morphology and were designated as independent isolates.
These colonies were incubated in liquid media for approximately two weeks at 45° C to produce
secondary metabolites. The metabolites were extracted by methanol and screened for antimalarial
acti vity .
Five isolates with the highest activity against P. Jalciparum were identified and classified
using the 16S rDNA -analysis. PCR amplification of the 16S rDNA produced a 1.5kb fragment,
which was sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the par.tial sequences showed that the isolates .
cluster together with Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus sonorensis, Bacillus subtilis, and
Pseudo bacillus carolinae species.
Key Words: Extremophiles, secondary metabolites, anti-malarial activity, 16S rDNA, P.
Jalcipar
Citation
Okanya, S. W. (2006) PatrickScreening For Anti-plasmodium Activity Using Extracts From Extremophiles Found In Lake Bogoria, Kenya. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Biocheruistry of the University of Nairobi.Publisher
University of Nairobi School of Biological Sciences