, FACULTY OF LIFE SCIENCES

Mushrooms serve as the fruiting bodies of fungi. Unlike higher plants, they lack chlorophyll, the green pigment found in leaves that enables plants to utilize water, carbon dioxide, and solar energy for photosynthesis. Consequently, mushrooms are unable to synthesize their own food and rely on higher plants for sustenance. They possess high nutritional value, characterized by elevated levels of protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and trace elements, alongside low or negligible calorie and cholesterol content. Due to these factors, mushrooms are particularly prone to spoilage. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of chemical preservatives on the shelf life, sensory evaluation, bacteriological quality, and nutritional composition of mushrooms, with the aim of assessing their suitability for extended storage. Freshly harvested oyster mushrooms (Agaricus spp.) were sourced from the African Centre for Mushroom Research and Technology Innovations (ACMRTI) at the University of Benin, Benin City. The preservatives utilized included hydrogen peroxide and citric acid, administered at concentrations of 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5%, with water serving as the control. Samples were stored in a refrigerator for a duration of six days and analyzed at two-day intervals. The analyses conducted encompassed sensory evaluation, bacterial count, biochemical tests, antibiotic susceptibility tests, and virulence factor assessment. The results indicated that a concentration of 2.5% hydrogen peroxide yielded the lowest bacterial count, recorded at 1.3 ± 8.5 x 10² cfu/g, and exhibited the highest overall appearance score of 3.9 ± 1.7. Identified bacterial isolates included Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Pantoea agglomerans, Bacillus subtilis, Cronobacter sakazakii, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium jeikeium, Serratia marcescens, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Enterococcus faecalis. The isolates that occurred most frequently (11 instances) were Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis. The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index (MARI) revealed that Escherichia coli had the highest value of 0.9, while Corynebacterium jeikeium had a MARI of 0.4. The study illustrates that chemical preservatives effectively reduce microbial load, significantly slowing microbial growth, mitigating spoilage, and consequently extending the storage period of mushrooms.

This study evaluated the effect of acid fermentation using varying concentrations ofhydrochloric acid (HCl) 0.025 M, 0.050 M, 0.075 M, and 0.100 Mon the bleachingefficiency and quality characteristics of crude palm oil (CPO), with untreated oil (0.00M) ascontrol. Physicochemical parameters analyzed included moisture content, iodine value, saponification value, peroxide value, free fatty acid (FFA) content, refractive index, andspecific gravity. Results from one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc tests revealed that HCl concentration had a highly significant influence (p < 0.001) on all parameters except moisturecontent. The moisture content remained relatively constant (0.015 ± 0.003 %to 0.022±0.002 %), indicating stable processing conditions. Iodine value markedly decreasedfrom48.80 ± 5.00 g/100 g in the control to between 14.21 and 20.31 g/100 g in treated samples, confirming saturation increase. Saponification value slightly declined from211.48 ±5.00mgKOH/g to 198.71–206.54 mg KOH/g, while peroxide value dropped sharply from24.03±5.00 mEq/kg to 2.02–6.62 mEq/kg, indicating improved oxidative stability. Conversely, FFAcontent increased significantly from 0.89 ± 5.00 % to 16.7–20.3 %, reflectingpartial triglyceride hydrolysis under acidic conditions. The refractive index values varied marginally(1.361–1.368), and specific gravity increased slightly from 0.8842 ± 5.00 to 0.887–0.893, suggesting limited compositional alteration. Statistical analyses confirmed that moderateacidconcentrations (0.05–0.075 M) yielded optimal bleaching performance, achieving effectivepigment and peroxide reduction while maintaining desirable stability and nutritional integrity. The findings establish acid-fermentation bleaching as a sustainable and cost-effectivealternative to conventional refining methods for enhancing palm-oil quality.

Access to safe drinking water remains one of the most critical public health challenges in Nigeria, where millions lack reliable sources. Rapid urbanization and inadequate waste management have contributed to the documented water quality challenges in Benin City. However, data on specific localities such as the Uholor community is scarce. In this study, an assessment of drinking water quality based on physicochemical and microbiological parameters was made. Observational checklists were also used to assess environmental conditions and hygiene practices at the household levels. Results have shown that sachet water is the main source of drinking water in the study area, at 52.5%, followed by boreholes at 41.6%. Another high-risk finding is that as many as 69.4% of the households do not treat water before drinking. Though a majority of the respondents, 89.1%, reported the use of flush toilets, environmental sanitation among households is poor 70.3%. The hygiene practices also showed a gap between knowledge and action, as while 91.9% of the respondents were "very" or "somewhat" aware of WASH importance, only 17% reported always using soap to wash their hands. Additionally, 24.6% of households "rarely" clean their water storage containers, entailing a risk of re-contamination. 31.7% of those reporting health issues cited poor taste of water, while 35.4% of households reported illness related to water in the last six months, predominantly Typhoid, 74.3%. The study finds that the community of Uholor is highly exposed to health risks from contaminated drinking water due to widespread non-treatment, and inadequate hygiene practices.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a capsular fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening opportunistic infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. This research involved isolating, screening, and growing C. neoformans from samples collected from pigeon droppings in Uselu, Egor, and New Benin markets, Benin City, Edo State. One gram of pigeon droppings was added to Yeast Peptone Dextrose Broth (YPD) for preliminary culturing and incubated at 25°C for 24 hours. The mixture was then plated onto Yeast Peptone Dextrose Agar (YPDA) plates, incubated for five days, and sub-cultured to obtain contamination-free single colonies. Identification of the organism involved a urease test followed by a Niger seed agar test. The Niger seed agar test detected melanin-producing strains through pigmentation, while the urease test confirmed its presence through a yellow-to-pink color change. Out of 75 samples, 63 tested positive for C. neoformans, signifying its environmental prevalence, 21 from this 63 tested positive for melanin production. Growth pattern analysis showed optimum growth at 37°C, aligning with its pathogenicity in humans, and normal growth at 25°C. Under starvation conditions, colony formation was visibly inhibited, indicating its dependence on environmental nutrients for establishment. Susceptibility tests with fluconazole showed inhibited growth, confirming its efficacy as an antifungal agent. This study provides information on the environmental distribution, melanin production, and adaptability of C. neoformans in variable growth environments. The results suggest the organism's ecological ubiquity, the role of melanin as a virulence factor, and its ability to thrive in environments with high nutrient availability and favorable temperatures. These findings are significant in understanding fungal survival and the management of cryptococcal infections.

Emulsion paints are widely used for decorative and protective purposes but are susceptible to fungal degradation, particularly in tropical climates with high humidity. This study investigated the degradation of emulsion paint using fungal isolates (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium species) under controlled laboratory conditions. The fungi were inoculated into mineral salt medium supplemented with 5% commercial white emulsion paint as the sole carbon source and incubated at room temperature (25–28°C) for seven days. Four experimental setups were established: Flask A (Aspergillus niger), Flask B (Penicillium sp.), Flask AB (mixed culture), and a control flask. Fungal growth was monitored using serial dilution and pour plate techniques on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), while physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, and optical density at 600 nm) were measured at regular intervals. Results revealed that Penicillium sp. achieved the highest final population of 2.75 ×10⁶ CFU/ml and optical density of 50.9, indicating superior paint degradation capability. Aspergillus niger demonstrated the highest percentage growth rate of 1,328.6%, increasing from 3.5 × 10⁴ CFU/ml to 5.0 × 10⁵ CFU/ml between Day 3 and Day 7. The mixed culture yielded 1.50 × 10⁶ CFU/ml with a growth rate of 1,053.8%, showing no significant synergistic effect. pH fluctuations, particularly acidification to pH 5.1 in single species flasks, suggested organic acid production during metabolism, facilitating enzymatic breakdown of polymeric paint components. These findings highlight the ecological significance of fungi in paint deterioration and emphasize the need for antifungal additives in paint formulations, routine maintenance, and environmental control measures to mitigate microbial colonization in humid tropical environments

Public health and illness prevention depend on having access to clean drinking water andpracticing good hygiene. To determine their effects on community health, the Upper Missioncommunity in Benin City's water quality and cleanliness practices were examined. Onehundred households chosen by multistage sampling were included in the community-basedcross-sectional design. To investigate water sources, storage procedures, treatment techniques, and hygiene practices, structured questionnaires were given out. Additionally, physicochemical and microbiological analyses were performed on 30 drinking water samplesobtained from river sources, sachet water, and boreholes. 89% of households have accesstowater within 100 meters of their homes, with sachet water (52%) and borehole water (41%)serving as the main sources of drinking water. There is a significant gap between accessibilityand safety practices, as 80% of individuals did not purify the water before drinking it. With pH values ranging from 4.6 to 8.0, total dissolved solids between 24 and 136 milligramsper liter, and electrical conductivity between 44 and 219 microsiemens per centimeter, thephysicochemical parameters mostly satisfied WHO requirements. River water had the highest contamination (mean: 202.4×10⁰ colony-forming units per milliliter), followed by boreholewater (79.7×10⁰ colony-forming units per milliliter) and sachet water (43.2×10⁰ colonyforming units per milliliter), according to microbiological analysis, whichfoundheterotrophic bacterial counts ranging from 26×10⁰ to 235×10⁰ colony-forming units permilliliter). River water (mean: 42.6×10⁰ colony-forming units per milliliter) andsomeborehole samples (mean: 24.9×10⁰ colony-forming units per milliliter) had total coliforms, but sachet water did not. Only one sample of river water had Escherichia coli. Although the infrastructure is good, there are notable shortcomings in environmental hygiene, handwashing with soap (34%), and water treatment, with 38% of residences locatedclosetowaste disposal sites. There is an immediate need for improved waste management systems, borehole maintenance, targeted health education initiatives, and increased water qualitymonitoring.

Water is one of the most essential resources for sustaining human life, agricultureandecosystems (Scanlon et al., 2023). Access to safe and quality water is fundamental humanrights and is recognized as a key goal for sustainable development to be achieved by2030(Vaseashta, 2021). The quality of water is determined by its physical, chemical, biological and aesthetic properties which collectively its ability to protect human health andaquaticecosystem. These properties are affected by various constituents both dissolvedandsuspended and can be influenced by natural processes as well as human activities (Luvhimbi et al., 2022).

This study surveyed the diversity, abundance, and distribution of ornamental plants within the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, Nigeria. Five sites were selected for the assessment they were Main Gate (Site A), Edaiken Road (Site B), Vice Chancellor’s Office (Site C), Medical Complex (Site D), and Anatomy Back Gate (Site E). A line transect method was adopted, and plant species occurring along each transect were identified, counted, and recorded. Diversity was
evaluated using the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) and Evenness index (J). Results revealed variations in vegetation composition and diversity across the sites. Site A (Main Gate) had the
highest number of individuals (63) and moderate diversity (H′ = 1.217), dominated by Duranta erecta. Site B (Edaiken Road) recorded the lowest richness (two species) and diversity (H′ = 0.694), while Site C (Vice Chancellor’s Office) was strongly dominated by Ixora coccinea
(80.33%), resulting in the lowest diversity (H′ = 0.666). Site D (Medical Complex) exhibited the highest diversity (H′ = 1.368) and evenness (J = 0.764), indicating a well-balanced vegetation structure, while Site E (Anatomy Back Gate) showed moderate richness (H′ = 1.220). Overall,
findings showed that ornamental plant diversity in UNIBEN varied widely among sites, influenced by species dominance, planting design, and maintenance intensity. The Medical Complex emerged
as the most ecologically balanced site, while the Vice Chancellor’s Office was the least diverse.
The study concludes that ornamental diversity within the university can be improved through deliberate introduction of more indigenous and underutilized species, adoption of mixed planting strategies, and sustainable landscape management to promote ecological stability and enhance aesthetic value