Head of Department’s Welcome Address/Introduction:

It is with pleasure that I welcome you to the Department of Biotechnology, Osun State University. We are committed to providing quality academic training in teaching and research to our students. I am delighted to guide prospective and current students, collaborators, and biotechnology enthusiasts through the diverse opportunities that abound in our department.

Biotechnology is an ever-evolving interdisciplinary discipline that is currently revolutionizing the different sectors of the economy, ranging from agricultural, health, food, industrial, and energy sectors, among others. At the Department of Biotechnology, Osun State University, our program is designed to raise biotechnologists to innovatively lead the frontiers of science, providing quality expertise and developing biotechnological products of immense benefit to society. Our goal is to produce globally competitive graduates with in-depth knowledge of biological systems and molecular biology as well as critical and analytical abilities to address major societal challenges, whether as academics or professionals.

To bring our mission and vision to fruition, I can confidently state that our department has academically sound faculty members and researchers who are ready with a high level of commitment to provide hands-on training, guidance, and mentorship to our students. Our staff work with utmost dedication to foster an inclusive, supportive, and intellectually stimulating environment where curiosity is nurtured and groundbreaking ideas flourish. Additionally, we welcome, promote, and support interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research collaborations with academia and industries without neglecting our community service and engagements. Whether as a student or research collaborator, our department is a place where passion for science and technology meets real-world applications.

We appreciate you for visiting our website page and look forward to being part of your success stories as you journey with us in your academic and professional pursuit in the field of biotechnology.

Dr. Oyedara O. O.
Departmental Coordinator

Location:

The Department is situated on the Osogbo campus of Osun State University at the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Science, Engineering, and Technology. The departmental office is located in Room 212/213 in the intercollegiate complex, Osogbo main campus, Osogbo. 

Brief History:

The Department of Biotechnology started as a program under the Department of Microbiology and admitted her first set of students during the 2022/2023 academic session. The official inauguration of the department took place on August 14, 2022. In line with the National University Commission (NUC) guidelines, the department is training graduates in biotechnology with requisite skills in general biotechnology, microbial biotechnology, plant biotechnology, animal biotechnology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.

Mission:

The mission is to create a unique Department committed to academic innovation, skill-based training in biotechnology, and a tradition of excellence in teaching, research and community service.

Vision:

To be a center of excellence providing high-quality teaching and learning experiences in biotechnology to engender the production of entrepreneurial graduates, capable of positively impacting their environment while being globally competitive.

Academic Programme:

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Biotechnology

Staff List:

1. Dr. Oyedara Omotayo O.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9VpW2c8AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

2. Dr. Itakorode Babamotemi

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=IESaeJYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

3. Dr. Oluyide Oluwabusayo O.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=06wFQbIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

4. Dr. Muritala Ismaila

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UAfdd_EAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

5. Dr. Ametefe George D.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5mYy72MAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra

Physical Development:

The department has physical structures like well-equipped laboratories, ICT-driven teaching and learning facilities, and well-furnished offices for her staff.

Research Activities:

Our staff include both nationally and internationally trained researchers who are carrying out cutting-edge research activities in the field of biotechnology. Their research outputs have been published in reputable journals. Some of the lines of research in the department include:

• Surveillance of antibiotic resistance among human pathogens using current genomics and molecular techniques.
• Computer-aided drug design to find alternative therapy against antibiotic-resistant microbes using genomic, molecular, and computational techniques.
• Metagenomics approaches to study and monitor the distribution of antibiotic-resistant determinants, including resistomes and mobilomes in environmental samples.
• Applying bioinformatics and genomics tools to study predatory bacteria that have potential as biocontrol agent in different fields, including medicine, agriculture, and industries.
• Optimization of enzyme production from wastes and their applications in industries.
• Bioelectricity generating potentials of bacterial species.
• Biotechnology application in disease diagnoses and control using molecular techniques.
• Revealing the effect of supplements on animal health and reproductive performance using molecular techniques.
• Enhancement of microorganisms through genetic engineering for overexpression of useful industrial metabolites.
• Optimization of enzyme production conditions using statistical and one pot greener synthesis methods.
• Waste biodegradation potential of cellulose degrading enzymes and entrapment for efficient catalysis.
• Mechanistic insights of rhodanese-capped gold nanoparticle in cyanide bioremediation

Journals:

Some selected journals published by the members of staff in the department are:

• Itakorode, B.O., Apalowo, O.E., Boateng, I.D. and Okonji, R.E., 2024. Characterization of Rhodanese Synthesized by the Wild and EMS-Mutated Klebsiella oxytoca JCM1665. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 18, p.101358.
• Itakorode, B.O., Okonji, R.E. and Torimiro, N., 2023. Cyanide Bioremediation Potential of Klebsiella oxytoca JCM 1665 Rhodanese Immobilized on Alginate-Glutaraldehyde Beads. Biocatalysis and Biotransformation, 41(4), pp.299-308.
• Itakorode, B.O., Itakorode, D.I., Torimiro, N. and Okonji, R.E., 2024. Kinetic and Thermodynamic Investigation of Rhodanese Synthesized by Enhanced Klebsiella oxytoca JCM 1665 strain: a Comparative between the Free and Immobilized Enzyme Entrapped in Alginate Beads. Preparative Biochemistry & Biotechnology, pp.1-10.
• Wahab, A.A., Ibrahim-Fattah, I.A., Dare, P.A., Oyedara, O.O., Yusuf-Omoloye, N.A. and Adeyemi, F.M., 2024. Tuber Pathogenicity of Macrophomina phaseolina strain 3 a Isolated from Rotten Cassava Tuber from Farm Lands in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, its Virulence Genes and ADMET Properties. Molecular Biology Reports, 51(1), p.882.
• Ajisebiola, B.S., Mustapha, A.R.K., Oyedara, O.O., Oladele, J.O. and Adeyi, A.O., 2024. Kaempferol Alleviates Neurodegenerative Disorders Induced by Naja nigricollis Venom via Mechanisms of Antioxidants, Anti-Inflammatory, Dopaminergic and Neuronal Functions. Phytomedicine Plus, p.100584.
• Yusuf-Omoloye, N.A., Adeyemi, F.M., Sule, W.F., Azeez, L., Oyedara, O.O., Wahab, A.A., Ajigbewu, O.H. and Lateef, A., 2024. Green-Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Azanza garckeana Seed Extract Silver Nanoparticles against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci. Next Nanotechnology, 6, p.100035.
• Oyewole, K.A., Oyedara, O.O., Awojide, S.H., Olawade, M.O., Abioye, O.E., Adeyemi, F.M., Juárez-Saldivar, A., Adetunji, C.O. and Elufisan, T.O., 2023. Antibacterial and in silico Evaluation of β-lactamase Inhibitory Potential of Pinus sylvestris L.(Scots pine) Essential Oil. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 93(4), pp.967-977.
• Oyedara, O.O., Fadare, O.A., Franco-Frías, E., Heredia, N. and García, S., 2023. Computational Assessment of Phytochemicals of Medicinal Plants from Mexico as Potential Inhibitors of Salmonella enterica Efflux Pump AcrB Protein. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 41(5), pp.1776-1789.
• Oyedara, O.O., Agbedahunsi, J.M., Adeyemi, F.M., Juárez-Saldivar, A., Fadare, O.A., Adetunji, C.O. and Rivera, G., 2021. Computational Screening of Phytochemicals from Three Medicinal Plants as Inhibitors of Transmembrane Protease Serine 2 Implicated in SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Phytomedicine Plus, 1(4), p.100135.
• Oyedara, O.O., Segura-Cabrera, A., Guo, X., Elufisan, T.O., Cantú González, R.A. and Rodríguez Pérez, M.A., 2018. Whole‐Genome Sequencing and Comparative Genome Analysis Provided Insight into the Predatory Features and Genetic Diversity of Two Bdellovibrio Species Isolated from Soil. International Journal of Genomics, 2018(1), p.9402073.
• Oluyide, O.O., Kola, O.J., Adenigba, V.O., Elufisan, T.O., Babalola, T.F. and Omotunde, T., Bioelectricity Generating Potentials and Molecular Characterization of Bacterial Species from Food Processing Wastewater using Microbial Fuel Cell Technology. Bioscience Research, 17(3), pp. 1783-1791
• Elufisan, T.O., Oyedara, O.O. and Oluyide, O.O., 2023. Transcriptional Regulation of Phyto-Oxylipins Signaling Pathway. In Phyto-Oxylipins (pp. 22-41). CRC Press.
• Muritala, I., Bemji, M.N., Ozoje, M.O., Ajayi, O.L., Oluwayinka, E.B., Sonibare, A.O., James, I.J. and Ibeagha-Awemu, E.M., 2023. Comparative Study of HA and HNB Staining RT-LAMP Assays for Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus Detection in West African Dwarf Goats. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 55(6), p.356.
• Muritala, I., Bemji, M.N., Busari, M.A., Sodimu, B.O., Oluwayinka, E.B., Ozoje, M.O., Sonibare, A.O., Sosina, A.O., Ajayi, O.L., Moses, S.G. and Lawal, D.G., 2023. Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors Affecting Prevalence of Peste des Petits Ruminants in West African Dwarf Sheep and Goats. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science, 25(1), pp.1-10.
• Muritala, I. Afolayan, O., Bemji, M.N., Dadi, O., Landi, V., Martínez, A., Delgado, J.V., Adebambo, O.A., Aina, A.B.J. and Adebambo, A.O. 2015. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Nigerian Indigenous Goat using DNA Microsatellite Markers. Archivos de zootecnia vol. 64, núm. (246): 93-98.
• Amparo Martínez, Arianna Manunza, Juan Vicente Delgado, Vincenzo Landi, Ayotunde Adebambo, Muritala Ismaila, Juan Capote, Mabrouk El Ouni, Ahmed Elbeltagy, Asmaa M. Abushady, Salah Galal, Ainhoa Ferrando, Mariano Gómez, Agueda Pons, Bouabid Badaoui, Jordi Jordana, Oriol Vidal and Marcel Amills. 2016. Detecting the Existence of Gene Flow between Spanish and North African Goats through a Coalescent Approach. Scientific Reports. 6, 38935; doi: 10.1038/srep38935
• Ametefe, D.S., Sarnin, S.S., Ali, D.M., Ametefe, G.D., John, D., Aliu, A.A. and Zoreno, Z., 2024. Automatic Classification and Segmentation of Blast Cells using Deep Transfer Learning and Active Contours. International Journal of Laboratory Hematology, pp. 1-13.
• Ametefe, D.S., Sarnin, S.S., Ali, D.M., Muhamad, W.N.W., Ametefe, G.D., John, D. and Aliu, A.A., 2024. Enhancing Fingerprint Authentication: A Systematic Review of Liveness Detection Methods against Presentation Attacks. Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series B, pp.1-17.
• Ametefe, G.D., Ajani, O.O., Iweala, E.E.J. and Chinedu, S.N., 2023. Introduction to Enzymes and Organocatalysis. In New Horizons in Natural Compound Research (pp. 201-224). Academic Press.
• Ametefe, G. D., Lemo, A.O., Orji, F.A., Lawal, A.K., Iweala, E.E.J. and Chinedu, S.N., 2022. Pectinase Activities of Selected Fungi Grown on Agrowastes via Solid-State Fermentation. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, (105), 012003.
• Ametefe, G.D., Lemo, A.O., Ugboko, H.U., Iweala, E.E.J. and Chinedu, S.N., 2022. Pectinase Production and Application in the Last Decade: A Systemic Review. In: Ayeni, A.O., Sanni, S.E., Oranusi, S.U. (eds) Bioenergy and Biochemical Processing Technologies. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham.
• Ametefe, G.D., Iheagwam, F.N., Fashola, F., Ibidapo, O.I., Iweala, E.E.J. and Chinedu, S.N., 2022. Comparison of Pectinase Activity in the Flavedo and Albedo of Citrus and Thaumatococcus daniellii Fruits. In: Ayeni, A.O., Sanni, S.E., Oranusi, S.U. (eds) Bioenergy and Biochemical Processing Technologies. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham.
• Lemo, A.O., Orji, F.A., Kolawole, L.A., Iweala, E.E. and Chinedu, S.N., 2021. Comparison of Ametefe, G.D., Optimal Fungal Pectinase Activities Using the Box-Behnken Design: doi. org/10.26538/tjnpr/v5i9. 21. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research (TJNPR), 5(9), pp.1656-1664.

Grants and Awards:

The staff of the department have won awards to advance their academic careers, research and travel grants to attend local and international conferences. Some of the awards are:

(i). Postdoctoral training awards:

• University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, KwazuluNatal, South Africa Postdoctoral Research Award (Dr. Muritala I.).
• Mexican Postdoctoral Research Award (CONACYT) at the Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Genética de Microorganismos, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico (Dr. Oyedara O. O.)
• Award of the prestigious Mexico National System of Researchers (Sistema Nacional de Investigadores; SNI- Candidato a Investigador Nacional) membership (Dr. Oyedara O. O.)

(ii). Travel grants:

• International Society for Animal Genetics, Travel Fellowship Award to present papers at the 39th International Society for Animal Genetics 2023 Conference, Cape-Town, South Africa (Dr. Muritala I.).
• American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Student and Postdoctoral Travel Award (Dr. Oyedara O. O.)
• Travel Fellowship Award for the First Nigeria Bioinformatics Conference (Dr. Oyedara O. O.)
• Travel Award to attend the Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced courses MRC Unit, The Gambia London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (Dr. Oyedara O. O.)

(iii). Research Project Grant

• Genome analysis of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus isolated from wastewater and other sources in Reynosa, Tamaulipas (SIP)-IPN (20150704). Researcher: Dr. Mario Alberto Rodriguez Perez (CBG, IPN, Mexico) and Dr. Oyedara O. O.
• Molecular characterization of Bdellovibrio sp strains isolated from soil through a co-culture or mixed culture technique (SIP)-IPN (20161059). Researcher: Dr. Mario Alberto Rodriguez Perez (CBG, IPN, Mexico) and Dr. Oyedara O. O.
• Whole genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of two different Bdellovibrio strains and one Bacteriovorax strain. (SIP)-IPN (20170752). Researcher: Dr. Mario Alberto Rodriguez Perez (CBG, IPN, Mexico) and Dr. Oyedara O. O.
• Oral Administration of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus as Probiotics and Pathological Assessment of its Effects on the Health Status of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (TETfund Institutional Based Research (IBR) Grant (Grant Number: UNIOSUN/Tetfund/17/01). Researcher: Dr. Oyedara O. O.

Community Empowerment Service Project:

In June 2024, the department had her maiden exposition tagged "Biotech Expo 2024," which engaged the students in showcasing their innovations and knowledge in biotechnology research and applications. The goal of the exposition was to provide a platform for students, biotechnology enthusiasts and professionals within and outside the faculty to exchange knowledge and familiarize with trends in biotechnology research. With the positive feedback the event garnered, the department planned to organize the "Biotech Expo” every academic session and extend its benefits to the community.