Name
Dr. Maurice George Ekpenyong
DepartmentMicrobiology
DesignationSenior Lecturer
EmailAbout Dr. Maurice George Ekpenyong
Dr. Maurice Ekpenyong is an academic staff in the Department of Microbiology University of Calabar, who has risen through the ranks; from Assistant Lecturer in 2007 to Senior Lecturer in 2017. He received his undergraduate training in microbiology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated top of his class in 1998. His masters and doctoral degrees were obtained from the University of Calabar in 2008 and 2013 respectively. The doctoral thesis on modeling and optimization of bacterial surfactant production was supported by grant from the Cross River State Government. As a microbial biotechnologist, he teaches industrial, pharmaceutical and petroleum microbiology, microbial physiology and genetics at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is currently mentoring 8 postgraduate students, besides the over 100 undergraduate completed projects. He is both a reviewer and an editorial board member to many journals. His current research focuses on production of glutaminase-near-free L-asparaginase for treatment of lymphoblastic leukemia and other carcinomas, and the development of bioluminescent and chromogenic bacterial cocktail for use in ecosystem organic and inorganic species pollution bio-monitoring. He has intra/inter-institutional collaborations with scientists from statistics, geophysics, civil (environmental) engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry and pharmacy. Dr. Ekpenyong is a member of a number of professional associations including Nigerian Society for Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology and Nigerian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He has published a total of 25 peer-reviewed articles and presented papers at local and international conferences. Dr. Ekpenyong is freely accessible at Scopus ID: 18633436600, Researcher ID: D-8215-2015, ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9601-5546 and Loop Profile ID: 1030234 (https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/1030234/overview).
| S/N | Qualification | School Atttended | Started | Finished |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First School Leaving Certificate | Presbyterian Primary School, Creek Town, Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria | 1977 | 1983 delete_forever | |
| Secondary School Certificate | West African Peoples’ Institute, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria | 1985 | 1991 delete_forever | |
| B.Sc. Microbiology | University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria | 1993 | 1998 delete_forever | |
| M.Sc. Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology | University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | 2004 | 2008 delete_forever | |
| Ph.D. Microbial Biotechnology | University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria | 2008 | 2013 delete_forever |
| S/N | Publication |
|---|---|
| Ekpenyong, M. G., Asitok, A. D., Antai, S. P., Ekpo, B. O., Antigha, R. E., & Ogarekpe, N. (2021). Statistical and artificial neural network approaches to modeling and optimization of fermentation conditions for production of a surface/bioactive glyco-lipo-peptide. International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, 27(1), 475-495. | |
| Ekpenyong, M. G., Asitok, A. D., Antigha, R. E., Ogarekpe, N. M., Ekong, U. S. Asuquo, M. I., Essien, J. P., & Antai, S. P. (2021). Bioprocess optimization of nutritional parameters for enhanced anti-leukemic L-asparaginase production by Aspergillus candidus UCCM 00117: a sequential statistical approach. International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, 27(2), 1501-1527. | |
| Ekpenyong, M. G., Asitok, A. D., Antai, S. P., Antigha, R. E., Ogarekpe, N. M., Antai, A. S., Ogbuagu, U. R., Ayara, N. N. (2021). Kinetic modeling and quasi-economic analysis of fermentative glycolipopeptide biosurfactant production in a medium co-optimized by statistical and neural network approaches. Preparative Biochemistry and Biotechnology, https://doi.org/10.1080/10826068.2020.1830414 | |
| Asitok, A. D., Ekpenyong, M. G., & Antai, S. P. (2020). Multivariate statistics of fertility parameter fluxes in cement-dust-polluted soils in Mfamosing, Nigeria: impact on agriculture. Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, 9(4), 781-789. | |
| Asitok, A. D., & Ekpenyong, M. G. (2019). Comparative analysis of determination methods of glyphosate degradation by Trichoderma asperellum strain JK-28: a multivariate statistical approach. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 19(1), 1-14. | |
| Asitok A. D., & Ekpenyong, M. G. (2019). Statistical distribution of halotolerant/halophilic biosurfactant-producing yeasts in Qua Iboe estuarine sediments. International Journal of Sciences, 8(6), 91-104. | |
| Asitok, A. D., & Ekpenyong, M. G. (2019). Production of the anti-leukemic therapeutic enzyme, L-asparaginase, by a brackish sediment strain of Aspergillus candidus. British Journal of Medical and Health Research, 6 (6), 47-68. | |
| Asitok, A. D., Antai, S. P., & Ekpenyong, M. G. (2019). Growth and extracellular enzyme activity responses of a multi-enzymic strain of Serratia sp. in a simulated diesel-contaminated system. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 19(2), 1-11. | |
| Asitok, A.D., Antai, S. P., Eyong, U. E., & Ekpenyong, M. G. (2019). Growth dynamics of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Vibrio fluvialis exposed to various concentrations of nickel. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 4(9), 471-479. | |
| Asitok, A.D., Antai, S. P., Ekpenyong, M. G., & Eyong, U. E. (2019). Growth responses of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Vibrio fluvialis to trivalent chromium toxicity. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 4(9), 517-526. | |
| Edet, P. E., Asitok, A. D., Ekpenyong, M. G., & Antai, S. P. (2018). Evaluation of the effects of nutritional and environmental parameters on production of extracellular caseinolytic protease by Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila strain BPE4. International Journal of Sciences, 7 (2), 70-81. | |
| Nkanang, A. J., Antai, S. P., Asitok, A. D., & Ekpenyong, M. G. (2018). Assessment of diesel oil toxicity on some hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria isolated from Iko River estuary in the Niger Delta. World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, 4 (5), 48-55. | |
| Nkanang, A. J., Antai, S. P., Asitok, A. D., & Ekpenyong, M. G. (2018). Hydrocarbonoclastic potentials of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from the crude oil polluted Iko river estuary and freshwater ecosystem of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2(1), 038-046 | |
| Ekpenyong, M., Antai, S., Asitok, A., & Ekpo, B. (2017). Response surface modeling and optimization of major medium variables for glycolipopeptide production. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, 10, 113-121. | |
| Ekpenyong, M. G., Antai, S. P., Asitok, A. D., & Ekpo, B. O. (2017). Plackett-Burman design and response surface optimization of medium trace nutrients for glycolipopeptide biosurfactant production. Iranian Biomedical Journal, 21 (4), 249-260. | |
| Asitok, A. D., Antai, S. P., & Ekpenyong, M. G. (2017). Water soluble fraction of crude oil uncouples protease biosynthesis and activity in hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria; implications for natural attenuation. International Journal of Sciences, 6 (7), 5-21. | |
| Iboyo, A. E., Asitok, A. D., Ekpenyong, M. G., & Antai, S. P. (2017). Selection of Enterobacter cloacae strain POPE6 for fermentative production of extracellular lipase on palm kernel oil processing effluent. International Journal of Sciences, 6 (11), 1-22. | |
| Ekpenyong, M. G., Antai, S. P., & Asitok, A. D. (2016). A Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain IKW1 produces an unusual polymeric surface-active compound in waste frying oil-minimal medium. International Journal of Sciences, 5 (6), 108-123. | |
| Ekpenyong, M., Asitok, A., Odey, A., & Antai, S. (2016). Production and activity kinetics of gelatinase by Serratia sp.SLO3. Nigerian Journal of Biopesticides, 1(1), 70-82 | |
| Tiku, D. R., Antai, S. P., Asitok, A. D., & Ekpenyong, M. G. (2016). Hydrocarbon Biodegradation, heavy metal tolerance and antibiotic resistance among bacteria isolates from petroleum-polluted and pristine soil samples in Calabar Metropolis. Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 2 (11), 1448-1462. | |
| Ekpenyong, M. G., & Antai, S. P. (2010). Influence of chemical speciation and divalent cations on cadmium toxicity during microbial biodegradation of crude oil. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences, 2, 77-84. | |
| Ekpenyong, M. G., & Antai, S. P. (2007). Influence of pH on cadmium toxicity to species of Bacillus (02 and 12) during biodegradation of crude oil. International Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1, 29-37. | |
| Ekpenyong, M. G., & Antai, S. P. (2007). Cadmium toxicity on species of Bacillus and Pseudomonas during growth on crude oil. Trends in Applied Sciences Research, 2, 115-123. | |
| Ekpenyong, M. G., Antai, S. P., Essien, J. P., & Iwatt, G. D. (2007). pH-dependent zinc toxicity differentials in species of Penicillium and Rhodotorula during oil biodegradation. International Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1, 54-61. | |
| Ekpenyong, M. G., Antai, S. P., & Essien, J. P. (2007). Quantitative and qualitative assessment of hydrocarbon degrading bacteria and fungi in Qua Iboe Estuary, Nigeria. Research Journal of Microbiology, 2, 415-425. |
| S/N | Grant | Currency/Amount | Grantor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government of Cross River State, Nigeria Research to investigate the optimization of bacterial surfactants production for enhanced bioremediation of crude oil-polluted Niger Delta ecosystems | N 1500000.00 | Government of Cross River State, Nigeria | 2011-09-12 |
| S/N | Conference | Description | Started | Finished |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32nd Annual National Conference and Scientific meeting of Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Uturu, Nigeria | Influence of chemical speciation and divalent cations on cadmium toxicity during microbial biodegradation of crude oil. | 2008-10-13 | 2008-10-17 | |
| 39th Annual National Conference and Scientific meeting of Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Nsukka, Nigeria. | Response surface modeling and optimization of major medium variables for glycolipopeptide production. | 2016-09-19 | 2016-09-23 | |
| 39th Annual National Conference and Scientific meeting of Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Nsukka, Nigeria | Plackett-Burman design and response surface optimization of medium trace nutrients for glycolipopeptide biosurfactant production. | 2016-09-19 | 2016-09-23 | |
| 40th Annual National Conference and Scientific meeting of Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Bauchi, Nigeria | Statistical and artificial intelligence modeling and optimization for development of fermentation conditions for commercial biosurfactant production | 2017-10-09 | 2017-12-09 | |
| 40th Annual National Conference and Scientific meeting of Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Bauchi, Nigeria | Water soluble fractions of petroleum products uncouple protease biosynthesis and activity in Vibrio fluvialis OWPB63: implications for natural attenuation | 2017-10-09 | 2017-12-09 | |
| 5th Annual South-East Zonal Symposium of Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Owerri, Nigeria | Multivariate analyses of microbial population dynamics and enzyme activity fluxes along gradients of cement-dust-polluted soils in Mfamosing, Nigeria; impact on agriculture | 2018-05-24 | 2018-05-23 | |
| 23rd International Conference on Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Rome, Italy | Modeling and optimization of fermentation conditions for glycolipopeptide production using response surface methodology and artificial intelligence approaches. | 2018-12-10 | 2018-12-11 |