Central Government Departments


 

Facilities in Bio-Technology Department

1. Main thrust of activities

The overall objectives of this scheme is to promote establishment of repositories for conservation/preservation of living organisms including microbes both useful and harmful in agriculture, human health, animal husbandry and bioindustries as well as establish sophisticated biotech facilities for research, training, services including supply of reagents/ materials.

Achievements

National Facility For Marine Cyanobacteria, Bharatidasan University, Tiruchirapalli

Objectives

Survey of the entire coast line of India to understand the marine cyanobacterial biodiversity and establishment of a germplasm collection of marine cyanobacteria and basic for applied research.

Achievements

i. Extensive survey resulted in 120 species- 115 from Nicobar and 112 from Lakswadeep and their molecular and biochemical characterization

ii. Leads in terms of isolation of bioflocculant , alcohol dehydrogenase , anti-coagulant factor from some species of cyanobacteria

iii. Promising marine cyanobacteria for the declourization and degradation of the recalcitrant pigment melanoidin in molasses based distillery effluent and textile dye and biotransformation of nitrile to amide by nitralase activity has been identified

iv. 5 training workshops in cyanobacteriology.

v. MoU with M/S ABL Biotechnologies Ltd Chennai for transferring technologies on aquaculture feed and blue pigment for food industry

2. Tissue Culture & Cryopreservation Repository at NBPGR, New Dellhi

Objectives

This facility was launched to explore and develop modern techniques of tissue culture, cryopreservation and molecular biology for conservation and genetic characterization of those species difficult to conserve by conventional means.

Achievements

i. In vitro conservation of over 2 dozen crops (45 plant species) of both tropical and temperate nature:

ii. A total of 1107 accessions of various priority crops were maintained under short- to medium- term storage as in vitro cultures. and are sub cultured at 6-24 months intervals.

iii. In vitro exchange and multiplication services were rendered to several organizations and research workers on request basis.

iv. Germplasm of orthodox seed species was augmented in the cryobank following establishment of cryopreservation protocols.

3. Repository of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants at CIMAP, Lucknow

Objectives

Collection of germ plasm and extracts from different sources to develop a live bank of cultivars of medicinal and aromatic plants, biological activity testing of chemical constituents of medicinal and aromatic plants using microbes, insects and animal cell lines.

Achievements

i. A repository of 303 pure compounds and 461 plant extracts from more than 80 medicinal and aromatic plant species has been maintained in the repository to serve as a reference material.

ii. A marker 2-D fingerprint chromatograms of over 120 extracts of different plant materials have been generated using HPTLC and are maintained to serve as authentic reference of medicinal and aromatic plants.

iii. A wide variety of services ranging from the meeting the request for seeds, reference chemicals, analysis of chemicals and extracts, plant identification and technical information have been provided to benefit R&D laboratories.

4. Animal House Facility at CDRI, Lucknow and NIN , Hyderabad

Objectives

Breeding and supply of genetically standardized, health monitored and nutritionally sound laboratory animals required by this institute as well as other institutes/universities throughout the country.

Achievements

CDRI, Lucknow

i. Houses animals belonging to 25 different strains of 8 species of rodents, including 8 inbred strains of mice, 3 inbred strains of rat, two inbred strains of hamster, two strains of logomarphs and a strains of nude mice.

ii. Possesses SPF and complete germfree (gnotobiotic) rodent breeding nuclei and a facility for primate Behavior Studies and Primate Breeding.

iii. Tissue Culture Unit where human and animal cell lines are maintained and supplied. Enlarge out breeding colonies of present stock and establish new special strains. Develop animal stocks for experimentation, which can fulfill GLP standards. Increase stock of SPF and gnotobotic units. Develop human resource and provide consultancy in this area.

iv. A total number of 120000 laboratory animals were supplied for in house users and outside CPCSEA registered agencies/research institute for experimental use.

v. Information/consultancy on various aspects of husbandry nutrition, genetics, microbiology and regarding design and construction of animal house were provided to a number of scientists several animal users of this as well as different institutes

NIN, Hyderabad

i. A total number of more than 5 lakh animals supplied to different research institutions.

ii. A total of about 30,000 Kgs of animal feed for mice, rats, hamsters, guinea, pigs, rabbits and monkeys was supplied.

iii. The centre also provided technical consultancy on various aspects of laboratory animal care, breeding, nutrition, procumbent, animal experimental large and ethical aspects.

iv. Seven laboratory animal technician’s training course conducted and many persons were trained.

v. The molecular analysis of obese rat developed and bred has become interesting model for work on nutrition and diabetes . Patent has been filed for the same

5. Centre for Genetic Engineering and Strain Manipulation, MKU, Madurai

Objectives

The manipulation of bacterial genomes with a focus on strain improvement is the main objective of this national facility. The metabolic events targeted for improvement are enzyme production and secondary metabolic production. Streptomyces being a prolific producer of commercially useful antibiotics was chosen. The continued use of E.coli compelled the continuation of the genome analysis in this organism also. Leprosy being a major concern in India, the genome analysis is M. leprae, the causative organism of Leprosy and Immunology of Leprosy is also actively pursued.

Achievements

i. A chitinase overproducing mutant isolated in the center is developed for commercial production of adriamycin in chitin containing media, a cheaper alternative to conventional fermentation media. It was later shown that chitinase production in antibiotic producing S. peucetius is regulated by a two component regulatory system. A novel extracellular protein was also discovered binding daunorubicin

ii. Development and validation of an effective intergeneric conjugation system to insert foreign genes in a specific locus in Streptomyces producing adriamycin is completed.

iii. Discovered the condition under which the linear chromosome of Streptomyces converts itself into a circular chromosome. This conversion has profound effect on the stability of the Streptomyces strains.

iv. Developed a simple approach based on PCR to analyse the cytokine profiles in leprosy lesions. A sensitive approach was developed for mining expressed genes of M.leprae in infected biopsy samples. Comparative genomics of field isolated M.leprae was initiated.

v. Contract research projects with industry in health care enzymes, vaccines and skin genes

vi. Service faciltities included DNA sequencing, real –time PCR and proteomics

6. International Depository Authority at Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh

Objectives

Establishment of International Depository Authority Under Budapest treaty by upgrading the existing Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC) Facility at Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh.

Achievements

i. The facility has been notified as International Depository Authority by WIPO on October 4, 2002 under Budapest Treaty. This is the first of its kind in India and is initiative by the Department for patent deposits of microorganisms

ii. Collection about four thousand cultures of actinomycetes, bacteria, fungai, plasmids, and yeasts.

iii. Supply of about four thousand microbial cultures to industries, academic and research institutions. Few cultures for also supplied to Nepal and Japan.

iv. Fifty isolates were identified.

v. MTCC catalogue of strains- 2000 has been published and made available on web site with ordering facilities

vi. Many unknown organisms have been identified by the facility and it has started freeze –drying services for Scientists and Industrial Houses

vii. At least 14 patent deposits are already made

7. Repository for Filarial Parasites and Reagents at MGIMS, Sevagram

Objectives

Maintenance of B. malayi filarial infection in rodents (Mastomys and jirds) and isolation and storage of different stages of B. malayi namely mf, mf, L3 & adult worms. Research, serum bank, and diagnosis is also part of the activity

Achievements

i. Brugia malayi infection is maintained in Swiss rats (Mastomys natelensis) and jirds (Marines unguiculatus) using Aedes aegypti mosquito (Liver pool black eye strains) as vector.

ii. W. bancrofti and B.malayi sera banks have been set up with collection of sera of different patient groups i.e., microfilaraemia, acute, chronic & occult filarial cases, endemic and non endemic normals) form different filarial endemic zones Viz: Vidharbha, Raipur, Calicut, Manglore, Bhubaneshwar and Rourkela.

iii. B.malayi parasites (mf and adults)/ filarial sera/ microfilarial antigens have been supplied to several raerchers

iv. ‘Seva Filachek’ immunoassays (for IgG & IC-Ag) were developed and found to be very helpful to detect filarial antibody and antigen for confirming and immunomonitoring of active infection in acute, chronic and occult filarial infections for appropriate period of DEC therapy for clinical relief and cure. Negotiation with industry for technology transfer is initiated.

v. A simple and inexpensive dot blot assay using 66 kDa B.malayi mf antigen has been developed for diagnosis of filarial infection in an endemic area .

vi. In vitro and in vivo screening systems for antifilarial drugs have been standardized.

vii. A patent application filed on ” Purified B.malayi microfilarial excretory-secretary and soluble glycoprateins (mf ES-12, mf S-33 & mf S-66) for diagnosis and monitoring of filarial infection and for morbidity control in clinical filariasis”

8. DNA sequencing facility at University of Delhi South Campus

Objectives: Services to scientists for DNA sequencing

Achievements: About 3000 samples have analysed

9. Drosophila Repository and Research facility at IIT, Kanpur

Objectives

To expand its current stock collection to further include the increasing number of novel transgenic stocks which are useful as tools for targetted gene expressions, generation of somatic clones etc.

Achievements

The stock centre has now 130 stocks of deficiency kits, teaching stocks for basic genetics, stocks of chromosomal markers, and others and supplies to all Drosophila stock users of the country

10. Biochemical Engineering Research and Process Development Centre at Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh

Objectives

This facility is jointly funded by the Department and CSIR is one of the largest and most sophisticated centres for research in process development, process optimisation and scale up in the field of biochemical engineering. The centre is equipped with the latest fermentation technology backed by excellent analytical facilities.

Achievements

i. Successfully scaled up and demonstrated the technology for the production of urokinase, protease, amylase and streptokinase to M/s Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited, Ahmedabad.

ii. Production of Thraustochytrids (unicellular marine protist with high polyunsaturated fatty acid content) in laboratory and pilot scale (150 L) fermenters were carried out for National Institute of Oceanography, Goa.

iii. Fermentation runs is laboratory fermenter were carried out for production of a assigned by Atomic Energy Directorate (Mineral Division), Hyderabad was successfully completed.

iv. BGRPDC successfully negotiated the laboratory consultancy with one of leading company of Punjab i.e., Indian Acrylics Ltd.

v. The facility was also used for inhouse projects or further developments in streptokinase, hydantoinase production and for the production of phytase, lipase, naringinase and DNA polymerase.

11. National Facility for Stable Isotope Discrimination Studies at University of Agricultural Sciences, Banglore

Objectives

Funded jointly by with DST for quantification of water use efficiency of crops using the IRMS, development of a surrogate measure of T based on 18O enrichment in leaf water and biomass and establish the relationship with molecular markers for assited breeding for water stress/ drought

Achievements

i. A state of the Art Isotope Radio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS) has been installed with all the elemental analysers, the system is the first of its kind of India and only facility available for high throughput analysis of stable radio isotope in biological use.

ii. Several genotypes and doubled haploid lines of rice were screened for the genetic variability in WUE and the associated physiological traits by gravimetric and carbon isotope discrimination approach.

iii. Genetic vairability of the rice genotypes was studied using RAPD profiles and the genetic distance was worked out from the resultant dendrograms. The dendrograms revealed three major clusters with one having three sub-cluster of genotypes.

12. FACS facility at CCMB, Hyderabad

The Department alongwith CSIR & DST will be taking up the project for establishment of the flowcytometry facility for developing new technologies in diverse areas of biotechnology such as molecular cytogenetics, stem cell research, agricultural biotechnology and design, screening and discovering anti-cancer drugs. The facility has been launched in October 2002 and is being used by institutions and scientists as per its mandate.

New initiatives for the 10th plan

The following facilities of 9th plan were taken over by the host Institutions

i. Tissue culture & cryopreservation repository at NBPGR, New Delhi

ii. Repository of medicinal and aromatic plants at CIMAP, Lucknow

iii. Biochemical engineering research and process development centre at Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh

New Facilities established

NMR facilitity at TIFR ,Mumbai

Objective

The facility has been jointly established by DAE, DBT, CSIR & DST during current financial year. The main aim of facility is provide service to scientists in universities and R&D Institutions undertaking projects in areas requiring access to high field NMR spectrometers. The facility has been funded in 2002-2003 with DBT one time contribution.

13. NMR facilities at IISc., Bangalore

The facility 700 MHz funded jointly with DST in 2002-2003

Biomedical Research Facility at SGPGI, Lucknow

The programme under consideration with an aim to strengthen research infrastructure at SGPGI for promoting basic medical biotechnology and to launch areas of research and technology development in the identified thrust areas with clear application potential.

New facilities under consideration

i. Establishment of transgenic green house facility at Tamilnadu Agricultural University, Coimbtore (PI- Prof. P. Balasurbramanian, CPMB, TNAU, Coimbtore , , Period -one year).

ii. Establishment of 600 MHz NMR facility at IICB, Kolkata (PI: Prof. Samir Bhattacharya, Director, IICB, Kolkata, period-5 years)

iii. Financial support to Prof. S.P. Raychaudhary Drosophila Stock Centre at University of Calcutta (PI: Prof. R.N.Chatterjee, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, , period-3 years)

iv. Establishment of centre of excellence for drug discovery at CDRI, Lucknow - Period - five years, Dr. C.M.Gupta, CDRI, Lucknow)

v. Establishment of Transgenic Containment Testing Facilities and Evaluation of Transgenic Crops at UAS, Bangalore (PI: Prof. T.K.S.Gowda, Department of Biotechnology, UAS, Bangalore, cost Rs.79.10 lakhs, period-3 years)

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