ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

species, level. The taxonomic confustion between
Amaranthaceae & Chenopodiaceae has been
resolved using DNA fingerprinting.
Animal Biotechnology
New programme were initiated in the area of animal
nutrition and development of newer animal
vaccines. Standards were developed for estimation
of mycotoxins in animal feed and distributed to
various laboratories for routine analysis. A novel and
potent anthrax vaccine which includes mutants of
lethal factor and edema factor was developed which
provides better efficacy in vivo. An attenuated
buffalopox virus vaccine was developed and its field
trial is underway. Phage display technique was used
as an alternative to hybridoma to produce mono
specific antibodies against recombinant gag antigen
of Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus. Diagnostics for
peste des petits virus and buffalopox virus were
developed and validated successfully. A RT-PCR
assay was standardized for specific detection of
Border disease virus and a nested PCR was also
developed for differentiation of Border disease virus,
Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 and 2. Multicentric
programme on Buffalo Genomics was implemented
with focus on identification of genes of economic
importance. Structural and functional aspects of 3D
scaffold of bovine origin for cardio mycocyte culture
are being studied. Efforts are also on to develop
biomaterial of bovine origin for reconstruction surgery
in animals.
Aquaculture & Marine Biotechnology
During the year, various projects on biosurfactants, of
marine enzymes, bioactive molecules, immune
response, neuro-peptide synthesis, bioreactors were
pursued. Progress on vaccine development for fish,
bacteriophage therapy genetic characterization of
marine organisms, cell lines development, shrimp
genomics, fish feed supplement, biosafety and water
quality and monitored were implemented.
Biosurfactant were screened using marine
Acinetobacter genospecies. A prototype for raceway
based shrimp production technology was utilized for
nursery rearing of shrimp. Studies on occurrence of
human pathogenic viruses in coastal marine waters
were carried out. Marine cyanobacteria and chlorella
DBT Annual Report 2006-07
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species were studied for over expression of
superoxide dismutase enzyme useful for
bioremediation and salt tolerance. Bioactive
molecules were explored for antibacterial, antiviral
and anticancer agents. Role of bacterial plasmid
gene was studied in pathogenesis of Epizootic
Ulcerative Syndrome and its virulence. Applications
with the use of phytase were explored from yeast as
an alternate fish feed supplement. Neuro-peptide
synthesis was explored from Indian cone snails and
conus peptide sequence was worked out. A
bioreactor was under development for microbial
based treatment system for seafood industrial
discharge. Vaccine development for fish for
Aeromonas showed promising leads. Bacteriophage
therapy in improvement of shrimp larvae was
pursued as an alternative to antibiotics in
aquaculture. Oligonucleotide probe for monitoring
vibrio counts in hatcheries were designed. Organ
development and differentiation were studied using
perivitelline fluid of Indian Horse Shoe Crab.
Development of cell lines from Seabass showed
promising leads. Shrimp genomics was pursued with
focus on expression of immune function associated
proteins from shrimp.
Seribiotechnology
Screening of silkworm germplasm for baculovirus
resistance in silkworm (Bombyx mori) has resulted in
identification of three each of bivoltine and
multivoltine strains under a network project.
Microsatellite analysis carried out in muga silkworm
(Antheraea assama) populations indicate genetic
variability in hill populations as compared to plain
area populations. A Bombyx mori gene that code for
antiviral protein has been partially characterized. A
collaborative project has been initiated on
epidemiology, spatial and temporal dynamics of
diseases of muga silkworm. Under the Indian
initiative on International Consortium on
Lepidopteran Genome Project, functional annotation
of unique putative genes of muga silkworm has been
carried out. A total of 67 mulberry accessions have
been conserved in vitro and 238 accessions have
been successfully cryopreserved. Field evaluation of
mulberry trangenics (with HVA-1 gene) for abiotic
stress tolerance has been initiated. A few epicuticular