ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

ELISPOT assay after brief incubation with the
peptides. Nanoparticles were characterized by
Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) techniques.
Scattered light was detected by a photodiode and
scattered intensity was converted to intensity autocorrelation
function by a digital correlator. The AFM
can also probe mechanical and other fundamental
properties of sample surfaces, including their local
adhesive or elastic (compliance) properties. 80 blood
samples have been collected to study the
autoantibody profiles in these patients and 60
samples have already been studied for anti-GAD and
anti-IA2 antibodies. Haemolytic and cytotoxicity
assay show that P2 and P2 loaded nanoparticles are
not Cytotoxic either to RBCs or lymphocytes at the
working concentrations they are being used in the
assays
In an ongoing project at Delhi University South
Campuus, genome sequencing of Amycolatopisis
mediterranei S699 that produces anti tubercular
antibiotic, rifamycin, is being done to explore the
potential for producing better rifamycin analogs and
other secondary metabolic pathways. At UICT,
Mumbai, experiments are ongoing for synthesis of
chiral drugs such as Fluoxetine, Naproxen,
Flurbiprofen, Methyl mandelate through
biotransformation. Optimization of production
conditions and characterization has been done for
alcohol dehydrogenase from Saccharomyces
cerevisiae and lipase from Candida rugosa.
On the technology developed in a completed project
by ACTREC, Tata Memorail Centre, Mumbai and
transferred to J.Mitra & Co. Ltd., New Delhi.
Industrial Products
At Shri AMM Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre,
Chennai, pigment producing fungal fruit bodies of
basidiomycetes like Amanita muscarria, Coriolus
versicolor and Ganoderma lucidum were collected,
identified and established the pure culture for
pigment extraction in textile dyeing. Using sugarcane
bagasse and sawdust combinations Coriolus
versicolor initiated orange color fruit body. Agar
diffusion assay was performed to assess the efficacy
of pigment extracts on a number of bacterial strains
The antibacterial assay confirmed that pigment
extract did not have lethal effect on the flora. The
fungal basidiocarps used for pigment extraction
yielded different shades of yellow, reddish orange
and orange color. The fungal pigments did not
change its original color shade when exposed to
0 0
temperatures of 90 C and 100 C. and when these
pigments amended individually with different
mordant like alum, copper, chromium, iron and tin
developed color variation from orange to yellow and
deep brown shades. The dyed cotton yarns did not
change color on repeated washing, sunlight drying
0 0
and extensive heating at 35 C 65 C.
In an ongoing collaborative project on development
of biosensor for infectious diseases at IIIT, Hyderabd,
studies were carried out to estimate the stability and
solvation energy of covalently modified horseradish
peroxidase (HRP) in silico. Efforts are being made to
devise alternative simulation strategies for
standardization and application.
In an ongoing project at IIT, Delhi, studies were
carried out for process optimization strategies for
concentrated and pure L(+) lactic acid production
-
and its characterization as lactides using adh
mutants of Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The anaerobic
environment was maintained by continuously
sparging nitrogen gas into the medium and the
agitation was kept at 450 rpm and fermentations
o
were carried out at temperature 40 C and pH 6.2.
Two modes/processes were used for lactic acid
productivity improvement. The cell recycle system
was successfully operated at different sets of dilution
rates and cell recycle ratio. Under the optimum
-1 -1
conditions lactic acid production of 1.368 gl h were
observed and the production profile indicated that
production is both growth associated and non-growth
associated and is exponential. An overall yield of
lactic acid based on substrate supplied was equal to
-1
0.875 gg .
At NII, New Delhi, studies have shown that by
measuring the 'X cross over' frequency in a new
design of microwave probe by non destructive
method it is possible to directly estimate the
permittivity of the medium around the probe. This
method is sufficiently sensitive and finds application
in many areas, especially in food science. At
present, the probe is used with a general purpose
microwave LCR meter. These kinds of probes along
with a dedicated meter will make a package for real
time monitoring of inclusion bodies. In a collaborative
149 Bioprocess and Product Development