ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

many sophisticated instrumentation facilities and
expanded its research programmes. The NCPGR
has come up a national research centre only of its
kind in the country entirely dedicated to core research
in advanced areas of Plant Biotechnology including
molecular biology, genetic engineering and
genomics with an applied emphasis. In addition, it is
making an important contribution to the
development of trained scientific manpower for the
development of these advanced fields in the
country.
Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable
Development, Imphal
Work on the database on microorganisms with
special reference to cyanobacteria available in
Manipur has been initiated. A Distributed Information
Sub-Centre (Sub-DIC) under the Bioinformatics
Network has been set up at the institute. In vitro
multiplication and hardening of tissue culture
plantlets of Kaemferia galanga is in progress.
Hybridization of two rare vandaceous orchids
Aerides vandarium and Vanda coerulea achieved.
Genetic differentiation of tree bean (Parkia timoriana)
cultivars grown in Manipur were analyzed. About 10
lakhs of spawn and 20,000 fingerlings of Osteobrama
belangeri (Pengba) an endemic high value fish were
supplied to the farmers. Three training programmes
on the use of tools and techniques for bioresource
development and utilization were organized.
Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar
Cutting edge technology in molecular biology
continued to serve as a useful tool for acquiring
insights into biology of the aging process,
pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia, infectious
diseases such as cholera, malaria and filariasis and
in plant and environmental biotechnology. A
septaplex PCR assay was developed for rapid
identification of species-specific virulent and sxtpositive
strains of V. cholerae and one hundred
strains of V. cholerae O1 were tested to document the
validity of assay. A multiplex PCR assay to detect
Anopheles fluviatilis sibling species developed
during the course of the year will be used to
understand feeding habits (Anthropophilic index) and
sporozoite carrying capacity of these vectors.
Studies on bio-prospecting were continued with a
view to tap the vast potential of thermopiles. A diverse
group of bacteria belonging to the genera
Thiomonas, Comamonas and Chromobacterium
were isolated from previously unexplored hot
springs. A chemolithoheterotrophic, thiosulfate
oxidizing, gram negative bacterium (designated
strain S10) was isolated and identified. 16S DNA
sequence data and the total fatty acid analysis
suggested it to be a new species of genus Thiomonas
for which the name Thiomonas bhubaneswarensis
has been proposed.
During the year, three workshops on training were
organized on DNA technologies, functional genomics
and proteomics research and studies of abiotic stress
responses and stress inducible genes. Ten
publications have been brought out in November
2006 with an average impact factor of 3.02. Six
additional non-technical posts were also sanctioned
during the year. The construction activities for the
new research building, animal house and research
scholar's hostel have been initiated and the contract
awarded to M/s RITES Ltd.
Public Sector Undertaking
There are two public sector undertakings i.e.Bharat
Immunologicals & Biologicals Corporation Limited,
(BIBCOL) and Indian Vaccines Corporation Limited,
(IVCOL). The BIBCOL located at Bulandshahar
manufactures Oral Polio Vaccine being used in the
National Immunization Programme. The IVCOL was
established as a joint venture company. Efforts are
being made to revive it with new products mix and
financial pattern.
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi
ICGEB continued its research efforts in identified
areas of human health, agriculture and product
development. A high through-put microtiter assay
based on the heme detoxification pathway of
Plasmodium has been developed for screening
chemical combinatorial libraries and crude extracts
of marine organisms. Several bioactive proteins from
the secretome of insect pathogenic bacterium,
15 An Overview