ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

herbaceous species (P. amarus, P. fraternus, P.
debilis, P. urinaria) are more closely related to each
other than other species of the same genus. P.
amarus showed most similarity with P.fraternus
following P.debilis and P.urinaria.
Systematic and molecular taxonomic studies have
been conduced in Asiatic Vigna and Macrotyloma at
NBPGR, New Delhi. So far a total of 193 samples of
Vigna and Macrotyloma have been collected from
different national and international sources. Analysis
of sequence variation in rDNA regions has been
completed using PCR amplification of ITS1, ITS2,
26S & 18S regions. Further work on cloning and
sequencing of the amplified region is in progress. In
an another study at NBPGR, 153 germplasm
accessions of Solanum melongena; 25 accessions of
S. insanum and 6 accessions of S. incanum have
been collected and herbarium specimens have also
been deposited at Botanical Survey of India. AFLP
analysis was done for 48 accessions comprising S.
melongena, S. incanum, S. viarum, S. virginianum,
S. sysibriifolium, S. gilo, S. violaceum, S.
acculeatissimum, S. macrocarpon and intermediate
types. The AFLP data differentiated species
belonging to the egg plant complex (S. melongena,
S. insanium, S. incanum). The 'intermediate'
accessions occupied positions among the S.
melongena, S. insanum and S. incanum accessions
indicating that they might be natural hybrids of these
species.
Animal Biotechnology
R&D support was continued for the development of
novel animal vaccines and diagnostics,
characterization of indigenous breeds, development
of newer reproductive techniques, utilization of
animal byproducts etc. A new multicentric
programme on various aspects of animal nutrition
was also initiated. During this period, 36 new projects
were considered for financial support and so far 26
projects have been funded. 14 completed and 44
ongoing projects were reviewed for their outcome
and successful progress. Currently, 85 projects are
under implementation. Significant achievements are
as follows:
Animal Health Care: Vaccines and Diagnostics :
The technology of large scale production of
recombinant protective antigen (PA) based vaccine
for anthrax was developed at JNU, New Delhi and
transferred to industry. Phase I / II human clinical
trials of recombinant vaccine has been
successfully completed. Towards developing
another anthrax vaccine, lethal factor (LF) and
edema factor (EF) mutants of anthrax were
constructed, expressed, purified and characterized.
Novel mutants of EF and LF were found to be nontoxic
in vitro which provided better protective efficacy
in vivo and safe to be used as vaccine component.
Efforts were made to develop DNA vaccine against
rabies through a multicentric project implemented at
CBT, JNU, New Delhi and IVRI, Izatnagar. The RNA
from rabies virus virulent strain infected mouse brain
was isolated and G gene was amplified and cloned in
mammalian expression vector. The
immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase tests
were standardized for detection of the expression of
rabies virus G gene in cell culture. DNA vaccine
constructs using the glycoprotein gene of rabies virus
ERA strain have been developed and their potency
are being studied.
Molecular analysis of Indian buffalopox virus (BPXV)
isolates recovered from outbreaks in both cows and
buffaloes was carried out at IVRI, Mukteshwer.
Sequence analysis of structural and non structural
genes of BPXV showed more than 96% sequence
identity (over 96%) with vaccinia virus (VACV) at the
nucleotide and amino levels. PCR and PCR-RFLP
based diagnostics for BPXV were devised and
evaluated successfully for their diagnostic efficacy.
An attenuated BPXV vaccine was developed and
experimental trials in buffalo calves confirmed its
safety and protection against challenge infection.
Field trial of the vaccine is underway.
At GBPUAT, Pantnagar, molecular characterization
of fowl adenoviruses associated with
Hydropericardium syndrome (HPS) and Inclusion
81 Research and Development