ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

Bioactive Molecules
Various aspects on development of bioactive
molecules from marine organisms were continued
and over 7000 marine bacteria were screened for
antibacterial activity. Eighteen isolates showed
antibacterial activity against both gram positive and
gram negative bacteria. Sand anemones from
Karnataka coast were found to have anticancer
activity. Purification, characterization and synthesis
of bioactive molecules produced by marine
Pseudomonas were undertaken for screening
antiviral and anticancer agents. Batteries of bacteria
isolated from the deep sea water were collected from
Bay of Bengal, of the Andaman Coast and a few of
them showed the potential of producing anti-cancer /
anti-inflammatory bioactive molecule(s). Production
of highly unsaturated marine lipids, ester and specific
bioactive analogues from fish for medical
applications was undertaken at Indian Institute of
Chemical Biology, Kolkata. Cell culture and animal
model for the testing of the highly enriched EPA and
DHA were developed using an animal model for in
vivo studies and studies on kidney damage, diabetes
development and cataract formation were conducted
using different concentrations of phospholipids
enriched with EPA/ DHA. Purified phospholipid
fractions were reported to stimulate sperm motility
and increase in flagellar movement. Phospholipid at
50mg/ ml level caused the highest degree of motility
activation. Information of mangroves having
medicinal values was collected from Sundarban
Estuary in a collaborative project funded at IICB,
Vivekananda Institute of Biotechnology and Vishwa
Bharti University. A survey was conducted on the
traditional uses of the mangrove plants in different
ailments.
Plasmid immune response
A collaborative project was implemented at CCMB,
Viswa Bharti University and North Bengal University.
Plasmid gene involved in the pathogenesis of
89
Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome was identified and its
role in virulence and pathogenesis was studied. 21kb
plasmid appears to be an important virulence marker
for A. hydrophila. Immunization studies with plasmid
cured isolates lead to significant increase in serum
immunoglobulin levels and conferred significant
protection when challenged with wild type A.
hydrophila as well as A. sobria and A. salmonicida.
Transformation of the plasmid helped the bacteria to
regain the virulence attributes.
Alternate fish feed supplement
Applicability of cell-bound phytase of yeast Pichia
anomala in improving growth of freshwater fishes,
rohu and magur, was pursued. A protocol was
standardized for yeast cultivation and the growth
conditions were optimized. When the fingerlings of
Labeo rohita (rohu) were fed with fish feed
supplemented with yeast phytase, specific growth
rate (SGR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were
better than the control. A decrease in phosphate and
ammonia excretion was observed, suggesting better
utilization of phosphate and protein in the fish fed with
yeast phytase. Supplementation of cane molasses
medium with urea was found to be better for
achieving good growth and phytase production.
Growth conditions were optimized for yeast
cultivation using air-lift fermenter leading to higher
biomass and phytase production.
Neuro-peptide Synthesis
Cone snails from Indian coasts were collected and
venoms characterized using mass spectrometry.
Peptides obtained from crude venoms were studied
for structural determination using 'de novo'
sequencing by mass spectrometry. Novel conus
peptide sequence derived were further confirmed by
synthesizing the corresponding peptide and
comparing the fragmentation pattern of natural and
synthetic peptides. Construction of cDNA libraries for
conus venom was undertaken. Three putative
Research and Development