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Main thrust of activities
The emphasis is to develop novel products and processes and to evolve strategies for utilization of such products/processes by various biotech industries. Using microbial processes, genetic engineering, computational analysis, computer simulation and other processes, new products and process development in the area of human and animal healthcare, agriculture, environment, diagnostics have been undertaken. The endeavor is to provide need-based scientific leads to generate and transform R&D results into products or processes utilizable by the industry and beneficial for the society. The technologies developed are supported for patenting purposes to give full protection to the process developed under Patent Act. Technology transfer facilitate through BCIL and NRDC and through direct interaction with potential industries is an other important thrust activity.
2. Achievements and leads obtained during 9th Plan period
Continued support in the area of microbial and industrial biotechnology with emphasis on development of product/process having industrial importance and environment friendly techniques for social welfare has led to important research leads and developments. During the 9th Plan period, 114 projects were supported out of which 84 have been successfully completed and rest of the projects continued during this Plan.
Area-wise progress made in the Biotech Product and Process Development field are highlighted.
Industrially important Microbial enzymes
Production of bacterial amylase and fungal glucoamylase upto 3,75,460 U/g and 7546 U/g of fermented dry wheat bran has been achieved through solid state fermentation by optimizing and manipulating physical, chemical and nutritional parameters. These enzymes have industrial applications in alcohol production. The research studies on production of lignin peroxidases from indigenous fungi have been carried out. The cellulase production from an Alkalothermophilic thermomonospora sp. has been optimized at NCL, Pune and the enzyme has been evaluated under practical use conditions in textile industry for biofinishing of denims and has been found to be effective in reducing hairiness and total weight loss and in imparting softness, wash-down effect, back staining, colour contrast and seam puckering. Using Sorghum straw as a substrate, production of xylanase upto 47000 U/g could be achieved by a fungal mutant under solid state fermentation. The technology for the production of cellulase free thermotolerant and alkalostable xylanase by Streptomyces violaceoruber has been standardized and the enzyme application in the pulp bleaching process has been resulted in the reduction of hypochlorite consumption by 20% at lab scale level. The utility of fungal alkaline protease developed through R&D efforts has been successfully demonstrated in pre-tanning operations in leather making like de-hairing, soaking and bating of goatskins and cow-hides. Results of the physical testing showed that the quality of the leather after enzymatic treatment was comparable to those obtained with chemical treatment.
Microbial waste management and other environmental applications
A novel bio-physico technology of electro-coagulation and flotation for removal of impurities including suspended solids, detergents, toxic metal ions and pathogenic bacteria which is much faster and effective than conventional method has been standardized by a group of scientists which has been successfully demonstrated to the personnel from local tanneries and the scientists working in the area. A successful method to remove chromium from the tannery waste and effluents by using microbes has been developed and trials conducted by NCL, Pune. A novel bioreactor with a simple liquid distribution system and gas-liquid-solid separator for biological treatment of waste wasters at much high loading rates has been designed and successfully demonstrated. Bio-management of mycelial wastes leftover after extraction of penicillin has been possible by utilizing it as a substrate for antibiotic producing chitinolytic strain of Streptomyces fimbriatus. Fermentation conditions and product recovery through solvent extraction has been standardized and partial purification of the antibiotic compound has been completed. The demonstration bioreactor plant erected at HGML site shown that with 5 days residence time, more that 90% of the sulphides are oxidized resulting in enhanced recovery of gold and silver after cyanidation. The demonstration plant was successfully run on a continuous mode for three months. A cost analysis based on the data available suggests that plant has to be of more than 20 tone capacity per day for economical operation of the process. The technology developed is capable of providing enhanced recovery of silver by 30% and gold by 50% than the usual conventional method followed in gold and silver mining industry. The barren land with manganese and coal mine spoil dumps has been restored and plants of various species have been successfully grown on the land by an Integrated Biotech Approach in Maharashtra.
Products and processes having applications in healthcare sector
The islets of langerhans from the monkey pancreas have been grown in commercially available culture media and various cultural parameters have been standardized for better preservation of the cells and to remain them functionally viable. Such cells have potentials for transplantation, especially in diabetics and threatened diabetics. Production of blood factor VIII concentrate, treated with virucidal chemicals for virus inactivation has been standardized, achieving yield and purity at par with already reported products, available in international market. The technology would provide the process for indigenous production of blood factor VIII.
Synthesis of penicillin and b -lectams have been carried out by using immobilized cells of Alcaligenes sp. capable of producing penicillin-G-amidase and some of the products are found to be active against both Gram positive and Gram negative organisms. The process is nearing commercial applications.
The genes for three proteins viz. hGH, heat labile enterotoxin and b -subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin have been cloned in E.coli and overexpressed by IPTG induction. Production of g -interferon has been found more profitable by using recombinant E.coli based process than animal cell based process (CHO cell line). Economic evaluation of the scaled up experiments, with fermentor showed that it is a highly profitable product with a return on investment more than 1000 times.
The technology for growing human lens epithelial cells in the culture medium supplemented with an antibiotic antimycotic preparation, has been developed which has potential in the development of anti-catarant drugs and therapies. The karyotyping work on epithelia is in progress. A female breast tumor associated antigen has been purified and characterized for use as an immuno-diagnostic tool for detecting breast cancer in women.
Cholesterol biosensor has been developed by immobilizing cholesterol oxidase on polypyrrole by electrochemical entrapment method. The enzyme electrode has been found to work efficiently in the range of 1mM to 8mM of cholesterol and is stable for about more than one month. Asparaginase has therapeutic uses in acute lymphoblastic leukemia especially in children. It is presently imported in India and belongs to the category of the Life saving drugs. The asparaginase gene has been cloned in high E. coli expression vector under the T7 promoter and the protein is produced as inclusion bodies, which imply that fairly pure protein can be obtained by simply washing the pellet after centrifuging the cell lysate. At Viswabharati, Santiniketan, Streptomyces strains were screened which could utilize Penicillium mass (chitin), a waste of penicillin industry and could produce an antibiotic. Enhanced antibiotic production from the organism was achieved through strain improvement studies.
Exploitation of microbial diversity of NE India
Five bacterial isolates have been screened having ability for degumming the green ramie fibre upto 50% after 10 days of treatment. Around 600 microbial strains including bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes have been screened and some of them are found to have antibacterial activity. These germplasms are being maintained.
Biosynthesis of value added industrial products
The fermentative production of chitosan from M. rouxii, as pure as the commercially available product marketed by Sigma, USA, has been standardized and the product has been successfully tested as a fruit juice clarifier without affecting its nutritive value
Biotransformation, Diagnostics and Bioformulation:Biotransformation of tannin-rich agro-forest products to gallic acid upto 94.8% within 48 hrs has been achieved by attempting co-culture of Rhizopus oryzae and Aspergillus foetidus under solid state fermentation. Maximum tannase production was obtained from these two organisms upto 30.6 U/ml and 34.820 U/ml respectively. Immunodiagnostic kit for early detection of fungal pathogens in soil, harmful to tea plants and bioformulations for control of pathogens in the young tea plant roots have been developed and successfully applied by the tea growers. The process would be useful for tea gardens and tea-growers. The Tea Research Association has shown interest in the large scale trials of the process for new tea plantations. The bacterial inoculations developed through R&D were evaluated for growth promotion of rice (in pot as well as field-based assays) exhibited in-vitro phosphate solubilizing activity, improved plant performance and resulted in increase in grain yield by 1.66 and 1.55 fold in pot and field trials respectively. Innoculations also stimulated the rhizosphere associated bacterial and actinomycetes populations and suppressed the fungal flora.
3. Technologies transferred/commercialized
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Name of the technology |
Developed by |
Transferred to |
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Production of Xanthan Gum |
Dr. P.Ghosh, BISR, Jaipur |
M/s Shriram Biotech Limited, Hyderabad |
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Development of Diagnostic kit for detection of HIV Antibody in Human Serum or Plasma- Western Blot HIV-1&HIV-2 kit. |
Dr.Robin Mukhopadhyay, CRI, Mumbai. |
M/s J. Mitra & Company, Delhi. (already commercialized) |
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Rapid Naked Eye Visible Agglutination (NEVA) assay for the differential detection and screening of antibodies to HIV-1 & HIV-2 in whole blood. |
Dr. V.K. Chaudhary, Delhi University South Campus, New Delhi. |
M/s Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Ahmedabad. |
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Manufacture of Liposomal Amphotericin-B. |
Dr. B.K. Bachhawat, UDSC, New Delhi and clinical trials completed by Dr. N. A. Kshirsagar, G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai. |
M/s Life Care Innovations Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon. (Commercially available as FUNGISOME) |
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The Process for the targeted and site specific gene/drug delivery system. |
Dr. D.P. Sarkar, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi. |
M/s Panacea Biotec Ltd., New Delhi. |
4. New initiatives for the 10th Plan
The support to projects in the area of microbial and industrial biotechnology with emphasis on development of product/process having industrial importance and environment friendly techniques would be continued. There would be efforts to develop inter-institutional projects under the aegies of the Task Force on Biotech Product and Process Development with special emphasis on projects in the identified areas.
A. Research and Development
Strengthening of existing areas
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Industrially important microbial enzymes
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Microbial waste management
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Process optimization for products having applications in healthcare sector
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Exploitation of microbial diversity
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Biosynthesis of value added industrial products
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Diagnostics and Bio-formulation for agriculture area
New Initiatives
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Bioinstrumentation concerning biopharmaceuticals, down-stream processing, telemedicine, immuno-biologicals, biosensors, nuclear magnetic resonance and biomedical imaging, molecular biodiversity, DNA chips for biological applications, tissue engineering, biomaterials, computational bioengineering, agriculture, horticulture etc. and other related areas
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Polythene biodegradation through microbial consortia
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Microbial taxonomy
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Nano-biotechnology
B. Policy Issues
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Patenting of the products and processes emanating through R & D efforts will be strengthened. Technology transfer of the process/product developed through R&D efforts would be undertaken through active interaction with industry.
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Efforts will be taken for networking of institutions with similar projects for a consolidated approach in technology development. |
