12-Apr-2022: Newly patented diagnostic tool for aquaculture pathogen to boost shrimp cultivation
Scientists have developed a handy diagnostic tool that detects an aquaculture pathogen known as the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV). The peptide-based diagnostic tool by scientists of Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been grated patent on 31 March 2022 as an alternative biorecognition element.
Infection caused by the WSSV to the shrimp Penaeus vannamei results in huge loss of crop. This high value super-food is susceptible to a wide range of viral and bacterial pathogens and the probability of occurrence of infections is rather high. Improved nutrition, probiotics, disease resistance, quality control of water, seed and feed, immuno-stimulants and affordable vaccines play an important role in enhancing the production. Technologies for early and rapid detection of pathogens on the field will help fish and shell-fish farming which provides significant export revenue to the country which is a leading supplier of shrimp to the USA.
To provide a handy, self-use diagnostic for WSSV, Dr Prabir Kulabhusan, Dr Jyutika Rajwade and Dr Kishore Paknikar developed a lateral flow assay using gold nanoparticles for easy visualization of the results. Instead of using poly-/mono-clonal antibodies in assay development, the ARI scientists selected twelve amino acid containing peptides from a phage display library by biopanning. This was a time- and cost-saving approach, eliminating the need for immunization of laboratory animals to obtain the antisera. With the use of peptides, cold-chain requirements for storage are reduced and the assay becomes production friendly.
“Our data indicates high specificity (100%) and sensitivity (96.77%) of the assay, early detection from hemolymph, highly reproducible results with a time-to-result of only 20 minutes,” said Dr Jyutika Rajwade.
The inventors have published this research in Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology and Journal of Molecular Modelling. ARI PhD student Ms. Snehal Jamalpure-Lakka, has presented this idea at the National Bio-Entrepreneurship Conclave (NBEC)-2021 and awarded. She will take this work further for commercialization.
11-Feb-2022: Research in regenerative medicine
The Government of India has conducted stem cell research through various Departments/ Institutions by supporting basic as well as clinical research through national funding agencies like the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Department of Science and Technology (DST). The work done in this field has resulted in the establishment of state-of-art infrastructure at over 40 premier health research and educational institutes in addition to supporting industry initiatives in India.
ICMR has released the National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research (NGSCR) 2017 which were framed in harmonization of international guidelines. Government has supported the ethical and scientific conduct of stem cell research through guidelines for stem cell research. Government supports using hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for hematological disorders, as standard of care, as per NGSCR-2017.
ICMR has also released Evidence Based Status of Stem Cell Therapy for Human Diseases for creating awareness and understanding regarding experimental use of stem cells under the purview of clinical trial and the document is available at the following link:
https://main.icmr.nic.in/sites/default/files/upload_documents/Evidence_Based_Status_of_Stem_Cell_Therapy_for_Human_Diseases_v1.pdf
The Government has notified the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019 for regulation of clinical trials and New Drugs including cell & stem cell derived product, gene therapeutics product and xenografts for human use, which contains various provisions for improving transparency and accountability for the approval process and to promote research and development of the new drugs.
The total funds released by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) during last three years under Stem cell research in fellowships and Ad-hoc project, are as below:
|
Year |
Total funds released (In Rs.) |
|
2019 |
4,36,19,531/- |
|
2020 |
68,82,564/- |
|
2021 |
3,08,34,008/- |
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has supported projects for basic biology of stem cells; early and late translational research; developing gene editing technology for potential therapeutic applications and creation of animal models for various human diseases. The funds released by the DBT during the last three years and the current year in this area is Rs. 7345.58 Lakh.
30-Jul-2021: Stem Cell Research
The Government of India has undertaken stem cell research through various Departments/ Institutions.
Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) is supporting biomedical research and stem cell is one of the priority areas promoted through centres for advance research/excellence, task force activities in identified thematic areas, viz. Basic stem cell biology, Cancer stem cell, Translational research and Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), open ended investigator initiated ad-hoc projects and fellowships for past twenty years. Many laboratories have been strengthened through above programmes.
Under Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has implemented projects on embryonic, adult and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Projects have been supported in areas of basic biology of stem cells; early and late translational research; developing gene editing technology for potential therapeutic applications; creation of animal models for various human diseases and training programmes on various components of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Studies have also been implemented to develop improved methods and techniques for isolating and culturing stem cells from different origin and also to generate induced pluripotent stem cells from various somatic/adult tissues.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), through its constituent laboratories namely CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), New Delhi and CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), Kolkata has undertaken a Sickle Cell Anemia Mission during FY 2017-2020.
Government has supported the ethical and scientific conduct of stem cell research through guidelines for stem cell research. These guidelines are available since 2007 and were revised in 2013 and again in 2017 based on the advancement in the field and released as National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research (NGSCR). This document provides guidance to all stakeholders including scientists, clinicians and industry and can be accessed online.
11-Feb-2022: Indian scientists develop a next-generation probiotic that provides hope for longevity and healthy aging
A team of Indian Scientists has recently identified the next-generation probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus Plantarum JBC5 from a dairy product that showed great promise in promoting healthy aging. The team has also developed a yogurt using this probiotic bacterium which can be consumed to derive all these health benefits.
The recent advances in medical science have increased life expectancy and have led to the rapid growth of the aging population. The United Nations forecasts that one in every eleven people will be older than 65 by 2050. However, aging is generally associated with a higher risk of age-related health issues, such as obesity, neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's), cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, it raises concerns in highly populated countries like India and flags the need for scientific ways to promote healthy aging.
A team of scientists at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, searched for healthy bacteria to promote healthy living in fermented dairy products following the proposal of Nobel laureate Dr. Elie Metchnikoff
They discovered the next-generation probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus Plantarum JBC5 from a dairy product that shows great promise in promoting healthy aging on a model organism called Caenorhabditis Elegans --- a free-living, transparent nematode living temperate soil environments.
The study led by Dr. Mojibur R. Khan, Associate Professor and Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee, Director, in collaboration with Prof. M. C. Kalita of Guwahati University and research scholars, Mr. Arun Kumar and Ms. Tulsi Joishy has shown that Lactobacillus Plantarum JBC5 improves longevity and healthy aging by modulating antioxidative, innate immunity and serotonin-signaling pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans. It was recently published in the journal ‘Antioxidant’.
Dr. M. R. Khan said that the bacterium demonstrated a 27.81% increase in the life span of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans accompanied by the hallmarks of healthy aging by providing improved immunity against pathogenic infections increased learning ability and memory, gut integrity, and oxidative stress tolerance. In contrast, it significantly reduced the accumulation of body fat and inflammation.
Prof. Mukherjee, Director of IASST, opined that the probiotic promises to delay the onset of age-associated diseases, such as obesity, a decline in cognitive functions, and immunity in the elderly.
The team has also developed a yogurt using this probiotic bacterium which can be consumed to derive all these health benefits. A patent has been filed (Indian patent application no: 202231001501). Professor Mukherjee hopes that the probiotic will be commercialized soon so that the laboratory-generated technology reaches general people.