Achievements

Major Achievements

Molecular diagnostics

  • The first ‘Bluetongue Multivalent Inactivated Vaccine’ of India was released in July 2009. The Department of Animal Biotechnology was one of the collaborating centre for this mandate.
  • Novel set of primers were developed for the differentiation of buffalo & cattle meat and also for other species.
  • Identification of animal species from reminiscent samples such as skin, tissue, bone marrow and feather follicle.
  • Reference collection of bluetongue and other related viruses was established through Indo-UK project.
  • Real Time RT-PCR have been developed for Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), Bluetongue virus (BTV), Sheep and goat pox virus (SPV and GPV), Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Bovine Coronavirus (BoCV), Bovine Rotavirus (BRV), New Castle disease virus (NDV) and Marek’s disease virus (MDV).
  • Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay have been developed for Bluetongue virus (BTV), Capripoxviruses (CPV) and Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV).
  • RPA isothermal assays have been developed for the diagnosis of Bluetongue virus (BTV), Bovine Corona virus (BoCV) and Bovine Rotavirus (BRV).
  • TaqMan probe based multiplex molecular assays have been developed for simultaneous detection of abortifacient pathogens in bovine.
  • Magpix multiplex assays were developed for Bluetongue virus (BTV), Bovine Corona virus (BoCV) and Bovine Rotavirus (BTV) and a patent application has been submitted.
  • Magpix multiplex assays were developed for circulating strains of BTV and for differentiation of eastern and western topotypes of BTV and a patent application has been submitted for the same.
  • Magpix multiplex assays were developed for simultaneous detection of abortifacient pathogens in bovine.
  • A1A1 genotype indigenous cattle (Deoni breed) was detected in Allelic discrimination assay.

Animal genomics

  • Comparative multiple sequence alignment of translated sequences revealed comparatively shorter OPEN READING FRAME in reference sequence Bos Taurus (AY847714.1 Bos Taurus). This observation indicates possibility of developing a PCR assay to differentiate from Bos taurus however this needs a larger sample study base for validation.
  • Molecular diagnostics has been developed for the sensitive and specific diagnosis of genetic disorders [Bovine DUMPS, Factor XI deficiency, Citrullinemia and BLAD] of cattle and buffalo.

Reproductive biotechnology

  • Bovine HY antigen gene was successfully cloned and expressed in prokaryotic host system.
  • Monoclonal antibody-based ELISA have been developed for early pregnancy in bovine.
  • Density gradient based sorting of semen technology has been developed.
  • Real-time PCR based molecular assay have been developed for the quantification of X and Y spermatozoa in semen.

Patent granted/filled

The department has one patent to its credit, another one has been published and four patent applications have been submitted this year. The details of the same are listed below:

  • Granted: Novel set of primers were developed for the differentiation of buffalo & cattle meat [590/DEL/2008 & Patent Application No. 591/DEL/2008]
  • Published: Novel set of primers and probes combination for simultaneous detection of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BoHV1), Brucella abortus and pathogenic Leptospira spp. [201911000916].
  • In process: Magpix assays for simultaneous detection and differentiation of different serotypes and topotypes of bluetongue virus in India. Appl. No. 202111022745.
  • Multiplexed Luminex Magpix Assays for concurrent detection of Bluetongue virus, Bovine Corona virus and Rota virus in India. Appl. No. 202111022744.
  • Novel Immunoassays for the detection of early pregnancy in Bubalusbubalis. Appl. No. 202111022746.
  • A novel method for preparing a thermostable dried immunogenic formulation against Newcastle disease of poultry.
  • Submitted: Application 1: Reverse Transcription Recombinase Polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) Assay for quick identification of Bovine Coronavirus in livestock.
  • Application 2: Reverse Transcription Recombinase Polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) assay for rapid detection of Bluetongue virus.
  • Application 3: Reverse Transcription Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RT-RPA) assay for accurate diagnosis of bovine rotavirus.

Post graduate students/ Research assistants/ Senior research fellows

M.V.Sc. Students
1. Jatin 2020V66M
 
Ph.D. Student
1. Sarshti 2021V21D