Department of Biotechnology

Dr.B.S. Gowrishankar
Professor & Head
The research and developments in molecular biology, genetic engineering and in emerging technologies have made the field of Biotechnology an important tool for the socio-economic development. Biotechnology, an interdisciplinary area, derives benefits from the advancements made in the fields of Biology, Chemical Engineering, Electronics, Telecommunications, Instrumentation Technology and Material Sciences. Large scale application of Biotechnology in the areas of agriculture, environment, health care, animal science and
industry is expected to increase, attract foreign investment and provide job opportunities in India and abroad in coming years. Due to favorable patent laws, Indian biotech industries have great potential to grow. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has predicted that the domestic biotechnology sector in India with a CAGR rate of 35.1% will reach $ 5 Billion mark by 2009-10.

Considering the importance of Biotechnology in the socio-economic development, and availability of expertise and well established infrastructure in related engineering disciplines namely, Chemical Engineering (established in 1974 and also having Master degree and PhD programs), Instrumentation and Electronics Engineering (established in 1979) and Computer Science and Engineering (established in 1986), required for creating center of excellence in the field of Biotechnology, SIT at Tumkur, started BE course in Biotechnology in the academic year 2006-2007 with an intake of 30 students. SIT is one of the few Institutes in India having well established related engineering departments and expertise to support Biotechnology. With the support of above departments, department of Biotechnology is set to provide excellent facilities for human resource development, and research and development in the field of Biotechnology including in the newer areas such as biomems, bioelectronics, biosensors, biomaterials and nano- biotechnology.

In order to encourage close interaction, share experience and augment resources, department of Chemical Engineering and department of Biotechnology are housed in a modern spacious building. Biotechnology department is spread over 20,000 square feet of built in area for classrooms, laboratories for course and research work, departmental library, computer room and seminar hall.

Mission

To provide competent, self-reliant trained manpower required to meet the challenges in research and development, and large scale application of Biotechnology in the areas of agriculture, environment, health care and industry for socio – economic development.

Short Range Goals

To develop facilities and infrastructure for providing excellent training in the field of plant, animal, microbial, environmental and food biotechnology.
To provide trained manpower in the field of biotechnology for research and development, scale–up, equipment design, process development and large scale production of products, and bio services.
Long Range Goals

To Establish pilot plants and scale up studies for bio-diesel from Jartopha and other promising vegetables oil.
To Establish the industrial enzymes preperation and utilization unit.

Check out this profile!

Check out this profile!

Fwd: SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Contents: November 19 2009, Volume 2 / Issue 45

TABLE OF CONTENTS November 19 2009, Volume 2 / Issue 45 Analysis Cover Story Targets and Mechanisms Tools The Distillery: Therapeutics Cancer Cardiovascular disease Dermatology Hematology Infectious disease Neurology Ophthalmic disease Pulmonary disease Renal disease The Distillery: Techniques Drug platforms Imaging Recommend to your library Web feed Available online only Subscribe SciBX - Ask your librarian to start a trial today! SciBX: Science-Business eXchange is a weekly publication that identifies and analyzes the most important translational research articles from over 40 journals. Find out which papers have real scientific and commercial potential, and why. Subscribe to SciBX and you won't miss the next big thing. SciBX is now available in full-text, HTML format on the nature.com platform. Recommend SciBX to your library today For more information visit: www.nature.com/scibx.   Analysis Cover Story Top A top-notch inhibitor Tim Fulmer doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1649 The previously intractable Notch pathway looks to be opening as a Harvard team has described a way to specifically inhibit Notch signaling and UCSD researchers have identified a role for NOTCH3 in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Also, Aileron Therapeutics has moved the Harvard technology into preclinical programs for a range of indications beyond cancer. Full Text | PDF Targets and Mechanisms Top APC mutants for ALS Lev Osherovich doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1650 University of Rochester researchers suggest mutant forms of activated protein C could improve outcomes in ALS, and they point to a possible role of microglia in the etiology of the disease. The results could expand the number of indications addressed by ZZ Biotech's portfolio of APC mutants. Full Text | PDF gp130's sensitive side Lauren Martz doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1651 Medical University Innsbruck researchers suggest that inhibiting the gp130 pathway could help manage certain types of pain as well as exert a therapeutic effect in cancer and inflammation. The key will be to block the pathway without disrupting the body's natural immune response. Full Text | PDF Tools Top Warming up to lung transplants Kai-Jye Lou doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1652 University of Toronto researchers have combined ex vivo IL-10 gene therapy with an organ preservation system from Vitrolife AB to repair damage in donor lungs and make them suitable for transplant. The approach could expand the supply of donor lungs and be applied to other donor organs. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Therapeutics Cancer Top MicroRNA-29b (miRNA-29b) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1653 A study in cell culture and in mice suggests that miRNA-29b mimetics could help treat AML. Full Text | PDF Mdm2 p53 binding protein homolog (MDM2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1654 In vitro and mouse studies suggest that antagonizing MDM2 could help treat chemotherapy-resistant neuroblastoma. Full Text | PDF Integrin α5 (CD49e); radixin (RDX); Ras homolog gene family member (RHOA) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1655 In vitro and mouse studies suggest that inhibiting CD49e, RDX or RHOA could help prevent breast cancer metastasis. Full Text | PDF Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation gene 1 (MALT1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1656 A study in cell culture suggests that inhibiting the protease MALT1 could help treat diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Full Text | PDF Microtubules doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1657 An in vitro and cell culture study suggests that zampanolide, a macrolide compound isolated from a Tongan sea sponge, could help treat cancer. Full Text | PDF Notch transcription factor complex doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1658 A study in mice and in cell culture suggests that an α-helical peptide antagonist of the notch transcriptional complex could help treat cancer. Full Text | PDF Estrogen receptor doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1659 A study in mice suggests that selective estrogen receptor antagonists could help treat and prevent cervical cancer. Full Text | PDF Janus kinase 2 (JAK2); histone deacetylase (HDAC) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1660 In vitro studies suggest that combining HDAC inhibitors with JAK2 inhibitors could help treat myeloproliferative cancers. Full Text | PDF Wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 5A (WNT5A) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1661 A study in cell culture identified an N-butyloxycarbonyl hexapeptide inhibitor of WNT5A that could help prevent melanoma-associated metastasis. Full Text | PDF Cardiovascular disease Top Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE); endothelin converting enzyme 1 (ECE1); membrane metallo-endopeptidase (MME; NEP; CD10) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1662 In vitro and rat studies suggest that dual ACE and ECE1 inhibitors could help treat hypertension. Full Text | PDF Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1663 In vitro and rat studies suggest that losartan-antioxidant hybrid compounds are more effective than losartan at controlling hypertension. Full Text | PDF Dermatology Top Androgen receptor doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1664 Studies in mice suggest that inhibiting the androgen receptor could improve wound healing. Full Text | PDF Hematology Top Syntaxin binding protein 2 (STXBP2; MUNC18–2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1665 Genetic studies in humans identified mutations in STXBP2 that could be biomarkers of the hematological disorder familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 5. Full Text | PDF Infectious disease Top C-type lectin domain family 7 member A (CLEC7A; DECTIN1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1666 Genetic studies identified a mutation in DECTIN1 that could help predict susceptibility to recurrent mucocutaneous fungal infections. Full Text | PDF HCV NS3 protease doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1667 In vitro and rat studies identified macrocyclic HCV NS3 protease inhibitors that could help treat HCV. Full Text | PDF Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1668 In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that a rhodacyanine analog could help treat visceral leishmaniasis. Full Text | PDF Histone cluster 4, H4 (HIST4H4) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1669 Studies in cell culture and in mice suggest that blocking HIST4H4 could help treat sepsis. Full Text | PDF Solute carrier family 6 member 3 (SLC6A3; DAT1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1670 Genetic association studies identified two loci that could help predict resistance to TB. Full Text | PDF Neurology Top Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 (CHRM1; HM1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1671 In vitro and mouse studies suggest that benzylquinolone carboxylic acid (BQCA) activates HM1 and could help treat cognitive impairment. Full Text | PDF NMDA receptor NR2A subtype (GRIN2A; NR2A) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1672 Studies in mice suggest that blocking phosphorylation of NR2A could help treat depression. Full Text | PDF Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1673 Studies in rats suggest that analogs of valproic acid could help treat neuropathic pain and epilepsy. Full Text | PDF Adenosine A2A receptor (ADORA2A) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1674 Studies in rats suggest that agonizing ADORA2A could help treat neuropathic pain. Full Text | PDF IL-6; IL-6 signal transducer (IL-6ST; gp130; CD130) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1675 Studies in mice suggest that inhibiting gp130 could help treat pain. Full Text | PDF Ophthalmic disease Top Protein kinase Cδ (PRKCD); Src homology protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1; SHPTP1; PTPN6) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1676 A study in cell culture and in mice suggests that antagonizing PKCD and SHP-1 could help treat diabetic retinopathy. Full Text | PDF Pulmonary disease Top CD80 (B7–1); cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA4; CTLA-4; CD152) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1677 A study in cell culture suggests that antagonizing B7–1 on myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) could help treat inflammation associated with emphysema. Full Text | PDF Renal disease Top Serum amyloid P component (SAP; APCS) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1678 Studies in mice suggest that SAP could be useful for treating kidney fibrosis. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Techniques Drug platforms Top Adoptive therapy to treat autoimmune diseases using engineered antigen-specific Tregs doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1679 Adoptive therapy using Tregs engineered to target a specific antigen could help treat autoimmune diseases. Full Text | PDF Glycoprotein 2 (GP2)-targeted antigens as mucosal vaccines doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1680 GP2-targeted antigen delivery could be useful for developing mucosal vaccines against a variety of pathogens. Full Text | PDF IL-10–expressing adult neural stem cells for treatment of autoimmune encephalitis and multiple sclerosis (MS) doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1681 Expression of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in adult neural stem cells could improve the ability of implanted cells to treat autoimmune encephalitis and MS. Full Text | PDF Imaging Top Near-infrared imaging of β-amyloid (Aβ) deposits with curcumin-derived compounds doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1682 A curcumin-derived imaging agent could help detect Aβ aggregates to diagnose Alzheimer's disease (AD). Full Text | PDF

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