Department of Biotechnology
 
 

Director : Dr.R.B.Narayanan
Phone : 044-22350299, 22350772
Fax : 044-22350299

The Centre for Biotechnology was established in 1987 in Anna University with a financial support from Department of Biotechnology, Delhi, University Grants Commission, Delhi and Anna University with an objective:

(a) to provide educational and training facilities in different areas of Biotechnology;
(b) to carry out fundamental research in the frontier areas of Biotechnology and
(c) to promote research and consultancy activities in the development of various areas of Biotechnology.

The centre has a well defined independent building at Taramani Campus with facilities for carrying out research in various areas of biotechnology, housing modern infrastructure to conduct work in Bioprocess technology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Immunology & genetic engineering etc.

The centre is one of the Distributed information centres (DIC) set up by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

  

Faculty Profile

Name and highest qualification Designation E Mail Expertise
R.B. Narayanan, Ph.D.
Professor
rbn@annauniv.edu
Immunotechnology
P.Kaliraj, Ph.D.
Professor
pkaliraj@annauniv.edu
Molecular Immunotechnology
P.Gautam, Ph.D.
Professor
pgautam@annauniv.edu
Bioorganic Chemistry / Bioinformatics
K.Sankaran, Ph.D.
Asst. Professor
ksankaran@annauniv.edu
Protein Biotechnology
V.Murugan Ph.D.
Asst. Professor
vmurugan@annauniv.edu
Molecular Biology & Genetic Engg.
S.Meenakshisundaram, Ph.D.
Asst. Professor
meenakshi@annauniv.edu
Bioprocess Engineering
Usha Antony, Ph.D.
Asst. Professor
usha@annauniv.edu
Food Science & Food Pathogen detection
B.S.Lakshmi Ph.D.
Lecturer
lakshmibs@annauniv.edu
Biocatalysis & Drug discovery
S.Ramalingam Ph.D.
Lecturer
ramabioproess@annauniv.edu
Bioprocess Engineering
G.Nandhini Devi M.Tech
Lecturer
agnandhini@yahoo.com
Bioreactor design
Sharmila Anishetty Ph.D.
MRS
s_anishetty@yahoo.co.uk
Bioinformatics
C.Damodaran Ph.D.
Visiting Professor
ecdamodharan@yahoo.com
Biochemistry

List of sponsored projects carried out in the last three years

Title of the Project
 Agency
Development of DNA vaccine for lymphatic filariasis
DBT, GOI
Immunoprophylatic studies in experimental filariasis using recombinant parasitic thioredoxin and a peptide unique to the parasite
CSIR, GOI
Immunoprophylactic studies in filariasis using recombinant parasitic enzymes –transglutaminase and thioredoxin peroxidase
ICMR, GOI
Genetic polymorphism of W.bancrofti parasite gene
ICMR, GOI
Isolation and evaluation of recombinant filarial antigens of diagnostic importance
ICMR, GOI
Departmental Research Scheme – filariasis
UGC, GOI
Development of diagnostic methods for field evaluation and monitoring of WSSV in shrimps along the coast of India
DBT, GOI
Gene expression in P.monodon and P.indicus in relation to microbial infection and environmental stress
DBT, GOI
Evaluation of innate and adoptive immune response of endemic normal and asymptomatic microfialriaemic individuals to recombinant parasite antigens in lymphatic filariasis
DST, GOI
Spermicidal action of lime oil
TTK LIG
M.Tech Teaching programme
DBT, GOI
Biotechnology Information Services
DBT, GOI
Project on Nanotechnology
DBT, GOI
Protein Nanoscience
DST
Production of biosurfactants from GE pseudomonas aeruginosa
DST
Detection of Rice tungro Virus on Porous silicon
DBT
Nano porous Protein Scaffolds
DBT
Mechanism of pathogenesis of childhood diarrhea
EU
Environment pathogen detection
UGC
Identification of virulence genes in shrimp viral infection.
DST
Bioconversion
Tirumalai ChemicalS
Technology Business Incubator
DST
Drug discovery from medicinal plants for diabetes and information.
Ranbaxy
Drug discovery from medicinal plants for cancer Insilco approaches to study mutations in lipases.
Nicholas Piramal
Nanotechnology applications in cancer
DBT
Nutrient analysis of Neera
DBT
Immunoprophylatic efficiency IBD virus
CSIR

Value of Research Projects taken up during 2003 to 2007:
Completed Projects Ongoing Projects
No Value(Rs Lakhs) No Value(Rs Lakhs)
15 256.89 12 332.06

Patents taken : 5 no’s (Applied for Patent)
No: 5           National

Brief Write up of Most Successful Research Projects:

Development of recombinant filarial protein human WbSXP based diagnostic kit to detect / filarial infections.

The Centre has been involved as one of the partners of Filarial Genome Project of WHO for sequencing the entire genome of the filarial parasite Brugia malayi. As a post genomic approach, the centre has been actively involved in the development of an antibody detection rapid test kit in collaboration with M/s Span Diagnostics Ltd., (ISO: 9000; WHO-cGMP Company) Surat, Gujarat. The kit named as Signal-MfTM has undergone both national and global surveillance and is recommended for development and marketing in India and other endemic areas. The kit uses the anti-filarial antibodies detection method, which is considered to be the most sensitive and accurate way of diagnosis of filariasis.

Using this method, blood samples can be taken anytime during the day and the test results are known within three minutes. This Rapid Detection Kit for Filariasis, has passed stability tests as per the European Pharmacopoeia and is available at medical stores. The WHO policy for global surveillance, monitoring and elimination of the disease, has recommended this kit for the field application to monitor the exposure to disease in children and travelers.

The US-based Centre for Disease Control has carried out efficacy tests across five countries in different climatic conditions, the results of which were very encouraging. Centre for Disease Control has carried out efficacy tests across five countries in different climatic conditions, the results of which were very encouraging.

Though imported rapid tests are available for the detection of filarial infections, the factors such as high cost, stability and specificity to parasite affect their application in developing countries endemic to the disease. The kit is cost effective as each test costs Rs 40. This could be reduced further once greater volumes are achieved

The Kit has been commercialised.

Other successful research projects include:

• One compound each from Medicinal Plant has been formulated to be used in the treatment of Diabetes and inflammation by Ranbaxy Research Laboratories, New Delhi.
• A diagnostic assay for Shigella has been developed.
• An immuno diagnostic assay to detect white spot virus infections in shrimps has been developed and the technology transferred.
• A candidate viral protein from the white spot virus in shrimps has been characterized as a potential vaccine antigen.
• Production of Lactic acid through fermentation processes has been developed and the technology transferred to Global Calcium PVT Ltd, Bangalore.