Department of Biotechnology

About: Department of Biotechnology is a government organization based out in New Delhi, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Silver nanoparticle. The organization has 4800 authors who have published 5033 publications receiving 82022 citations.

Molecular variants of HPV‐16 associated with cervical cancer in Indian population

Abstract: Human papilloma virus is a causative factor in the etiology of cervical cancer with HPV16 being the most prevalent genotype associated with it. Intratype variations in oncogenic E6/E7 and capsid L1 proteins of HPV 16 besides being of phylogenetic importance, are associated with risk of viral persistence and progression. The objective of this multicentric study was to identify HPV-16 E6, E7 and L1 variants prevalent in India and their possible biological effects. Squamous cell cervical cancer biopsies were collected from 6 centres in India and examined for the presence of HPV 16. Variants of HPV-16 were characterized by full length sequence analysis of L1, E6 and E7 genes in 412 samples. Similar distribution of the variants was seen from the different centres/regions, with the European variant E350G being the most prevalent (58%), followed by American Asian variant (11.4%). Fifty six changes were seen in E6 region, 31 being nonsynonymous. The most frequent being L83V (72.3%), Q14H (13.1%) and H78Y (12.1%). Twenty-nine alterations were seen in E7 region, with 12 being nonsynonymous. The most frequent being F57V (9%). L1 region showed 204 changes, of which 67 were nonsynonymous. The most frequent being 448insS (100%), and 465delD (100%), H228D (94%), T292A (85%). The identified variants some new and some already reported can disrupt pentamer formation, transcriptional regulation of the virus, L1 protein interface interaction, B and T cell epitopes, p53 degradation, and thus their distribution is important for development of HPV diagnostics, vaccine, and for therapeutic purpose.

Removal of lead by adsorption with the renewable biopolymer composite of feather (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and chitosan (Agaricus bisporus)

Abstract: Heavy metal pollution of water bodies is an environmental problem of global concern and efforts are being made for their efficient removal using various natural and synthetic materials. Lead is one of the highly toxic metals reaching the water bodies from industries and discarded domestic wastes. Decontamination of the polluted water containing low ( Dromaius novaehollandiae (DNF) — a poultry waste and the chitosan (prepared from Agaricus bisporus ) as constituents, for an economic and eco-friendly removal of lead present in the concentration range of 20–100 mg L −1 . With the results of preliminary experiments done by ‘one variable at a time method’, further experiments have been carried out by a three level full factorial design of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and consequently the optimum conditions for the biosorption of lead have been identified as 6.96 g L −1 of adsorbent dosage, 19.77 mg L −1 of initial adsorbate concentration and 4.4 pH. The adsorption equilibrium data followed Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo second order kinetics. Analysis of thermodynamic parameters demonstrated the process of adsorption as spontaneous, irreversible and endothermic. Characterization of the adsorbent by SEM–EDS, FTIR and XRD, before and after adsorption, revealed that the adsorption of lead is possibly due to the mechanisms of complexation (between metal and ‘N’ and ‘O’ in the composite), chemisorption and ion exchange.

Enhanced shoot multiplication in Ficus religiosa L. in the presence of adenine sulphate, glutamine and phloroglucinol

Abstract: Ficus religiosa (Pipal) is a long-lived valuable multipurpose forest tree. The tree is exploited because of its religious, ornamental and medicinal value and the regeneration rate in natural habitat is low. An in vitro propagation protocol has been developed from nodal segments obtained from a 45–50-year old tree. The highest bud break frequency (100 %) followed by maximum number of multiple shoots (13.9) as well as length (2.47 cm) were obtained on Woody Plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP along with 0.5 mg/l IAA. Two modifications in this medium resulted in enhanced shoot regeneration-one with 200 mg/l glutamine + 150 mg/l ADS (called as MM-1) giving 32.5 shoots per nodal explant while another modification—with 200 mg/l glutamine + 150 mg/l ADS + 100 mg/l phloroglucinol (called as MM-2) giving 35.65 shoots per explant. These two media were used for sub-culturing of shoots for 4 months. The rate of shoot multiplication was same during the first three sub-cultures on MM-1 and the shoots regenerated were healthy, afterwards shoot multiplication declined. While on MM-2, shoot multiplication declined after first sub-culture and shoots underwent the problem of early leaf fall. Rooting was best induced in micro-shoots excised from proliferated shoot cultures on semi-solid as well as liquid WPM modified with 2.0 mg/l IBA and 0.5 mg/l IAA. The in vitro-raised plantlets were potted and acclimatized under culture room conditions for 25–30 days before transfer to soil conditions, where the established plants showed more than 90 % survival.