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.

Adsorption and optimization studies of lead from aqueous solution using γ-Alumina

Abstract: In the present study, removal of Pb(II) ions using γ-Alumina was investigated. γ-Alumina used in the present study was prepared by gel combustion method. The XRD revealed that the synthesized particle was in amorphous phase and the SEM image showed highly porous surface which is a characteristic property of a good adsorbent. The pore size and surface area of the γ-Alumina were determined and found to be 243 m 2 /g and 41 A, respectively. The effects of pH, initial lead concentration, adsorbent dosage on the extent of adsorption and time of contact were studied. Atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) was used to determine the concentration of lead after adsorption. The Pb(II) removal capacity of γ-Alumina was found to be maximum at pH 7. From the Langmuir isotherm the maximum adsorption capacity of γ-Alumina toward Pb(II) was determined ( Q 0 = 65.67 mg/g). Compared to other metal oxides γ-Alumina showed a significantly higher adsorption capacity. Although Pb(II) adsorption occurred in the first 35 min of contact time, at least 90 min to attain equilibrium. The kinetics of adsorption can be described by first order rate equation. Statistically based experimental model such as Box–Behnken Method (BBM) was used to study the effect of variables on adsorption. Regeneration studies of the adsorbent were carried out and it was found that the adsorbent can be effectively regenerated upto 3 times with significant level of adsorption. The results suggest that γ-Alumina is effective adsorbent for the removal of lead.

Prediction and analysis of surface hydrophobic residues in tertiary structure of proteins.

Abstract: The analysis of protein structures provides plenty of information about the factors governing the folding and stability of proteins, the preferred amino acids in the protein environment, the location of the residues in the interior/surface of a protein and so forth. In general, hydrophobic residues such as Val, Leu, Ile, Phe, and Met tend to be buried in the interior and polar side chains exposed to solvent. The present work depends on sequence as well as structural information of the protein and aims to understand nature of hydrophobic residues on the protein surfaces. It is based on the nonredundant data set of 218 monomeric proteins. Solvent accessibility of each protein was determined using NACCESS software and then obtained the homologous sequences to understand how well solvent exposed and buried hydrophobic residues are evolutionarily conserved and assigned the confidence scores to hydrophobic residues to be buried or solvent exposed based on the information obtained from conservation score and knowledge of flanking regions of hydrophobic residues. In the absence of a three-dimensional structure, the ability to predict surface accessibility of hydrophobic residues directly from the sequence is of great help in choosing the sites of chemical modification or specific mutations and in the studies of protein stability and molecular interactions.

Production of bacteriocin and their application in food products

Abstract: Objective To isolate bacteriocin- producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and to asses its preservative effects on food products. Methods Lactobacillus strain was isolated from chicken intestine using MRS broth (Hi-Media, India) at 37 °C for 48 h. The isolate was identified by 16s rRNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Bacteriocin was produced, purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and dialyzed. Antagonistic characteristics of bacteriocin were studied by agar well diffusion method. Bacteriocin stability was studied in different temperature, pH and enzymes. Biopreservative efficacy was determined for fish and fresh juice. Results Lactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum) strain isolated from chicken intestine was capable of producing bacteriocins, inhibiting the widest range of pathogenic bacteria. The bacteriocin was stable at 37 °C and acidic pH and proteinaceous in nature. Their biopreservative effect on refrigerated food products (apple juice and fish) show low count of colonies. Lactobacillus isolate was sequenced which shows high similarity with reference strain L. fermentum CECT 5716. Conclusions Bacteriocin producing L. fermentum UN01 could be successfully used as biopreservative and to increase the shelf life of the food products.

Evaluation of the wound-healing activity of Hibiscus rosa sinensis L (Malvaceae) in Wistar albino rats

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the wound-healing potency of the ethanolic extract of the flowers of Hibiscus rosa sinensis. Materials and Methods: The wound-healing activity of H. rosa sinensis (5 and 10% w/w) on Wistar albino rats was studied using three different models viz., excision, incision and dead space wound. The parameters studied were breaking strength in incision model, granulation tissue dry weight, breaking strength and collagen content in dead space wound model, percentage of wound contraction and period of epithelization in excision wound model. The granulation tissue formed on days 4, 8, 12, and 16 (post-wound) was used to estimate total collagen, hexosamine, protein, DNA and uronic acid. Data were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. P Results: The extract increased cellular proliferation and collagen synthesis at the wound site, as evidenced by increase in DNA, total protein and total collagen content of granulation tissues. The extract-treated wounds were found to heal much faster as indicated by improved rates of epithelialization and wound contraction. The extract of H. rosa sinensis significantly (P Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of H. rosa sinensis had greater wound-healing activity than the nitrofurazone ointment.