1. Dr. A.R Pradeep, Scientist-D

2. Dr. Pooja Makwana, Scientist-C

3. Dr. Raviraj V.S., Scientist-C

 

ACTIVITIES:

1. Improvement of mulberry/silkworm by harnessing molecular marker technologies
2. Identification of mulberry – based anti microbial peptides against bacterial flacherie infecting silkworm Bombyx mori
3. Identification of functional gene markers for tolerance to high humidity and high temperature conditions in the silkworm Bombyx mori and its utilization in breed development program

COLLOBORATIVE PROJECTS:

Sl No.	Project Code & Title	PI of the Project	Duration	Objective	Total Budget (in Lakh Rs)	Expected Outcome
1	AIC02004CN:Molecular characterization and assessment of the efficacy of low molecular weight peptides isolated from mulberry leaf against flacherie disease of silkworm (in collaboration with University of North Bengal, Siliguri)	Dr. Pooja Makwana, Sci-C	May, 2019 - May, 2022	Purification and characterization of identified potential peptide(s) using HPLC – MS based approach Assessment of protection potential of identified low molecular weight peptide fractions against pathogen(s) of Flacherie Validation of disease suppression ability and silkworm quality parameters by the synthesized specific peptide	Rs. 24.75	Potential low molecular weight peptide will be utilized in effective doses determined against pathogens of flacherie disease in silkworm
2	AIT 02008 SI: Identification of high humidity tolerant silkworm breeds/ hybrids for Eastern & North Eastern India	Dr. Raviraj VS, Sci- C	June 2020-May 2024	To identify gene markers linked to humidity-tolerance To develop silkworm breeds/hybrids tolerant to high temperature and high humidity To popularize hardy bivoltine silkworm hybrids in Eastern and North Eastern region	Rs.38.0	Gene markers linked to humidity-tolerance in silkworms  Silkworm breeds/hybrids tolerant to high temperature and high humidity
3	AIT 02012 CI:Characterization of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. mutants for tolerance to flacherie syndrome through genome editing tools – DST-JSPS program (Exchange program)	Dr. Pooja Makwana, Sci- C Dr. K. Rahul ,Sci- C	Two years	To develop silkworm site-directed mutants exhibiting tolerance to flacherie syndrome by genome editing. To evaluate developed mutants for cocoon crop improvement in Eastern & North Eastern India and Japan.	Rs. 6.90 lakhs (DST-JSPS)	Development of silkworm mutants resistant to flacherie syndrome through genome editing tools (CRISPR/ Cas9) Utilization of the developed mutants for further breeding activities

Recent Publications from Biotechnology Division

1. Makwana P, H. Dubey, A. R.Pradeep,V. Sivaprasad, K. M. Ponnuvel and R K. Mishra (2021) Dipteran endoparasitoid infestation actively suppressed host defense components in hemocytes of silkworm Bombyx mori for successful parasitism. Animal Gene: In Press
2. Chandrakanth N, Makwana P, Satish L, Rabha M, Sivaprasad V (2021) Molecular approaches for detection of pebrine disease in sericulture. In V. Gurtler & G. Subrahmanyam (Eds.), Vol. 1. Methods in Microbiology, (DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.mim.2021.04.004), New York: Academic Press.
3. Alam K, VS Raviraj, T Chowdhury, A Bhuimali, P Ghosh, S Saha (2021) Application of biotechnology in sericulture: Progress, scope and prospect The Nucleus, 1-22 DoI: 10.1007/s13237-021-00355-2.
4. Sivaprasad V, Rahul K & Makwana P (2021) Immunodiagnosis of silkworm diseases. In V. Gurtler& G. Subrahmanyam (Eds.), Vol. 1. Methods in Microbiology, (DOI: 10.1016/bs.mim.2021.04.002) New York: Academic Press.
5. Prabhuling SH*, Makwana P*, Pradeep ANR, Vijayan K, Mishra RK (2021) Release of mediator enzyme β-hexosaminidase and modulated gene expression accompany hemocyte degranulation in response to parasitism in the silkworm Bombyxmori. Biochemical Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-021-10046-x. *equal contribution
6. Makwana P, Rahul K, Chattopadhyay S, Sivaprasad V (2021) Effect of thermal stress on antioxidant responses in Bombyx mori. Chemical Science Review and Letters, 10(38): 288-294. doi:10.37273/chesci.cs2051101007v
7. Shambhavi HP, Makwana P, Surendranath B, Ponnuvel, KM, Mishra RK and Pradeep AR (2020) Phagocytic events, associated lipid peroxidation and peroxidase activity in hemocytes of silkworm Bombyx mori induced by microsporidian infection. Caryologia, International Journal of Cytology, Cytosystematics and Cytogenetics, 73(1): 93-106
8. Makwana P, Chattopadhyay S and Sivaprasad V (2019) Evaluation of synthetic antimicrobial peptides for the control of mulberry brown leaf spot disease incited by Myrothecium roridum. Journal of Crop and Weed, 15(3): 209-212.
9. Shambhavi PH, Pradeep ANR, Makwana P, Sagar C and Mishra RK (2019) Cellular defence and innate immunity in the larval ovarian disc and differentiated ovariole of the silkworm Bombyx mori induced by microsporidian infection. Invertebrate Reproduction & Development, 64(1): 10-21
10. Shambhavi PH, Pooja M, Pradeep AR and Mishra RK (2019) Immune suppression being the cause for establishment of Nosema bombycis parasitism in the silkworm Bombyx mori. Innovative Farming, 4 (3): 155-161
11. Makwana P, Pradeep AR, Hungund SP, Ponnuvel KM and Trivedy K (2017) The dipteran parasitoidExorista bombycis induces pro- and antioxidative reactions in the silkworm Bombyx mori: Enzymatic and genetic analysis. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 94(2): e21373.
12. Pooja M, Pradeep ANR, Hungund SP, Sagar C, Ponnuvel KM, Awasthi AK and Trivedy K (2017) Oxidative stress and cytotoxicity elicited lipid peroxidation in hemocytes of Bombyx mori larva infested with dipteran parasitoid, Exorista bombycis. Acta Parasitologica, 62(4): 717-727.

Technologies emanated from the earlier Seri-Biotech programs of the Institute

#	Project/Research activity	Product/technology/Outcome	Utility	Patent proposed	Scientists involved
1	PIB3521- Assessment of promising powdery mildew resistance lines for perspective commercial use	C1360 - Powdery mildew resistant variety	AICEM-IV (All India Coordinated Experimental Trail for Mulberry Phase IV)	--	Soumen Chattopadhyay, Rita Banerjee, A.K. Saha
2	PIB3548- Evaluation of bacterial leaf spot resistant improved progenies of mulberry for field utilization	C-7- Bacterial leaf spot resistant variety saplings	OST- Evaluation of high yielding & bacterial leaf spot resistant mulberry variety C-7: Saplings supplied at 6 locations	--	Soumen Chattopadhyay, Rita Banerjee
3	PRE3589- Assessment of designed antimicrobial peptides for mulberry protection against brown leaf spot and root rot: a biotechnological approach	AFP-2 (Synthetic cecropin-mellitin peptide)	Disease (Myrothecium leaf spot and Fusarium root rot) management in mulberry plants	Process patent filed- TEMP/E-1/10395/2021-KOL dated 05-03-2021	Soumen Chattopadhyay Pooja Makwana Anil Pappachan Sivaprasad V
4	AIC02004CN- Molecular characterization and assessment of the efficacy of low molecular weight peptides isolated from mulberry leaf against flacherie disease of silkworm (in collaboration with UNB, Siliguri)	Bacterial cultures (Staphylococcus sciuri, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus terreus, Enetrobactor hormaechi, Serratia nematodiphila)	Identification of pathogens and bioassay	--	Pooja Makwana, Soumen Chattopadhyay K Rahul Pradeep AR & Palash Mandal
5	Method for assessment of soil microbial activity	Soil microbial health kit	Assessment of soil microbial health rapidly	Process patent filed: TEMP/E-1/62723/2020-KOL DATED 24/12/2020	Aparna Kopparapu Sivaprasad V