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Departments
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Colleges
Animal Biotechnology
The Department of Animal Biotechnology was established in the year 2013, although the M.V.Sc programme in Animal Biotechnology was started in this college in August, 2010 following receipt of an initial sanction for Rs. 1.09 crore from Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India during the financial year 2009-10. The programme was initially run in a multidisciplinary mode involving five collaborating departments, viz. Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics & Breeding, Physiology and Animal Reproduction. However, since August 2013, the separate Department of Animal Biotechnology has been established following approval of the august Board of Management and His Majesty, the Hon’ble Chancellor of AAU. The department also started Ph.D. programme in Animal Biotechnology since 2013 initially with an intake capacity of 2 (two) students per year. The Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India recognized the department as the Nodal Centre under the NER-centric Biotech Hub programme and the State Level Biotech Hub (SBT Hub) for the state of Assam was established in the department in 2010, which was upgraded later in 2015 as the Advanced Level State Biotech Hub with an expanded mandate.
The DBT-support for the M.V.Sc programme in Animal Biotechnology was extended further for another 5 years till 2024-25 under the 15th Finance Commission based on its performance during the last 10 years. The annual intake capacity has also been increased now to 15 for M.V.Sc. and 3 for Ph.D. degree programmes. Out of 15 seats in the M.V.Sc programme, 10 are filled up from among Graduate Aptitude Test – Biotechnology (GAT-B) qualified candidates and the rest 5 are selected through AAU admission test.
# | Course No. | Course Title | Course Credit | Syllabus | * courses are compulsory |
# | Course No. | Course Title | Course Credit | Syllabus |
1 | ABT 601 | BASIC & APPLIED BIOTECHNOLOGY | 3(3 + 0) | |
2 | ABT 602 * | FUNDAMENTALS OF CELL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 3(3 + 0) | |
3 | ABT 603 | APPLIED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 3(2 + 1) | |
4 | ABT 604 * | ANIMAL CELL CULTURE: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS | 3(1 + 2) | |
5 | ABT 605 * | MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS | 3(1 + 2) | |
6 | ABT 606 | VACCINE BIOTECHNOLOGY | 3(2 + 1) | |
7 | ABT 607 | IMMUNOLOGY APPLIED TO BIOTECHNOLOGY | 2(1 + 1) | |
8 | ABT 608 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOINFORMATICS | 3(2 + 1) | |
9 | ABT 609 * | ANIMAL GENOMICS | 3(2 + 1) | |
10 | ABT 610 * | REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGY | 3(2 + 1) | |
11 | ABT 611 * | TECHNIQUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETIC ENGINEERING | 3(0 + 3) | |
12 | ABT 612 | BIODIVERSITY, BIOSAFETY AND BIOETHICS | 2(2 + 0) | |
13 | ABT 613 | MOLECULAR FORENSICS | 3(2 + 1) | |
14 | ABT 614 | INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY | 3(2 + 1) | |
15 | ABT 615 | PROBIOTICS AND FEED BIOTECHNOLOGY | 3(3 + 0) | |
16 | ABT 616 | ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY | 3(3 + 0) | |
17 | ABT691 | MASTER'S SEMINAR | 1(1 + 0) | * courses are compulsory |
# | Course No. | Course Title | Course Credit | Syllabus |
1 | ABT 701 | GENE CLONING AND EXPRESSION | 2(1 + 1) | |
2 | ABT 702 | FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS AND PROTEOMICS | 3(2 + 1) | |
3 | ABT 703 | ADVANCES IN REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGY | 3(2 + 1) | |
4 | ABT 704 | TRENDS IN VACCINOLOGY | 3(3 + 0) | |
5 | ABT 705 | ADVANCES IN ANIMAL CELL CULTURE | 3(2 + 1) | |
6 | ABT 706 | TRANSGENIC ANIMAL TECHNOLOGY | 2(2 + 0) | |
7 | ABT 791 | DOCTORAL SEMINAR I | 1(1 + 0) | |
8 | ABT 792 | DOCTORAL SEMINAR II | 1(1 + 0) | * courses are compulsory |
Projects
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On Going
- Assam Science, Technology & Environment Council sponsored project on "Development of a recombinant subunit vaccine against swine pasteurellosis and evaluation of its immune protective efficacy", projcet cost Rs.2 Lakh
- Ecophage Biotech, Banagalore sponsored project on "Development of a consortium of bacteriophages for phage therapy of necrotic enteritis in poultry", projcet cost Rs.7 Lakh
- AAU, Jorhat sponsored project on "Antibody engineering to develop rapid and cost-effective diagnostics for detection of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Canine Parvovirus (CPV) infecti", projcet cost Rs.25 Lakh
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Promoting advance research and capacity building in biotechnology & allied disciplines through manpower training, mentoring and sharing of infrastruct", projcet cost Rs.432 Lakh
- Ecophage Biotech, Bangalore sponsored project on "Development of a consortium of bacteriophage for phage therapy of necrotic enteritis in poultry", projcet cost Rs.7 Lakh
- Assam Agricultural University sponsored project on "Development of a marketable probiotic consortium for poultry", projcet cost Rs.15 Lakh
- Assam Agricultural University sponsored project on "Development of a cost-effective peptide-based indirect ELISA for sero-monitoring of African Swine Fever", projcet cost Rs.15 Lakh
- Assam Science Technology and Environment Council sponsored project on "Development and evaluation of multiple antigenic peptide-based diagnostic assay for detection of Babesia gibsoni in dogs targeting GPI-encoded protein", projcet cost Rs.5 Lakh
- DBT-ALSBT Hub (Assam) Micro-grants sponsored project on "Therapeutic application of Canine Mesenchymal Stem Cells in clinical cases of spinal cord injury.", projcet cost Rs.10.00 Lakh
- DBT-ALSBT Hub (Assam) Micro-grants sponsored project on "Therapeutic application of Canine Mesenchymal Stem Cells in clinical cases of spinal cord injury.", projcet cost Rs.10.00 Lakh
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Promoting advance research and capacity building in biotechnology & allied disciplines through manpower training, mentoring and sharing of infrastructure developed under the Advanced-Level State Biotech Hub", projcet cost Rs.432 Lakh
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Promoting advance research and capacity building in biotechnology & allied disciplines through manpower training, mentoring and sharing of infrastructure developed under the Advanced-Level State Biotech Hub", projcet cost Rs.432 Lakh
- AAU, Jorhat sponsored project on "Antibody Engineering to Develop Rapid and Cost-effective Diagnostics for Detection of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Canine Parvovirus (CPV) infections", projcet cost Rs.25.00 Lakh
- AAU, Jorhat sponsored project on "Antibody Engineering to Develop Rapid and Cost-effective Diagnostics for Detection of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Canine Parvovirus (CPV) infections", projcet cost Rs.25.00 Lakh
- AAU, Jorhat sponsored project on "Antibody Engineering to Develop Rapid and Cost-effective Diagnostics for Detection of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Canine Parvovirus (CPV) infections", projcet cost Rs.25.00 Lakh
- AAU, Jorhat sponsored project on "Biotechnological interventions for improving the nutraceutical value of agro-industrial by-product to enhance its utilization in ruminants", projcet cost Rs.24.816 Lakh
- ASTEC, Assam sponsored project on "Development and evaluation of multiple antigenic peptide-based diagnostic assay for detection of Babesia gibsoni in dog targeting GPI-anchored protein", projcet cost Rs.4.6 Lakh
- ASTEC, Assam sponsored project on "Development and evaluation of multiple antigenic peptide-based diagnostic assay for detection of Babesia gibsoni in dog targeting GPI-anchored protein", projcet cost Rs.4.6 Lakh
- ASTEC, Assam sponsored project on "Development and evaluation of multiple antigenic peptide-based diagnostic assay for detection of Babesia gibsoni in dog targeting GPI-anchored protein", projcet cost Rs.4.6 Lakh
- SBT Hub Microgrant sponsored project on "16S rRNA-based metagenomic analysis of the skin and gut microbiome of healthy and diseased catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.)", projcet cost Rs.844000 Lakh
- EcoPhage Biotech, Bengaluru sponsored project on "Development of a consortium of bacteriophages for phage therapy of Necrotic Enteritis in poultry", projcet cost Rs.7 Lakh
- DBT-ASLBT Hub sponsored project on "Exploration of the pharmacological potency of Myrica esculenta in the management of inflammation and myocardial infarction", projcet cost Rs.8.27 Lakh
- DBT-ALSBT Hub sponsored project on "Evaluation of Dicholorophenol indophenol (DCIP) method and development of a suitable DCIP-based testing algorithm for screening haemoglobin E carrier from Assam", projcet cost Rs.9.99 Lakh
- ALSBT-Hub sponsored project on "Development of autologous endophytic bacterial consortium to enhance seed germination and growth promotion of Kopou Phool (Rynchostylis retusa), the state flower of Assam", projcet cost Rs.7.15 Lakh
- DBT-ALSBT Hub sponsored project on "Development of earthworm-microbe formulation for management of refinery sludge", projcet cost Rs.6.69 Lakh
- ASTEC sponsored project on "Development of a Recombinant subunit vaccine against Swine pasteurellosis and evaluation of its immunoprotective efficacy.", projcet cost Rs.2.05 Lakh
- ASTEC sponsored project on "Development of a Recombinant subunit vaccine against Swine pasteurellosis and evaluation of its immunoprotective efficacy.", projcet cost Rs.2.05 Lakh
- AAU sponsored project on "Antibody engineering to develop rapid and cost effective diagostics for detection of canine distemper virus(CDV) and canine parvovirus(CPV)infections", projcet cost Rs.22 Lakh
- Ecophage Biotech sponsored project on "Development of a consortium of bacteriophages for phage therapy of necrotic enteritis in poultry", projcet cost Rs.7 Lakh
- ASTEC sponsored project on "Development and evaluation of multiple antigenic peptide-based diagnostics assay for detection of babesia gibsoni in dog targeting GPI-anchored protein", projcet cost Rs.4.6 Lakh
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Modelling of indigenous diagnostics and immuno-potent vaccine candidates to combat African swine fever in India", projcet cost Rs.22 Lakh
- Assam Science, Technology & Environment Council sponsored project on "Generation of multivalent vectored vaccine against Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle and evaluation of its immunogenic potency", projcet cost Rs.8 Lakh
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Modelling of indigenous diagnostics and immuno-potent vaccine candidates to combat African swine fever in India", projcet cost Rs.22.4404 Lakh
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Modelling of indigenous diagnostics and immuno-potent vaccine candidates to combat African swine fever in India", projcet cost Rs.22.4404 Lakh
- ASTEC sponsored project on "Generation of multivalent vector vaccine against lumpy skin disease in cattle and evaluation of its immunogenic potency", projcet cost Rs.7.00 Lakh
- DBT, Govt of India sponsored project on "Generation and evaluation of a live vectored vaccine against porcine circovirus infection of swine", projcet cost Rs.27.44 Lakh
- DBT, Govt of India sponsored project on "Establishment of a Consortium for One Health to address Zoonotic and Transboundary Diseasesin India, including the Northeast Region", projcet cost Rs.27809560 Lakh
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "SWINOSTICS: A platform for development and validation of diagnostics of important pig pathogens in NE Region of India", projcet cost Rs.60.04 Lakh
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "SWINOSTICS: A platform for development and validation of diagnostics of important pig pathogens in NE Region of India", projcet cost Rs.60.04 Lakh
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Modelling of indigenous diagnostics and immuno-potent vaccine candidates to combat African swine fever in India", projcet cost Rs.22.44 Lakh
- NECBH Twinning Programme (IIT Guwahati), DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Generation of DNA vaccine with a mutated capsid gene of Porcine Circovirus type 2 and evaluation of its immuno-potential", projcet cost Rs.5 Lakh
- NECBH-Twinning Programme (IIT Guwahati), DBT Govt. of India sponsored project on "In-silico characterization and biological validation of potential peptide vaccines for Salmonella Typhi using the outer membrane protein PagN as targe", projcet cost Rs.3 Lakh
- Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India sponsored project on "Analysis of Gut Metagenome of Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) with special reference to Identification of Bacteria having Probiotic Potential", projcet cost Rs.42 Lakh
- RKVY sponsored project on "Studies on Viral Diseases associated with Porcine Reproductive Problems vis-à-vis Development of suitable field based Diagnostics", projcet cost Rs.20.00 Lakh
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Completed
- NECBH Twinning Programme (IIT Guwahati), DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Generation of DNA vaccine with a mutated capsid gene of Porcine Circovirus type 2 and evaluation of its immuno-potential", projcet cost Rs.4.8875 Lakh implemented in 2019. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Deep Prakash Saikia)
- NECBH Twinning Programme (IIT Guwahati), DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Generation of DNA vaccine with a mutated capsid gene of Porcine Circovirus type 2 and evaluation of its immuno-potential", projcet cost Rs.4.8875 Lakh implemented in 2019. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Lukumoni Buragohain)
- DBT sponsored project on "In-silico characterization and biological validation of potential peptide vaccines for SalmonellaTyphi using the outer membrane protein PagN as target", projcet cost Rs.2.5 Lakh implemented in 2019. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Deep Prakash Saikia)
- DBT, GoI sponsored project on "Analysis of Gut Metagenome of Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) with special reference to Identification of Bacteria having Probiotic Potential", projcet cost Rs.42.48 Lakh implemented in 2018. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Deep Prakash Saikia)
- DBT, GoI sponsored project on "Analysis of Gut Metagenome of Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) with special reference to Identification of Bacteria having Probiotic Potential", projcet cost Rs.42.48 Lakh implemented in 2018. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Lukumoni Buragohain)
- DBT, GoI sponsored project on "Analysis of Gut Metagenome of Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) with special reference to Identification of Bacteria having Probiotic Potential", projcet cost Rs.42.48 Lakh implemented in 2018. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Probodh Borah)
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Molecular characterization of Canine Distemper Virus field isolates for selection of suitable vaccine candidate(s)", projcet cost Rs.30.00 Lakh implemented in 2018. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Dipak Deka)
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Study on Persistence of Japanese Encephalitis in Reservoir Host, Pig in JE Endemic Area of Odisha, Manipur and Assam", projcet cost Rs.27 Lakh implemented in 2017.
- IBSD, Imphal sponsored project on "Study on persistence of Japanese Encephalitis in reservoir host, pig in JE endemic area of Odisha, Manipur and Assam", projcet cost Rs.26.73 Lakh implemented in 2017. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Probodh Borah)
- DBT-Twining Project sponsored project on "Aetio-pathology and molecular epidemiology of bacterial and viral diseases associated with the respiratory problems of Yak in the north eastern region of India.", projcet cost Rs.24.00 Lakh implemented in 2013. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Dipak Deka)
- DBT, GoI sponsored project on "Creation of an Online Repository of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Resources of North-East India (BABRONE)", projcet cost Rs.60 Lakh implemented in 2012. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Probodh Borah)
- DBT, GoI sponsored project on "Molecular Tying and Virulence Characteristics of Salmonella with Special Reference to Non-host-specific Serovars", projcet cost Rs.79.05 Lakh implemented in 2012. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Probodh Borah)
- Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India sponsored project on "Creation of an Online Repository of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Resources of North-East India (BABRONE)", projcet cost Rs.60 Lakh implemented in 2011.
- Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India sponsored project on "Molecular Tying and Virulence Characteristics of Salmonella with Special Reference to Non-host-specific Serovars", projcet cost Rs.79 Lakh implemented in 2011.
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "A study on sero-prevalence of viruses associated with porcine reproductive problems", projcet cost Rs.21.94 Lakh implemented in 2011. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Dipak Deka)
- Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India sponsored project on "Advanced State Level Biotech Hub", projcet cost Rs.631 Lakh implemented in 2010.
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Establishment of State Level Biotech Hub", projcet cost Rs.5.486 Crore implemented in 2010. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Probodh Borah)
- UGC, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Studies on the development and standardization of molecular diagnostic assays for infectious causes of abortions", projcet cost Rs.8.068 Lakh implemented in 2010. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Dipak Deka)
- Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India sponsored project on "Creation of Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (BIF) for the Promotion of Biology Teaching through Bioinformatics (BTBI) Scheme of BTISnet", projcet cost Rs.173 Lakh implemented in 2006.
- DBT, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Creation of Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (BIF) for the Promotion of Biology Teaching through Bioinformatics (BTBI) Scheme of BTISnet", projcet cost Rs.1.73 Crore implemented in 2006. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Probodh Borah)
Our Faculties
Achivements
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Achievement of Department of Animal Biotechnology in academics, research and extension
In academics:
1. Obtained DBT support for MVSc program in Animal Biotechnology since inception in 2010-11 and continued for the 15th Finance Commission period till 2024-25.
2. Till date 37 MVSc and 4 PhD students successfully completed degree in Animal Biotechnology.
3. Three students of the department received prestigious fellowship for higher studies abroad in countries like Netherlands, Belgium and Canada.
a) Dr. Soumya Kanti Kar, who passed M.V.Sc. in Animal Biotechnology from this department in the first batch (2010-2012) was selected for pursuing Ph.D. at Wageningen University, the Netherlands in the year 2012. After completion of his Ph.D., he has been appointed as a Scientist at the Institute of Livestock Research at the same university.
b) Dr. Luit Moni Barkalita, Assistant Professor, , Department of Animal Biotechnology, was awarded Netaji-Subhas International Fellowship, 2017-18 by ICAR, New Delhi to pursue Ph.D. at Rega Institute of Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium-3000. He left for Belgium on 23rd September, 2018 on study leave to pursue his higher studies.
c) Dr. Ankita Saikia, an MVSc student, Department of Animal Biotechnology, has been awarded Tri-Council Research Funding (International fellowship) to pursue MS Course in Animal science in the department of Animal Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada.
4. More than 75% pass out students of the Department cleared NET so far.
5. More than 70% students got placement in public and private sectors including one in abroad and two in administrative service.
6. Two post-doc students of General Biotechnology receiving DBT-RA fellowship completed their research in the department under the mentorship of Dr. P. Borah, HoD.
7. Organized 45 hands-on training programmes on various aspects of molecular biology, biotechnology and bioinformatics during the last 10 years.
In research:
1. Completed 5 (five) externally funded research projects and 4 (four) others are ongoing.
2. Published more than 20 research papers in reputed international peer-reviewed journals with NAAS factor 7.5 or more during the last 5 years alone, besides more than 30 other papers published in journals of national repute.
3. Provided mentorship and facilities to 86 external students since inception for doing research in the department.
4. The department has been recognized and sponsored as the Advance Level State Biotech Hub by DBT, Govt. of India for last 11 years.
5. Vaccine candidate Identified and evaluated:
a) Development of nanoparticles as vaccine adjuvants:
· Standardized a procedure of development of a Chitosan nanoparticle (ChNP) adjuvanted Salmonella Typhimurium outer membrane vesicle (OMV) complex vaccine. The ChNP-OMV (S. Typhimurium) vaccine was found to be capable of inducing prompt and strong immune response in mice and chicken.
· Standardized the procedure of preparation of an aluminium hydroxide nanoparticle adjuvanted bivalent Pasteurella multocida outer-membrane protein (capsular types A and D) complex vaccine. Evaluation of the immunopotential of the bivalent vaccine in mice revealed that it was highly efficient in stimulating IgG response against P. multocida capsular type A.
b) Expression of T2544 gene of Salmonella enteritidis in E. coli host and evaluation of immunogenicity of the recombinant protein in mice. The recombinant protein was found to induce strong immunity in mice.
c) A DNA vaccine expressing the ompH gene of Pasteurella multocida was developed against swine pasteurellosis which showed promising immunogenicity in laboratory animal models.
6. Microbial typing:
a) Virulence gene profiling and molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis.
b) Isolation, toxin profiling and molecular characterization of Clostridium difficile isolates from raw meat, meat products and fish products.
7. Isolation of bifidobacteria with probiotic potential from animal sources.
8. Formulation of a suitable medium for verification of goat follicular oocytes.
9. Production of cloned goat embryos by hand-made cloning.
10. Patent applied (Docket No. 40921 dtd. 17.12.2015) on “Whole outer membrane protein of Salmonella Typhimurium adjuvanted with calcium phosphate nanoparticles as vaccine against salmonellosis in chicken”.
11. Technologies developed/transferred/commercialized, if any:
The following technologies have been developed in the department since inception. However, they are not yet commercialized.
a) A recombinant PagN subunit vaccine against salmonellosis.
b) A DNA vaccine expressing the ompH gene of Pasteurella multocida against swine pasteurellosis
c) Standardized a procedure of production of a Chitosan nanoparticle (ChNP) adjuvanted Salmonella Typhimurium outer membrane vesicle (OMV) complex vaccine.
d) Standardized the procedure of preparation of an aluminium hydroxide nanoparticle adjuvanted bivalent Pasteurella multocida outer-membrane protein (capsular types A and D) complex vaccine.
e) Developed a Multiplex-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of major virulence genes of Salmonella enterica isolates from diverse sources.
f) Prediction of 3D structure of the antigenic components of the PagN protein of Salmonella using Bioinformatics facility and in vitro validation of the immunogenicity of the protein.
g) Development of a manual Rep-PCR based method for rapid molecular typing of Salmonella which is comparable to PFGE, the gold standard method in terms of its efficacy.
h) Development of a multiplex PCR based genotyping method for rapid identification of clinically important serovars of Salmonella enterica supported by an online database server.
In extension:
· The teachers and students participated in a number of extension camps organized from time time by Directorate of Extension Education and a number of lectures have also been delivered by the HOD.
· The HoD also delivered more than 170 online and offline lectures during the last 11 years in training/ webinars / seminars organized by different institutions on various topics.