Department of Biotechnology

The Department of Biotechnology was started the year 2002. Being the first institution under the Visvesvaraya Technology University (VTU) to recognize the need for an undergraduate technical program in biotechnology, Sir MVIT played a pioneering role in the formulation of the curriculum, starting with preparation of draft syllabus, organization of seminars/conferences/workshops, initiating industry-institute interactions & so on. Today, the department is well established with an excellent infrastructure and a highly competent team of faculty members drawn from various fields such as Bioinformatics, Plant biotechnology, Microbial biotechnology, Protein biochemistry, Environmental Engineering, Bioprocess technology & Chemical Engineering. Apart from imparting quality education, this Department has distinguished itself in the sphere of R & D activities as well.

BE (BIOTECHNOLOGY) – AN ENGINEERING COURSE:

The biotechnology course as an engineering degree focuses not only on the technological, computational and mathematical aspects of the sphere of biosciences, but also the application of the same with respect to industry and medicine. The BE course in biotechnology thus represents a bridge between biological sciences and the ‘conventional’ engineering disciplines.

PROGRAMMES OFFERED

BE Biotechnology
M.Sc (Engineering) by Research)
Ph.D (Both Science and Engineering)


Students Intake
Bio-Technology 60
M.Sc., (Engineering by Research)

The Department draws on the expertise of faculty members from various spheres of life sciences & engineering whose profile is listed as follows:-

Bio-Technology Teaching Faculty
Sl. No. Name Qualification Designation Area of Specialization
1. Dr. H G Nagendra Ph. D. Prof & H.O.D Structural Biology and Bioinformatics
2. Dr. N. Sathyanarayana Ph. D. Professor Plant Genomics
3. Dr. Chandrashekhar Naik Ph. D. Asst. Professor Fermentation Technology
4. Dr. Mrinalini Menon Ph.D. Senior Lecturer Protein Chemistry
5. Ms. A. Niveditha M.E. Lecturer Chemical Engineering
6. Mr. Jagadeesh Kumar M.Sc. Lecturer Biochemistry
7. Ms. Priya Narayanan M.Sc. M.Phil. Lecturer Microbiology & Biotechnology
8. Ms. Sudevi Basu M.Tech. Lecturer Environmental Engineering
9. Mr. C. Rajendra Singh M. Sc. Lecturer Biochemistry
10. Mr. Manjunath M.Tech. Lecturer Chemical Engineering
11 Ms. Rashmi K.V. M. Sc. Lecturer Biotechnology
12. Ms. Halima R. M.Tech. Lecturer Biotechnology


FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT THE DEPARTMENT:

    • Electrophoresis units
    • Peristaltic Pump
    • Ultraviolet Visible Spectrophotometer
    • Cooling Centrifuge
    • Baby Fermentor
    • PCR
    • Incubator
    • Binocular Microscope
    • Cooling Microfuge
    • High Speed Cooling Centrifuge
    • Ultrafiltration Assembly
    • Colony Counter
    • UV -Transilluminator
    • White light-Transilluminator
    • Autoclave
    • Distillation Setup (Simple, Packed Coloumn, and Steam)
    • Heat Transfer through packed bed
    • Tray dryer
    • Wetted Wall Coloumn Equipment
    • Seive Analysis Shaker
    • Leaf filter equipment
    • Packed bed extraction
    • Vertical Condenser
    • Computerised Flow Control, Pressure Control, and Temperature Control equipments
    • Interaction Systems
    • Non –Interaction Systems
    • Single Tank System
    • Batch Reactor
    • Plug Flow Reactor
    • Mixed Flow Reactor
    • Venturimeter Equipment
    • Orifice Equipment
    • Centrifugal pumps
    • Reciprocating Pumps
    • Plate and Frame Filtration Equipment
    • Settling Equipment.
    • Friction in Pipe equipment
    • Open Orifice.
    • GCG (Bioinformatics Lab with 30 P4 computers networked with the Linux server running GCG Wisconsin package and with full fledged internet facilities).

    Faculty pursuing Ph.D. :


    Sl. No.

    Name of the candidate

    Research Topic / Title

    Discipline

    Name of the guide

    1

    Mr. Jagadeesh Kumar D.

    Structural & Neuroinformatics Analysis of Neuropeptides implicated in alzheimeis disease

    Bio-informatics

    Dr. H.G. Nagendra

    2

    Ms. Priya Narayan

    Structural Investigations of neuropeptides implicated in Alzheimics disease.

    Structural Biology

    Dr. H.G. Nagendra

    3

    Ms. Reshma

    Structural characterization of hypothetical sequences

    Structural Biology

    Dr. H.G. Nagendra

    4

    Mr. Kuldeep D Raju

    Insilico investigation of disordered proteins and hypothetical sequences implicated in cancer

    Bio-informatics

    Dr. H.G. Nagendra

    5

    Mr. C. Rajendra Singh

    Purification of Anti-cancer drugs from herbal source

    Bio-Chemistry

    Dr. Chandrasekhar Naik

    6

    Ms. A. Niveditha

    Heavy metal removal using Immobilized Enzyme in Tacked and fluidized bed reactors

    Bio-Technology

    Dr. Archana, MSRIT

     

    PARTICULARS OF PAPERS PUBLISHED
    N Rathankar, K.A. Nirmala and H G Nagendra. In silico investigations of disordered regions in hypothetical sequences from the human proteome as drug targets (2008)- International J. Medical Engineering & Informatics- 1 : 187-194


    Sathyanarayana N, Rajesha R, Vikas PB and Bharath Kumar TN. (2008)- Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from stem explants of Leptadenia reticulata – An endangered medicinal plant. Ind. J. of Biotechnology. 7 : 250-254.


    Sathyanarayana N, Bharath Kumar TN, Vikas PB and Rajesha R. (2008)-In vitro clonal propagation of Mucuna pruriens var. utilis and evaluation of its genetic stability through RAPD markers. African Journal of Biotechnology 7: 973-980.


    S. S. Harini, M Leelambika, M N Shivakameshwari, N Sathyanarayana (2008)- Optimization of DNA isolation and PCR - RAPD methods for molecular analysis of Urginea indica Kunth. International Journal of Integrative Biology. 2: 138-144.


    Sathyanarayana N, Vikas PB, Rajesha R and Bharath Kumar TN. In vitro mass multiplication of Abrus precatorius. Linn  through axillary bud culture – Journal of Cytology and Genetics (In press).


    Dr. Chandrashekhar Naik , Baral, S., Darshan, N., Vikas, S (2009) -Purification & Characterization of a fibrinolytic thermostable metalloprotease from an alkalophilic Bacillus subtilis-CSN- New Biotechnology, 25.

    BESIDES 27 CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS MADE BY FACULTY MEMBERS TILL DATE.
     
    PROMINENT SYMPOSIA, WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES ORGANIZED BY THE DEPT.

    August 13 - 14, 2001: Two day workshop on curriculum development for a four year B.E degree course in Biotechnology (with the participation of 25 experts from Industry and academia).

    August 12 - 14, 2002: A three day workshop on Current trends in Bioinformatics.

    August 4 - 9, 2003: 6-day faculty development workshop in Biotechnology - “An orientation program for Biotechnology teachers”.

    July 28 - August 7, 2004: Faculty development workshop in Bioinformatics.

    October 27-28, 2004: “Abhyuday 2004”: 2-day inter-collegiate student development program.

    February 23, 2005: Curriculum Development Workshop for 2 year M. Tech. courses in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics.

    May 12-13, 2005: Symposium on ‘Career opportunities in Biotechnology’.

    September 29 - October 1, 2005: Abhyuday 2005 – Inter-collegiate Technical Extravaganza – 2 day symposium on “Role of Biotech Engineers in BT Sector”.

    February 28 – 2 March 2006:  National Seminar on Biomodeling, Biosensors and BioMEMS jointly organized by Department of Biotechnology, Sir M.VIT & TEAMTECH at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.           
    March 16 – 17 2006 : Symposium on Intellectual Property Rights in Engineering and Technology.


    August 7 – 14, 2006: Intensive Workshop on “Concepts in Biochemical engineering”.


    September 22 - 23, 2006: Workshop on “BE-Biotechnology - a course dissection”.

    September 25 - 26, 2006 : Workshop on “Insilico Protein Modeling” Jointly organized by Centre for Industry-Institute –Interaction, Sir MVIT & the Dept. of BT, Sir MVIT in collaboration with Accelrys Inc., ITPL, Bangalore.

    January 29 – 03 Feb. 2007 : A six day program “Computational Skill Set for Healthcare Jobs” Jointly organized by Centre for Industry-Institute –Interaction, Sir MVIT and Dept. of BT, Sir MVIT.

    May 28 – 08 June 2007  : Workshop on “Basic Techniques in Biotechnology”.

    August 6 – 11, 2007: Workshop titled “Clinical research - Advances & Opportunities” Jointly organized by Centre for Industry-Institute –Interaction, Sir MVIT & Dept. of Biotechnology, Sir MVIT.

    3-4 October 2007: Workshop on “Revision of Scheme and Syllabus for B.E. Biotechnology Course- Final blowup syllabus and model question papers for III & IV semester subjects”.

     

    October 23 – 25, 2007:   National Symposium on “Innovations in Biotechnology: Entrepreneurial Opportunities and IPR”.

    January 28 – February 2, 2008 : A 6 day intensive workshop on “Biomedical Informatics – Challenges and Opportunities”.

     Oct 1-3 2008 : National conference on Genomics, Proteomics & Systems Biology : held at the  JN Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (jointly conducted with Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore).

    Jan 29 – 30, 2009 : Curriculum development for two-year M.Tech. program in BioMedical Informatics.

    2– 4 March, 2009 : VTU-sponsored Workshop on revised syllabus contents for 4 newly introduced subjects of the B,E Biotechnology course  (5th to 8th semester).

    2 – 30 June 2009 : “Intensive workshop on Bioinformatics” for the students of Sri Padmavathi Mahila Vishwa Vidyalayam, Tirupathi.

    7 – 9 September 2009 : Faculty development programme on “Computational Drug Design” for the faculty of various engineering colleges.

    2-3 October 2009: National conference on Medical Biotechnology & Clinical Research: held at the  JN Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (jointly conducted with MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore)

     

    JAIVIK – DEPARTMENTAL FORUM: 

    The Department of Biotechnology Sir MVIT conducts several Student & Faculty Development Programs under the auspices of ‘JAIVIK’ - the Dept. Forum. Several lectures by eminent personnel from R&D, industry & academia have taken place since the inception of the Dept, numbering 70-80 in all, till date. Prominent corporate organizations represented at these talks include Biocon, Millipore India Pvt.Ltd, Strand Life Sciences, Astra Zeneca & Accelrys Inc, to name a few. Eminent scientists from reputed academic institutions such as the IISc, ICRI, IBAB, NCBS & JNCASR have also enriched the forum with their valuable inputs. The Jaivik forum has also been responsible for conducting hands-on training sessions & workshops in frontier areas of biotechnology such as clinical research & in silico drug design.

    The quarterly News letter- Genesis published as a part of the Jaivik forum activities caters to the need of a student of biotechnology, by updating him/her on current trends in biotechnology. Formally inaugurated on the 11th May, 2004 (National Technology Day), the newsletter contains articles written by the students, besides interviews conducted with prominent scientific personalities & profile coverage of prominent biotech industries.



    Lecture on Swine Flu Epidemic – Myths & Facts:

    A Lecture was arranged on “Swine Flue Epidemic – Myths & Facts on 29th August, 2009 by Dr. Chandrasekhar Naik, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Bio-Technology.

    GREEN HOUSE:

    Green House facility with the dimension of 25/45 has been constructed in the dept. to facilitate research in plant bio-technology at the cost of Rs. 3.5 lakhs, provided by the Trust. The research funding has been provided by the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India.

    ALUMNI MEET:



    Alumni meet of Bio-Technology was conducted on 31st January, 2009. They shared the experiences in their career and higher studies with the present students.

    MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DEPT.:

    • Permanent Affiliation granted to the Dept. of Biotechnology by the VTU for the period 2008-11.

    • University Ranks obtained by the students during 2005-06 & 2006-07.

    • Recognition as Research Center under the VTU since 2005-06 (presently 4 PhDs &  3  M.Sc Engg. students are working at the Research Center).

    • Funded Research Projects under prominent national agencies such as DST, VTU & UGC, besides an international  project funded by the Kirkhouse Trust, UK as well.

    VISION FOR THE FUTURE:

    • Curriculum Development activities for specialized post-graduate programs in biotechnology.
    • Networking of institutions towards establishment of a Center of Excellence in specialized domains of Biotechnology.
    • Collaborative R&D projects with reputed labs of international standing.
    • Association with foreign universities for award of higher degrees.
    • Development of incubation centers facilitating growth & development of Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Biotechnology.

    Phone: 91-80 – 28467248/ 28477024/ 28477025/ 28477026
    Extn: 178 (HOD), 180 (Office), 177 (Staff 1), 179 (Staff 2)


    HOD email: nagshaila@sirmvit.edu