HEADLINES
IIT Guwahati: Disposable biosensor selectively detects alcohol
There is a lot of interest now in developing biosensors that have short response time, selectivity and sensitivity. Researchers from IIT Guwahati have developed a paper-based biosensor that can detect ethanol. The short response time of about 10 seconds to detect ethanol and the range of concentrations to which the response was proportional make the biosensor particularly attractive. With available hand-held devices such as breath analysers being non-specific, non-selective, requiring extra power sources, being expensive to fabricate and so on, cheap and effective biosensors become necessary. The research has been published in the journalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.Read more…
Cabinet approves National Policy on Biofuels - 2018
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved National Policy on Biofuels – 2018. i. The Policy categorises biofuels as "Basic Biofuels" viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and "Advanced Biofuels" - Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category. ii. The Policy expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing materials like Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like Corn, Cassava, Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, unfit for human consumption for ethanol production.Read more…
IITians wield the scalpel for surgical tech edge
A handy, sophisticated device for an on-the-spot cervical cancer test. A semi-automatic device that makes liver biopsy simpler. An improvised retractor that facilitates better view and access to delicate inner body parts during surgical procedures. Newer ways to check rejection of stem cells from the affected site. These are some innovation ideas growing inKGMU-IIT Kanpur's biodesign programme. A team of of eight students from biological sciences and bioengineering department of IIT-K is atKGMUto interact with doctors to find innovative solutions to complex problems. Read more…/ / Find us on LinkedIn
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Healthcare Biotech
Scientists unravel how nithyakalyani makes potent cancer drug
An ornamental plant commonly found in India and elsewhere may emerge as the source of one of the largest-selling anti-cancer drugs, vinblastine, with a team of researchers from the UK helping find missing genes involved in the biosynthesis of the chemical. Sixty years ago, two Canadian scientists studying the anti-diabetic properties of the Madagascar periwinkle, known asnithyakalyaniin Tamil andsadabaharin Hindi, stumbled upon its anti-cancer properties. This led to the discovery of vinblastine and vincristine, used to treat various cancers.Read more…
Faster genome evolution methods to transform yeast
This is to develop a synthetic yeast strain that can be transformed on demand, making it particularly attractive for industrial biotechnology applications, such as the mass production of advanced medicines to treat illnesses such as Malaria and Tuberculosis (TB). It could also have massive implications for the future study of DNA. Led by Professor Patrick Cai at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, in collaboration with Prof. Junbiao Dai from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, two back-to-back papers are being published inNature Communicationson May 22nd, 2018. Read more…IISc team synthesises artificial enzyme
Nanomaterials that can behave like human enzymes have now been successfully synthesized by a team of researchers from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. They produced the new nanozyme — nanomaterial with enzyme-like activity — by using vanadium pentoxide nanocrystals of just 150-200 nm size. The nanozyme was able to act like the natural antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase in our body and help maintain the hydrogen peroxide levels within the threshold. They synthesised the nanozyme with four different morphologies — nanowires, nanosheets, nanoflowers and nanospheres.Read more…
New technology to detect chikungunya virus
Indian scientists have developed a biosensor technique which can be potentially help in detecting Chikungunya virus. According to the scientists, the technique can be used to develop a point of care device for rapid identification of the dreaded disease. This technique is based on molybdenum disulphide nanosheets. The researchers synthesized the nanosheets by chemical route and characterized them by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction.Read more…
Preliminary research shows non-invasive therapy may reverse atherosclerosis
An injection may one day be able to reverseatherosclerosis,according to emerging research presented at the American Heart Association’s Vascular Discovery: From Genes to Medicine Scientific Sessions 2018, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in vascular biology for researchers and clinicians. Atherosclerosis is characterized by a narrowing of arteries and blood vessels caused by a build-up of a hard, waxy substance called plaque, which is rich in cholesterol. Drugs such asstatinsare used to controllow density lipoprotein (LDL)the so-called bad cholesterol and thus decrease “plaque burden”, explained Neel A. Mansukhani, M.D. lead author of the study and an integrated vascular surgery fellow at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “But statins have not been proven to reverse the disease.” Mansukhani said.Read more…/
Agricultural Biotech
Genetically Modified Food: About, Present Scenario and Scope in India
Earlier, if we wanted to improve a breed, or crop we used natural breeding methods. However, the process is slow and there is little or no guarantee of any particular gene combination from the million of crosses generated. Since, genetic modification or genetic engineering techniques allows the direct transfer of one or just a few genes, between either closely or distantly related organisms, the desired results can be achieved more quickly with enhanced efficiency and predictability.Read more…
M’rashtra Farmers say they’ll Use GM SeedsEven as the country debates the use of genetic modification technology, some cotton farmers in Maharashtra have decided to defy government directives against the use of illegally propagated herbicide-resistant cotton varieties and other GM crops like brinjal and mustard. They have called their protest an ‘Agitation for Freedom to use Technology’.Read more…
IPR, Patents & Regulations
Fair trade regulator approves $66 billion Bayer-Monsanto deal
Fair trade regulator CCI has approved the German giant Bayer's proposed $66 billion acquisition of US-based biotech firm Monsanto, subject to certain modifications to the long-pending deal. The approval to the deal, announced in September 2016, assumes significance in the wake of Monsanto facing opposition from various quarters within India over promotion of genetically modified crops, as also over royalty and patent issues.Read more…China extends drug patents to 25 years
China will lengthen patent protection on pharmaceuticals to up to 25 years from 20 starting this month, in a move that appears aimed at deflecting U.S. criticism over intellectual property violations. Beijing has also scrapped import tariffs ranging up to 6% on 28 categories of drugs, including those used to treat cancer. Read more…DCGI soon to be empowered to issue drug-specific labelling requirements for new drugs even after completion of 4 years
The Central government is getting ready to make product-specific labeling requirements mandatory for new drugs even after the end of four years from the date of approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to prevent unapproved products and prescription medicines entering the market, sometimes as over-the-counter medications. The Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), the country’s highest drug advisory body on technical matters, has accepted the proposal to empower the DCGI to initiate action in this regard.Read more… /More News....
DBT won India Innovation Award 2018
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has been felicitated with India Innovation Award 2018. This recognition will provide extra boost and encouragements to researchers across the country for protection of IPs which is the key for technology development and product commercialization. DBT initiative in patenting innovation, technology transfer and close engagement with industries has given a new dimension to biotechnology research in India. Their portfolio includes patents filed in areas such as: Fermentation, Production of vaccines and antibiotics, Cell & tissue culture, Genetic engineering, Medical, Dental, Cosmetic applications of polymers, plant genetics, plant biotechnology etc.Read more…
Shriram Bioseed, KeyGene in rice research pact
Shriram Bioseed, the hybrid seed business of DCM Shriram, and KeyGene, an agri-biotech company based out of the Netherlands and US, have signed an agreement for a multi-year research programme. They plan to develop improved rice hybrids for higher yields, increased tolerance to abiotic stress and better grain quality. “Key Gene’s innovation platforms will be used to boost these important traits in Bioseed’s rice germplasm,” Paresh Verma, Director Research at Shriram Bioseed, said in a statement.Read more…
DBT announces the Biotech Product, Process Development & Commercialization Awards 2018To recognize the outstanding contributions of scientists / innovators / entrepreneurs / Indian institutions & companies both in public as well as private sector for a new process, product development and commercialization of a technology or a product in the areas of biotechnology and biological sciences including agriculture, biomedical and environmental sciences. Up to five awards are given every year. Each award carries a cash amount of `2.00 lakh along with a citation and trophy. Rs. 5.00 lakh would be given if the product is commercialized and has much higher impact of utilization in the country.Read more…
U.S. biotechs to speed work on Nipah vaccine as virus hits India
A global coalition set up a year ago to fight epidemics has struck a $25 million deal with two U.S. biotech companies to accelerate work on a vaccine against the brain-damaging Nipah virus that has killed 12 people in India. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) said on Thursday that Profectus BioSciences and Emergent BioSolutions would receive up to $25 million to advance development and manufacturing of a shot for the bat-borne disease.Read more…
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