New R&D products/techniques from CEERI · The Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI), ... technologies/consultancies were provided to industry: ... Pantnagar and

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ISSN 0409-7467

VOL 58 NO 2 30 JANUARY 2008

The Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI), Pilani, has developed a number of

This is a generic structure for fabrication of gas sensors providing an elevated temperature platform for deposition of metal oxide films. Tin oxide, titanium dioxide and tungsten oxide are some of the commonly used materials for the fabrication of these sensors. Temperature in the range of 200-500ºC is required to optimise the performance of the above materials.

As compared to conventional technology-based hotplates, MEMS hotplate offers the advantages of very low-power consumption, around a few milliwatts, to reach these temperatures (the hot area being a thin membrane of low thermal conductivity), fast thermal response (in the range of milliseconds), small size, robustness, batch fabrication capability and low-cost.

The microhotplate developed at CEERI comprises a serpentine polysilicon heater fabricated on a 100 micron × 100 micron membrane of thermal silicon dioxide. For electrical insulation, the polysilicon heater is covered with a PECVD oxide layer. An interdigitated pair of chromium-gold electrodes has been patterned on this oxide layer for measuring the resistance of a gas sensing film to be deposited over it. Cr/Au contacts for the heater have also been defined in this metallisation layer. The polysilicon heater serves the additional role of temperature sensor.

The composite microhotplate structure of thermal oxide-polysilicon-PECVD oxide-Cr/Au layer has been suspended by four diagonal microbridges over a cavity in silicon etched by bulk micro machining process. The chip contains an array of four unit cells having the structural configuration described above. It has been mounted on a multi-pin header for wire bonding.

new products/techniques in the area of its expertise. A brief description of these is as follows:

MEMS Hotplate for Metal Oxide Gas Sensors

New R&D products/techniques from CEERI

CSIR NEWS1818181818

R&D HighlightsR&D HighlightsR&D HighlightsR&D HighlightsR&D Highlights

Based on the temperature coefficient of resistanceof polysilicon and observed resistance changes, onapplying a bias to the heater, a temperature up to 367°Chas been estimated for a heater resistance ≈2 kΩ at alow-power supply voltage of 5V, corresponding to apower dissipation ≈18 mW. These are preliminaryresults and further studies are in progress.

Microheater-embedded gas sensors find wideapplications in automobile exhaust emission controland for monitoring industrial environmental pollutionby detecting gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen

Microhotplate Chip Top View of the Wire-Bonded Chip

Packaged Microhotplate Devices

dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ethanol, acetone vapours,ammonia, etc.

Microhotplate Specifications

Poly Si heater finger width : 10 µmInterdigitated electrode width : 10 µmWidth of the micro bridge : 30 µmHeater size : 70 × 70 µm2Hotplate size : 100 × 100 µm2Cavity size : 300 × 300 µm2Die size : 2.1 × 2.1 mm2

The development will lead to indigenisation of gassensor technology.

Optical Power Splitter

Silica-based planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) havelately attracted considerable attention due to theirinherent superiority like low-insertion loss, possibilityof hybrid integration, reproducibility and long-termreliability for the development of wavelength divisionmultiplexing (WDM) and Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH)applications. In view of its technological relevance,CEERI initiated an R&D activity in this importantarea of research under the CSIR network programme

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Packaged 1 x 8 Optical Power Splitter

Optical Field of the Device

Output from 1 x 8 Splitter at 632.8 nm

of 15 µm thickness is applied as a top cladding layer.Figure shows the simulated E-field and optical field ofthe device.

Input Parameters

Thickness of core : 8 µmThickness of cladding : 15 µmRefractive index of core : 1.4490Refractive index of clad : 1.4445Relative index difference : 0.3%No. of input/output channels : 1 x 8Central wavelength : 1550.12 nm

Simulated results

E-field : 0.359 (max) and 0.325 (min)Neff : 1.4497Insertion Loss : 9.989 dBNon-uniformity : 0.864 dB

Edge polishing and packaging of device werecarried out at IRDE, Dehra Dun and at SAMEER,Mumbai, respectively. Insertion loss of ≈12-16 dB andnon-uniformity of ≈2-3 dB were observed across thechannel. Further optimisation of material and processparameters is in progress to achieve the state-of-the-art results.

on ‘Key technologies for photonics and optoelectronics’.Recently, a dual frequency PECVD system capable ofdepositing thick doped/un-doped silica film (≈ 30 µm)with desired refractive index contrast has beeninstalled along with design software andcharacterisation equipment like prism coupler andellipsometer. Initially, 1 × 8 optical splitter has beenchosen as a test-vehicle to demonstrate the processand fabrication capabilities.

Optical power splitter is a crucial component forPassive Optical Network (PON) such as cable TVnetwork and FTTH. Depending upon the structureand design, a splitter splits power in equal or unequalparts. Recently, CEERI has developed Silica-on-Silicon technology based 1 × 8 Optical Power Splitterwhich divides the input power into eight equal parts.Light is guided through an 8 µm core layer havinghigher refractive index. Core layer is deposited overan un-doped silica layer of 15 µm, which acts as underclad layer. Boro-phospho-silicate-glass (BPSG) layer

Fiel

d

Simulated E-field

0.369

0.287

0.216

0.143

0.072

1.4497

1.4487

1.4476

1.4460

-227.4 0.0 227.4 464.8

Field/Neff

Width (µm)

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Larger Size Platinum Heater(Pt Heater)

A small size Pt heater (5.0 mm × 5.0 mm× 0.6 mm) on alumina substrate was developed and alarge number of such heaters were delivered to userdepartments for developing gas sensors under a DSTprogramme. In order to explore the other applicationsof Pt heater, a larger size heater (12.5 mm×12.5×0.6mm) on alumina substrate has been developed whichcan be used for solder reflow technique, annealing ofmetallised semiconductor devices (at about 450°C),e-nose and other applications.

Tin-plated copper wires of 100 µm diameter weresoldered to the source and drain of the ISFET chipdeveloped at CEERI by using the larger size Pt heater.

New Soldering Technique for ISFETSensors

A new technique for direct soldering of tin-platedcopper wire on to bonding pads of ISFET device hasbeen developed. The technique avoids conventionalwire bonding and improves bond strength. It is low-cost and more reliable, giving above 90% yield. Thistechnique was used for packaging of single and multipleISFET sensors.

In a single packaged ISFET sensor, one ISFETdevice was mounted on epoxy PCB of 3 mm widthand 11 cm length. The bottom contact was made usinga conductive epoxy. Tin-plated copper wires weresoldered on the bonding pads of the device using theabove technique. Other ends of these wires weresoldered to the copper conducting lines of the PCB.

The connecting wires, the conducting strips andpartially ISFET chip (except the gate portion) wereprotected by insulating epoxy. The packaged devices

Pt Heater

Thin Wire Reflow Soldering on ISFET Pads

Single ISFET Sensor

Multiple ISFET Sensors

were tested and their performance was satisfactory.In multiple ISFET sensors, four ISFET devices weremounted on epoxy PCB of 20 mm width and 8 cmlength. The remaining fabrication steps were similarto the single packaged ISFET.

Microwave Circuits usingLow-temperature Co-fired Ceramic(LTCC) for SAC (ISRO)

Three different microwave circuits, namely LC-Powerdivider, LC-BPF and Laminated BPF were fabricatedas per specifications of SAC. Processes involved are

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LC Power Divider

LC-BPF

Laminated BPF

9-screen preparation, cutting of LTCC tape (104 and254 µm thick), printing of conductor, 250 µm viaformation, via filling, alignment hole formation, cutformation, stacking of LTCC structures, iso-staticlamination, cutting to circuit size and firing. Fivesamples each of LC-Power divider, Laminated BPFand LC-BPF have been delivered to SAC. Thesecircuits met the desired specifications.

Striving for excellence, the Central Institute ofMedicinal & Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow,

has been making significant R&D achievements inits area of expertise. During 2006-07, 11 CIMAPtechnologies/consultancies were provided to industry:Crop consultancy on patchouli and lemongrass to MrRoger Binny, Bangalore; Project report for cultivationand processing of MAPs to M/s Margadarsi ChitFunds Ltd, Hyderabad; Consultancy for menthol mintcultivation to Emami Biotech Pvt Ltd, Kolkata;Consultancy for cultivation of Artemisia annua (var.CIM-Arogya) to M/s Disinfecto Chemical IndustriesPvt Ltd; Consultancy for vetiver distillation unit toM/s Satish Organic India Pvt Ltd, Belgaum,Karnataka; Cultivation and distillation of patchoulito M/s Balagundar Estates, Somvarpet; Materialtransfer agreement with M/s NESSO Pvt Ltd,Mysore; Designing, fabrication and installation of fielddistillation unit to PSCST, Chandigarh; Designdrawing of directly fired type field distillation unit toM/s Avadh Nasesh, Etah, U.P. and Mr M. Runigta,Bihar; and Technology for mosquito repellent spray,mosquito repellent cream and hand disinfectant toM/s Vitomed Healthcare, Jaipur. In addition five plantvarieties and five products were released.

During the year, six sponsored projects werecompleted, 30 sponsored projects were progressingaccording to plan and 19 R&D projects, 12consultancy projects and one collaborative projectwere taken up. CIMAP has been working as nodallaboratory for two and is participating laboratory in14 of the CSIR’s network projects for mission moderesearch. Twenty-two patents (19 foreign) weregranted to the institute. One hundred and sixteenoriginal research articles, eight book chapters and 42popular articles were published, and 49 seminarpresentations and 79 invited talks were given by thescientists of CIMAP. The various institute’s

Central Institute ofMedicinal & Aromatic

Plants, LucknowR & D Highlights: 2006-07R & D Highlights: 2006-07

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publications, i.e. the MAP journal,farm bulletins, popular magazines(Hindi & English), technologybulletins, information folders,souvenirs, proceeding of instituteseminars (Gyanankur), AnnualReport and two issues of thenewsletter were also brought out.During 2006-07, the institute earnedan EBR of Rs 394.902 lakh, vis-à-visCSIR grant of Rs 1762.33 lakh andnetwork programme budget of Rs312.074 lakh.

Highlights of SignificantR&D Achievements

During 2006-07

Bio-village MissionThe Artemisia Bio-village

Mission Programme wassuccessfully implemented in UdhamSingh Nagar, Nainital, Pauri,Champawat and Haridwar districtsof Uttarakhand, and Pilibhit,Bareilly, Rampur, Moradabad andBijnore districts of Uttar Pradesh.The pharmaceutical companiesdirectly purchased the produce fromthe farmers.

Three varieties of vetiverVetiveria zizanioides, namelyCIMAP/KS-1, Dharini and Gulabi,were Supplied to 45 farmers topromote their cultivation.

The rose-scented geranium cropwas raised by the farmers and linkedto taker industry with the guidanceof Team CIMAP at Champawat andadjoining areas in Uttarakhand.

Development ofImproved Varieties

The improved cultivar ‘CIM –Sujal’ of fennel has average seed and

oil yieldof about9.73 q and22.87 kg/ha,respectivelywith high t-a n e t h o l econtent (75-80%) and lowf e n c l i o n ec o n t e n t(8.08%).

‘ C I M -Jeeva,’ ani m p r o v e dcultivar ofJava citronella, is characterized byremarkably high plant survival rate(90.95%) not observed in the checkvarieties-Mandakini and Bio-13. Itconsistently shows higher herb andoil yield in all field evaluation trialsin different locations. The improvedvariety ‘CIM-Jagriti’ of brahmi(Bacopa monnieri) has a yieldpotential of producing on an average85 kg/h of bacoside–A from anaverage dry herb yield of 40q/h.

‘CIM-Balya’, a high rhizomeand oil yielding variety of vachh(Acorus calamus), developed andreleased by CIMAP gave highestdry rhizome (10.85 t/h), and oilcontent of 0.61% and 0.66% atPantnagar and Lucknow,respectively.

The variety ‘CIM-Ajar ’ ofKewanch (Mucuna puriens) is anearly maturing variety with high L-dopa content (6.18%). The variety istrichome free.

Genetic Improvementand Breeding Efforts

In opium poppy (Papaver

somniferum) the maximum valuesfor heterosis of 17.1% for capsules/plant, 15.3% for straw yield/plant,13.9% for seed yield/plant and 11.6%for morphine content were shownby the crosses, SG35II×VG20,VN23×VN351, VN23, VN351 andVN23×SG35II, respectively. Basedon these results, four promisingvarieties/strains (SG35II, VG20,VN23 and VN351) involved as theparents in the four topical crosseswere selected in crop improvementprogramme through hybridbreeding in opium poppy.

MMS-49, a strain of mentholmint, was found to perform betterboth in terms of herbage, oil contentand oil yields. The yield of essentialoil in MMS-49 was 7-11% higherthan variety Kosi and 15-20% higherthan Kushal.

New Products, Formulationsand Technology Packages

An effective all purpose cream‘HAloe Skin’ has been developedfrom Aloe vera. The creampossesses wound healing and anti

Effect of soil sodicity (S1:ESP 35.0 and S

2:18.0) on

the growth of rose scented geranium

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fungal properties and can also beused to cure cracks in heels,chapped hands and dry skin. AnAyurvedic based nutritive tonic‘CIM-Paushak’ has been developedin the form of awaleh. Theformulation comprises twelvepowerful Ayurvedic ingredientsknown for their nutritive values withEmblica officinalis and sugar as thebase. A nutraceutical, ‘CIM-Phalse’, has been developed usingonly two ingredients and anexcepient from the Indiantraditional system of medicine. Boththe fruits used are known for theirmedicinal properties besides theirnutritional values. A shampoo,‘Herby Soft’, was prepared based onIndian traditional knowledge of haircare, and was released.

Phyllocladana diterpenoidswere isolated from Callicarpamacrophylla (Family Verbenaceae)which has been found to promote theplant growth while simultaneouslyhaving property to alleviate theeffects of growth retardantallelochemicals. Also, the processtechnology and formulation of ‘CIM-Upaj’, a plant growth promoter, hasbeen developed. A value addedherbal shampoo for dandruff controlwith natural conditioning wasreleased on World EnvironmentDay. The shampoo, ‘Geraniumactive’, has the active ingredientfrom a standard chemotype ofPelargonium graveolens.

Processing Technologies,Value Addition and Upscaling

The lead anticancer taxoidbrevifoliol, for which a processingtechnology has been developed for

its isolation inlarge quantitiesfrom the leavesof Taxusbrevifolia, wasconverted intoits differentsemi-syntheticanalogues. Theanalogues havebeen preparedfor the first timefrom brevifoliol.Some of thes y n t h e s i z e danalogues haveselective ands i g n i f i c a n tactivity againstc e r t a i ncancers.

The earlierprocess for theisolation of theliver protectivec o u m a r i n o -lignoids Cliv-92 from the seeds ofCleome viscosa has now beensuccessfully upscaled with a batchsize of 50 kg. In the upscaledprocess, the yield of thecoumarinolignoids Cliv-92 hasincreased by two folds, i.e. from0.32% to 0.64%.

The process technologydeveloped for the isolation ofcalliterpenone ex Callipcarpamacrophylla has now been upscaledto a level of 30 kg/batch.Optimisation of the processparameters has resulted in manyfold increase in the yield of theproduct.

Extraction of the herb Coleusforskohlii was carried out at 2 kglevel. An HPLC quality control

method was developed andstandardized for the analysis offorskolin.

A one pot conversion ofartemisinin to ASA (artesunic acid)was developed earlier using columnchromatography (CC) aspurification step, yielding pure ASA(about 96%). Subsequently animproved process has beendeveloped by removing thepurification CC step with 10%enhancement in the yield (about106% w/w).

Estradiol based steroidalchalcones have been synthesized.Chalcones are well known foranticancer activities. In most ofcases of chalcones, the anticanceractivities reported were found in µM

Cleome viscosa plant

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concentration. One of the CIMAPsynthesized compounds has beenreported to be the most activesynthesized chalcone so far, havingIC 50 value at 0.21 nMconcentration.

New Analytical Methods

An HPTLC method wasdeveloped by CIMAP for the qualityanalysis of ‘Ashwagandharishta’ and‘Ashwagandha-crude drug’. Inaddition, an HPTLC method wasdeveloped for the profile analysis ofCIMAP lead (IVT-15); HPTLCfingerprints have been generatedfor different Phyllanthus species. Areversed-phase high performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC) withphotodiode array detection methodwas developed to determinebioactive polyphenolic substancesmethyl-orcinolcarboxylate (MBO)and ethyl haematommate (EH) inthalli of various lichen species. AnHPTLC method was developed forthe quality analysis of ‘CIMPaushak’, an Ayurvedic based tonicof CIMAP. A characteristic peakprofile for ‘CIM-Paushak’ wasdesignated; and a robust methodwas developed to evaluate niaziridinand niazirin in samples fromMoringa oleifera as well as forquality assurance ofpharmacologically activestandardized extract.

Integrated Nutrient andPest Management

The effect of AM fungi wasevaluated on the root and shootbiomass yield of and control of root-rot and wilt disease in Ashwagandha

under glasshouse conditions. Thestudy showed that inoculation at 30days prior to planting with Glomusaggregatum was most effectiveresulting in 90% survivility of theplant with increase in root and shootbiomass. Antagonistic activity ofdifferent rhizospheric bacterialisolates from healthy Ashwagandhaplant growing in the field wasevaluated in vitro against F. solaniby dual culture method. Thefindings indicate that two bacterialisolates, viz. WS-1 and WS-9antagonize the growth of F. solani.

Studies on influence of differentmycorrhizal fungi on the reserpinecontent of Sarpgandha have shownthat sole treatment of G. mosseae,G. fasciculatum, G. margarita andG. aggregatum increase the freshroot biomass yield by 203, 157, 135and 103%, respectively, overuntreated control.

Two species of bacteria havebeen isolated from the root and stemof infected Coleus forskohlii.

The flower and fruit rot duringJuly-September in north Indianplains in sarpgandha fields wasfound to be caused by a fungusRhizopus stolonifera.

In continuation of molecularstudies of ssDNA containing viruson M. viridis, AVI gene coding forvirus coat protein (CP) was clonedand sequenced. The CP gene ofBegomovirus producing leaf curldisease on M. viridis showed thehighest level of sequence identity(93%) to whitefly-transmitted IndianBegomovirus from Taberna-emontana divaricata.

Influence of four selectedbioinoculants namely, Bacillussubtilis, Glomus aggregatum, G.intraradices and Trichodermaharzianum was studied using themalone and in different combinationsto evaluate their response over plantheight, number of plantletproduction and herb yield of andincidence of black spot disease inAloe vera. Maximum plant heightattained was 56 cm in Glomusintradices treated plants followed by53 cm in Bacillus subtilis and B.subtilis + Glomus aggregatumtreatments.

Use of four different AM fungi,viz. Glomus aggregatum, G.fasciculatum, G. intraradices and G.mosseae, alone and in combinationswith Bacillus subtilis showed thatthe mycorrhizal treatmentsignificantly increases the growthand total biomass invariably overnon mycorrhizal control plantsunder glasshouse conditions.

Bioactivity Prospection

Thymol from the essential oil ofTrachyspermum ammi seeds wasidentified as repellent andinsecticidal against Anophelesstephensi. Extract of Ailanthusexcelsa and Ageratum conyzoides

CIM-PaushakTLC Plate

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were found to be highly effective asboth larvicidal and growth disruptorat 80.0 g/ml concentration. Theovicidal and adulticidal assayrevealed promosing potential inextracts of Catharanthus roseus andAdhatoda vasica. A crystallinetaxoid C28H40010 (M+536), isolatedand identified from the needles ofthe Himalayan yew Taxuswallichiana, was found to possessdose dependent cytotoxic activityagainst five cancer cell lines asdetermined by MTT and clorogenicassays. Some of the cinnamic acidderivatives, i.e. caffeic acid and3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamic acidmodified into their diamides, haveshown potent cytotoxicity(1C50=1.4 nM to 144 nM) againstseveral human cancer cell lines, i.e.,KB 403 (Oral and mouth), CaCO2

(Colon), WRL (Liver) and HEPG2

(Liver); The bioactivity guidedfractionation of hexane extract ofvetiver led to the identification oftwo pure molecules, khusimol andkhusenic acid, which exhibited theactivity against fluoroquinolone (FQ)drug resistant strains ofMycobacterium smegmatis.

The MTT assay of some lichensfrom Indian Himalaya speciesrevealed significant cytotoxicity(IC90= 10 µg/ml) on one of thetested human cancer cell lines forat least one extract of each lichenspecies; A formulation comprisingOcimum and Glycyrrhiza inPhyllanthus base was prepared asper the standard Ayurvedicmethodology. Upon quantificationbody weight showedimmunopotentiation greater thanthe vehicle control. CLIV-92, ahepatoprotective molecule, was

tested for its effect on the pro andanti-inflammatory cytokines underin-vivo conditions. The resultssuggest that CLIV-92 can augmentthe protection of liver stressed bythe intake of chemotherapeuticagents by inhibiting the expressionof pro-inflammatory cytokinins.Leaves of Bidens pilosa (FamilyAsteraceae), commonly known ashairy beggarticks, were extracted.The ethyl acetate fraction showedgood antibacterial activity. Caffeicacid phenethyl esters (CAPE) andthe structurally related ‘Tyrphostins’have been found to be anti-HIV-Iintegrase and anticancer agents.Trimethoxy cinnamic acidderivatives were found to havehigher anticancer activity.

Phytochemical Prospection

A new aliphatic glucoside,isolated from the hexane extract ofaerial parts of Clerodendruminerme, has been characterized aspentadecanoic acid – β-D-glucoside. The leaves of theplant Mitragyna parvifolia haveafforded two new alkaloids,viz. 16, 17-dihydro-17 β—hydroxyisomitraphylline and 16,17 – dihydro- 17 β- hydroxy mitraphylline. Theessential oil composition of Murrayaexotica leaves and flowers fromCIMAP Research Farm, Lucknow,were analyzed by GC and GC-MS,which resulted in the identificationof 56 and 72 constituents,representing 99.8% and 99.2% of theoils, respectively. The rhizomeessential oils of Curcumaangustifolia from Central andSouthern India were subjected toGC-MS analysis, which resulted in

the identification of 81 and 78constituents, accounting for morethan 95 and 99% of the oil content,respectively. The leaves of Indianyew Taxus wallichiana, growing inGulmarg, J&K, on hydrodistillation,gave 0.025% essential oil on a freshweight basis. GC and GC-MSanalysis of the oil resulted in theidentification of 62 constituents,representing 93.3% of the oil. Theoil of the exotic plant Culantro(Eryngium foetidum) was found to berich in trans-2-dodecenal (45.89%)followed by mesitaldehyde (10.81%)and dodecanal (9.27%).Interestingly, these constituentswere also observed in the oil ofcommon Coriander leaf(Coriandrum sativum).

Plant Genomics &Molecular Biology

The crucial gene in theartemisinin biosynthetic pathwayamorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ads)from the artimisinin-rich genotypeCIM Arogya was isolated, clonedand sequenced. The end sequenceprovides homology with therespective genes in the database.This will provide a starting steptowards the bio-mimetic synthesisof artimisinin in heterologousexpression system.

The gene involved in initial stepof benzyliso-quinoline alkaloidbiosynthetic path-way, tyrosinedecarboxylase (tydc), was clonedand end-sequenced. The endsequence provides homology withthe gene sequence present in thedatabase.

Analysis of chloroplast DNApolymorphism through AP-PCR


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was carried out to predict thedifference, if any, and correlate itwith the disease resistance, inPapaver somniferum. Sequenceanalysis of cloned DNA fragmentrevealed similarity with plastidencoded RNA polymerase subunitrpoCI encoding RNA polymerasesubunit of divergent higher plantslike Eucalyptus, Arabidopsis,Nicotiana and also tobacteria like E. coli.

A novel terpeneacetyltransferase (AAT)has been identified,isolated andcharacterized frompalmarosa. The enzymebelonging to BAHDfamily of proteins formsthe key basis ofbiosynthesis of geranylacetate in the plant.

Genetic diversitywas characterized byPCR based RAPD

marker technique inCommiphora wightti,commonly known asguggul, collected fromdifferent regions ofRajasthan and Gujaratand regarded asdifferent accessions.

SequenceSubmissions to

Public Databases

The following havebeen submitted toGenBank (NCBI): 106ESTs of Papaversomniferum (accessionnumbers: EB388963-

EB389068), 67 ESTs specific tomenthol-induced human coloncancer cell-line Caco-2 (accessionnumbers: EE683989-EE684055),Bacillus sp. CIMAP B1-16Sribosomal RNA gene, (partialsequence) (accession numberDQ675022); and Human mRNA foralpha-1 antitrypsin variant fromIndia (accession numberDQ682455).

Plant Tissue Culture

To maintain true to the planttype collections of Withaniasomnifera, an efficient method of invitro shoot propagation using sixelite accessions of collectedgermplasm from all over the countrywas developed. Multiple shootcultures of the experimental lines ofW. somnifera plants establishedusing nodal segment as ex-plantunder specific hormonalcombinations of benzyl adenine andkinetin resulted in significantlyhigher level of biogeneration ofwithanolide A in the in vitro shoots.Production of withaferin A was alsofound in the in vitro shoot cultures.In withanolide A biosyntheticstudies in the in vitro culturednormal roots as well as native/orphan roots study it has beenunequivocally illustrated that W.somnifera roots inherently andlocally biosynthesize withanolide denovo from precursor primarymetabolites.

A method for hairy rootinduction was developed in Solanum

nigrum. In vitro raisedplant’s leaf and stemwere used as explantsource for theAgrobacterium mediatedgenetic transformation ofS. nigrum. AnA g r o b a c t e r i u mrhizogenes -mediatedhairy root line (CR-N2) ofCatharanthus roseus(var. Nirmal) has beendeveloped that exhibitsunique capability toregenerate transgenicplants via adventive

Eryngium foetidum

Capsule of var. Sampada


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Capsule of var. Sujata

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shoot bud organogenesis on amodified medium. The transgenicshoots were found to be highserpentine yielders in vitro whencompared with high ajmalicine andserpentine accumulation in theparent transgenic root clone.

An ingenious protocol foreradicating the prevalence ofphytoplasma infection in theavailable A. roxburghiana plantswas developed through apicalmeristem culture. A. roxburghianahas been effectively used as an anti-pyretic tonic and also for treatmentof skin allergies.

A high throughput micro-propagation protocol using stem discexplant was developed and is beingutilized for mass multiplication ofthe improved variety ‘CIM-Oj’, ofChlorophytum borivilianum (safedmusli), for its early commercialcultivation

An efficient protocol for directshoot regeneration from leaf explantshas been developed for the first timein Artemisia annua (variety CIM-Arogya). The method is being usedto standardize the transformation

system using Agrobacteriumtumefaciens strains LBA-4404 andEHA-105

Synthetic seed technology offersan important option for ex situbiodiversity conservation andmaintenance in tissue banks.Methods for synseed productionhave been standardized in Vincaminor, Bacopa monnieri, Rauvolfiaserpentina, Hypericum perforatum,Pelargonium graveolenes andCentella asiatica. Test resultsindicate that these synthetic seedscan be stored at 4-100C for onemonth.

Using young offset as explants,a rapid in vitro micro-cloningmethod has been developed toproduce disease-free stocks of Aloevera (var. CIM-Sheetal). Thedeveloped protocol is also beingexploited to screen disease resistantlines against Alternaria toxininduced screen.

Basic Sciences

Artificial polyploids have beendeveloped in a seed forming clone

of vetiver, Vetiveria zizaniodes. Thepolyploids thus developed evincenot only high gametic and seedsterility but are also accompaniedby enhanced biological potential forthe characters associated withincreased cell size and physico-physiological efficiency. This has farreaching implications in utilizing agiven ideotype for efficientapplication of vetiver ecotechnologyfor its multifarious environmentaland industrial applications.

It has been observed in Brahmi(Bacopa monnieri) that Crconcentration in plant increaseswith increased supply of Cr,indicating the hyper-accumulativecapacity of Brahmi. The experimentsuggests that because of its hyperaccumulation ability hyper-accumulation Brahmi could be usedas a scavenger to clean Crcontaminated soils.

To characterize the withanolidemetabolome of the plant,Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)a high resolution DAD-ELSD-HPLC method of analysis ofcomplex mixture of withanolidesfrom leaves and roots of Withaniasomnifera plant has been developedand validated.

Artemisia verlotiorum(Asteraceae) plant which is native ofWestern China has been introducedand acclimatized at CIMAP. Theessential oil was extracted and oilcomposition studied. The resultsindicate that even in the subtropicalclimate α –thyone was found as themajor constituent of the oil.

Effect of calliterpenones, acompound isolated from Callicarpa,on rooting of stem cuttings ofrosemary and geranium showed

Field view ofArtemisia annuaexperiment


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improvements in root and shootweights when co-inoculated with asuperior strain of Azotobacter-AZ 26.

Cytokinins were found to beeffective in positively influencinggrowth, flowering, and enzymicactivity in Rosa damascena.

Peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase,succinate dehydrogenase, amylase,catalase, proline content, protein

content and IAA content werestudied at different stages.Peroxidase activity decreased withthe age of flower. The highestperoxidase activity was recordedduring green bud stage andcoloured bud stage coinciding withearly flower development.

Application of growthretardants, viz ethrel chormequat

chloride and paclobutrazolsignificantly enhanced thetotal pyrithrin in flowers. Thesum of pyrethrins multipliedby average dry weight offlowers (mg of flower) washigher due to application ofgrowth retardants.

Post harvest changes inyield and quality of oil inleaves of patchouli weredetermined by monitoring thechanges in distribution of14CO2 assimilatedmetabolites. The 14C feedingstudies support that itscontent in oil and patchoulolwas maximum at five days ofstorage.

Studies relating to effectof gibberellin and ethereal inFe cultured Catharanthusroseus showed that ironapplication @ 11.2 mg/1 withethrel significantly enhancedFe uptake. The ethylene herepresumably acts as an elicitorin Fe uptake.

Gene Bank Status/Updates

During 2006-07, 476accessions have been added toseed gene bank raising thepresent tally to accession of2286 species. In vitro bankhas been enriched by 16accessions and now comprises248 accessions. The DNAbank now comprises 1322accessions with the additionof 67 accessions.

Regenerates of Artemisia roxburghiana under different conditions


30 JANUARY 2008 2929292929

From Vaccines to Virogenomics

Prof. P. N. Rangarajan’s Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize-winning Work

Prof. P. N. Rangarajan,Department of Biochemistry,

Indian Institute of Science,Bangalore, has been awarded theShanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize inMedical Sciences for the year 2007for his research contributions in thearea of recombinant vaccines andvirogenomics. He was the first toinitiate research on DNA vaccinesin India and his research hasspanned the development of DNAvaccines against Japaneseencephalitis virus (JEV) and rabiesvirus as well as characterization ofhost genes activated in mouse brainby these neurotropic viruses. Hedeveloped a novel vaccinationstrategy which has led to thedevelopment of a novel combinationrabies vaccine. Preclinical toxicitystudies of this vaccine have beencompleted and the veterinaryvaccine is likely to be introduced inthe market under the trade nameDINARAB by IndianImmunologicals Limited,Hyderabad, after obtainingapprovals from regulatory agencies.He also contributed to indigenousrecombinant Hepatitis B vaccineproduction in India by developingrecombinant yeast strainsexpressing high levels of HepatitisB surface antigen. These strainswere transferred to two companiesin Hyderabad, one of which(Biological E Limited) launched therecombinant hepatitis B vaccine asBEVAC on 22 December 2004 whilethe other (Indian Immunologicals

Limited) launched it as ELOVAC on26 September 2006.

To understand host geneexpression changes during virusinfection, Prof. Rangarajan isolateda number of host genes that aredifferentially expressed in mousebrain during JEV infection andcharacterized many of them. One ofthese genes was shown to encode anovel noncoding RNA called VINCwhich localizes to distinct nuclearstructures called paraspeckles.Another virus-inducible geneencoding the interferon-inducibletetratricopeptide repeat protein 2(IFIT2) was shown to be localizedin microtubules of mitotically activecells. One of the genes downregulated during JEV infection wasshown to encode Ca2+/calmodulinkinase II inhibitor α, which for thefirst time, was shown to be localizedin the post synaptic density (PSD)of mouse brain.

In addition to leading his ownresearch group focussed oneukaryotic gene expression andinfectious diseases, Prof. Rangarajanhas also contributed to a number ofcollaborative research programmes.For example, his ongoingcollaboration with Prof. G.Padmanaban at IISc on Malaria ledto the identification and biochemicalcharacterization of hemebiosynthetic enzymes of the malarialparasite as well as demonstration ofantimalarial activity of curcumin, acomponent of turmeric.

Prof. Rangarajan (born on 15April 1963) obtained his B.Sc degreein 1981 and M.Sc degree in 1983from Bangalore University. Heobtained his Ph.D from theDepartment of Biochemistry, IISc,in 1989 and then pursued postdoctoral research at the SalkInstitute, San Diego, till 1993. Hejoined the Department ofBiochemistry, IISc, in 1993 asAssistant Professor and is currentlya Professor.

Prof. Rangarajan is a recipientof the National Bioscience Awardand Biotech Process, ProductCommercialization award of theDepartment of Biotechnology. Hehas also received B.M. Birla SciencePrize from the B.M. Birla ScienceCentre, Swarnajayanthi fellowshipfrom the Department of Science &Technology, OPPI scientist awardfrom the Organization ofPharmaceutical Producers of Indiaand BRSI Industrial medal from the

S.S.Bhatnagar Prize-winners’ WorkS.S.Bhatnagar Prize-winners’ WorkS.S.Bhatnagar Prize-winners’ WorkS.S.Bhatnagar Prize-winners’ WorkS.S.Bhatnagar Prize-winners’ Work

CSIR NEWS3030303030

Meetings/Training ProgrammesMeetings/Training ProgrammesMeetings/Training ProgrammesMeetings/Training ProgrammesMeetings/Training Programmes

Biotech Research Society of India.Recently, he received the NASI-Reliance Industries PlatinumJubilee award from the NationalAcademy of Sciences, Allahabad.Prof. Rangarajan is a fellow of Indian

The North East Institute of Science & Technology(NEIST), Jorhat, organised a training,

demonstration cum awareness programme onaromatic plants and edible mushroom in three villagesnamely Ddantola, Baragara and Kumurikata of BTAD,Assam, during 13-17 August 2007 in pursuance of theintended objective of a DBT sponsored project.Organized under the aegis of Manav Shakti Jagaran,an NGO of Kairara, BTAD, the programme wasattended by around 60 participants comprising 20growers from each of the three villages. Training wasimparted on cultivation and processing of aromaticplants like citronella, lemongrass and patchouli. DrT. C. Sarma, Principal Investigator of the DBTproject coordinated the programme.

A similar one-day programme was also organizedat NEIST Sub-station at Lamphelpat, Imphal,Manipur, on 6 September 2007 in which more than30 trainees comprising mostly educated youths fromin and around Imphal took part. Dr H. B. K. Singh,Scientist-in-Charge, NEIST Sub-station, Imphal,coordinated the programme and Dr R. K. Adhikery,Co-PI of the project, imparted the training. Dr T. C.Sarma, the Principal Investigator, inaugurated theprogramme.

Training-cum-AwarenessProgramme on

Aromatic Plants andEdible Mushrooms

The 108th semi-annual meeting of theSupersonic Tunnel Association International

(STAI) was hosted by the National AerospaceLaboratories (NAL), Bangalore, at Eagleton GolfResorts during 7-9 October 2007. This was for thefirst time since NAL became a member in 1978,that an STAI meeting was organized by NAL.Fifteen delegates from USA, Japan, France,Germany, England, Belgium, Russia and SouthAfrica participated in the deliberations. About 50participants from NAL, DRDO, ADA and VSSCalso took part. After inauguration by Director,NAL, 17 technical papers were presented in fivetechnical sessions. NAL had the largest numberof presentations. The meeting focused on topicsrelated to test facility operations, maintenanceissues, instrumentation, data acquisition andcontrol systems, development of flow diagnostictools, etc.

The meeting ended with a visit of the foreigndelegates to the 1.2 m wind tunnel, the Hansa andSaras hangars and the Acoustic Test Facility. Oneof the delegates, who owns and flies an Ultralightairplane in Europe, was quite impressed with theHansa.

Several delegates expressed interest incollaborative projects with NTAF.

NAL hosts the 108th Semi-annual meeting of

STAI

Academy of Sciences, Bangalore andNational Academy of Sciences,Allahabad. He has published 44research papers and 12 reviewarticles. He developed a novelmethod of enhancing the potency of

a DNA vaccine which has beengranted patents in Europe(EP1365799), China (ZL01820695.6),South Africa (2003/4631), Canada(CA2431938) and India (20734).

30 JANUARY 2008 3131313131

NBRI celebrates Annual Day

The NationalBotanical Research

Institute (NBRI),Lucknow, celebrated its54th Annual Day on 25October 2007. Prof. J.S.Singh, former Member,National ForestCommission, New Delhi,was the Chief Guest onthis occasion anddelivered the Annual Daylecture on ‘Environmentalchallenges in theAnthropocene’. Prof. V.L.Chopra, Member,Planning Commission,New Delhi, delivered thepresidential address.

Delivering the Annual Daylecture, Prof. Singh said that todaythe Earth is experiencingenvironmental conditions which ithad never experienced in the past.For example, the CO2 concentration

had varied between 180 and 280 ppmduring the past 4,20,000 years, butit has now increased to 379 ppm.Regarding the diminishing oilresources, Dr Singh said that 40%of known oil reserves has beenexhausted by humans in the last 150years that took hundreds of million

years tog e n e r a t e .Narrating thec h a n g i n gscenario ofecosystem, heinformed that50% landsurface hasb e e nt r a n s f o r m e da f f e c t i n gbiodivers i ty,soil biologyand climate.More nitrogenis fixedsynthetically

for fertilizers than thatfixed naturally. More than50% of all accessiblefreshwater has beenappropriate for humanuse. Ground waterresources are gettingrapidly depleted.Concentrations of gasesthat affect climate havesubstantially increasedand coastal and marinehabitats have beendramatically altered.Around 50% mangroveshave been removed andwetlands reduced by one-

half, 22% of recognized marinefisheries have been depleted, while44% are at their limit of exploitation,and their extinction rates have beenincreasing sharply, he elucidated.Between 1970 and 2003, the LivingPlanet Index (biocapacity of theEarth) fell by about 30 per cent andEcological Footprint exceeded theEarth’s biocapacity by 25% as of2003. Cautioning about the otheralarming harmful changes in thefuture, Prof. Singh said that owingto continuous global warming theaverage temperature of the Earth’ssurface could increase by 5.8 degreeCelsius and the sea level could riseby an additional 88 cm by the year2100. For India, predictions include:frequent dry days. There will be 38%drop in per capita water availabilityby 2050 and displacement of around50 million people from coastal areasdue to rise of sea level. Presentingthe alarming situation with regardto India, Prof. Singh said that by

Dr Rakesh Tuli, Director, NBRI, presenting theprogress report of NBRI

Prof. V.L. Chopra, Member, Planning Commission, New Delhi,delivering his presidential address. Seated on the dais (from left) are:

Dr S.K.S. Rathore, Scientist, NBRI; Dr Rakesh Tuli, Director, NBRI, andProf. J.S. Singh, former Member, National Forest Commission, New Delhi

Annual DayCelebrationsAnnual DayCelebrationsAnnual DayCelebrationsAnnual DayCelebrationsAnnual DayCelebrations

CSIR NEWS3232323232

achievements and developedtechnologies of larger societalinterest. He congratulated DrRakesh Tuli for his dynamicleadership in creating an enablingenvironment for achieving thisgrowth.

Earlier, welcoming the augustgathering comprising dignitariesfrom the research community,industry, academia and media, DrRakesh Tuli, Director, NBRI,articulated the present researchvision and summarized the variousactivities undertaken and majorachievements made by the instituteduring the past one year.Highlighting the R&Daccomplishments, Dr Tuli informedthat during the year 2006-07, thescientists of NBRI published 76research papers in SCI journals.The average impact factor (IF) ofNBRI publications during 2006-07was 1.55 as against 1.152 during thepreceding year. Besides these, 69papers in non-SCI journals, eightbooks and bulletins, 33 chapters inbooks, three extension bulletins and27 popular articles were published.Fifty-six patents were filed in Indiaand six abroad. Ten foreign patents

were granted. Hecongratulated thehardworking teams forpublishing papers inhigh IF journals andthose having highcitations and assuredthem his full support intheir futureendeavours. Dr Tulisaid that CSIR investedmuch more at NBRIduring the last yearthan ever before, whichreflected the immense

2035, the Himalayan glaciers mightdisappear and food grain productionmight fall by 30%, vector bornediseases and those associated withfloods and droughts would increase.By 2030, 25% flora and fauna mightbe at a high risk of disappearance,he warned. Worldwide, the figure of2.2 billion people living undermoderate or severe water stresswould increase to 4 billion by 2025,he added.

Prof. Singh further said thattropical forests resources are still thesource of livelihood for 1.6 billionpeople worldwide, while 1.2 billionpeople in developing countries usetrees on farms togenerate food and cash.More than 2 billionpeople rely on biomassfuels. Natural productsfrom forests are theonly source of medicinefor 75-90% of people indeveloping countries.However, 350 million haof secondary andprimary forests havebeen degraded at therate of 0.8% per year.As also 500 million

hectare of secondaryand primary forestshave been degraded,affecting thegeneration and flow ofecosystem servicesvital for human wellbeing, mentioned DrSingh. He alsopointed out that theworld has enteredinto a phase of massextinction. “We seemto be losing two to fivespecies per hour from

tropical forests alone. This amountsto a loss of 16 million populations peryear or 1800 populations per hour.”“Solutions have to be found for theabove problems, and this needsconcerted research efforts,” heconcluded.

Prof. V.L. Chopra in hispresidential address said thatannual day of an institute providesan opportunity to give a thought tothe year that has gone by and anenquiry for future activities to becarried out and thrust to performbetter in the coming years. He saidthat NBRI had made extensivecontributions in terms of scientific

Prof. J.S. Singh, former Member, National Forest Commission,New Delhi, delivering the Annual Day Lecture

NBRI’s anti-cough technology transfer to M/s Toral Herbals, Lucknow

Annual DayCelebrationsAnnual DayCelebrationsAnnual DayCelebrationsAnnual DayCelebrationsAnnual DayCelebrations

30 JANUARY 2008 3333333333

increase in the level ofconfidence that CSIR nowplaces in NBRI. Thisconfidence comes from theunique strength thatNBRI has in plantsciences – spanning fromthe knowledge of plantdiversity to molecularbiology and from therecognitions that NBRIreceived in recent years -most importantly, thewinning of the CSIRTechnology Prize, theINSA Young ScientistAward and the InnovativeYoung BiotechnologistAward. He was pleased toenlighten the gatheringthat DST conferredthe prestigious ‘JCBose National FellowshipAward’ to him. ‘I mustconfess that I was only ameans to bring thishonour to NBRI. Therecognition is a reflectionof the excellent workthat several of my studentsand young colleaguesdid with me through thelast several years,’ hesaid. Later he narratedthe R&D achievementsof various researchgroups.

On this occasion,Annual Report 2006-07of NBRI was also releasedby the Chief Guest.Know-how of anti-coughtechnology developed byNBRI was transferred toM/s Toral Herbals,Lucknow.

NGRI celebrates Foundation Day

The National GeophysicalResearch Institute (NGRI),

Hyderabad, celebrated its 46th

Foundation Day on 11 October 2007.Dr P. Rama Rao, former Secretary,Department of Science andTechnology (DST) and Chairman,Governing Council, InternationalAdvanced Research Centre forPowder Metallurgy and NewMaterials (ARCI), Hyderabad,delivered the NGRI Foundation Day

Lecture on ‘Management of S&T inIndia: Is there some thing missing?’Shri V.K. Sibal, Director General,Directorate General of Hydrocarbons,New Delhi, was the Chief Guest onthis occasion.

Dr Rao in his lecture expressedthat there was no design, untilrecently, to draw up a long term planfor scientific research to supportplanned economic development. Hesaid that there are many programmes

with huge budget forrural development butthe application ofscientific research tofulfil rural developmentgoals is rather debatable.In this context hereferred to the pilotproject undertaken inKarimnagar in seventies.

Noting that we tendto operate in isolation, DrRao stressed the need toestablish strongerlinkages andprioritization of areas for

Seen on the dais during the NGRI Foundation Day function (from left)Dr V.P. Dimri, Dr P. Rama Rao and Shri V.K. Sibal

Dr P. Rama Rao delivering the Foundation Day Lecture

Foundation Day CelebrationsFoundation Day CelebrationsFoundation Day CelebrationsFoundation Day CelebrationsFoundation Day Celebrations

CSIR NEWS3434343434

better results. He called for bettercoordination between various departmentsand advocated the need for a visiblemechanism to connect DST with otherministries.

Dr Rao also emphasized the need for anintegrated approach to link scientificresearch and economic development. In thiscontext he complimented the pharmaindustries for supporting basic R&D. Hesaid there should be immediate measures topopularize research programmes andunderlined the need for greater involvementof younger generation in R&D activities.

Outlining the importance ofcoordination, Shri V.K. Sibal said thatscientists should interact with industry andco research agencies frequently and try tounderstand their needs. He asked thescientific community to spare some time withindustries, try to understand the problemsand come out with result-oriented researchto tackle the problems. He said R&Dinstitutions should dictate the business butbusiness should not dictate R&D. He offeredto facilitate regular exchange of scientistsbetween NGRI and DGH. He lauded therole of NGRI in hydrocarbon exploration.

Dr V.P. Dimri, Director, NGRI, in hispresidential address said that the institutewas now in top one percent of researchcitation globally. He spoke about the futuresocietal projects of the institute and also thehuman resource development programmesat NGRI.

Dr Y.J. Bhasakara Rao, and Er. S.Narayana, Scientists G, introduced thespeaker and the Chief Guest respectively tothe invitees and staff. Dr S.N. Prasad,Scientist G, proposed a vote of thanks.

Dr P. Rama Rao also inaugurated theseismological observatory for TsunamiWarning System, which has been establishedin NGRI campus. It is one of thecomponents of the 17 stations of TsunamiWarning System in India.

Dr Gangan Prathap, Head of the CSIR Centre for Math-ematical Modelling and Computer Simulation

(CMMACS), Bangalore, has been appointed the 11th ViceChancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology(CUSAT). Dr Prathap was a Senior Scientist at the StructuresDivision, National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bangalore,before joining CMMACS.

His contribution to the field of science and engineeringbrought him one of the most prestigious awards for scientificresearch in the country, the S.S. Bhatnagar Prize, in 1990.

He is a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Fellow ofthe Indian National Science Academy and DistinguishedAlumnus of IIT, Madras. Dr Prathap has published more than300 research papers, and the book Finite Element in StructuralMechanics, published by Kluwer in 1993. He is also a memberof the editorial boards of many scientific journals.

Dr Prathap did his schooling in Singapore. Later he joinedIIT Madras after passing the entrance examination with firstrank and graduated from the institute in Aero Engineering, againas a topper in1974. He was awarded a Doctorate by the institutein 1978.

Dr Gangan Prathap is the NewVice-Chancellor of Cochin University

of Science and Technology

Appointments/Honours & AwardsAppointments/Honours & AwardsAppointments/Honours & AwardsAppointments/Honours & AwardsAppointments/Honours & Awards

International Award forDr T.R.K. Chetty

Dr T.R.K. Chetty, Scientist F, NationalGeophysical Research Institute

(NGRI), Hyderabad, has been selected toreceive the prestigious 2008 EndeavourExecutive Award from the Department ofEducation, Science, and Training, AustralianGovernment under International EndeavourProgramme. An internationally competitiveand merit based scholarship, this forms thepart of the Australian Government’s $ AUD 1.4 billionscholarship initiative.

Dr Chetty has made several outstanding contributionsrelated to diamond exploration, large-scale earth’s processes andgeodynamic modeling. He played a key role in the discovery ofdiamond-rich kimberlites of Venkatampalle, Ananthapur district

30 JANUARY 2008 3535353535

of Andhra Pradesh. He has beenworking in NGRI since 1974. He isauthor of more than 100 Inter-national publications and has guideda number of Ph.D. students. He alsoinitiated several internationalresearch collaborative programmes,and organized the first international

Honours & AwardsHonours & AwardsHonours & AwardsHonours & AwardsHonours & Awards

geological field workshop whereseveral top scientists from USA,Germany and Australia were led byDr Chetty. He is a recipient of INSA-Royal Society Fellowship, CSIR-DAAD Senior Fellowship, APAcademy of Sciences Fellowship,and has been Secretary of

International Association ofGondwana Research, Japan. He hasbeen selected this year for theprestigious National Mineral Award,Department of Mines, Governmentof India, for 2006.

Dr Amitabha Chattopadhyayselected for Ranbaxy Research Award 2006

Dr Amitabha Chattopadhyay,Deputy Director, Centre for

Cellular and Molecular Biology(CCMB), Hyderabad, has beenselected for the prestigious RanbaxyResearch Award in Basic Researchin Medical Sciences for hispioneering contribution on the roleof membrane lipids in theorganization and function of G-protein coupled receptors, and itsimplications in health and disease.His group was the first todemonstrate the vital requirementof membrane cholesterol on theorganization and function of theserotonin1A (5-HT1A) receptor bymaking intelligent use ofbiochemical, biophysical and cellbiological approaches. His recent

work hasshown thatthe functionof thisimpor tantn e u r o -transmitterr e c e p t o r( t h eserotonin1A

receptor) isimpaired in diseases such as theSmith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome(SLOS) in which cholesterolbiosynthesis is defective.Interestingly, Dr Chattopadhyay’sgroup was the first to show that hostmembrane cholesterol plays animportant role in the process ofinfection caused by the parasite

Leishmania donovani, which resultsin leishmaniasis.

Dr Amitabha Chattopadhyayjoined CCMB in 1989 as a GroupLeader and has published more than120 research papers in peer-reviewed national and internationaljournals, and edited and reviewed 5books. He has received severalawards for his outstanding researchcontributions in biological sciences,such as the Shanti SwarupBhatnagar Prize, Raman ResearchFellowship, and Dozor VisitingFellow (Israel), to name a few. He isalso a Fellow of all three IndianAcademies of Science, besides beinga Member of the Editorial Boardsof several reputed internationaljournals.

Dr B.G. Unni conferred FIANSc

Dr B.G. Unni, Scientist F andArea Coordinator, Biological

Sciences, North-East Institute ofScience & Technology, Jorhat, hasbeen awarded the fellowship ofIndian Academy of Neurosciencesfor his significant contribution to the

area of moleculare n d o c r i n o l o g ywith specialreference to thestudies related toisolation andcharacterization of

insect neuropeptides by in vitrotechniques, its molecular andfunctional properties with respect tojuvenile hormone biosynthesis andsilk protein biosynthesis insilkworms and in vitro-in vivo assaywith the chemically synthesized

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NOMINATIONS INVITED

CSIR Young Scientist Awards for 2008

The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) invitesnominations for the CSIR Young Scientist (YS) Awards for the

year 2008. The awards are to be given for research contributionsmade primarily in India. The nominee should be a regular employeeof CSIR system holding a position of a Scientist in Group IV. The ageof the nominee should not be more than 35 years as on 26 September2007.

The YS Awards are given annually in the following disciplines:(1) Biological Sciences, (2) Chemical Sciences, (3) Earth, Atmosphere,Ocean and Planetary Sciences, (4) Engineering Sciences, and(5) Physical Sciences (including instrumentation). The YS Awardcarries with it a citation, a cash award of Rs.50,000 (Rupees fiftythousand only), and a plaque for each scientist selected for the Award.

Nominations addressed to Dr Rajesh Luthra, Head, HumanResource Development (HRD) Group, CSIR Complex, LibraryAvenue, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, should be sent as per the prescribedpro-forma (20 copies) along with one set of research papers publishedduring the last 5-year period, by 29 February 2008. The details of theYS Award and the prescribed pro-forma for nomination can beobtained from above address or may be downloaded from our website:http://csirhrdg.res.in

insect neuropeptides. Dr Unni’scontribution to the area of silkwormbiochemistry/molecular biology,both basic and applied, have madesignificant impact on the enhancedgrowth of the silkworms and silkfibre production in terms of qualityand quantity.

The fellowship was conferred toDr Unni by Prof. Colin Blakemore,Chief Executive, Medical ResearchCouncil, University of Oxford, UK,at Banaras Hindu University,Varanasi, on 22 November 2007 atthe International Symposium onAdvances in Neurosciences & SilverJubilee Conference of IndianAcademy of Neurosciences.

Best paper award

The technical paper titled“Effect of diffuser blade setting

angle on centrifugal compressorstage” by R. Rajendran, S.Ramamurthy and P. Mohanan of theNational Aerospace Laboratories(NAL), Bangalore, was given bestpaper award at the 34th NationalConference on Fluid Mechanics andFluid Power held at BIT, Mesra,Ranchi during 10-12 December2007.

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