DBT-APSCS&T center in Arunachal Pradesh
Exploring Bioresources: Bioinformatics Advancements at the DBT-APSCS&T center in Arunachal Pradesh
The primary goal of this center at DBT-APSCS&T is to impart education to researchers, faculties, and students in the fields of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. Moreover, the center places a strong emphasis on creating a database encompassing medicinal plants and orchids native to Arunachal Pradesh, with a focus on lead candidate identification and novel gene discovery.
To achieve this, medicinal plants with anti-tubercular properties, along with their phytochemical information and 3D structures, have been sourced from the IMPPAT database. The MabA protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is considered the target for further study. Phytochemical compounds undergo virtual screening against the MabA protein, with compounds displaying higher binding energy selected for molecular dynamics simulation analysis. The center has already collected details on 85 medicinal plants from Arunachal Pradesh, which are being developed into a comprehensive database.
The BIC actively participates in developing databases for medicinal plants and orchids, utilizing plant-derived phytochemicals for Computer-Aided Drug Design. It serves as a hub for training, providing resources and facilities to researchers from various institutions, fostering Molecular Biology and Computational Biology teaching and research .
Established as part of the Center of Excellence for Bioresources and Sustainable Development (BRSD) in Kimin, the BIC has high end servers, desktops, and necessary software packages. The center is equipped with leased-line internet connectivity, facilitating seamless access to resources. Regular Bioinformatics and Computational Biology training workshops are conducted for scientists, research scholars, and students. The center recently hosted a three-day workshop on Computer Aided Drug Designing, providing training to fifteen participants. The facility is beneficial not only for in-house researchers but also for those engaged in the Center of Excellence and neighboring institutions. Its research initiatives extend to collaborations with other universities and institutes, including the Department of Life Sciences at Dibrugarh University, Systems Biology Lab at the Indian Institute of Information Technology-Allahabad, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology in Odisha, and the Centre for Bio-Separation Technology at VIT, Vellore. By focusing on producing highly efficient human resources through comprehensive training in Bioinformatics
and Computational Biology, this center aims to set a milestone among students and researchers in Arunachal Pradesh and other north-eastern states. The goal is to create awareness about the applications of Bioinformatics in life science research and translational avenues.