DBT Star College - Biochemistry 19-20

The Department of Biochemistry offers Bachelors with honours in Biochemistry, one of the most sought-after science courses in the University. It is a branch of science which deals with chemistry of living organisms and that of their biological processes. The Department has a highly experienced and committed teaching faculty which leaves no stone unturned to help students explore their potential and develop scientific aptitude through teaching and various activities, lab visits, and innovative projects. The department has a well-equipped state-of art laboratory with good instrumentation facility.

Teacher In-Charge & DBT Star Advisory Committee Member: Dr. Preeti Karwal

Department Coordinators: Dr. Kamana Singh, Dr. Rajni Jain

Building a compendium for literature-based assessment of the spectrum and status of potential natural product-based anti-Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) therapy.

Mentor/PI: Dr. Preeti Karwal
Number of students: Three
Project status: Completed with report-writing (1st January, 2020 – 10th February, 2020).
Description: Natural products are small molecules produced naturally by any organism including primary and secondary

metabolites. Several plant extracts, Chinese herbs, purified phytochemicals and oils have been reported to have anti-inflammatory

and immunosuppressive effect in mice or rat model systems. The effect is mainly exerted through suppression of expression and production

of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The bioactive molecule and specific target molecules however remain unexplored in various cases.

Comparative study of structure-activity relationship of the active ingredients of these natural products will pave way for synthesis and

optimization of lead compounds for specific and safe SLE therapy.

To analyse eye colour pigments of wild type and different eye colour mutant Drosophila melanogaster strains.

Mentors /PIs: Dr. Preeti Karwal and Dr. Vanshika Lumb
Number of students: Five
Project status: Completed with report-writing (15th January – 20th February, 2020)
Description: peach drosophila have xanthopterin and biopterin but not isoxanthopterin as compared to wild type drosophila which has all the 3 pigments. It might indicate that enzymes responsible for conversion of xanthopterin to isoxanthopterin are either mutated or absent in peach colour drosophila. In contrast isoxanthopterin is present along with biopterin in orange eye colour mutants but not xanthopterin as compared to wild type drosophila which has all the 3 pigments present. Both peach mutants and orange mutants only have biopterin in common.

Understanding primary, secondary and tertiary structure of protein using bioinformatic tools.

Mentors /PIs: Dr. Preeti Karwal and Dr. Vineeta Kashyap
Number of students: Five
Project Status: Ongoing

To study the antimicrobial activity of fruit and spice extracts.

Mentor/PI: Dr. AsthaGiri
Number of students: Four
Status: Ongoing

Cloning and expression of third domain of β-galactosidase monomer

Mentor/PI: Dr. Prabha Arya
No. of Students: Five
Status: Ongoing

National Conference on Pharmacovigilance: Advancement in Safe Drug Development

Convenor: Dr. Kamana Singh

Date of the program: 16th -17th January, 2020

No. of participants: More than 100

Invited Speakers:

Prof. Ramesh K. Goyal, Vice Chancellor, Delhi Pharmaceutical Science and Research University (DPSRU)
Dr. Jai Prakash, Senior Principal Scientific Officer, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director (In-Charge) and Officer-in-Charge, National Coordination Centre, Pharmacovigilance Programme of India, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (Ministry of Health)
Dr. Nilanjan Saha, Head, Centre for Translational & Clinical Research at Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
Dr. M. Wasif Khan, Evolvet Healthcare Pvt Ltd.
Dr. Rajiv Tonk, Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, DPSRU
Dr. Vinay Kumar Patel, Pharmalex India Pvt. Ltd.
Dr. R. S. Ray, Scientific Assistant, IPC, PvPI
Dr. Tapan Behl, Assistant Professor, Chitkara University

Description : A National conference titled, “Pharmacovigilance: Advancements in the safe drug development” was organized by Department of Biochemistry on 16th and 17th January 2020 at Vivekananda auditorium, Deshbandhu college under the convenorship of Dr. Kamana Singh, Associate professor, Department of Biochemistry and co-convenorship of Dr. Prabha Arya, Department of Biochemistry, Deshbandhu college. This conference was supported by UGC, DBT star college scheme and was organized with the help of IQAC Deshbandhu college, Delhi University. Conference was inaugurated by Honorable Chief Guest, Prof. Ramesh K. Goyal, Vice Chancellor, Delhi Pharmaceutical Science and Research University (DPSRU) and Guest of Honor, Dr. Jai Prakash, Senior Principal Scientific Officer, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director (In-Charge) and Officer-in-Charge, National Coordination Centre, Pharmacovigilance Programme of India, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (Ministry of Health). Invited talks by Dr. Nilanjan Saha , Dr. M. Wasif Khan , Dr. Rajiv Tonk , Dr. Vinay Kumar Patel , Dr. R. S. Ray and Dr. Tapan Behl. Technical sessions included the oral the poster presentation where participants showcased their research activities.

Laboratory visit to Regional Centre of Biotechnology, Faridabad on their Open Day

Accompanying Faculty: Dr. Astha Giri

Date of visit: 16th October, 2019

Number of students: 10

Description: The students of Biochemistry Department, Deshbandhu College, visited the Regional Centre of Biotechnology, Faridabad, on the occasion of their Open Day held on 16th October 2019. A team of 10 students accompanied by Dr. Astha Giri visited the campus of RCB. The open day celebrations included sessions like “Popular lecture on Rotavirus vaccine development”, “Abhivyakti- science communication competition”, “Abhivyanjana- declamation competition” and sketching competition. Our students participated in the competition and also participated in the guided tour to the various high end laboratories present there. They were also abridged with the bio-incubator facility, which helps in transforming ideas into products at a very nominal cost. The students learnt the various aspects of pursuing entrepreneurship in the field of biotechnology.

Laboratory visit to Regional Centre of Biotechnology, Faridabad on their Open Day

Accompanying Faculty: Dr. Vanshika Lumb

Date of Visit: 28th February, 2020

Number of Students: 10

Description: RCB had organized open day on 28th February, 2020, on the occasion of National Science Day. Our students got this opportunity to get enlightened by the lab visits and scientific talks by some Indian scientist working in different fields. there was a popular science lecture by Dr. Avinash Bajaj, RCB, on the topic "Defeating Cancer: Is India Ready to Take the Challenge?”Ph.D students enrolled in RCB under different faculties briefly narrated their lab work to engross audience to develop interest towards research in the institute. RCB has organized various research displays which has to be judged by faculties of different institutes participated in the RCB open day. We also had quick guided facility visits- Tours of RCB, ATPC, BBB & the Cluster to understand the mandate of the centre. They have a unique bio-incubator facility to foster innovation, research and entrepreneurial activities in biotechnology related areas.

Participation of Students and Faculty in The Global Bio-India 2019 Conference,

Accompanying Faculty: Dr. Vineeta Kashyap

Date of the Program: 11th& 21st - 23rd November, 2019

Number of Students: 2

Description: The Global Bio-India 2019 Conference was organized at Aerocity, New Delhi, on 21-23 November, 2019 by DBT and BIRAC. It was a well set-up and informative conference, attended by many large scale industries, research institutes, SMEs, Bioclusters, start-ups and central and state Ministries. A road show of this conference was also organized by National Institute of Immunology on 11th November 2019 to encourage the young science students and undergraduate students to take up science. This summit was a gateway to see how government and Industry has together funded several Research Institutes like IIT, NII etc., to develop many drugs and vaccines to eliminate dreadful diseases.

Laboratory visit to Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology Participation of Students and Faculty in The Global Bio-India 2019 Conference,

Accompanying Faculty: Dr. Preeti Karwal, Dr. Vanshika Lumb

Date of the Program: 2nd March, 2020

No. of Students: 23

Description: IGIB had organized the monthly outreach visits in the outreach program. The visit start with the display of some of the old instruments used earlier in genomics research like single capillary sequencer, slab gel sequencer etc. this was followed by exhibits of their recent research and discoveries. An interesting display of “CRISPR-Cas9 system “FELUDA”, which can be used as a tool-box for editing, modifying, visualizing and interrogating genome. There guided Lab Visits in which students experience the live demonstrations of different scientific instruments and interacted with various research scholars and eminent faculties pioneered in various techniques like SEM, TEM, High-throughput Sequencing technology, AFM, animal cell culture facility etc. IGIB has organized a small interactive session “How much you understand” a quiz session, in which students participated and won the token of appreciation from the organizers. A research talks from Dr Sheetal Gandotra who enlightened the students on Host pathogen interaction in case of Tuberculosis infection focusing on the cross-talk between the host and mycobacterial lipid metabolism.

Biospark 2019- Department's Technical Festival

Convenor: Dr. Rajni Jain

Date of Program: 24th September 2019

No. of Participants: More than 100

Invited Speakers:

Prof. Yogendra Singh, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi
Prof. Kalpana Luthra,Department of Biochemistry, AIIMS, NewDelhi

Other Activities in the fest:

Rangoli Making (Topic: Host Pathogen Interaction)
Panel Discussion ( Topic: Eugenics-Genetic Superiority vs Social Inferiority)

Description : The Biochemistry Department of Deshbandhu College and IQAC organized the annual fest of the Biochemical Society 'Biospark '19' Under the aegis of DBT Star College Scheme. The department organized an inaugural lecture 'Battle against Infectious Diseases' on 24th September, 2019 by Prof. Yogendra Singh (Professor, Department of Zoology, Delhi University) and Prof. Kalpana Luthra, (Department of Biochemistry, AIIMS). The event had Sci-Art Rangoli Making Competition on the topic 'Host-Pathogen Interaction' and a Panel Discussion on the topic 'Eugenics-Genetic Superiority vs Social Inferiority'.

Student Achievements 2019-20