International Seminar on “Molecular Biology”

DAV College, Jalandhar under the aegis of Department of Bio-technology organised International Seminar on “Molecular Biology” on 28 September. Professor Yung-Fu Chang, Professor of Molecular Microbiology & Director, Infectious Disease Research Programme, Dept. of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA was the Keynote Speaker on the occasion.

Principal, , HOD, Biotechnology and other members of Staff welcomed the Chief Guest. Principal formally welcomed the Chief Guest, dedicated this Seminar to 102^nd Birth-Anniversary of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, who strongly advocated the vast spread of quality education and creation of new knowledges by the youth of India. He said the presence of such an internationally eminent Scientist would encourage the young students to accelerate in the field of science and research.

Prof. Y. Chang discussed the ultra modern Molecular approaches on the development of Johne’s Disease or Paratuberculosis Vaccine. Prof. Chang briefly introduced the audience with the global importance of Paratuberculosis and its zoonotic concerns. As the disease is important not only for economic concerns but also for human health concerns hence development of efficacious vaccine is the must requirement of today’s world in order to secure economic losses and to reduce human exposure to this deadly pathogen. First of all he discussed the use of recombinant Ag85 complex, SOD, 74F Poly Protein etc. as Vaccine candidate in goat and cattle system. The recumbinent antigens were able to significantly raise the immune system of animals and hence the protectivity. He laid the concept of cocktail antigens as potent vaccine candidates. Secondly he discussed the attenuated mutant strain of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratubnerculosis (MAP). The mutants used by were leuD deficient. These mutants were unable to cause disease but raise the immune system of animal significantly. Hence he laid stress on the use of these mutants as vaccine candidates. Finally he discussed the use of recombinant Salmonella typhimurium expressing MAP antigens as vaccine candidate. He emphasize that this approach can meet the cost constraints of the recombinant antigens. In conclusion he laid stress on the molecular vaccine to control disease.

He appreciated the entire infrastructure of DAV College, Jalandhar in general and Dept. of Biotechnology in particular. He also offered to involve Dept. of Biotechnology, DAV College, Jalandhar to carry out future vaccine research in collaboration. The lecture was followed by long interaction where students and teachers satisfied their queries.

The scientific session was followed by the cultural session by students of Biotechnology Department, wherein Ana, Rajwinder, Swati, Poonam, Surabhi, Rupinder, Iti and Niti performed traditional Giddha. Priyanka performed Katthak Dance in honour of the international guest. The DAV College Managing Committee, Staff and Students wished Professor Chang new heights of success in controlling the John’s Disease through the development of efficient vaccine which should further lead to treatment of other diseases amongst the humans and the animals.