Institutional Achievements

 

H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry (H. E. J. R. I. C),

University of Karachi,

Karachi.

Medicine

•  Discovery of Plant materials with pronounced anti-diabetic, anti-epileptic and

cholesterol lowering activities.

•  Many of the structurally novel compounds isolated were found to have interesting

pharmacological profiles and are in different stages of efficacy trials.

•  Discovery of new inhibitors of clinically important enzymes, which can be used to stop

the disease processes involve in the enzyme-related disorders. As a result several new

classes of lead molecules were made known to the world of Science along with

associated understanding of their mechanism of action.

•  Discovery of a large number of fascinating molecules with potential therapeutic

applications.

Transgenic Plant Technology

•  Commercial production of ornamental plants using tissue culture technology.

•  Mass scale production of pineapple plants using tissue culture technology.

•  Mass multiplication of virus and disease free banana and orchids plants using tissue

culture technology.

•  The use of DNA fingerprinting to evaluate the genetic stability of banana plants

produced via in-vitro culture.

•  Establishment of model hydroponics culture systems for the cultivation of Pineapples

and some other important cut flowers.

•  Establishment of Tissue Culture Technology Park in the University of Karachi .

•  Establishment of Medicinal Plant Collection and Processing Facility at Khanuspur.

•  Establishment of research and development facilities for exotic cut flower and value

added products.

•  Application of the Biotransformation techniques to produce value added compounds

using plant cell cultures.

•  Isolation of structurally novel and pharmacologically potent compounds from plant cell

suspension cultures.

•  Development of economical protocols for the pilot scale production of elite date palm

cultivars using plant tissue culture technology.

Center For Molecular Genetics (CMG),

University of Karachi,

Karachi.

•  Development of lab-scale environmental biological filters technology for treating

industrial effluent (the technology is now being up-scaled to pilot level with a generous

financial grant from the Government of Pakistan).

•  The discovery of pcoABCDRSE genes (submission of gene sequence to gene-bank

pending) for resistance to copper in a bacterium Enterobacter sp. CMG457.

•  The co-discovery of czrSRCBA genes (gene sequence submitted to the gene-bank:

EMBL under accession № Y14018) in a bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa

CMG103 that are involved in resistance mechanism against cadmium and zinc.

• The discovery of a bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa CMG607W that produces

polyhydroxy alkanoates (PHA) which can be used to manufacture the environment

friendly biodegradable plastics. The phaABC1ZC2D genes (responsible for PHA

production) have also been identified in this microorganism (submission of gene

sequence to gene-bank pending). Its strong presence in the field of environmental

bioremediation is highlighted by the thoroughness of its research programme which

includes development of eco-friendly biological control measures for agricultural pests

as an alternative to the conventional chemical insecticides and pesticides.

•  The centre has also discovered bacteria that promote plant growth by making metals

bound tightly to soil particles available in water-soluble form to the plants; such metals

are usually needed by plants as essential trace elements.

 

Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB),

University of Punjab, Lahore.

TRANSGENIC PLANT TECHNOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

HEALTH & MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS

Basic Research

PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES 

1 CEMB ANTIBODY FACILITY

2 ENZYME PRODUCTIONS

3 CAMB CULTURE COLLECTIONS

INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND
GENETIC RESOURCES (NIABGR)

NARC, Islamabad

RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

•  Commercialization of the technology for quality seed potato production has resulted in

visible decline in seed imports from approximately 5,000 tons in the early 1980s to less

than 1,000 tonnes in the 1990s. This has brought savings to the tune of Rs.130 million

annually

•  In date palm all stages from lab to land till the fruit bearing at the farmers' field have

been successfully demonstrated. Replacement of date palm shoots produced through

tissue culture could boost the exports from 27 million US$ to 1 billion US $ annually.

•  In banana, in vitro protocols for "cavendish" or "basrai" are developed. This important

activity was taken up because of the loss of banana crop due to the Banana Bunchy Top

Virus (BBTV) which caused an annual loss of Rs. 1 billion to the farmers.

•  In genetic engineering, scientists have developed a "binary vector" for Xa21 gene

which was transformed into agrobacterium strains EHA101 setting the stage for

transgenic plant production in basmati rice through agrobacterium mediated formation.

Within 2-3 years this transgenic line would become available to the farmers. This

technology is cost effective in developing countries like Pakistan .

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY

AND GENETIC ENGINEERING, (NIBGE)

Faisalabad

  • Micro-propagation of plants (virus free Banana, Potato, Sugarcane).
  • Production of bio-fertilizers for nutrient supply to crops
  • Production of methane from lignocelluloses biomass.
  • Production of alcohol from agricultural residues
  • Production of enzymes.
  • Recovery of metals from Low-grade ores through microbial leaching.
  • Bio upgradation of fossil fuels (Coals etc.).
  • Detoxification of industrial effluents.

COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES IN TISSUE CULTURE

Virus Free Seed Potato Production Through Biotechnology

  • Pakistan Innovative Biotechnology Services (PIBS) at NIBGE, Faisalabad has initiated a project on virus free seed potato production through in-vitro techniques

Biomedical & Genetic Engineering Division,

Dr. A. Q. Khan Research Laboratories,

Islamabad.

  • Allogeneic cytolysis of reconstituted membrane vesicles.
  • Analysis of the cell surface receptors of lectin stimulated and virus transformed human lymphocytes.
  • Availability of dinitrophenylated lipid haptens for for specific antibody binding depends on the physical properties of host bilayer membranes.
  • Cell proliferation and interferon gamma response in tuberculosis
  • Effect of LATS on E.Coli
  • Freeze fracture electron microscopy of reconstituted model membranes used as targets for cell- mediated cytotoxicity.
  • Human genome project-mapping and sequencing the human Genome.
  • Humoral immune response against mycobacterial antigens in Tuberculosis.
  • Mycobacterial related epitopes in rheumatoid arthritis circulation immune complexes.
  • Nature and origin of the LATS antigen..
  • Nomenclature of thyroid stimulating antibodies.
  • Preparations and properties of artificial vesicles containing eye muscle proteins. In-vitro model for cell mediated cytotoxicity in grave`s opthalmopathy.
  • Rapid method for the detection of antibodies to cell surface antigens. A solid phase radioimmunoassay using cell membranes.
  • Synthesis of ribosomes in a mutant of E.coli.

Institute of Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering, (IBGE)

NWFP

Agriculture University , Peshawar

•  Genetic improvement of Brassica oilseed by integrative use of conventional and

molecular biological approaches.

Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, (AARI)

Faisalabad.

•  Development of genetically high yielding better quality varieties of wheat, cotton,

Maize, fruits, rice, pulses, fodders, oilseeds, sugarcane, vegetables, etc. concurrent

pyramiding genes for tolerance against a biotic and biotic stresses and adaptability to

wide range of environmental conditions.

•  Development of crop production technology and its dissemination to the farmers

through extension departments, electronic and print media.

•  Production of pre-basic and basic seed in close association of Punjab Seed

Corporation and its distribution to the farmers.

•  Establishment of critical limits for essential plant nutrient elements, nutrient dynamics

and their indexation.

•  Reclamation of salt affected soils and use of tube-well water, soil, plant and fertilizer

testing, identification of salt tolerant crop varieties and production package in

problematic soils.

•  To develop cost effective sustainable technology for the control of soil erosion and

moisture conservation.

•  Exploration of the feasibility of exploitation of industrial wastes in agriculture to check

environmental pollution.

•  Field and laboratory evaluation of new fertilizer and soil amendment

•  Improvement of soil fertility and crop yields through microbial inoculants (bio-fertilizer)

for sustainable agriculture.

•  Determination of quality aspects of crops, level and effect on environmental pollution

and utilization of Agro-industrial wastes in animal feeds.

•  Quality testing of pesticides

•  Crop residue management for sustaining the soil productivity

•  Development of post-harvest technology of fruits and vegetables

•  Research and Development work on the processing and preservation of fruits and

vegetables.

•  Extension of technical guidance to the entrepreneurs, farmers and females regarding

processing and preservation of different foods and food products.

•  Pilot scale production of different food products in order to popularize their quality,

economics and processed foods among the masses

•   Genetic improvements of crop varieties are the major objective of AARI. "It have

developed 292 new varieties among which 56 wheat, 11 rice, and 34 cotton varieties.

•    Potato seed prepared through tissue culture at AARI is of high quality and is supplied

to the whole country.

•  Development of high yielding disease free sugarcane varieties through tissue culture.

Nuclear Institute for Agriculture Biology

(NIAB)

Faisalabad.

•  Sustainable utilization of wasteland and saline groundwater.

•  Tree water use

•  Efficient N fertilizer for salt-affected lands.

•  Water use efficiency of field crops.

•  Soil Physics & Hydrological Studies.