Using the PCR machine (Polymerase Chain

Reaction to amplify the DNA.

The renowned Mumbai-based Caius Research Laboratory, at St. Xaviers' College which is undertaking a Rs 22 lakh natural dyes project for improvement of indigo production through biochemical and genetic engineering processes, has come forward to offer its services to pharmaceutical, pesticides and food industries.

Founded in 1947 and named after the late Father Jean Ferdinanc Caius Society of Jesuits, the Caius Research Laboratory initiated research work on the medicinal plants of India. Streptomyces caiuseae, a microorganism secreting the antibiotic streptomycin that is catalogued in the Bergey's Manual is one of the early discoveries of this laboratory.

The Medicinal and Posionous Plants of India authored by Father Caius is still a standard reference volume.

In 1978, the Caius Research Laboratory was redesignated as the Caius Laboratory for Interdiciplinary Research and has since been conducting research on various projects involving microbiology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, botany and geology.

Caius Laboratory, which is engaged in certain purely academic research supported by the Department of Science and United National Development Programme now proposes to make its expertise available to industries in a big way. Faculty and former students who are now professionals having several years of academic and industrial experience are offering their expertise in the fields of biotechnology, toxicology, medicinal chemistry, industrial fermentation, chemical and biological process development, pollution control and analysis.

The lab has facilities for microbial culture, fermentors up to 10 litres of capacity, laboratory animals and analytical instruments, says Dr P J Thomas, coordinator.

The projects offered to the industries include development of alternate, cost-effective, ecologically friendly processes for existing molecules, developing newer molecules using easily available raw materials, developing newer analytical and quality control methods and procedures, evaluating bio-efficacy/metabolism/toxicology of compounds in microbial cultures, laboratory animals/insects and plants and crops at an experimental farm at Dahanu, fermentation process for high value chemicals/drugs, strain improvements by genetic engineering/mutation.

Says Dr Thomas, We will undertake the research work for industries at a fee that is negotiable. The industries can also send one of their scientists to work with us. If there is a discovery in the process, a joint patent plea would be filed by the lab along with the industry. Ten projects are on at the lab, he added.

The projects currently on at the laboratory are development of eco-friendly pigments from microbes, improvements in indigo production through biochemical/genetic engineering process, extraction and characterization of insecticidal compounds from labiatae and larvicidal compounds from methi seeds, development of cellulase that is tolerant to heavy metals from fungi and rumen micro-organisms, purification through pseudo-affinity chromatography, toxicology studies of dichlorocyanurate in rats, diethyl phthalate in Wistar rats and Swiss mice.

The Laboratory scientists have successfully developed to commercial scale herbicides like glyphosate, ethofumesate and metamitron. They have also developed atenolol, calcium glycerol phosphate, dinitolmide, famitidine, nifidipine, trimethoprim, ibuprofen and diclofenac sodium bulk drugs at their pilot plant.