BTISNET: OBJECTIVE, STRUCTURE &FUNCTIONS

The Biotechnology Information System Network(BTISNET) is started by the

government of India i.e. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and
Technology. The Department of Biotechnology had been the dream project of
then Prime Minister, Late Sri Rajiv Gandhi with the objective that India would
not progress without using this aspect of technical science. This was because
many of our macro-economic issues of growth were subsumed within the
science’s development. In the resultant of above decision has made India one
of the first countries to have a separate department for science and
technology. Department of Biotechnology (DBT) launched a programme in
India as a Biotechnology Information System Network (BTISNET) in year 1986-
87 by the Dr. S. Ramachandran. Now, this Network is generating several
human resources in Bioinformatics and leading the research in various fields of
Bioinformatics and computational Biology.

Objectives of BTISNET:

The broad objectives of Biotechnology Information System Network

programme are:
1. To provide a national bio-information network designed to bridge the inter-
disciplinary gaps on biotechnology information and to establish link among
scientists in organizations involved in R&D and manufacturing activities in the
country.
2. To collect and build information resources, prepare databases on
biotechnology and to develop different relevant information handling tools
and techniques.
3. To continuously assess information need of the users, to create and
improve necessary infrastructure and to provide information based support
and services to the national community of users working in the field of
biotechnology and allied areas.
4. To coordinate all sources to enable access to Biotechnology information
worldwide and to make efforts for establishing linkages with other
international resources of Biotechnology information (e.g. Databanks on
genetic materials, literature on biotechnology, patents, and other information
of scientific and commercial importance).
5. To initiate research into advanced methods of computer-based information
processing for analyses of structure and function of molecules of biologically
importance.
6. To make programme of user education and training for information
scientists who handle biotechnology information and its applications to
biotechnology research and development.
7. To explore and provide regional & international cooperation for exchange
of scientific information and to provide expertise in biotechnology through the
development of appropriate network arrangements.
8. To strengthen network capabilities of BTISnet in terms of speed and capacity
of the network to provide speedy and fast INTERNET access to all nodes of the
network.

Structure of BTISNET:

BTISNET consists of four institutions consisting of 168 Bioinformatics Centers

spread across the country with an administrative Apex Biotechnology
Information Centre (BTIC) at DBT, New Delhi. These four institutions are viz.
Centers of Excellence (CoE) institute of Bioinformatics, Distributed Information
Centers (DICs) institute of bioinformatics, Sub-Distributed Information Centers
(SubDICs) institutes of bioinformatics and Bioinformatics Infrastructure
Facilities (BIF) institute of bioinformatics.
Centers of Excellence (CoEs):
BTISNet consists of eight Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Bioinformatics in
enclosed One Apex Bioinformatics Centre, DBT, New Delhi. Centers of
Excellence (COEs) in Bioinformatics (BTISNET, 2014), as under –
1. Apex Bioinformatics Centre, DBT, New Delhi
2. University of Pune, Pune
3. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
4. Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai
5. Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
6. Bose Institute, Kolkata
7. Super Computing Facility (IIT), New Delhi
8. Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.

Distributed Information Centers (DICs):

Eleven Distributed Information Centers (DICs) has been established for
discipline-oriented information to all institutions belonging to the branch as
well as other institutions and individual users interested in particular subject
related to Biotechnology. These DICs are listed as under:
1. Anna University
2. Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology
3. Indian Agricultural Research Institute
4. Institute of Microbial Technology
5. Kerala Agriculture University
6. M. S. University of Baroda
7. National Brain Research Centre
8. National Institute of Immunology
9. North Eastern Hill University, Shillong
10. Pondicherry University
11. University of Calcutta

Distributed Information Sub Centers(DISCs):

While the Distributed Information Centers act as repository of information in
their respective specialized disciplines, the Distributed Information Sub-
Centers provide an access mechanism for the information to be available at
the universities, R&D and manufacturing institutions. Thus, the distributed
Sub-Centers provide an added dimension of access and diffusion of
information across the network. The Centers are geographic locations affiliated
to each Distributed Information Centers in their respective area. Fifty one sub-
centers have already been established in different geographical locations, the
name of the centre as listed below:
1. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
2. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
3. ACTREC, Mumbai, Maharashtra
4. Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali
5. Barkatullah University, Bhopal
6. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
7. Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirapalli
8. Biotech Consortium of India Limited, New Delhi
9. Biotech Park in Biotechnology City, Lucknow
10. Birla Institute of Scientific Research, Jaipur
11. Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi
12. Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow
13. Central Agricultural Research Institute, Portblair
14. Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar
15. Central Institute of Medicinal And Aromatic Plants, Lucknow
16. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasargode
17. Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Mysore 90
18. CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur
19. Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya , Indore
20. Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan
21. Engineering College, Raipur
22. G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
23. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
24. Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
25. Indian Institute of Advance Research, Gandhinagar
26. Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata
27. Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu
28. Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar
29. Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut
30. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
31. Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
32. Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar
33. Institute of Bioresources & Sustainable Development , Manipur
34. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute,
Thiruvananthapuram
35. Karnataka Veterinary, Animal & Fisheries Sciences, Bidar
36. Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram (Wardha)
37. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
38. National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow
39. National Centre for Plant Genome, New Delhi
40. National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
41. National Institute of Oceanography, Goa
42. National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi
43. National Institute of Technology, Raipur
44. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
45. Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Kerala
46. Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology, Gangtok
47. T. M. Bhagalpur University, Bihar
48. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 91
49. Tamil Nadu University for Veterinary and Animal Sciences , Chennai
50. University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi
51. University of Kashmir, Srinagar

Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (BIFs) :

Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (BIF) is for Biology Teaching through
Bioinformatics (BTBI). Tutorials are available online to help students and
teachers, learn how to navigate those resources through online and gather
data that can be applied to original work. Several sites provide free and
unhindered access to biological information resources which include lecture
materials, video clippings and so on. The Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility
(BIF) listed as followed:
1. Acharya University, Andhra Pradesh
2. Alagappa University, Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
3. Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
4. A.P.S University, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh
5. Bangalore University, Bangalore, Karnataka
6. Berhampur University, Berhampur, Odisha
7. Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
8.CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana
9. Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
10. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Center for Biomedical Research, Delhi
11. Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Odisha
12. Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
13. Gargi College, New Delhi
14. Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, Haryana
15. HNB Garhwal University, Garhwal, Uttarakhand
16. Holy Cross College for Women, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
17. Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
18. Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh
19. Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal
Pradesh
20. International Centre for Genietic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi
21. Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi
22. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
23. Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
24. Kakatiya University, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh
25. Kannur University, Kannur, Kerala
26. Karnataka State Women University, Bijapur, Karnataka
27. Karnataka University, Dharwad, Karnataka
28. Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand
29. Lady Doak College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
30. Lucknow University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
31. Madras Christian College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
32. Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women, Bangalore, Karnataka
33. Maharani's Science College for Women, Bangalore, Karnataka
34. Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Science University, Nagpur, Maharashtra
35. Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana
36. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu
37. Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
38. Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Faizabad, Uttar
Pradesh
39. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER),
Chandigarh
40. National Institute of Technology (NIT), Calicut, Kerala
41. National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, Odisha
42. National JALMA Institute for Leprosy & other Mycobacterial Diseases, Agra,
Uttar Pradesh
43. North Orissa University, Baripada, Odisha
44. Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
45. Presidency College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
46. Presidency University, Kolkata, West Bengal
47. Queen Mary's College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
48. Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar
Pradesh
49. Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra
50. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology,
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
51. Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of
Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
52. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir
53. Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh
54. Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
55. Sri Sathya Sai University, Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh
56. Sri Venkateswara College, New Delhi
57. Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Science (SVIMS), Tirupati, Andhra
Pradesh
58. Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
59. St. Aloysius College, Mangalore, Karnataka
60. University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh
61. University of Calicut, Malappuram, Kerala
62. University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
63. University of Jammu, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir
64. University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal
65. University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
66. University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
67. University of North Bengal, Siliguri, West Bengal
68. University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan
69. Vidyasagar University, Midnapur, West Bengal
70. West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal

North Eastern State- Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility:

The twenty eight centers of Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (BIF) have

been specially lunched for the North Eastern Region of India. These
Bioinformatics Centers are functioning and this scheme is known as North
Eastern Bioinformatics Network (NEBNET). These institutions of North Eastern
State are actively pursuing biological science and biotechnology with the help
of bioinformatics centre known as BIF.. The service is popular as North East
Region-DBT e-Library Consortium (NER-DeLCON). The service is coordinated
and provided in network mode by the Institute of NEHU, Shillong. The various
Centres under NEBInet are listed below:
1. Assam University, Silchar, Assam
2. Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam
3. Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur
4. College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Guwahati,
Assam
5. College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Selesih, Aizawl,
Mizoram
6. Cotton College, Guwahati, Assam
7. D.M. College of Science, Imphal, Manipur
8. Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam
9. Gauhati University, Gauhati, Assam
10. Gurucharan College, Silchar, Assam
11. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, Assam
12. Institute of Bioresources & Sustainable Development, Imphal, Manipur
13. Mizoram University, Aizwal, Mizoram
14. Manipur University, Canchipur, Manipur
15. North Eastern Hill University, NEHU Campus, Shillong, Meghalaya
16. North Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus, Shillong, Meghalaya
17. North Eastern Institute of Science & Technology, Jorhat, Assam.
18. North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology, Nirjuli, Arunachal
Pradesh
19. Nagaland University, Kohima, Nagaland
20. Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
21. S. Kula Women College, Nambol, Manipur
22. St. Anthony College, Shillong, Meghalaya
23. St. Edmond College, Shillong, Meghalaya
24. Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology, East Sikkim, Sikkim
25. Sikkim Science Centre, East Sikkim, Sikkim
26. Tripura University, Suryamani Nagar, Tripura
27. Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam
28. Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Igyan Path,
Guwahati
BTISNET Functions :

Two types of activities are conducted under BTISNET programme of the Human
Resource Development. These programme are long term and short-term.
Bioinformatics has been recognized as an emerging area of science and
technology which studies systematic development and application of IT in
processing of biological research data in India. There is a requirement of
trained human resource to deal with biological data using computers, software
and other biological tools. In the present scenario there is a shortage of trained
and efficient manpower for conducting teaching and research activities in
bioinformatics and experimental biology in India. The BTISNET focused
problem and started several long-term and short-term educational activities to
address this problem.
(i)M.Sc. and M. Tech. Courses in Bioinformatics Five Universities namely 1)
JNU, 2) Pune University, 3) Calcutta University, 4) Pondicherry University, and
5) MKU have been running a one year advanced post graduate diploma
courses in Bioinformatics. A total of 100 candidates are being produced per
annum through these courses.
(ii)Ph.D. Programmes in Bioinformatics The Center of Excellencies (COEs) of
BTISnet including the supercomputing facility at IIT, Delhi are running Ph.D.
programs in Bioinformatics.
(iii) Short Term Training Programmes Various short-term training programme
are organized from time to time for providing exposure and hands on practices
to the students, researchers, faculties, teacher about Bioinformatics resources
and tools, and users are encouraged to use these facilities for enhancing and
speeding up their R&D activities. As per the 98 short term training calendar of
Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology the BTISnet
centers across the country organized 130 short-term training programs in the
year 2014 and over 2000 researchers were trained during this year (BTISNET
2014).
(iv) Bioinformatics National Certification (BINC) Examinations India has taken
various major steps in the field of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics and a
spectacular growth has been witnessed in the industry. This growth could have
been better if high quality human resources were trained in this area. Several
private institutions and universities have started Bioinformatics courses and
training programs at various levels during the last few years but the quality of
the training given by these institutions and universities is not up to mark. The
industry is not getting the desired trained and qualified manpower as such it is
affecting industry growth in terms of carrying out contract research as well as
the development of bioinformatics software and tools. Therefore, DBT has
decided to conduct National Level Bioinformatics Certificate Exam to identify
quality bioinformaticians.

R & D PROJECTS : The department has received many conceptualized project

proposals for carrying out research in the field of Bioinformatics and
Computational Biology. It has been witnessed that the generation of primary
data have increased in the country with the support of several Government
departments like DBT. During this year, the department has supported 10 R&D
projects which are specific to applications in the area of Agriculture, Medical
and Knowledge Discovery from Data (KDD) by using Bioinformatics tools. The
R&D projects which were supported earlier have also shown very good
progress. The projects which had shown major outcomes in terms of scientific
utility and product development are highlighted below.

(i) Mango Database

Through a projectsupported to the Central Institute of Sub-Tropical

Horticulture, Lucknow on Development of Genetic resource database and
information system for mango, a database front-end has been developed using
MySQL and PHP dealing with updating and retrieval of data. Data on
morphological and molecular characterization was collected from NAGS and
database on the mango accessions in different genebanks has been developed.
The characterization data of 200 accessions was converted into codes and used
for updating of the data. Information on various aspects of Mangifera was
collected and is been converted into digital format for adding it to the
database. A website on Mango Genetic Resource Information System has been
developed and is being tested for security options, so that it is enriched by
uploading collected information as database with protection against
unauthorizedaccess.

(ii) Interactive Visual Diagnostic software to Check Nutrient Deficiency in Crops.

An interactive Visual Diagnostic Software for the Identification of Nutrient

Deficiencies in Crops is being implemented at TNAU, Coimbatore. A software
has been developed based on the concept that plants are the indicator of
nutrient deficiencies in soils that commensurate with a proverb “Face is the
Index of the Mind”. The nutrient deficiencies exhibited by plants are very
unique and distinguishable from one another depending on the mobility of
ions and the physiological functions associated with it. To accomplish the task
four approaches namely (a) identification of nutrient deficiencies using visual
symptoms in the field, (b) classification based on dichotomous keys, (c)
confirmation through soil and plant analyses and (d) scanning and integration
of the images into thevisual basic software.

Nutrient deficiency symptoms occurring in a wide array of crops (about 65) in

seven agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu had been photographed using a high
resolution digital camera. In the same location, soil and plant samples have
been collected and analysed for its nutrient concentrations in order to relate
whether symptoms associated with a particular nutrient deficiency. In maize,
sugarcane, sorghum, soybean and groundnut, visual deficiency symptoms were
graded and analyzed for their specific Fe and P concentrations. These
experiments have reconfirmed that visual diagnosis closely coincides with the
deficiency in soils vis-a-vis in plants. After confirmation, the photographic
images were compressed by optimization process to reduce the file size to fit
into the Visual Basic Software. The Visual Diagnostic Software has been
developed and about 70%symptoms taken from the field had been integrated.
Besides the software, a book on 'Diagnosis of Nutrient Deficiencies in Crops' in
English and Tamil has been prepared to be able to provide basic information
for the user groups.

(iii) Myocilin Structure Prediction using Knowledge based consensus.

A project on Understanding Protein Aggregation in relation to Primary Open

Angle Glaucoma (POAG) for evaluating models, Screening Polymorphisms and
database development is being pursued jointly by MKU, Madurai and Aravind
Eye Hospital Madurai. Mutations in Human Myocilin, a 55-kDa protein has
been associated with open angle glaucoma. Most of these mutations are
segregated to the olfactomedin-like domain. Only 2-4% of POAG patients have
mutations in the myocilin gene. Understanding the structure and folding of the
native protein and the mutants thatincrease aggregation could lead to possible
prevention of the condition.

A plausible structure predicted for myocilin using a knowledge based

consensus method was used to understand the role of myocilin and these
mutations in POAG. The model resulted in a beta strand rich C-term Region
(181 – 504) having the Cys245-Cys433 disulfide bone. Molecular dynamics is
used to understand the role of the mutations in causing aggregation. For
example, Gly367Arg a novel mutation has been identified in the patients from
local population. From experimental analysis it has been shown that it
aggregates in the trabecular meshwork and is not secreted out, whereas the
normal protein is secreted out. Structural analysis and molecular dynamics
calculations indicate how the mutation might cause possible conformational
change leading to aggregation. A total of 124 genomic variations were
screened and sixpolymorphisms that lead to altered protein products were
detected as possible candidates for alternative splicing mechanism.

(iv) Flagship Consortium Projects on TB & Rice Bioinformatics

Two important flagship multi-agency and multi-institutional programs namely

Development of Databases on TB & Rice have been conceptualized. Many well
known institutions, say about 20 and scientists working in these areas are
being associated with these projects for data sources and continuous
evaluation at various stages of its implementations.

Beside all these it provides continuous access to the users creates and
improves necessary infrastructure and also provides information based
support and services to the national community of users working in the field of
biotechnology and allied areas. In view of the need of fact growth in life
science research, the use of Information Technology was initiated by creating
separate Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and
Technology, Government of India. It has provided a national bio-information
network design to bridge the interdisciplinary gaps on biotechnology
information and has established link among scientists in organizations involved
in R&D and manufacturing activities in the country.