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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    EXPRESSION OF CAP PROTEIN OF PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS TYPE 2 (PCV2) AND EVALUATION OF ITS IMMUNOGENICITY IN MICE
    (College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2022-03) BORAH, DEBARUN; Hazarika, Girin
    The present study was conducted with an aim to express the Cap protein of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) in a prokaryotic host and to assess its immunogenicity in mice. The recombinant pET32a/CT-His plasmid containing a codon-optimised PCV2 cap gene was transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) cells for expression of the Cap protein after 8 hours of IPTG induction at 37°C. Subsequent SDS-PAGE analysis revealed an intense band of 46 kDa. Following successful purification by affinity chromatography using Ni-NTA column under denaturing conditions, the recombinant protein was refolded by dialysis. In western blot analysis of the purified protein, a 46.0 kDa-sized intense band was detected in the PVDF membrane. In four groups of Swiss albino mice consisting of six mice in each group, the immunological response to the purified recombinant Cap protein was assessed and compared to that of a commercial vaccine. Group 1 served as the control group receiving PBS, while Group 2 received a commercial vaccine, Group 3 received the recombinant Cap protein, and Group 4 received the Cap protein combined with Freund's adjuvant. On the 14th day post-primary immunization, each group of mice received a booster dose of the corresponding inoculum. Serum was collected from all the experimental animals on 0, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 35th, and 42nd days after immunization. As detected by indirect ELISA, the mean antibody level against PCV2 was significantly higher in Group 4 getting Cap protein with Freund's adjuvant, than in Group 2 receiving the commercial vaccine, and Group 3 receiving the Cap protein alone. The recombinant Cap protein was found to be immunogenic in mice and was capable of inducing a specific IgG response, as detected by indirect ELISA. Based on the results of the present study, it may be concluded that the recombinant Cap protein expressed in E. coli is a promising immunogen and may be further explored as a vaccine candidate against PCV2. Use of the recombinant protein as a potential diagnostic antigen may also be explored in future.