Technologies developed/transferred

1. Improved hatchery technology of freshwater prawn
2. Enrichment technology of Artemia as an efficient larval diet
3. Polyculture of freshwater prawn with Indian carps
4. Cost effective diets for carps and prawn replacing fish meal
5. Self-designed indoor recirculating system equipped with multistage biological filters
6. Enhancement of immunity and disease resistance in fish and prawn through dietary administration of betaglucans and nucleotides.
7. Immune response and disease resistance in carps and prawn through administration of mannan   oligosachharides and carotenoids.

Development of Bacterial Biofilm Vaccine- a novel technology for oral vaccination of fish/ animals

Biofilm of A. hydrophilla vaccine

This is a novel oral vaccine model developed first time in the world with the funding support from the International foundation for Science, Sweden. Biofilm of Aeromonas hydrophila - a pathogen of carp employed for oral vaccination of carps provided significantly, very high antibody titre and protection compared to that with free cell vaccine. Based on performance in fish, biofilm oral vaccine model has been successfully evaluated in poultry.

Promotion of microbial biofilm on artificial substrate for enhancing fish growth and resistance to ubiquitous pathogens

Artificial substrate (sugarcane Bagasse) in ponds

As an alternative to costly artificial feeds, a simple strategy for enhancing endogenous heterotrophic food production was developed.  The technology involves introduction of biodegradable plant substrates such as sugarcane bagasse and paddy straw   into pond along with low dosage of manure to maintain appropriate C: N ratio to favour biofilm development. In the substrate based system growth of common carp, tilapia and rohu was found to be 40 % higher than that in controls. In addition, biofilm developed on substrates acted as in situ bio -filter in effective removal of ammonia.  Very interestingly, carp reared in biofilm promoted ponds had higher antibody titre and resistance against ubiquitous secondary pathogen like A. hydrophila and hence may serve as a in situ oral vaccine.

RapiDot kit – for filed level detection of white spot virus in shrimp culture

During 2006 we have developed and launched RapiDot – a 10 min high affinity MAb based field test kit for detection of shrimp white spot virus having sensitivity close to II step PCR. The test costs 20 times less per sample than that of PCR is becoming popular in India and outside. The test kit which can detect the virus 7 h before I step PCR is very ideal particularly for screening brood and monitoring adults in grow out. The kit is being sold to farmer through a rovolving fund scheme.

Monoclonal antibodies to aquatic pathogens
A library of monoclonal antibodies (MAb) has been raised against five pathogens in aquaculture A.hydrophila, Vibrio, white spot virus, white muscle disease virus, A.invadanas and two IgM of IMC for development of diagnostics and pathogen characterization.