TCS working to develop malarial parasite genome

Mumbai, July 31 (UNI) Hyderabad-based Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is working on a malarial parasite genome project in association with a number of Government-run organisations.

Centre's head Dr M Vidyasagar told UNI here that, ''We are trying to come up with a genetic approach on Plasmodium Falsiparum bacteria, which causes malaria.'' He said as per an international agreement, all the research work being conducted in the field would be made available to the aspirant organisations, free of cost.

Project's principal scientist at ATC, Dr Rajgopal Srinivasan said, being sponsored by CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) under its New Millennium Initiative for Technology Leadership in India (NMITLI) programme, the three-year project has already reached the 'crystal structure' stage and is likely to be completed by November next year.

Some of the Government-run organisations that are also involved in the project, along with TCS, include Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Indian Statistical Institute, Indian Institute of Science, Central Drug Research Institute and Jawaharlal Nehru Research Centre for Advance Scientific Research.

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