VCRC has been carrying out Basic & Applied research with the primary objective of finding newer methods and developing strategies for the control of vector borne-diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the VCRC as a collaborating Centre for Research and Trainining in Lymphatic Filariasis and Integrated Methods of Vector Control.

Products Developed

• DEPA - a synthetic insect repellent

• Cyclosporin A - an immunosuppresive agent licensed to M/S Nixcil Pharmaceuticals & Specialities Ltd. Lucknow

• Thrombinase - a blood clot dissolving enzyme for treating strokes/myocardial infarctions, licenced to M/S Malladi Research Centre, Chennai

• Sperifix - a controlled release formulation of Bacillus sphaericus for mosquito larval control, assigned to NRDC

• Deltafix - a controlled release formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis for mosquito larval control, assigned to NRDC

• a mosquito oviposition attractant assigned to NRDC

• B426 - a mosquito pupicide assigned to NRDC

• Controlled release formulation of DPE-28 an IGR for mosquito larval control assigned to NRDC

• IIFT - an insecticide impregnated fabric trap for sampling filariasis vector

• L - DOPA - a drug for Parkinson's disease.

Patents Obtained

• A mosquito larvicidal preparation of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis Indian Patent Appl. No. 4.22.1.1/94055(Dr.K. Balaraman, Dr. S.L.Hoti, Dr. A.M. Manonmani)

• A Process for the preparation and formulation of of a mosquito larvicide from Bacillus sphaericus, Indian Patent Appl.No. 4.22.1.2/94056

• A process for the production of CYCLOSPORIN A, an immunosuppresent from Tolypocladium sp. Indian Patent.no. 182916 dt. 19-9-94; European Patent EP-725-076 01.02.95-95 EP-300674 (07.08.96); US Patent No. 5,656,459 dt. 12.8.1997(Dr.K. Balaraman, Dr. Nisha Mathew)

• A process for the production of THROMBINASE, a blood clot dissolving enzyme from Bacillus sp. Indian Patent Appl.no 232/DEL/91 dt 21-3-91; US patent no. 5434059 dt 18-7-95; European patent no. 0624642 dt. 20.1.1999(Dr.K. Balaraman, Dr. Kuppuswamy)

• A process for the preparation of CYCLOSPORIN A an immunosuppresent from Tolypocladium sp. Canadian Patent No. 2,142,240 (2003)

• Process for the preparation of a controlled release agent for controlling growth of the insecticides. Indian Patent No. 191820 dt. 11.01.2005. Dr. Nisha Mathew,Dr. M. Kalyanasundaram & Dr. K . Balaraman.

• F24 - A process for the production of mosquito pupicidal compound. Indian Patent no.199635 dt.22.9.2006(Dr.K. Balaraman, Ms. I. geetha, Mr. G. Prabakaran, Mr. V. Padmanabhan, Dr. K.P. paily & Dr. S.L. Hoti)

• B426 - A process for the production of mosquito oviposition attractant. Indian Patent no.192872 dt.7.4.2006(Dr.K. Balaraman, Ms. I. geetha, Mr. G. Prabakaran, Mr. V. Padmanabhan & Dr. K.P. paily)

Patents Filed

• Macrofiaricidal activity of monoterpene derivatives having phenolic characteristics from the fruit extract of Trachyspermum ammi against filairasis. Indian Patent Application No.1082/DEL/2003

• Novel macrofilaricidal composition and process for preparing the same. Indian Patent Appl.No.1083/DEL/2003

• Microbial fermentation process from bird feather for the production of bio-pesticides Indian Patent Appl.No.319/Del/2005

• Lethal mosquito attractant and preparation thereof Indian Patent Appl.No.358/Del/2006

• 28. New bacterial culture medium for the production of mosquito pathogenic bacillus using industrial wastesIndian Patent Appl.No.1106/Del/2008.
   

Diagnostics/kits under development

• Monoclonal antibody based ELISA for the diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis

• RT-PCR assay for the detection of infectivity with filarial parasites in vectors

• rDNA-ITS2 region based probes developed for two sibling species of Anopheles fluviatilis, a major vector of malaria in hilly and forest areas.

Control strategies developed for

• Malaria in coastal areas of Pondicherry

• Bancroftian filariasis in Pondicherry

• Urban malaria in Salem, Tamil Nadu

• Coastal malaria in Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu

• Malaria in riverine areas in Sathanur, Tamil Nadu

• Brugian filariasis in Shertallai, Kerala

• Tribal malaria in Koraput, Orissa

Strategy Development

• Drug delivery strategies for control of lymphatic filariasis

• Development of sampling strategies for monitoring and evaluation of filariasis control/elimination programmes

Decision Support tools

• Development of mathematical models (LYMPHASIM and EPIFIL) to optimize appropriate control strategies

• Rapid assessment procedures for infection / disease

• Rapid epidemiological mapping of bancroftian filariasis endemic areas

• Filariasis risk mapping using geostatistical and GIS tools

Epidemiological studies

• Socio-economic burden of filariais and malaria

• Dynamics of transmission, infection and disease, filariasis and malaria

• Epidemiological investigations of vector-borne disease outbreaks

Clinical studies

• Hospital and community based clinical trails for transmission and morbidity control of lymphatic filariasis

Master plans for mosquito control

• Township, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Tamil Nadu

• Muncipal Corporation, Kochi, Kerala,

• Muncipal Corporation, Bangalore, Karnataka