CHITTARANJAN BARUAH

Contact Details

Research interests

Molecular modeling, Docking, Data mining, Molecular Phylogeny & Phylogeography, Biodiversity Database development and Conservation Biology.

Ph.D. Work

Presently working on molecular modelling, conservation & Phylogeography of certain fresh water turtles of India (Collaboration with Dr. Kartik Shanker, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/kartik and Dr. Shailendra Singh, Scientist & Co-ordinator, IUCN-TSA/CRES/MCBT Range Country Programme-India www.turtlesurvival.org and http://www.turtlesurvival.org/news/shailendra-singh-from- india-conservation-hero/)

Award & Achievements

• The Asian Scholarship Program for in-situ Chelonian Conservation (ASPin-situCC)-2010 taking place at the Wetlands Institute (1075 Stone Harbor Blvd) in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, USA. http://ASPin-situCC.org. (May-August, 2010)
• 2. UGC's - RFSMS Fellow, Department of Zoology, Gauhati University since January, 2008.
• 3. Mr. Chittaranjan Baruah, a Research Scholar of the BIF - Gauhati University has been nominated as a member to the prestigious International Union for Conservation of Nature / Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSC) Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group for the 2009-2012 IUCN Quadrennium, in recognition of his contribution to Turtle Conservation and Biology.

Ongoing projects

In-situ conservation of endangered freshwater turtles through community participation programmes in the riverine chars (islands) of Brahmaputra,Assam,India. Funded by Rufford Small Grant for Nature Conservation (RSG amount £5700 ), London (www.ruffordsmallgrants.org).

Research publications & Communications

• Baruah, C and Sharma D.K.(2009) Software for exploring the turtle and tortoise diversity of northeast India. IUCN- Turtle and Tortoise Newsletter. (13): 9-10. [Link: http://www.herplit.com/contents/TandTNewsl.html]
• Deka J., Baruah C. &. Sharma D.K (2008) Zymogram and In Silico analyses of Alpha- amylase from non-diapausing silkworm Bombyx mori, Journal of Applied Bioscience & Biotechnology, vol 4(1):15-20.
• Baruah, C (2008) Soft-shell turtle deaths at sacred temple unexplained (India),ATCN, December 7, 2008 [Link: http://www.asianturtlenetwork.org]
• Baruah C. &. Sharma D.K (2008) Comparative modelling and sequence analyses of Apoptosis-preventing protein from Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV), J. Applied Bioscience & Biotechnology, vol 4(1): 30-35.
• Baruah C., Deka J. &. Sharma D.K. (2007) Sequence analysis and structure prediction of GTP-binding protein for characterization of non-diapausing silkworm Bombyx mori. Tropical Zool. 4: 91-98.
• Baruah C., Das A. and Mahanta S. (2006) 3D structure prediction of HIV-2 Pol polyprotein through homology modeling. Research Journal of Contemporary Concerns, 4: 68-73
• Baruah C., Das A.(2006). 3D structure prediction of hrpX -A protein from type III Secretion system of Ralstonia solanacearum. Proc.Nat.Sem.ZSA pub.,pp 121-126
• Baruah C. (2006) .Bioinformatics:Wave of future, Jibalokan, ZSCC pp. 18-20

Skill Training

• DBT, Govt. of India sponsored training on Applications of Bioinformatics at NEHU, Shillong-793022,India (February 13-15,2007).
• Trained in PCR amplification, cloning of PCR product, Transformation and Protein purification at Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS),New Delhi-110029,India (1st March-7th April,2007).
• Trained in "DST, Govt. of India's first SERC SCHOOL IN HERPETOLOGY (North Orissa University during the period of December,07-January,08)"
• Trained in the IUCN Turtle Survival Alliance/Madras Crocodile Bank Trust Chelonian conservation & Field Research training in Uttar Pradesh, India (During July 31 to August 15, 2008).
• UGC-SAP Training on GIS & its applications (September 26-September 28, 2008).

Activities/Associations

• Team Leader, Chelonian Conservation & Research Program (CCRP), Center for Wildlife Research and Conservation Action (CWRCA), Gauhati University, Assam.
• Member of Indian Science Congress Association
• Member of Asian Turtle Conservation Network.
• Member of Wildlife Trust of India under Emergency Relief Network (ERN)
• Life member of Zoological Society of Assam (ZSA), India.
• Member of South Asian Reptile Network (SARN)
• Member of Chiroptera Conservation and Information Network of South Asia (CCINSA)

Papers presented in International Conferences

• Sharmah R. and Baruah C. 2008. Sequence similarity of proteins correlates with structural similarity- an analysis. International Symposium on Newer Frontiers in Bio- Medical Research (RMRC N.E. Region -ICMR, 28-29 June, 08) (Abstract: pp 30).
• Baruah C., Sharmah, R. and Sharma D.K. 2008. Sequence analysis and evolutionary studies on the disintegrin from Saw-scaled viper, Echis carinatus. International Symposium on Newer Frontiers in Bio-Medical Research (RMRC N.E. Region -ICMR, 28-29 June, 08) (Abstract: pp 37).
• Baruah C.and Sharma D.K. 2007. In silico structural and functional characterization of two parvalbumins: Parvalbumin-2 of Danio rerio and Parvalbumin beta of Cyprinus carpio, nternational conference on Recent trends in Biodiversity and Biotechnology' (RTBB-2007) (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, India ; November 15-17, 2007) (Abstract: pp 75-76).
• Sharma D.K and Baruah C."Structure & Evolution of cytochrome b among the fresh water Turtle Genera Pangshura & Batajur: An In Silico analysis" Oral presentation in the International Conference on "Advances in Biosciences: From Darwin to Dolly and Beyond..." to be held at Yeshwant Mahavidyalaya, Nanded - 431 602 (M.S.) India During February 12-14, 2009.

Papers presented in the National Seminars

• C.Baruah and D.K. Sharma .2008.Structure and evolution of Cytochrome b among the endangered freshwater turtles of genus Pangshura, National Symposium on Advances in Zoology: Faunal Diversity and Ecophysiology(NEHU, Shillong), 13-14 March,08 .
• Baruah C., and Sharma D.K. 2007. Sequence analyses and structure prediction of two Type III Secretion system proteins: hrpH and hrpY of Ralstonia solanacearum. National seminar in Biodiversity (NEBC,18 th & 19th December,07) (Abstract: pp 31)
• Baruah C., Das A. and Mahanta S. 2006. 3D structure prediction of HIV-2 POL polyprotein through Homology Modeling. National Seminar on Zoology for Human Welfare", 2nd February 06. ,G.U.).
• Baruah C. and Das A. 2006. 3D structure prediction of hrpX -A protein from type III Secretion system of Ralstonia solanacearum .National Seminar on Challenging frontiers in applied Zoology (25-26 August ,Rangia College, Assam).
• Baruah C.and Sharma D.K. Molecular variation among the freshwater turtles of genus Pangshura: An in silico analysis. National Zoology Congress, G.U. (Dec 29-31,08).
• Luna Phukan, Chittaranjan Baruh, D.K. Sharma. Ex-situ hatching and Breeding biology of Pangshura tentoria tentoria (Gray 1834). National Zoology Congress, G.U. (Dec 29-31,08).
• Sharma D.K and Baruah C "CHELONIAN GENETIC RESOURCES OF THE NORTHEAST REGION OF INDIA: STRATEGIES FOR CONSERVATION ACTION" 96th Indian Science congress, NEHU (3-7 Jauary,09).
• Sharma D.K and Baruah C "MOLECULAR MODELLING AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS AMONG THE ASIAN SOFT SHELL TURTLES OF THE GENUS ASPIDERETES" 96th Indian Science congress, NEHU (3-7 Jauary,09)

Bio Informatics Activities

Comparative modelling

1. Predicted protein Structure accepted in the International Databases: RCSB-PDB
   (www.rcsb.org/pdb): PDB IDs- 2cb7, 1v0g, 1v1n, 1v12, 1v17 (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/thornton-srv/databases/cgi-bin/pdbsum)
2. Protein Model deposited to Protein Model DataBase (PMDB, at University of Rome "La Sapienza")
Authors: Baruah C and Sharma D.K.
• PM0074739: Cyotochrome oxidase1 of Antheraea assama
• PM0074750: Early 35 kDa Protein of BmNPV