SHRI SHIVAJI SCIENCE COLLEGE, AMRAVATI
DBT STAR COLLEGE PROJECT ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY REPORT
Workshop on Animal Tissue Culture for B.Sc. III Biotechnology and B.Sc. II Microbiology Students
Activity Dates: 28/09/2024
Type of Activity: Students Workshop
Organizing Department: Department of Microbiology
Program Coordinators: Prof. Utkarsha Pete, Prof. Komal Nagpure and Prof. Dnyaneshwari Chokhat
Head of the Department: Dr. D. D. Khedkar
External Collaborator (if any): NIL
Objectives:
- 1. Introduction to Animal Tissue Culture: To provide students with fundamental knowledge about animal tissue culture, its principles, and its applications in research and biotechnology.
- 2. Hands-on Training: To offer practical experience in culturing animal cells, including aseptic techniques, preparation of culture media, and maintaining sterile conditions in the laboratory.
- 3. Understanding Cell Growth and Behavior: To help students understand the behavior, growth, and characteristics of animal cells in vitro.
- 4. Application in Research: To demonstrate how animal tissue culture is applied in various fields, such as pharmacology, genetics, and medical research.
- 5. Skill Development: To enhance technical skills required for handling animal cells, which can be useful in advanced studies and careers in biotechnology and biomedical fields.
No of Beneficieries: 80
Classes Involved: B.Sc. III Biotechnology and B.Sc. II Microbiology Students
Venue of the Activity: Microbiology and Biotechnology lab
Activity Report:
On the 28th of September 2024, the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology of our college organized a day-long Workshop on Animal Tissue Culture for the students of B.Sc. III Biotechnology and B.Sc. II Microbiology. The workshop was a much-anticipated event designed to offer students a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of this significant field. The workshop consisted of two segments: a guest lecture followed by a practical session. The resource person for this event was Prof. Nitin Ingole, an esteemed expert in animal tissue culture with an extensive research background. He was supported by faculty members, including Dr. Rasika Jane, Prof. Suwarna Mankar, Dr. Ashruta Gawali, Prof. Utkarsha Pete, Prof. Komal Nagpure, and Prof. Dnyneshwari Chokhat, who ensured that the event ran smoothly.
The Need for Animal Tissue Culture in the Present Context
Animal tissue culture has evolved into a key technique in various areas of biology, including biotechnology, pharmacology, toxicology, cell biology, and genetics. With its ability to replicate and study cells outside the body, the method offers essential insights into processes like cell growth, differentiation, and gene expression. For students of biotechnology and microbiology, understanding tissue culture is critical because it plays an integral role in vaccine production, cancer research, genetic engineering, and the development of therapeutic drugs.
This workshop was organized with the aim to:
Bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
Introduce students to advanced culture techniques, which are critical for future research and career opportunities.
Develop hands-on skills in a lab-based environment, preparing students for professional endeavors in biotech companies and research labs.
Inaugural Session and Introduction by Prof. Nitin Ingole
The workshop commenced at 9:00 AM with a welcome address by Prof. Suwarna Mankar, who introduced Prof. Nitin Ingole to the students and provided a brief overview of his expertise and contribution to the field of tissue culture. Prof. Ingole began his lecture by explaining the historical development of animal tissue culture, tracing its roots back to the early 20th century when Ross G. Harrison pioneered the cultivation of tissue in vitro. His engaging narrative guided the students through a journey from the inception of this technique to its current applications in gene editing, monoclonal antibody production, and regenerative medicine.
Lecture on Principles of Animal Tissue Culture
Prof. Nitin Ingole’s lecture was designed to introduce the students to both the theoretical framework and the technical challenges of animal tissue culture. He touched upon essential topics like:
1. Basic Techniques and Terminology: Prof. Ingole explained the fundamental principles of animal tissue culture, such as sterile techniques, media preparation, cell types, and growth conditions. He highlighted the importance of maintaining a sterile environment, which is essential for successful tissue culture, and demonstrated different methods of sterilization and aseptic handling.
2. Types of Culture: The lecture included a discussion on the different types of tissue culture, such as primary culture, secondary culture, and continuous cell lines. Prof. Ingole stressed the importance of understanding the differences between these techniques and when each should be applied, particularly in the context of medical research and biotechnology.
3. Applications of Animal Tissue Culture: He illustrated the wide-ranging applications of animal tissue culture, from genetic modification and cell cloning to the production of recombinant proteins. Students were particularly interested in learning how tissue culture is pivotal in biopharmaceutical production, vaccine development, and cancer research.
4. Ethical Considerations: Prof. Ingole also touched upon the ethical implications of tissue culture, particularly concerning animal rights and genetic manipulation. He emphasized the responsibility scientists have to ensure that their work adheres to ethical guidelines and benefits humanity.
Throughout the lecture, Prof. Ingole’s interactive approach engaged the students. He frequently posed questions, encouraging them to think critically about the material and participate in discussions. The students appreciated how he made the complex concepts of tissue culture easy to understand by linking them with real-world examples and research findings.
The Practical Session: Hands-on Learning
Following the lecture, the students were given a short break before moving on to the practical session, which began at 11:30 AM. Under the supervision of Prof. Nitin Ingole and the faculty members, the students were divided into small groups to ensure that each group had ample time for hands-on experience.
Preparation and Media Handling
The first step in the practical session involved the preparation of culture media. Prof. Ingole explained the composition and importance of DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium), RPMI-1640, and other growth media commonly used in animal tissue culture. The students were shown how to:
Measure and mix components.
Adjust the pH of the media.
Sterilize the media using an autoclave.
They learned the importance of maintaining the right conditions for cell growth and how small variations in media composition can influence the results of tissue culture experiments.
Aseptic Techniques and Cell Handling
Next, students practiced aseptic techniques in a biosafety cabinet, where they were taught how to minimize contamination during tissue culture procedures. Under Prof. Ingole’s guidance, the students were tasked with transferring cells, changing media, and monitoring cell growth under a microscope. The importance of pipetting accuracy, gentle cell handling, and proper waste disposal was emphasized.
Cell Observation and Growth
The highlight of the practical session was the observation of animal cells under a microscope. Students were able to visualize cell adhesion, division, and morphology in real-time. For many students, this was their first experience working directly with animal cells, and it brought the theoretical concepts they had learned to life. Prof. Ingole guided them on how to differentiate between healthy and contaminated cultures, thus giving them valuable insights into cell viability and contamination control.
Application
Pharmaceutical Research: It helps in drug testing and development by allowing scientists to observe how animal cells respond to drugs before human trials.
Vaccine Production: Tissue culture is widely used to grow viruses in animal cells, enabling vaccine production, such as for polio or influenza.
Regenerative Medicine: Plays a role in tissue engineering, helping in the development of artificial organs or tissues to repair or replace damaged body parts.
Cancer Research: Tissue culture techniques allow the study of cancer cell biology and the effects of anti-cancer drugs on different types of cancer cells.
Genetic Engineering: Used in cloning and the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for research and therapeutic purposes.
3. Culture Types:
Primary Culture: Directly obtained from animal tissues and maintained under specific conditions.
Secondary Culture: Derived from primary culture, subcultured for further growth and experimentation.
Continuous Culture: Cells that can be passaged multiple times, often derived from cancerous or immortalized cells.
4. Culture Media: Contains essential nutrients like amino acids, vitamins, salts, glucose, and serum supplements. Specialized media include serum-free media for more defined growth conditions.
5. Sterility and Aseptic Techniques: Maintaining a sterile environment is critical, as contamination by microorganisms can alter experimental outcomes or destroy cultures.
6. Types of Cells Cultured:
Fibroblasts: Used for connective tissue research.
Epithelial Cells: For studies on organs like skin or the intestine.
Stem Cells: For regenerative medicine and developmental biology.
Cancer Cells: Used for cancer biology research and testing therapies.
7. Ethical Considerations: Tissue culture can reduce the need for animal testing, but ethical issues arise in sourcing cells, particularly stem cells, or genetically modified lines.
8. Challenges:
Contamination: Bacteria, fungi, and viruses can easily contaminate cultures.
Cell Differentiation: Maintaining cells in their original, functional state over time can be difficult.
Cost: Tissue culture can be expensive due to the cost of specialized equipment, media, and maintaining sterile conditions.
9. Advances in Technology:
3D Cultures and Organoids: Enable better simulation of in vivo conditions for more realistic biological models.
CRISPR and Gene Editing: Allows precise manipulation of cells cultured in vitro for gene function studies and therapeutic developments.
10. Regulatory Requirements: Animal tissue culture is subject to strict regulatory guidelines, particularly in pharmaceutical applications, to ensure safety and reliability in research outputs.
Outcomes:
- 1.By the end of the workshop, the students had gained substantial knowledge and practical skills in animal tissue culture. Some key outcomes of the workshop included:
- 2.Practical Exposure: The hands-on practical experience provided students with the opportunity to implement what they had learned in the classroom. It also boosted their confidence in handling delicate cultures.
- 3.Industry Relevance: The skills learned during the workshop are highly relevant to industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotech companies, and academic research labs. The students now have a better understanding of the applications of tissue culture and how it aligns with career opportunities.
- 4.Collaborative Learning: The workshop encouraged collaboration among students as they worked in teams during the practical session, fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills.
- 5.Networking with Experts: The students had the opportunity to interact with Prof. Nitin Ingole, whose vast experience in the field provided valuable insights into current trends in animal tissue culture. This exposure is essential for students aspiring to pursue further studies or research in this domain.
Photos:
 Invited talk by Dr. Nitin Ingole before practical |  Practical hand during workshop |
 Students involved during guest lecture |  View under microscope |
 Practical during workshop |  Practical during workshop (tissue puncturing) |
Attendance Sheet:
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