Dr. B. K. Singh, a Veterinary Microbiologist with specialization in Veterinary
Virology, was born on 12-07-1951. He has completed School level education
from his native birthplace, District Chhapra, Bihar. He has done B.V.Sc
&A.H and M.V.Sc from Rajendra Agricultural University, Bihar in 1975 and
Rohilkhand Universty (IVRI, Izatnagar/ Mukteshwar), Uttar Pradesh in 1977,
respectively. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) awarded merit
Scholarship during graduation and junior fellowship during master's degree.
The research work was on sheep pox vaccine during M.V.Sc. He did his Ph.D
from CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana) on 'Comparison
of equine herpes virus-1 isolates of Indian origin using monoclonal antibodies',
which he completed in 2000. He was awarded ICAR Senior fellowship for this
study.
He attended several National and International Level of trainings in the
area of Specialization amongst which Equine influenza technology (Monoclonal
antibodies production and Equine influenza course) are major during 1991
and 1995, respectively at Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, UK and the Senior
Level Programme on Agricultural Scientist Development for Personal and Organizational
Effectiveness, w.e.f. July 17-28, 2000 at NAARM, Hyderabad are important.
His first appointment was as Junior Epidemiologist, Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD)
under All India Coordinated Research Project, Gangtok, Govt of Sikkim in
February 1978. The report of outbreaks of FMD in Yaks and pig were important
epidemiological observations from this state. He joined National Dairy Development
Board, Anand, Gujarat in 1980 and served there till 1988 as Veterinary Investigator
and Incharge Virology Laboratory. There he significantly contributed in
the field of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) in dairy cattle and
reported virus isolation from frozen semen of dairy breeding bulls. Subsequently,
he joined as Senior Scientist in 1988 at National Research Centre on Equines,
Hisar directly through Agricultural Research Service. He became Principal
Scientist in 1998 and continuing this job till date. His significant research
achievements, which may be acclaimed of National/ International importance,
include productions of a panel of highly precious monoclonal antibodies
against equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) and development of complement fixing
monoclonal antibodies against EHV-1. It is a rare finding and there appears
to be no such report in herpes virus in general and EHV-1 in particular.
Besides this, development of three neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and
several non-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are precious diagnostic reagents.
These reagents are now available to characterize the field EHV-1 isolates
in respect of antigenic differentiation of various EHV-1 Indian isolates.
The information obtained could be useful in studying the molecular epidemiology,
pathogenesis, and selection of proper vaccine strain against this virus.
DNA fingerprinting was standardized and applied for strain differentiation
of field isolates of EHV-1 at genome level. Development of a panel of monoclonal
antibodies against equine influenza and standardization of different diagnostic
technique like sandwich ELISA, indirect ELISA would reduce the diagnostic
time of EHV-1 infection in horses from days to hours. Besides that PCR technique
is well standardized and being used in the laboratory regularly.
He was part of the team in developing the immunostick ELISA kit for detecting
antibodies to equine herpes virus-1 for which a patent has been applied
for in association with Rattan, B., Yadav, M.P. and Gupta, A.K. It has been
notified in the Gazette of Govt. of India, New Delhi, No : 46, P 1517 dated
15th November 1997. The patent has been filed both for the process and for
the product.
As human resource development (HRD) approach, he organized an All India
practical oriented Short Course of two weeks duration on 'Diagnosis of equine
abortion (EHV-1 infection) using monoclonal antibodies based enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assays and by polymerase chain reaction' during 2002 at NRCE,
Hisar. There are 38 research papers, 3 book chapters, 32 presentations in
Seminars/ Symposia, 9 popular articles in both National and International
Journals to his credit. Besides he has published one bulletin (EHV-1) and
edited one book entitled 'Herpes virus-1 infection in equines: Present Scenario
and future strategies'. He has acted as expert for commenting on projects
of other Institutions of National/ International repute and examiner of
postgraduate students.
Involvement in current
research projects of NRCE
