Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

30 Jan 2026

Burong isda (fermented fish), indigenous to the Philippines, has probiotic potential for digestive and immune health

Fermented foods in the Philippines, such as burong isda (fermented fish), are not only part of our culinary heritage but...

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29 Jan 2026

The strength and structure of three commercially important bamboo species in the Philippines vary greatly by location

Timber shortages in the Philippines have increased demand for alternative materials such as bamboo, which is used as a substitute...

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28 Jan 2026

Researchers develop a model that helps companies make smarter choices in carbon trading

Carbon trading is a mechanism that allows entities to sell or purchase credits which indicate the right to emit carbon...

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27 Jan 2026

Around 1,500 social media influencer accounts were involved in covert or under-the-radar campaigning during the 2022 Philippine presidential elections

This study estimates the number of social media influencers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube, and the amount of money...

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26 Jan 2026

Re-industrializing the domestic production base can greatly strengthen economic diversification in the Philippines

This paper builds on the broad argument that economic diversification can drive industrial upgrading and growth in an emerging economy...

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23 Jan 2026

Most students recognize the relevance of learning competencies in chemistry to sustainable development

Chemistry is deeply interconnected with various aspects of sustainability. However, enabling students to analyze these interconnections requires adequate support in...

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22 Jan 2026

Researchers develop a method for creating maps that show how national cultures have evolved over time

Culture is understood as a shared and negotiated system of meaning that people learn and practice by interpreting their experience...

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21 Jan 2026

Researchers design a potential mRNA vaccine against African swine fever using advanced computer-based methods

African swine fever (ASF) is a deadly disease that has severely impacted pig farming worldwide. In the Philippines, ASFV outbreaks...

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20 Jan 2026

A foreign-funded farm-to-market road project in Quezon worsened inequality by strengthening the power of rural elites

This study rigorously explored the multifaceted impacts of the Japanese-funded farm-to-market road (FMR) project in Agdangan, Quezon, focusing on its...

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19 Jan 2026

Filipina domestic workers in Singapore share some experiences with other overseas mothers but also face unique challenges

In this study, I looked at how single Filipina mothers working as domestic workers in Singapore maintain their familial ties,...

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16 Jan 2026

Close government–business relationships helped deliver major infrastructure projects in Iloilo City

This article examines Iloilo City as an alternative model of government–business relations, built on a stable local political system and...

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15 Jan 2026

Researchers develop a novel non-flooded time-series approach for improved global near-real-time flood mapping

Mapping flood events with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data is becoming increasingly important due to its spatiotemporal coverage and independence...

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Research

Fermented foods in the Philippines, such as burong isda (fermented fish), are not only part of our culinary heritage but also a rich source of beneficial bacteria. In this study, we isolated and studied two strains of Limosilactobacillus fermentum—a type of lactic acid bacteria—from burong isda collected in Arayat, Pampanga. Using both laboratory tests and advanced genomic tools, we investigated whether these bacteria could serve as probiotics that support health.

We found that both strains can survive in acidic and bile-rich conditions similar to the human stomach and intestines, which is important for any probiotic. Their genomes revealed genes that help resist harsh environments, attaching to gut cells, supporting immune responses, and even producing vitamins. Most excitingly, we discovered that their natural products can inhibit harmful fungi like Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus, which are known to cause infections. Unlike some bacteria that carry antibiotic resistance or disease-causing traits, these strains were found to be safe and free of such risks. This means they have strong potential to be developed into health-promoting probiotics for food or medical use.

Our work highlights how traditional Filipino foods can lead to scientific discoveries with real health benefits. It also shows how modern techniques, like genome sequencing, can help unlock the full potential of our local microbial resources.

This research marks a meaningful step in bridging traditional microbiology with modern genomic science in the Philippines. By exploring Limosilactobacillus fermentum strains from burong isda, we have demonstrated how indigenous fermented foods can be rich sources of probiotic microorganisms with therapeutic potential.

What makes this work significant is that we did not rely solely on in vitro assays—we incorporated whole-genome sequencing, genome mining, and metabolomic profiling to build a more complete and evidence-based understanding of these isolates.

Overall, this study not only enriches our scientific knowledge of locally sourced probiotics but also highlights the value of applying OMICs tools in characterizing functional microbes from traditional foods—something that remains underexplored in the Philippine setting.

Authors: Joshua T. Veluz (Natural Sciences Research Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman | The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Manila),  Paul Christian T. Gloria (Natural Sciences Research Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman), Maria Auxilia T. Siringan (Natural Sciences Research Institute, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman), and Irineo J. Dogma Jr. (The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, Manila)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microb.2025.100334