Research

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

25 Mar 2026

Philippine island communities face unique healthcare challenges shaped by geographical isolation and disparities in technological access and literacy

In regions separated by water and challenging terrain, the healthcare journey involves not only crossing physical distances but also navigating...

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24 Mar 2026

The Spanish and Tausug versions of the landmark Sulu–Spanish Treaty of 1836 reflect different intentions

In the second half of the 1830s, several indigenous overlords in the Sulu–Mindanao–Borneo region began signing treaties, marking a new...

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20 Mar 2026

Scientists create the first draft genome of the endangered Visayan spotted deer, a species found only in the Philippines

The genus Rusa, native to South and Southeast Asia, lives in diverse habitats ranging from dense forests to grasslands. Among its...

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19 Mar 2026

A comprehensive study on the health and nutrition of older Filipino adults highlights the need for tailored interventions

Several local studies have been conducted among community-dwelling older Filipinos; however, data gaps in nutrition research exist. In particular, there...

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18 Mar 2026

Libraries not only promote discourse but are also subjects of discourse themselves

In the past, libraries primarily served as channels for disseminating discourse through books, magazines, newspapers, and other important documents. Today,...

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17 Mar 2026

A two-stage symptom detection model was developed to more accurately identify depression signs in social media posts

Depression is a health condition characterized by changes in mood, cognition, and behavior. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),...

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16 Mar 2026

E-cigarettes may have less impact on the development of tooth decay and periodontal disease than traditional cigarettes

Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for numerous health problems, including respiratory infections and cancers. It is also associated...

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13 Mar 2026

“Halata” can now be used to refer to gay men who act straight, showing how the definition of kabaklaan in the Philippines is ever-changing

In the Philippines, representation of gays has long been dichotomous. There is the bakla, depicted as flamboyant, effeminate and low...

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10 Mar 2026

Study develops a baseline econometric model to estimate potential hydrogen demand in Tarlac and explore hydrogen as an alternative energy source

This study aims to establish a baseline econometric model to inform the possible development of green hydrogen production in Tarlac....

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09 Mar 2026

There is significant spatial clustering of traffic accident locations in Quezon City

The surge in urban vehicular traffic volume over the past decade has resulted in a rise in the occurrence of...

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06 Mar 2026

Taken together, the oral narratives of families left behind by Duterte’s drug war reveal a shared understanding of political struggle and resistance

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is infamous for his war on drugs campaign, commonly known as Oplan Tokhang, which killed...

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05 Mar 2026

Motherwork includes often difficult conversations as mothers try to regulate their adolescents’ social media use

This study rests on the premise that motherhood is composed of unaccounted invisible work. Moreover, motherhood is not a natural...

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Research

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when medicines used to treat infections no longer work effectively, often due to their overuse and misuse. It is a complex and growing problem driven by inappropriate use in human medicine, poor agricultural practices, and environmental pollution, and is now considered a major global public health threat.

Salmonella enterica is one of the most common foodborne pathogens worldwide. It is classified into two types: typhoidal, which causes typhoid fever, and non-typhoidal (NTS), which can lead to food poisoning and, in some cases, severe infections. NTS spreads through animals, food, and the environment, with poultry and poultry products being major sources. A growing concern is the emergence of NTS that are resistant to multiple antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.

In this study, we characterized NTS from chicken meat through whole-genome sequencing. Chicken samples, supplied by local farms to slaughterhouses, were collected from public wet markets in San Juan, Quezon City, Malabon, and Muntinlupa in Metro Manila.

Our findings revealed that our 95 isolates from the chicken cut samples belong to 15 distinct NTS “strains,” with Salmonella Infantis being the most common. By testing 15 different antibiotic classes, we found that 73.68% of our NTS were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 45.26% were resistant to three or more antibiotic classes.

We also identified the genes responsible for these resistance traits, some of which can transfer between bacteria, accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance. Additionally, we found genes that enhance the ability of NTS to infect humans and animals.

These findings highlight a potential public health risk, as NTS in chicken meat can spread throughout the entire farm-to-fork continuum, from farms to consumers. This study provides essential baseline data that can guide the development of targeted control strategies to curb antibiotic resistance and support future public health initiatives.

Authors: Michael Joseph M. Nagpala (Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman | Microbiology Division, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños), Jonah Feliza B. Mora (Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman), Rance Derrick N. Pavon (Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman) and Windell L. Rivera (Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory, Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman)

Read the full paper: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1496685/full

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