Center for Cellular & Molecular Medical Research

23/03/2026

[𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚] Acceptance of samples for capillary sequencing services will close on March 25, 2026 (𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺). Services resume July 2026.

20/03/2026

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | MMSU adds first microbial genomes to global scientific databases

By Jareason Fabre

Researchers of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Medical Research (CMED) reached a milestone in March by adding MMSU’s first microbial genome sequences to global scientific databases.

CMED Chief Peter James Icalia-Gann and team published two probiotic genome studies in the international journal Microbiology Resource Announcements, released by the American Society for Microbiology.

The studies focus on two possible probiotic bacteria taken from the nipa palm (𝘕𝘺𝘱𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘴), a plant commonly found in Philippine coastal areas.

“These publications are among the first microbial genome sequences of MMSU to be included in global genomic databases,” said Dr. Gann. He added that these publications will help expand knowledge and enrich international research on microbiology and bioinformatics.

The published studies describe two bacterial strains: 𝘓𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘪 S5, collected from nipa palm in Pangasinan, and 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘪 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘱. 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘪 S1, collected from nipa palm in Cagayan.

Through genome sequencing, the researchers studied the genetic makeup of these bacteria. This helps scientists understand traits linked to health benefits, such as digestion support, stress resistance, antimicrobial activity, and interaction with host tissues.

These genome sequences are now shared in international databases. By making this information public, MMSU supports global research on beneficial microorganisms.

The studies were funded by MMSU IFP-Probiotic Program, which supports research on discovering and developing local probiotic microorganisms for health and biotechnology use. Through this effort, MMSU continues to invest in advanced research and promote the use of local microbial resources for science and industry.

With these international publications, MMSU aims to contribute to microbial genomics and probiotic research in the Philippines, bringing global attention to the value of locally sourced microbes.

https://www.mmsu.edu.ph/article/news/2963/mmsu-adds-first-microbial-genomes-to-global-scientific-databases

16/03/2026

𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙋𝙐𝘽𝙇𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 | We are glad to share that another research has been published in an ASM journal!

This work represents our team’s ongoing efforts to push the frontiers of microbial genomics and share discoveries with the broader scientific community. As emphasized by our Center Chief, Dr. Peter James Gann, science is 𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦—it is built through collaboration among experts from different fields working toward a common goal.

Read the paper here: https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.01227-25

11/03/2026

𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙋𝙐𝘽𝙇𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 | Genome announcement of a potential probiotic now published in 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 - 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝘼𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨!

"𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘓𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘪 𝘚5 𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘕𝘺𝘱𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘞𝘶𝘳𝘮𝘣. 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯, 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴"

🔗 Read it here: https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.01290-25

09/03/2026

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | MMSU research on probiotic bacteria for digestion and wound healing published in Scopus-indexed journals

By Jimmbeth Zenila Fabia, 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘳

Two studies on molecular microbiology of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) – Center for Cellular and Molecular Medical Research (CMED) were recently published in international Scopus-indexed journals. Featuring innovations in both functional foods and wound healing, the recent publication of the two studies can now be accessed online.

Published in the 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭, the two studies were conducted by the center’s research team with CMED Chief Peter James Icalia-Gann at the helm.

One of the studies, titled “𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘮𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘜𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘮 𝘗𝘑𝘎11 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘋𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴,” explores how beneficial bacteria can more efficiently utilize starch when grown in natural plant-derived environments.

Meanwhile, the second publication, “𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘜𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘓𝘙2 𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘵-𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘛𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘐𝘊𝘙 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘏𝘺𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘪 7060,” focuses on the biomedical potential of postbiotics, or beneficial compounds produced by probiotic bacteria.

These studies contribute to the growing field of probiotic-derived therapeutics, which investigates how microbial products can be used in medicine to support the body’s natural defense mechanisms and promote healing.

Dr. Icalia-Gann explained that the findings show the critical role of microbiology in developing health-related innovations.

“Our work is focused on understanding how naturally occurring beneficial microbes and their byproducts can be harnessed to address real-world health concerns, including improving digestive processes and supporting faster tissue repair,” he said. “Through continued research, we hope to contribute to the development of accessible and science-based solutions that can benefit both local communities and the broader scientific community.”

The recently published studies can be accessed through the following links:
https://doi.org/10.2174/0118742858448770260210051054
https://doi.org/10.2323/jgam.2026.02.001

Both projects were supported by the IFP-Probiotics Program funded by the Commission on Higher Education.

With a productive research trajectory for the CMED, additional manuscripts are currently under review in various Scopus-indexed journals, with several expected to be published in the coming months.

09/03/2026

Science thrives when women lead, discover, and innovate. This 𝐼𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓃𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝒲𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃’𝓈 𝑀𝑜𝓃𝓉𝒽, CMED gladly celebrates the women researchers whose work continues to shape knowledge, drive innovation, and positive change.

04/03/2026

𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙋𝙐𝘽𝙇𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 | Thrilled to share our newly published article in The Open Microbiology Journal!

“𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘜𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘓𝘙2 𝘍𝘢𝘴𝘵-𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘛𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘐𝘊𝘙 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘏𝘺𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘪 7060”

Our findings highlight the role of TLR2 modulation and postbiotic innovation in accelerating tissue repair—advancing probiotic-derived therapeutics for wound healing.

🔗 Read it here: https://doi.org/10.2174/0118742858448770260210051054

04/03/2026

𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙋𝙐𝘽𝙇𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 | Thrilled to share our latest paper in the Journal of General and Applied Microbiology!

“𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘮𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘜𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘮 𝘗𝘑𝘎11 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘋𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴”

Our findings highlight how natural, plant-derived substrates enhance amylase expression and starch utilization—supporting the development of more effective LAB-based functional foods.

📖 Read here: https://doi.org/10.2323/jgam.2026.02.001

02/03/2026

𝙇𝙊𝙊𝙆 | Prof. Mae Rose Maoirat-Abad, Mr. Jericho Prades, and Mr. Lemuel Ray Balloyan at the Metabolomics Workshop hosted by Davao Medical School Foundation Inc. — grateful for the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and advance research in Davao.

25/02/2026

17/02/2026

𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙛𝙛 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘽𝙞𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙘𝙨

𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘤 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘐𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦 — Mr. Lemuel Ray T. Balloyan, a Research Staff of the Center, participated in the Bioinformatics Workshop for Mass Spectrometry (MS)-based Metabolomics Annotation, scheduled on February 9–11, 2026 at De La Salle University, Laguna Campus.

Mr. Balloyan was chosen based on the merit of his research background and his potential to contribute to the advancement of metabolomics in the region. The workshop is an international initiative organized by the University of Antwerp, Ghent University, the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), and De La Salle University, in collaboration with the Philippine Metabolomics Network (PMN). The event is funded by the VLIR-UOS (Belgium).

As part of the program, participants were required to deliver a presentation showcasing their previous, ongoing, or planned metabolomics-related research. Mr. Balloyan represented MMSU and shared his work with fellow researchers and experts in the field.

The training aimed to enhance participants’ skills in metabolomics data analysis and annotation using advanced bioinformatics tools. It also provides a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and capacity building among researchers across institutions.

The Center continues to strengthen its presence in scientific fields through the active participation of its researchers in national and international trainings and collaborations.

09/02/2026

𝙁𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙮 6, 2026 | 𝙇𝙖𝙤𝙖𝙜 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙮 — Dr. Mayla Veronica Madrigal, Dr. Peter James Icalia-Gann, and Ms. Marvielyn P. Olivar conducted an official research visit to the Laoag City Jail, to carry out interviews for an ongoing study entitled “𝘈 𝘔𝘪𝘹𝘦𝘥-𝘔𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘈𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴.”

The activity was conducted with the assistance and coordination of JSINSP Sheila Marie D. Sapaden, Acting Jail Warden of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) – Laoag City. The visit forms part of the study’s data collection phase, aiming to generate evidence-based insights to support public health interventions for tuberculosis prevention and control in correctional settings.

[𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘴, 𝘢𝘥𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴]