UPV-NIMBB holds training-workshop on Microbiology Techniques

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The University of the Philippines Visayas-National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPV-NIMBB) hosted a three-day blended lecture and hands-on training workshop last October 10-12, 2022 at the NIMBB and College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) Laboratories of UPV.

The training was in partnership with the Institute of Aquaculture (IA) and the Institute of Fish Processing Technology (IFPT) of the CFOS, together with the DOST-PCAARRD funded project, Improvement of Milkfish Larval Rearing and Nursery Culture through Gut Metagenome, Transcriptome Analysis and Gut Microbial Community Manipulations.

Thirteen (13) participants from different institutions in Panay and Negros Island graced the training invitation. The participants came from Aklan State University (2), Capiz State University in Pontevedra (3) and in Dayao Campus (2), Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (3) in Negros Occidental, and the University of the Philippines Visayas (3).

The first day of the training workshop commenced with an opening ceremony, followed by a series of lectures delivered by invited resource speakers. Topics related to microbiology were discussed by faculty members of CFOS-IA, CFOS-IFPT, and CAS, respectively.

UPV-NIMBB Director, Dr. Carmelo S. del Castillo, also an Assistant Professor of CFOS-IA, started the lecture on the introduction of microbiology and its applications to various fields of science.

It was then followed by a lecture on food microbiology in fisheries given by Ms. May Flor S. Muegue, a faculty member of the CFOS-IFPT.

Invited speaker from the Division of Biological Sciences – College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Dr. Christopher Marlowe A. Caipang enlightened the participants on commonly encountered terminologies and topics related to microbiology: pathogenicity, virulence, epidemiology, and immunology, to name a few.

Different microbial diseases in fisheries as well as topics on bacterial culture, characterization, and identification were thoroughly tackled by Ms. Rowena E. Cadiz, a faculty member of the CFOS-IA.

The remaining lectures were presented on the third day by Dr. Rex Ferdinand M. Traifalgar, Director of CFOS-IA, with topic on natural products and antimicrobial agents in aquaculture and deciphering CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and its role in modern microbiology addressed and discussed by Dr. Rhoda Mae Simora, an Assistant Professor of CFOS-IFPT.

To fully capacitate the participants, a series of hands-on laboratory activities were facilitated and conducted by skilled researchers of UPV.

Led by Ms. Rowena E. Cadiz, faculty member of CFOS-IA; Ms. Emelyn Joy G. Mameloco, University Research Associate (URA) of CFOS-IA; Ms. Karmelie Jane Monaya, URA I, CFOS-IFPT; and Ms. Apple Gray P. Deallo, URA I, UPV-NIMBB, participants were taught media preparation, bacterial culture and isolation, microbial enumeration, microbial assays, and bacterial identification.

UPV-NIMBB conducts quarterly trainings for interested clients who wish to gain knowledge and skills in performing various molecular biology and microbiology techniques.

For inquiries on training requests, interested individuals may email the NIMBB office at nimbb.upvisayas@up.edu.ph or send a message to the office’s official Facebook page National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology – UP Visayas (https://www.facebook.com/upvnimbb). (UPV-NIMBB with sources from Apple Gray P. Deallo)