PSBMB International Conference

Written by Christiane Helene Comique
Contributions from: Kim Claudette J. Fernandez, Gelo Saavedra, and Gracia Fe B. Yu

25th FAOBMB international conference
​and 43rd psbmb annual convention

The Philippine Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PSBMB) in collaboration with the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB) and the International Union of Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (IUBMB) were once again a platform for exchange of scientific knowledge between key international experts and participants from around the world. The combined conference and convention was organized by the societies with the theme "Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Health and Wellness". There are a lot of advancements and technologies in the field of health and wellness, and these have been described in the molecular level. Diseases, cures, pathogenicity, etc. All of them are featured in this wonderful combined convention and conference. The event was successfully held last December 5-7, 2016 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, Philippines.

The Registration

The Conference/Convention attracted 616 participants (Registered Participants, PSBMB Board of Directors, Local Organizing Committee, Speakers, and Delegates) from 21 countries: Philippines, United States of America, Japan, China, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Germany, Iran, Vietnam, and Turkey.

There are 9 Plenary Speakers, 34 Parallel Sessions, 27 Oral presenters, 169 Poster Presenters. The attendees include 21 FAOBMB Foreign Delegates, 11 PSBMB Board of Directors, 290 Pre-registered participants, 217 On Site participants, and 34 participants from exhibitors.

The opening ceremonies

The program was serenaded by the University of the Philippines Manila Chorale for the doxology and the Philippine National Anthem. Dr. Apolinario Yambot, the president of PSBMB opened the conference during the opening ceremonies with his remarks. Dr. Zengyi Chang, FAOBMB President-elect and Dr. Andrew H-J Wang, IUBMB President-elect welcomed the participants, exhibitors, speakers and attendees with their addresses. A message from the Philippine Department of Science and Technology was given by Dr Opena to represent Dr. Jaime Montoya, the PCHRD Executive Director. The Philippine Academecian Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza, the convention adviser introduced the keynote speaker Dr. Kiyoshi Fukui, the FAOBMB President. Lastly, Dr. Gracia Fe Yu, the Organizing Committee Chair gave a convention overview.

A grand picture was captured (as seen above) with the participants, speakers and key world renowned scientists. Afterwards, the ribbon cutting was attended by the keynote speakers and the attendees to officially open the poster and trade exhibits.

The Plenary Lectures

The plenary session on Day 1 (December 5, 2016) consists of 3 lectures. The 1st lecture (Clara Y. Lim-Syliangco Lecture), was delivered by National Scientist, and L’Oreal UNESCO for Women in Science laureate, Professor Emeritus Lourdes J Cruz, Ph.D. Her lecture was about Conus venom: a cornucopia of neuroactive peptides. The 2nd lecture was about withanamides, metabolites in Ashwagandha Botanical, which may show potential to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. It was presented by Prof. Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D of the Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University. The 3rd lecture was about pyroptosis in antibacterial immunity – sensing and execution. It was delivered by Prof. Feng Shao, Ph.D who is the 2016 FAOBMB research awardee, a prestigious award given by the Federation to the most outstanding researcher across the asia-pacific region.

Three more plenary sessions were delivered on Day 2 (December 6, 2016). The 4th lecture was given by Prof. Rongwu Yang, Ph.D of School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, China, and the 2016 FAOBMB education awardee. It was about practical tips on teaching Biochemistry which inspired the educators from the participants to easily communicate with their students and make Biochemistry easier. Dr. Ricky Johnstone of Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Victoria, Australia gave the 5th lecture about epigenetic therapies for cancer – past, present and future. Lastly, the 6th lecture about zebrafish as a new model organism used for biomedical researches and aquaculture applications was presented by Prof. Huai-Jen Tsai, Ph.D, of the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Taiwan University.

Day 3 (December 7, 2016) had three more speakers. Lecture 7 was about health benefits of phytochemicals and functional foods which starts in pharmacokinetics, and was delivered by Prof. Oliver Chen, Ph.D of Human Nutrition Research Center, Tuffs University, USA. The 8th lecture was about human microphysiological systems: organs-on-chips for drug safety and efficacy testing. It was delivered by Prof. Danilo A. Tagle, Ph.D, Associate Director for Special Initiatives, Office of the Director, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, USA. The 9th and final plenary lecture, was about bringing biopharmaceuticals from lab to market, given by Prof. Annabelle P. Villalobos, Ph.D, head of Neuroscience Medicinal Chemistry at Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development, Cambridge Laboratories, USA.

Education Symposium

The International Union of Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (IUBMB) sponsored a parallel session on day 2 of the conference/convention where education was highlighted. The theme of the session was "Innovations and Best Practices of Biochemical Education" featuring different academical techniques practiced by different professors and educators across the asia-pacific regions. Prof. Susan Rowland, Ph.D of the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Australia, has a talk entitled “keeping it real: authentic and work-integrated learning for Biochemistry undergraduates in Australia.” Prof. Tilak Shrestha, Ph.D of Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, talked about ​molecular biochemistry research and education – a spearhead for understanding quest for Himalayan gold- the Yarsha Gumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) in Nepal. Prof. Hoon Eng Khoo, Ph.D of National University of Singapore, talked about teaching Biochemistry in a new liberal arts college. And finally, Prof. Joon Kim, Ph.D of Korea University, talked about the roles of ribosomal proteins in DNA repair, cancer and other diseases / Biochemistry and Science education of Korea. ​

PSBMB Young Scientists'Forum (YSF)

​The 2016 PSBMB Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF) was held as a parallel session. Moderated and introduced by Prof. Mudjekeewis Santos, Ph.D, the YSF consists of 5 young presenters: Mariah Mikhaela Chua who talked about the induction of tumor cell death by combinatorial NIR-PEG-lipid magnetic single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) thermal therapy; Arman Ali Ghodsinia who talked about finding non-responders to anti-EGFR therapy: investigation on the functional sequelae of the novel PIK3CA mutations, Q661K and C901R; Darlene Roxas who talked about the characterization of framework IX peptides from the turrid snail Gemmula speciose; Charleen Joyce Usacdin who talked about the antioxidant property of NSIC RC 238 rice bran extracts and its cytotoxicity against human breast (MCF-7) and colon (HCT116) cancer cell lines; and Joanne Marie Sytangco who talked about the preliminary investigation of the putative KRAS-ZNF148 ceRNA network suggests dependence on degree of mitogenic stimulation.

FAOBMB Young Scientist Program (YSP)

Parallel sessions of FAOBMB YSP travel fellows proceeded on day 3 of the conference/convention. Prof. Mohd Damanhuri, Ph.D, had a talk entitled “Palm oil tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) improves cognitive function through modulation of hippocampal DNA methylation level in APPswe/PS1dE9 Alzheimer’s disease mouse model.” Prof. Cin Kong, Ph.D, of School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, talked about a benzimidazole derivative UM-C162 as an inhibitor of Staphylococcus aureus virulence. Prof. Khatereh Khorsandi, Ph.D of Medical Laser Research Center, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Iran, talked about the role of vitamin D in breast cancer cells response to curcumin nanohybrid mediated photodynamic therapy. Prof. Lahiru Randika Gangoda, Ph.D of the Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, talked about acquired chemotherapeutic drug resistance in colorectal cancer is regulated by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and autophagy. ​​Prof. Baskar Barnwal, Ph.D from the Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, talked about non-structural protein of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus induces apoptosis.

Prof. Nguyen Dinh Trang, Ph.D from the Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, talked about deltex-3-like (DTX3L): a novel target for melanoma. Prof. Simab Kanwal, Ph.D from the Cyanobacterial Biotechnology Laboratory, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, talked about genetic and nutrient modification of cyanobacteria for enhancement of GABA production. Finally, Prof. Pravin Dudhagara, Ph.D of the Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, India, talked about bioinformation of multifunctional photoluminescence carbon nanoparticles for various biomedical applications.

Parallel Sessions

Parallel sessions followed after the plenary sessions. On day 1, Prof. Muhammad Waheed Akhtar, Ph.D of the University of the Punjabi, Pakistan, talked about the production of fusion antigens for serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. Prof. Deron R. Herr, Ph.D of National University of Singapore talked about the development of a novel sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) agonist for the prevention of cisplatin ototoxicity. Prof. Ajay Kohli, Ph.D of the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, talked about the characterization of the first guanine deaminase gene in plants – its roles and applications. Prof. Doralyn Dalisay, Ph.D of Gregor Mendel Research Laboratories, University of San Agustin, talked about the application of multi- “omics’ in mapping phytochemical factories. Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-Dela Paz, MD, Vice Chancellor for Research, and National Institute of Health Executive Director, University of the Philippines Manila, talked about tools for assessing genetic disorders in the Philippines – current and future directions. Dr. Romulo de Castro of the Philippine Genome Center talked about genome-wide multi-cancer immune profiling and therapeutic implications. Prof. Au Wing Nor Shannon, Ph.D of School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, talked about the role of HP1076 in type 4 secretion pathway of Helicobacter pylori. Finally, Prof. Lin-Chao Sue, Ph.D of the Institute of Molecular Biology, Academica Sinica, Taiwan, talked about RNA processing/degradation machinery in Escherichia coli.

Another set of parallel sessions on day 2 discusses about Functional proteins as one of the topics. Mr. George McBride talked about the novel imaging flow cytometry techniques for Biochemistry and Molecular biology in research discovery and clinical translational applications. Another, Prof. Karsten Pilones, MD, Ph.D of Weill Cornell Medical College, talked about the immunologic effects of radiation to improve responses to immunotherapy in cancer. Finally, Prof. Wayne Patrick, Ph.D of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Auckland, New Zealand, talked about primordial-like enzymes from bacteria with streamlined genomes. Applied metabolomics was another topic talked about in parallel sessions. Prof. Dhaval Patel, Ph.D of National University of Singapore, talked about applying novel MS technologies for metabolomics of natural products. Prof. Jennifer Kirwan, Ph.D, talked about metabolomics and its applicability to neurological conditions. Finally, another lecture from Prof. Dhaval Patel, Ph.D was delivered, which was about unravelling complexities in identification and elucidation of markers in metabolomic studies.

For the health sciences cluster, 5 presenters presented their research. Ms. Kimberly Stacy Hope Benzon of St. Luke’s Medical Center, talked about the evaluation of the anti-diabetic properties of Curcumin through measurement of glucose uptake in C212 myotube cells. Prof. Andrea Roxanne Anas of Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo Univeristy, Japan, talked about the study of factor VIIIa-s TF inhibitors from toxic Microcystis aeruginosa K139. Ms. Miruna Sudharshani Kalaiman Rabindrakumar of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, talked about iron depletion in early pregnancy in urban Sri Lankan women warrants urgent attention. Ms. Marylette Bautista Roa of St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine, talked about whole genome analyses of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from the Philippines reveal 2 blaNDM variants and a wide spectrum of resistance determinants. Finally. Prof. Gonul Seyda Seydel, Ph.D of Health Care Services Department, University of Omer Halisdemir, Nigde, Turkey, talked about the prediction of acute ischemic stroke from hematological and biochemical parameters.

For the environmental and biodiversity cluster, 5 presenters presented their research. Prof. Lilibeth A. Salvador-Reyes, Ph.D of the Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, talked about chemistry and biology of a rare sponge-associated actinomycete. Ms. Valerie Diane Valeriano of the Department of Animal Resources Sciences, Dankook University, Korea, talked about the omics- based mining and functional analysis of surface proteins mediating host-microbe interactions in Lactobacillus johnsonii PF01. Mr. Gideon A. Legaspi of the College of Science and Computer Studies, De La Salle University (DLSU) Dasmariñas, talked about the screening of indigenous Philippine plants for angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)inhibitors. Ms. Christine Bautista of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), UP Diliman, talked about isolation and characterization of cilicin V from Chromobacterium violaceum. Finally, Prof. Lydia Clemen-Pascual, Ph.D of the Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Engineering, Ateneo de Manila University, talked about the cytotoxicity on colon cancer cells VS bone marrow stem cells of Philippine medicinal plant extract.

For the agr-fisheries cluster, 5 presenters presented their research. Mr. Jordan O. Tun of Marine Science Institute, UP Diliman, talked about real-time monitoring of the synergistic cytotoxicity of renieramycin M and doxorubicin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Assoc. Prof. Jay Dalet, Ph.D of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, UP Manila, talked about the karyological analysis and detection of omega-MVIIA FISH probe hybridization signals in Conus magus L. (1978). Mr. Jaime Lorenzo N. Dinglasan of the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman, talked about the high-throughput sequencing of milkfish after exposure to Aeromonas hydrophila. Ms. Ma. Regina Punzalan of the Philippine Genome Center, UP Diliman, talked about the comparison of multiple de novo transcriptome assemblies of Cocos nucifera and characterization of global coconut transcriptome. Finally, Ms. Siska Alicia Falisirsyah of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, talked about the expression and specific activity of ACE in the chronic hypotoxic rat lung.

For the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology cluster, there were 5 presenters. Mr. Lorenzo Zarate of the NIMBB, UP Diliman, talked about identifying structural determinants governing heterodimerization in the integrin B3 subfamily via molecular dynamics simulations. Mr. Fidel Serrano of the NIMBB, UP Diliman, talked about the preliminary investigation into the functional consequence of cosmic mutations K125E and D252Y on the PTEN tumor suppressor. Prof. Jose IsaganiJ.I. Janairo, Ph.D of the Biology Department, College of Science, DLSU Manila, talked about the influence of pH on peptide-mediated biomineralization: effects on nanostructure morphology and catalytic activity. Prof. Wei Hsum Yap, Ph.D of School of Biosciences, Taylor University, Malaysia, talked about the secretory phospholipase A2 IIA- regulation of macrophage lipid accumulation by maslinic acid: a potent anti-inflammatory molecule. Finally, Mr. Leonardo Jun Guevarra, MSc. of the Department of Biochemistry, UST Faculty of Pharmacy, talked about vibrational proteomics as a biochemometric approach in disease diagnosis.

For the Cell and Cancer Biology cluster, there were 3 presenters. Prof. Reynaldo Garcia, Ph.D of the NIMBB, UP Diliman, talked about functional characterization of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) implicated in colorectal, lung and other cancers. Prof. Jonel Saludes, Ph.D of Gregor Mendel Research Laboratories, University of San Agustin, talked about the de novo designed peptides from sugar amino acid enable transport of fluorogenic cargo access mammalian cell membranes. Finally, Prof. Paul Gleeson, Ph.D of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Australia, talked about the Golgi apparatus: from membrane trafficking to the regulation of autophagy.

For the Environmental Safety and Occupational Health cluster, there were 3 presenters. Prof. Edwin Jerry Tamayo, Ph.D of South Texas College, Texas, USA, talked about the impact of a health and wellness education program among participants with lifestyle diseases in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA. Prof. I. Made Atrika, Ph.D of the Department of Biochemistry, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia, talked about biosafety for handling emerging viruses. Finally, Dr. Edith Tria, MD of San Lazaro Hospital, talked about the dilemma in advanced life sciences of dual use research concern (DURC).

For the Food and Nutritional Biochemistry cluster, there were also 3 presenters. Prof. Gemiliano Aligui, MD, MPH, Ph.D, the vice-president for academic affairs, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medial Center, Inc. (UERMMC), talked about nutritional and safety bioequivalency of genetically modified and unmodified food. Dr. Romulo de Villa, MD, Ph.D of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, talked about “Is cancer a metabolic disease?” Finally, Prof. Yau-Huei Wei, Ph.D of the Department of Life Sciences and Institute of Genome Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan, talked about mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulation of calcium homeostasis in insulin insensitivity and diabetes.

For the Translational cluster, there were 4 presenters. Prof. Reggie Yadao-De la Cruz, Ph.D. of Central Mindanao University, talked about the screening of Philippine ferns and lycopods as therapeutics for chronic inflammation and cancer. Ms. Wanshika Dilshani of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, talked about the association between anthropometric measurements and echocardiographic parameters of chronic heart failures with high NT-proBNP. Mr. Mark Pretzel Zumaraga, MSc. of the NIMBB, UP Diliman, talked about the next generation sequencing of the entire 101-kb vitamin D receptor gene revealed polymorphisms correlated with vitamin D deficiency and fragility fractures among post-menopausal women consulting the Philippine Orthopedic Center. Finally, Prof. Salvador Eugenio Caoili, Ph.D of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, UP Manila, talked about advancing translational science for planetary health in the contemporary Anthropocene via negotiation of ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI).

The Fellowship Night

On the night of the 2nd day of the conference/convention, PSBMB hosted a fellowship night dinner to establish collaborations through socialization. It was a gathering for relaxation and of course, fun. The fellowship dinner was made unforgettable by its entertainment. The dinner was serenaded by the Rondalya Group from FEU where their acoustic strings flowed through the artistic veins of Filipinos. The participants were all amazed on the dance performance of LAHING BATANGAN DANCE TROUPE sponsored by the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board. All the talented members of the dance troupe danced excellently and gracefully showcasing the history of Philippine culture. The Far Eastern University (FEU) Bamboo Band played musical instruments made out of bamboo. These groups opened the senses of the international delegates to know the rich culture and talents of Filipinos. And as hosts to this international event, we truly left a mark in their hearts that made them want to visit the Philippines again.