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The rapid rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria makes treating bacterial infections increasingly difficult, and the widespread use of antibiotics in agricultural, clinical, and residential environments leave few immediate solutions. MDR Salmonella is widely acknowledged as a major global public health issue, with scientists reporting the bacteria as one of the leading causes of diarrhea and outbreaks worldwide annually, including in the Philippines. As a large producer and consumer of meat, the Philippines faces a pressing need to monitor these potential threats, and explore the genome of MDR Salmonella to identify the most common types of Salmonella, assess their disease-causing abilities, and uncover circulating antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) that pose risks to food safety and public health.

Using whole genome sequencing (WGS) and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) testing, Michael Joseph Nagpala, Jonah Feliza Mora, Rance Derrick Pavon, and Dr. Windell Rivera from the Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory (PHEIRL) of the UPD-CS IB examined the genetic makeup and AMR of Salmonella collected from chicken meat, the second most consumed meat in the country, sold in retail wet markets across Metro Manila.

The most predominant type of Salmonella was Infantis, followed by Brancaster, Anatum, London, Uganda, and Derby, all of which possessed diverse virulence and resistance genes. High levels (>45%) of multidrug resistance were observed when tested against antimicrobial panels, with a total of 50 ARGs detected, conferring resistance to 12 different drug classes. Numerous plasmids — small, circular DNA pieces that play a vital role in spreading resistance — were also identified in some types of Salmonella.

“Our study suggests a need for proper surveillance of contaminating bacteria as well as regulations on antimicrobial use at the farm level, as infections from MDR Salmonella, especially among vulnerable populations and from highly virulent serovars (types of Salmonella), can lead to life-threatening, systemic, and untreatable manifestations,” the team said.

The biologists further emphasized that there is a clear and significant risk of MDR Salmonella variants spreading within wet markets and food animal value chains, as well as the potential for cross-contamination and undetected transmission in kitchens and homes.

“Mitigating this concern requires multi-sectoral policies, regulations, and standards—especially regarding proper antibiotic use, increased awareness of AMR and MDR at the farm, clinical, and community levels, and support for research and development of antimicrobial alternatives, and surveillance of foodborne pathogens and resistance,” the team concluded.

The study was supported by the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office.

References:

Mora, J. F., Meclat, V. Y., Calayag, A. M., Campino, S., Hafalla, J. C., Hibberd, M. L., Phelan, J. E., Clark, T. G., & Rivera, W. L. (2024). Genomic analysis of Salmonella enterica from metropolitan Manila abattoirs and markets reveals insights into circulating virulence and antimicrobial resistance genotypes. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1304283

Nagpala, M. J., Mora, J. F., Pavon, R. D., & Rivera, W. L. (2025). Genomic characterization of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella enterica in chicken meat from wet markets in Metro Manila, Philippines. Frontiers in Microbiology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1496685

Joy Kristelle De Mata and Dr. Lean Dasallas of the UPD-CS Materials Science and Engineering Program (MSEP), along with Dr. Roland Sarmago and Dr. Wilson Garcia of the UPD-CS National Institute of Physics (NIP), examined how thin films of the high-temperature superconductor BSCCO (bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide)—commonly used in power cables, generators, and magnets—are formed using a low-energy femtosecond pulsed laser.

Key Challenges and Expectations

“A key challenge in this process is maintaining the stoichiometric ratio of elements in the film, as deviations can significantly impact material properties,” De Mata explained in an interview. To understand the process better, their team studied how varying the type and pressure levels of the background gas affect the thin film’s composition and how evenly the material spreads.

The scientists discovered that using low-energy femtosecond PLD (fs-PLD) at high gas pressure does not fully replicate the composition of the original material. Existing computational models commonly used in PLD, which predict how materials spread during deposition, did not accurately explain these differences. This suggests that the fs-PLD process is more complex than expected, highlighting the need for improved models to enhance thin film production for real-world applications.

“Our results demonstrate that the background gas type and pressure significantly influence film composition,” De Mata added. “While fs-PLD offers advantages over nanosecond-PLD, achieving correct stoichiometry in thin films remains challenging, necessitating further optimization of deposition conditions.”

Industrial applications of fs-PLD

De Mata emphasized that while the fs-PLD process shows promise, it is not yet fully scalable for industrial applications, such as electronics, due to several limitations. The mismatch between the elements in the deposited thin film and the original material can lead to inconsistencies in mass production. Additionally, because fs-PLD uses low energy, the deposition process is slower, making large-scale manufacturing more costly.

“Despite these challenges, fs-PLD remains a valuable technique for high-quality thin film fabrication in research and specialized applications,” she said. Moving forward, the team plans to study other factors, such as substrate heating, to see how temperature affects the thin film. “The current models used do not fully account for the observed deviations in film composition. We aim to refine these models for greater applicability to fs-PLD.”

References:

De Mata, J. K., Sarmago, R., Garcia, W., & Dasallas, L. (2025). Spatial variation of the elemental components of thin films from BiSrCaCuO target deposited using low energy femtosecond pulsed laser deposition in high background gas pressure. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, 43(2). https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0004082

Considered one of the most devastating natural hazards globally, floods pose critical threats to both human life and economic stability. The Philippines is no stranger to flooding, as approximately 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) each year. According to the 2023 World Risk Index Report, the country also ranks first among those most affected by extreme weather events.

Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, a professor at the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science’s National Institute of Geological Sciences (UPD-CS NIGS) and executive director of the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI), together with scientists from the UPRI Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center and Dr. Gerry Bagtasa of the UPD-CS Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM), with assistance from Dr. Bernard Alan Racoma of IESM and in partnership with the Academic Alliance for Anticipatory Action (4As), developed an impact-based flood forecasting system capable of predicting flooding in the entire Philippines. The system was funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID-BHA).

“This system can determine whether a neighborhood is likely to be affected by a major flood event 24 hours in advance,” Dr. Lagmay explained, noting that the system was able to forecast the flooding in Davao, Palawan, and Borongan this year. “When accessed on the NOAH website, areas prone to flooding due to severe weather are shown in map view or tabular format, with the number of potentially affected people listed down to barangay level.”

The tool can forecast flooding in specific areas based on accumulated rainfall forecasts (predicted total rainfall) and 100-year rain return flood hazard maps, which are maps showing areas prone to severe flooding based on historical data. By adjusting global weather models to match the country’s specific geography and weather patterns, the system releases predictions that are more accurate.

The Impact-Based Flood Forecasting System was released in 2024 and has been available for public use since then. The system empowers Filipino citizens by enabling them to validate the data it provides. “The public can contribute information through the LyfSaver app, allowing FIlipinos to report floods in their area.” Dr. Lagmay added.

Dr. Lagmay and his team also collaborated with other organizations, such as the FYT PH Media’s crowdsourcing platform, YesPinoy’s disaster response training program, and the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, as well as the Public Affairs and Information Services Department, to integrate the automated system’s features into other components of disaster risk reduction and management.

ATLAS is one of the largest and most complex scientific instruments ever built. As a general-purpose particle detector measuring over 40 metres in length and around 25 metres in height, it was designed to investigate the fundamental building blocks of matter and the forces governing our universe. Its cutting-edge systems track particles produced in particle collisions at unprecedented energies, enabling discoveries like the Higgs boson and searches for new physics beyond the Standard Model.

The Breakthrough Prize specifically highlights the ATLAS Collaboration’s significant contributions to particle physics, including detailed measurements of Higgs boson properties, studies of rare processes and matter-antimatter asymmetry, and the exploration of nature under the most extreme conditions.

“The Breakthrough Prize is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of the ATLAS Collaboration and our colleagues across the LHC experiments,” said ATLAS Spokesperson Stephane Willocq. “This prize recognises the collective vision and monumental effort of thousands of ATLAS collaborators worldwide.” 

UPD-CS NIP has been at the forefront of ATLAS research since 2021, contributing to the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM).

“Our team’s work on BSM modelling and simulation exemplifies the innovation driving ATLAS forward,” said Dr. Flores. “This recognition affirms the impact of our contributions and inspires us to continue exploring the universe’s most fundamental questions.”

“The successes of Run 2 showcase the ingenuity of the ATLAS Collaboration — not only in collecting data with a detector of outstanding precision, but also in our relentless drive to improve our understanding of it,” said Andreas Hoecker, former ATLAS Spokesperson.

While the ATLAS Collaboration celebrates the recognition of the Breakthrough Prize, its focus remains firmly on the future. The third operation period of the LHC is currently underway and preparations for the High-Luminosity LHC upgrade are advancing rapidly. NIP’s High Energy Physics & Phenomenology (HEP-PH) team of 15 physicists and students is deeply involved in preparing ATLAS for its next chapter. Although their current contributions are currently in the theoretical and phenomenological side, the team is ramping up their experimental involvement through concrete steps like the formation of the ATLAS Philippine Cluster involving other Philippine universities.

“We are now preparing the ATLAS detectors of the future — designed to harness this unprecedented data and further push our understanding of the universe’s fundamental building blocks,” concludes Willocq.