IRL Philippines
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Immunopharmacology Research Laboratory
UP Diliman, the largest campus of the University of the Philippines, is home to over 22,000 scholars. Within its Science and Technology cluster, the College of Science fosters the generation of novel scientific knowledge through research and mentors the next generation of scientists.
One of the units of the science complex of the College of Science is the Institute of Biology, where our laboratory is housed. This is the Immunopharmacology Research Laboratory, led by our principal investigator, Dr. Joyce Ibana.
Research Projects
Parallel Mechanisms of Immune Suppression in the Female Reproductive Tract and Tumor Microenvironment
Our Humble Beginnings
Despite the challenges of building a lab, IRL was built in just a year.
We moved from our humble beginnings to a new lab at the Institute of Biology with funding from USAID STRIDE and the University of the Philippines. We increased our research capacity and expanded our laboratory.
Research has always been part of the UP culture. Through innovation and collaboration, we implement research and dissemination of our work that may be beneficial to society. This culture helps cultivate creativity and love for science in an environment that allows students to have the freedom to ask difficult questions and pursue their passions in conducting scientific research. We align all our activities with our three main missions.
Mission no. 1
To conduct innovative data-driven research in the fields of Microbiology, Cell biology, and Immunology.
Mission no. 2
To train students and contribute to the pool of scientists in the Philippines.
Mission no. 3
To help in developing health care and agricultural products, processes, and policies.
Our group started with only two master’s degree students and one doctoral student. Over the years, the lab has expanded and produced three doctorates, seven master’s degree graduates, and thirteen bachelor’s degree graduates.
In our lab, we emphasize teamwork. As a team, our achievements include having our research recognized nationally and internationally. We believe, together, everyone achieves more.
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This year, IRL is ready to enter into a new phase. We are now translating our innovative ideas and opening avenues for industry partnerships to contribute to products, processes, and policies to provide innovative solutions for our country’s development and the public good.
We are venturing into collaborations with industry and other government agencies. We recognize the need for academe and industry partnerships to strengthen our innovation.
Featured Publications
All Publications
- Nicdao, M. A., Ingalla, P. C., & Ibana, J. (2023). Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium and Lactobacillus spp. interactions in vitro elicit improved antimicrobial production. Tropical Biomedicine, 40(1), 14-22. https://doi.org/10.47665/tb.40.1.006
- Olorocisimo, J. P., Diaz, L. A., Co, D. E., Carag, H. M., Ibana, J. A., & Velarde, M. C. (2023). Lactobacillus delbrueckii reduces anxiety-like behavior in zebrafish through a gut microbiome–brain crosstalk. Neuropharmacology, 225, 109401. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109401
- Imperial, I.C., Pabustan, P.M., Valencia, K.A., Nicdao, M.A., Ibana, J. (2022). Emergence of resistance genes in fecal samples of antibiotic-treated Philippine broilers emphasizes the need to review local farming practices. Tropical Biomedicine, 39(1), 150-159. doi:10.47665/tb.39.1.02
- Wong, A., Matijasic, B. B., Ibana, J. A., & Lim, R. L. H. (2022). Editorial: Antimicrobial resistance along the food chain: Are we what we eat? Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 881882. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.881882
- Ibana JA and DJ Schust. Chlamydial Infection. Chapter 86. Clinical Maternal-Fetal Medicine Online Edited by: Hung N. Winn, Frank A. Chervenak, Roberto Romero 2nd Edition. CRC Press Taylor and Francis Group 2021 pp 86.1-86.7
- Imperial, ICVJ, Dellosa, GKY, and Ibana JA Is the value of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA antibody detection underappreciated in our current COVID-19 pandemic response? Philippine Science Letters 2020 13 (2) 95-100; available online: July 31, 2020
- Nicdao, MAC, Co Soriano, JC, Rivera, WL, and Ibana JA. The ciprofloxacin resistance of Lactobacillus species isolated from probiotic food products in the Philippines is due to mutations in gyrB and parC genes. Philippine Science Letters Special Issue of Microbiology 2020.
- Ibana, JA, Sherchand, SP, Fontanilla, FL, Nagamatsu, T, Schust, DJ, Quayle, AJ, & Aiyar, A. Chlamydia trachomatis-infected cells and uninfected-bystander cells exhibit diametrically opposed responses to interferon gamma. Scientific Reports 2018 May 31; 8, 8476. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26765-y
- Albritton, H.L., Kozlowski, P.A., Lillis, R.A., McGowin, C.L., Siren, J.D., Taylor, S.N., Ibana, J.A., Buckner, L.R., Shen, L. and Quayle, A.J., 2017. A novel whole-bacterial enzyme linked-immunosorbant assay to quantify Chlamydia trachomatis specific antibodies reveals distinct differences between systemic and genital compartments. PLoS One, 12(8), p.e0183101.
- Marquez, C.M.D., Ibana, J.A. and Velarde, M.C., 2017. The female reproduction and senescence nexus. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 77(5).
- Ibana JA. Towards Excellence in Science Research: A UP Research Guidebook, Copyright 2017 University of the Philippines “Chapter 6 : Gaining competency in science research” page 96, UP Press.
- Imperial, I.C. and Ibana, J.A., 2016. Addressing the antibiotic resistance problem with probiotics: reducing the risk of its double-edged sword effect. Frontiers in Microbiology, 7.
- Sherchand, S., Ibana, J.A., Quayle, A.J. and Aiyar, A., 2016. Cell Intrinsic Factors Modulate the Effects of IFNγ on the Development of Chlamydia trachomatis. Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology, 7(4).
- Sherchand SP, Ibana JA, Zea AH, Quayle AJ, Aiyar A. The High-Risk Human Papillomavirus E6 Oncogene Exacerbates the Negative Effect of Tryptophan Starvation on the Development of Chlamydia trachomatis. PLoS One. 2016 Sep 22;11(9)
- Ibana, J.A., Cutay, S.J., Romero, M. and Schust, D.J., 2016. Parallel Expression of Enzyme Inhibitors of CD8T Cell Activity in Tumor Microenvironments and Secretory Endometrium. Reproductive Sciences, 23(3), pp.289-301.
Essays
Thoughts on responsible agricultural practices by Joyce Ibana
Every person consumes food to sustain life. Thus, agricultural food production is one of the human activities that makes a very significant impact on our environment, health, and economy. As the impact of antibiotic resistance rapidly becomes a forefront problem in medical practice, we need to be more mindful of the eco-footprint of the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in our farming industries.
A Call for Global Efforts in Addressing the Pervasive Problem of Antibiotic Resistance by Joyce Ibana
Human interactions with microorganisms represent one of the most intimate and long-lasting inter-species relationships in history; some are mutually beneficial, while others are antagonistic.
