DOrSU, UST to establish a fungal library

Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) is partnering with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) to establish a fungal library, following a comprehensive training on fungi attended by two DOrSU researchers: Dr. Roselyn V. Regino and Dr. Phoebe Nemenzo-Calica both from the Institute for Bioassay and Testing (i-BiT), University Research Complex of DOrSU. They were trained in the isolation, culture, preservation, and identification of fungi and how to assess fungal diversity by Dr. Rer. Nat. Thomas Edison E. Dela Cruz., a group leader of the Fungal Biodiversity, Ecogenomics, and Systematics (FBeS) group at UST Manila.

The training is part of a larger project on endolithic fungi that DOrSU-UResCom, UST, and the University of San Agustin (USA) are actively working on. The team also plans to conduct research projects on endophytic fungi from medicinal plants in select areas of the Davao Region and perform fungal bioassays for health and agriculture. Establishing a fungal library at the University Research Complex is a forward-thinking initiative that aims to address the growing demand for expertise in bioassay and microbiological testing and to discover novel molecules with medicinal or agrochemical applications.

Once the fungal library is established, the Institute for Natural Products Discovery and Development (i-NatProd), in coordination with the Center for Natural Drug Discovery and Development (CND3) of the University of San Agustin (USA), will then chromatograph, purify, isolate, and elucidate the structure of discovered pure compounds. This partnership and training will enhance the laboratory skills of the staff and strengthen the institute’s capacity to contribute to scientific research and innovation. (DOrSU PIO)