dela Cruz, Thomas Edison E.

BSc degree: Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, 1996, UST
MSc degree: Master of Science in Biological Sciences, 1999, UST
Diploma degree: Diploma in Science Teaching (Biology), 2003, UPOU
PhD degree: Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. Rer. Nat.), 2006, TU Braunschweig

BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

Born 1975. Undergraduate work at the University of Santo Tomas (B. Sc., 1996), Postgraduate degrees at UST (M.Sc., 1999) and Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany (Dr. rer. nat., 2006). Faculty researcher at the Research Center for the Natural Sciences, UST since 1998. Appointed faculty member at the Department of Biological Sciences, UST in 1996.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

1. fungal biodiversity and systematics
- marine fungi and myxomycetes
2. fungal ecophysiology
- microbe-microbe interactions, substrate degradation and microbial succession
3. fungal bioactive secondary metabolites

The Fungal Biodiversity and Systematics Group focuses on the following research topics:

1. diversity, pathogenicity and biological activities of marine fungi from seaweeds, seagrasses, sediments and seawater
2. dye decolorization activities and bioremediation potential of locally isolated marine fungi
3. diversity and taxonomy of plasmodial myxomycetes and dictyostelids in selected highlands and small islands of Luzon, Philippines
4. biological activities of crude extracts from foliose lichens and endophytic fungi

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

1. Country Representative, Asia Mycology Committee(2007 – 2011)
2. Member, Philippine Society for Microbiology, Inc. (PSM)
3. Member & Officer, Philippine Network of Microbial Culture Collections, Inc. (PNMCC)
4. Member & Officer, Mycological Society of the Philippines (MSP)
5. Member, British Mycological Society (BMS)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

A. Marine Fungi

(1) dela Cruz TEE, Schulz BE, Komoń-Zhelazowska M, Druzhinina IS, 2008. Phylogenetic analysis of the marine Dendryphiella species D. arenaria and D. salina from different geographic origins. Mycological Research (manuscript in preparation).
(2) Schulz B, Draeger S, dela Cruz TE, Rheinheimer J, Siems K, Loesgen S, Bitzer J, Schloerke O, Zeeck A, Koch I, Hussain H, Dai J, Krohn K, 2008. Screening strategies for obtaining novel, biologically active, fungal secondary metabolites from marine habitats. Botanica Marina 51: 219-234 (DOI 10.1515/BOT.2008.029).
(3) dela Cruz TE, Schulz BE, Kubicek CP, Druzhinina IS, 2006. Carbon source utilization by marine Dendryphiella species D. arenaria and D. salina. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 58: 343-353.
(4) dela Cruz TE, Wagner S, Schulz B, 2006. Physiological responses of marine Dendryphiella species from different geographical locations. Mycological Progress 5 (2): 108-119.

B. Fungal Endopyhtes

(1) Dagamac NHA, Sogono PG, Cabalfin RCB, Adducul ACY, dela Cruz TEE, 2008. Fungal root endophytes from Musa spp. As biological control agents against the plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Acta Manilana (manuscript submitted).