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SANTIAGO-BAUTISTA, Myla R.

SANTIAGO-BAUTISTA, Myla R.

Updates

Thomasian-developed sensor for gas monitoring, microbial fuel cell bag top prizes in DOST innovation pitch

Thomasian-developed sensor for gas monitoring, microbial fuel cell bag top prizes in DOST innovation pitch

Thomasian researchers bagged the top prizes in the Department of…

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New tarantula species discovered in Romblon

New tarantula species discovered in Romblon

A group of Thomasian researchers working with partners in Romblon…

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Biochem alumnus, faculty win awards in int’l conference

Biochem alumnus, faculty win awards in int’l conference

An alumnus and two faculty members of the Department of…

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Prof. Myla R. Santiago-Bautista, LPT, PhD

Department of Biochemistry | Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences

Research Gate | Google Scholar

Academic Qualifications

Research Highlights

Research Interests

Academic Qualifications

Degrees

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Biology major in Molecular Sciences,
  • Master of Science in Biology, Ateneo de Manila University – Quezon City, Philippines, 2008
  • Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, University of Santo Tomas – Manila, Philippines, 2001

Research Highlights

  • Project Leader, 23M PhP DOST-RDE Grant, 2022-2025 Project: Molecular Diversity and Taxonomy of Philippine Tarantula Species and Their Venom
  • Principal Investigator, 9M PhP Commission on Higher Education RDE Grant, 2017-2020 Project: Screening and Characterization of Peptides with in vitro bioactivity from venoms isolated from Philippine spiders for Therapeutics Leads 
  • Project Leader, 1.8M PhP DOST-NRCP Grant, 2018-2020 Project: Construction of DNA Barcode Reference Library for Pharmacologically Important Philippine Theraphosidae 
  • Project Leader, 0.8M PhP MMHRDC Research Grant, 2015-2016 Project: Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus using natural oil emulsions in developing a probiotic food supplement 
  • Recipient of 2021 Research Dissemination in Local and International Platform on Publication in ISI and Scopus indexed journals, National Research Council of the Philippines, 
  • Recipient of 2021 International Publication Incentive Award , UST Office of the Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, 
  • Recipient of Gawad Pananaliksik, UST Faculty of Pharmacy Purple Ribbon Award, for outstanding performance in Research and Publication (2015-present)Finalist, Gawad San Alberto Magno (Outstanding Researcher), 19th Dangal ng UST “ Ang Gurong Tomasino: Puspos ng Biyaya, Hatid ay Pagpapala” UST Medicine Auditorium, May 10, 2018
  • Silver series awardee (2014-2016, 2016-2018), Gold series awardee (2018-2020,2020-2022) 
  • Recipient of ASEAN Network on Microbial Utilization (AnMicro) Grant (2016)
  • Recipient of IUBMB Fellowship Grant (2016)
  • University Rank 103 in AD Scientific Index World Ranking 2024
  • Drug discovery and development technologies for targeted delivery such as drug/bioactives microencapsulation
  • Has maintained the UST Mammalian Tissue Culture Laboratory since 2011– a USTRCNAS facility for repository and in vitro service analysis of authentic cell lines from ATCC and ECACC

Fluorescent micrograph of coconut oil bodies stained with nile red (A), SEM image of in vitro adhesion of encapsulated probiotic in colorectal cells( B), nucleus staining of live cells (C), and stained nucleus (D)[/caption]

Research Interests

  • Venomics and Proteomics
  • Applied Microbiology
  • Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics
  • Cell culture technology for biopharmaceutics
  • in vitro toxicity testing of drugs/bioactives
  • Molecular screening and diagnostics of cancer-related diseases

Courses Handled

Major Recognitions

Professional Activities

Courses Handled

  • BCM6219L – Fundamentals in Microbiology Laboratory
  • BCM6219 – Fundamentals in Microbiology
  • BCM6229L- Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology Laaboratory
  • BCM6214 – Biochemical Techniques I Laboratory
  • BCM 6218 and BCM 6218L- Enzyme Biochemistry Lecture and Laboratory
  • MT 6310 – General Biochemistry
  • ELEAMTMS – Advances in Microbial Technology with Medical Application

  

Major Recognitions

  • Technical review panel 2022 to present, Scientific research proposals of the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care 
  • Scientific member, 2023 to present, Institutional biosafety committee, University of Santo Tomas 
  • Recipient of 2021 Research Dissemination Award, National Research Council of the Philippines 
  • Recipient of 2021 International Publication Incentive Award, UST Office of the Vice Rector for Research and Innovation 
  • Gawad Pananaliksik Award, UST Faculty of Pharmacy Purple Ribbon Award, 2019 
  • Finalist, Gawad San Alberto Magno (Outstanding Researcher), 19th Dangal ng UST, 2020, 2022, 2018, 2022 Recipient of International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Fellowship Grant, 2016 
  • Most outstanding Instructor, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Pharmacy, 2020 
  • Most outstanding Assistant Professor, University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Pharmacy, 2022 
  • Recipient of ASEAN Network on Microbial Utilization Grant, 2017
  • Principal Investigator, 10M PhP grant application in CHED RDE entitled “Screening and Characterization of Peptides with in vitro bioactivity from venoms isolated from Theraposidae and Lycosidae of Philippine Spiders for Therapeutics and Biopesticides Leads” (under evaluation for funding 2016-2018)
  • Project Leader, 20MPhP grant application in PCIEERD-DOST entitled “Critical assessment of the nanomaterials Ag, Au & Zn metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes toxicities in cell biological systems (under evaluation for funding 2016-2018)
  • Project Leader, 0.5MPhP grant in DOST-Metro Manila Health Research and Development Consortium (MMHRDC )Research entitled “Microencapsulaton of Lactobacillus acidophilus using natural oil emulsions from Cocus nucifera L. in developing a safe and effective probiotic food supplement with increased gastrointestinal activity” (January 2015- January 2016)
  • Recipient, Faculty Research Exchange in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Centre for Drug Discovery of project entitled “The potential of natural oil emulsions from Cocos nucifera L. as emulsifying agent of microcapsules in DUOLACTM probiotics” (June 2014-July 2014)
  • Doctoral research exchange fellow, Erasmus Mundus Action II-Man Health, Environment and Biodiversity (MAHEVA) in Universite Catholique de Louvain, Belgium (2011-2013)

Professional Activities

  • National Research Council of the Philippines, Division V, Biological Sciences (Regular member) 
  • Biology teacher’s association (Lifetime member) 
  • Philippine Society for Cell Biology (member) 
  • Philippine Network of Microbial Culture Collection (Lifetime member) 
  • Philippine Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (Lifetime member ) 
  • Philippine Society for Microbiology (Member) 
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (Member) 
  • Society for Applied Microbiology (Member) 
  • American Society for Microbiology (Member) 
  • Public Population Project in Genomics and Society (Member)
  • Supporting Member, American Society for Microbiology (2013-present)
  • Member, Public Population Project in Genomics and Society (2013- present)
  • Associate Member, National Research Council of the Philippines, Division V Biological Sciences (2010-present)
  • Life Member, Philippine Society for Cell Biology, Philippine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Selected Publications

Selected Publications

  • Acuña DC, Dumbrique MMU, Ranido MC, Ragasa LRP, Noriega CNC, Mayor ABR, Florendo Jr GA, Fadri MJA, von Wirth V, Santiago-Bautista MR, Guevarra Jr LA (2025) Taxonomic revalidation of Selenobrachys Schmidt, 1999 and Chilocosmia Schmidt & von Wirth, 1992 based on morphological and molecular analyses (Araneae, Theraphosidae), with the description of a new species from Romblon Island, Philippines. ZooKeys 1233: 139-193. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1233.128056 
  • Acuña DC, Ragasa LRP, Santiago-Bautista MR, von Wirth V, Guevarra Jr LA (2025) Revisiting and rediscovering the tarantulas (Araneae, Theraphosidae) of Culapnitan (Libmanan) Caves in the Philippines: troglomorphism, taxonomy, phylogeny and ecological niche. Subterranean Biology 52: 143-186. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.52.142334 
  • DC Acuña, EPT Maglangit, MR Santiago-Bautista, LA Guevarra Jr (2025). Abdominal pattern polymorphism and distribution of the giant golden orb-weaving spider, Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793)(Araneae: Araneidae), in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology Online ISSN 2508, 0342. 
  • Mangilit, N. J. D., Arkoncel, A. B. S., Baylon, K. M. D., Eslabra, J. M. V., De Borja, J. L. D., Nakama, J. G., Esmalla, M. S. A., Labrador, A. M., Paulin, J. P., & Santiago-Bautista, M. R. (2024). Molecular Docking and Pharmacokinetic Profiling of Nab-paclitaxel as Advanced Chemotherapeutic Agent Against HER-2 Positive Breast Cancer Patients. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 25(10), 3447–3456. https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.10.3447 
  • Caasi, J. M. N., Baldoza, R. I. D. G., Bauzon, M. S. C., Odtohan, M. A. F., Santiago, L. A., & Santiago-Bautista, M. R. (2024). In Silico Prediction of Selected Bioactive Compounds Present in Alpinia elegans (C.Presl) K.Schum Seed Oil as Potential Drug Candidates Against Human Cancer Cell Lines. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention. DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2023.24.8.2601 
  • Elmer Casley Repotente Jr, Angelo Jose Carreon, Mark Kevin Devanadera,,Maria Salvacion Esmalla, and Myla Santiago-Bautista. (2022). Cytotoxic potential on human breast and lung cancer cells of biosynthesized gold nanoparticles.Frontiers in Materials. DOI: 10.3389/fmats.2022.933749 
  • Dela Cruz JMD, Dones SAA, Villanueva RC, Labrador AM, Santiago-Bautista MR. (2022). Molecular Docking and in silico Pharmacological Screening of Oleosin. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2022.23.7.2421 
  • Lopez SMM, Aguilar JS, Fernandez JBB, Lao AGJ, Estrella MRR, Devanadera MKP, Ramones CMV, Villaraza AJL, Guevarra LA Jr, Santiago-Bautista MR, Santiago LA. (2021). Neuroactive venom compounds from Phlogiellus bundokalbo. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins. DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-JVATITD-2021-0009 
  • Santiago-Bautista, M.R., et al. (2021). Phlogiellus bundokalbo spider venom: Its neuroactive, phospholipase a2 and cytotoxic components against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7). Phil J Health Res Dev. 25(1): 36-48. 
  • Mayor ABR, Guevarra LA Jr, Santiago-Bautista MR, Santiago LA. (2020). Phlogiellus bundokalbo spider venom: cytotoxic fractions against human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins. 26: e20190104. DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2019-0104 
  • Lopez SMM, Aguilar JS, Fernandez JBB, Lao AGJ, Estrella MRR, Devanadera MKP, Mayor ABR, Guevarra LA Jr, Santiago-Bautista MR, Nuneza OM, Santiago L. (2020). The Venom of Philippine Tarantula (Theraphosidae) Contains Peptides with Pro-Oxidative and Nitrosative-Dependent Cytotoxic Activities against Breast Cancer
  • Santiago MR and Devanadera MK (2015). Targeted and Controlled Delivery of Alginate-Based Encapsulation of Doxorubicin in EGFR-Related Breast Carcinoma. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 4(5): 444-454 Online ISSN: 2277-7105
  • Santiago MR, Devanadera MK, Villanueva JK, Ayson AL, Cagalingan RV, Crisostomo AB, Bayquen A (2015).pH Sensitive Alginate-based particle for Controlled Release of Doxorubicin Against Breast Cancer Cells in Vitro. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 4(5): 209-218 Online ISSN: 2277-7105
  • Santiago MR, Devanadera MK. Microencapsulation of Pediococcus sp. with coconut oil bodies and oleosin for improved viability and enhanced targeted delivery in the gastrointestinal tract . The Philippine Agricultural Scientist (Accepted for publication on July 2016 ref no. 015-217)