Probiotics have been extensively studied for their health benefits in humans and animals. A number of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are classified as probiotics, and several studies showed their immunomodulatory effects in animal models and clinical trials. LAB are also involved in the gut microbiome cross talks by inhibiting pathogenic bacteria that induce inflammatory responses. Since an impaired gut microbial community has consequences in different organs such as the skin, brain, lungs, liver, and heart, immune responses in the gut have been associated with organ disorders. In this review paper, we discuss the beneficial effects of several LAB strains in human and animal immunity and related diseases. In addition, we explored the potential of local LAB strains and traditional functional foods in addressing human health.

Background. Emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a major challenge to prevailing disease management. MDR-TB arises from mutations in several genes comprising the resistance determining regions, including rpoB, katG and gyrA. Objective. To detect and characterize mutations in rpoB, katG and gyrA. Methods. Thirty selected Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from the IDS-PGH were subjected to PCR amplification and sequencing. Sequences were compared to the wild type strain H37Rv. Results. Mutations were detected in codons 512, 513, 516, 522, 526, 531 and 533 of rpoB, codons 280, 281, 315 and 333 of katG, and codons 90 and 94 of gyrA sequences. The most frequently mutating codons for rpoB, katG and gyrA were 531, 315 and 94, respectively. A clustering analysis of the sequences showed occurrence of seven, four and three clusters for the genes rpoB, katG and gyrA, respectively. The eight clusters obtained from the concatenated sequences of the three genes represent the eight potential genotypes of local strains. One cluster represents the wild type strain genotype, another cluster represents the XDR strain genotype, and six clusters represent the MDR strain genotypes. Conclusion. These findings indicate the utility of multiple RDR sequence analysis in both identifying specific drug resistance mutation and genotyping of various M. tuberculosis isolates.
TUBERCULOSIS ; THERAPEUTICS ; THERAPY

COVID-19 has turned into a protracted emergency to Philippine urban populations. The pandemic can be an opportunity for the country to strengthen surveillance capacity through wastewater-based epidemiology for COVID-19 and antimicrobial resistance. This capacity can translate to detection and monitoring for other emerging infectious diseases.