Continued from Program on Health…

After his training as Fogarty Fellow at the Center for Global Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine (Dr. Richard Guerrant’s Lab), he returned to his home country to share his knowledge and skills gained from the program for the control of infectious diseases relevant to the Philippines. Despite advancement in diagnostic medicine, access by the marginalized sector of society has been a recurring issue in the Philippines due to the cost-limiting nature of these technological advancements. He joined the National Institutes of Health Philippines as research faculty and later became the director of National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. He pioneered the Molecular Diagnosis for Infectious Diseases Program in the Philippines focusing mainly on developing low-cost, low-technology driven diagnostic platforms for specific infectious diseases relevant in my country such as NTD, Diarrheal Diseases, Dengue, MDRO and Tuberculosis. Majority of his work are dedicated on identification of diagnostic targets and evaluation of diagnostic platforms best suited in developing country scenario and transforming them into a low-cost platform. (http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/library-health-news/1464-making-research-count-developing-cheaper-faster-dengue-diagnosis). [1-8]

Currently, one of his pioneering work, “Lab in a Mug” Project utilized an isothermal platform and a handheld LED trans-illuminator, a portable multi-infectious disease device about the size of a mug, generated its first ever spin-off company for the University of the Philippines (www.manila-healthtek.com). This technology is being rolled out to 100 primary and secondary hospitals all over the country. This work has helped him move the health-biotechnology landscape in the Philippines and was given recognition in the inter-academy medical panel during the World Health Summit in Berlin as Top 20 Young Physician Leader (http://www.iamp-online.org/sites/iamp-online.org/files/PROFILES%20booklet.pdf). The pioneering team authored an article underscoring the importance of leadership to be inculcated among young aspiring leaders in the field of science. He was awarded Outstanding Young Scientist of the Philippines in 2008, University of the Philippines’ Research Productivity Award in 2011, The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines in 2011. Gawad Agham 2015, Outstanding Alumni in Microbiology of the University of Santo Tomas, 2015 Outstanding Alumni in Medicine of the De La Salle University and the prestigious 2015 Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Award in Research given by the Philippine Medical Association and 2015 Dr. Eusebio Y. Garcia Recognition award in Molecular Biology and Molecular Pathology. [9-10]

Early in his research career, he was principally involved in pathobiology of the etiologic agents of Early Persistent diarrheal diseases as well as on the role of micronutrient supplementation in mucosal restitution, abdominal infection and profiling of HIV in the Philippines {11-22].

  1. Advancing Cryptosporidium Diagnostics from Bench to Bedside. Raul V. Destura, Rohani B. Cena, Ma. Jowina H. Galarion, Coleen M. Pangilinan, Geraldine M. Arevalo, Ryan Oliver C. Alba, Joy Ann G. Petronio, Gielanny M. Salem Brian Schwem, Jesus Emmanuel A.D. Sevilleja. Current Tropical Medicine Reports, July 2015 (http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40475-015-0055-x)
  2. Continued circulation of a single genotype of dengue virus serotype 2 in the Philippines. Petronio JA, Vinarao RB, Flores KM, Destura RV. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2014 Jan;7(1):30-3.
  3. Production of Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) against Synthetic Peptide Analogs of the Immunogenic Epitopes of the Hepatitis B Surface Antigen. Leonardo A. Guevarra, Jr., Milagros B. Leaño, Leslie M. Dalmacio, Gracia Fe B. Yu, Raul V. Destura, Bernadette Libranda-Ramirez and Rhodora C. Estacio. Acta Medica Philippina. Vol. 46. 1. 2012 (http://wprim.whocc.org.cn/local/detail.jsp?channelid=75002&searchword=WPRIMID%3D700936)
  4. CTX-M as the predominant extended-spectrum beta-lactamases among Enterobacteriaceae in Manila, Philippines. Tian GB, Garcia J, Adams-Haduch JM, Evangelista JP, Destura RV, Wang HN, Doi Y., J Antimicrob Chemother. 2010 Mar;65(3):584-6. Epub 2010 Jan 6.
  5. Detection and Characterization of Mutations of MultiDrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Isolates of the Philippine General Hospital. Franco Antonio C. Catangui1, Ann Camille Q. Yuga1, Sharie Keanne C. Ganchua2, Concepcion F. Ang, Myrna T. Mendoza, Marilen M. Parungao-Balolong, Raul V. Destura and Francisco M. Heralde III4. Acta Medica Philippina. Vol. 46 No. 1. 2012 (http://actamedicaphilippina.com.ph/content/volume-46-no-1)
  6. Pyrosequencing for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to rifampin, isoniazid, and fluoroquinolones. Bravo LT, Tuohy MJ, Ang C, Destura RV, Mendoza M, Procop GW, Gordon SM, Hall GS, Shrestha NK. J Clin Microbiol. 2009 Dec;47(12):3985-90. Epub 2009 Oct 21.
  7. Laboratory Diagnosis and Susceptibility Profile of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Philippines. Destura RV, Labio ED, Barrett LJ, Alcantara C, Daez, MLO, Gloria V. and Guerrant RL. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2004 Nov. 16; 3(1):25
  8. The Clinical Utility of Monoclonal Antibody Based Dot-ELISA Urine Antigen Detection in the Diagnosis of Leptospirosis in the Philippines., Destura RV, Alejandria MM, Cajucom, M, Ang C. And Mendoza MM Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine, 2008 (http://www.psmid.org.ph/index.php?fid=searchpjmid&opt=journals&str=destura&find2=Go)
  9. IAMP tackles a void in medical education: leadership. Gee RE, Jarvinen T., Sultana TA, Destura RV, Gjoneska B. The Lancet. 2011 November. Vol379:e25
  10. Responding to Typhoon Haiyan. Destura RV and Salvana E. The Lancet. 2013; 382(9907):1769.
  11. Antibiotic management of complicated intra-abdominal infections in adults: The Asian perspective. Kurup A, Liau KH, Ren J, Lu MC, Navarro NS, Farooka MW, Usman N, Destura RV, Sirichindakul B, Tantawichien T, Lee CK, Solomkin JS. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2014; 3(3):85-91.
  12. Detection of epithelial-cell injury, and quantification of infection, in the HCT-8 organoid model of cryptosporidiosis. Alcantara Warren C, Destura RV, Sevilleja JE, Barroso LF, Carvalho H, Barrett LJ, O’Brien AD, Guerrant RL. J Infect Dis. 2008 Jul 1;198(1):143-9.
  13. Clostridium difficile and Entamoeba hystolytica infections in patients with colitis in the Philippines. Alcantara WC, Labio E, Destura RV, Sevilleja JE, Jamias JD, Daez ML. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2012; 106(7):424-8.
  14. Clostridium difficile toxin A induces intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis and damage: role of glutamine and alanyl-glutamine on toxin A effects. Gerly A.C. Brito, MD, PhD, Benedito Carneiro-Filho, MD, Reinaldo B. Oriá, DVM, PhD, Raul V. Destura, MD, Aldo A.M. Lima, MD, PhD and Richard L. Guerrant, MD. Digestive Diseases and Science 2005 Jul;50(7):1271-8.
  15. Feature Article: Persistent Early Childhood Diarrhea and Malnutrition: The Search for the Missing Link. Raul V. Destura. Phil J. Microbiol and Infect Diseases. Vol. 34, issue, pp 86-100 April-Jun 2005 (http://www.herdin.ph/index.php/component/herdin/?view=research&cid=1604)
  16. Profile of HIV/AIDS patients at the Philippine General Hospital: Revisiting 9 years of clinical experience. Destura RV, Berba R, Mendoza M, Ecarma R, Zoleta L, Salamat S, Velmonte M, Montoya J, Vizconde L, Gomez D. Phil J Microbiol Infect Dis. 2003; 32(1):11-21.
  17. Anthrax scare in the Philippines: Medical and public health issues. Destura RV. Phil J Microbiol Infect Dis. 2001; 30(3):75-80.
  18. Predictors of mortality in persons living with HIV in the Philippines: The impact of widespread antiretroviral therapy and the case for early treatment. Salvana EM, Leyritana K, Alejandria MM, Destura RV, Ching P, Duque R, Duque R, Amor C, Sison O, Lim JOpen Forum Infectious Diseases 2015; 2 (suppl 1):S161.
  19. Emergence of oseltamivir resistance in Philippine A(H1N1) influenza from the 2009 pandemic. Salvana EM, Schwem B, Ganchua SK, Olveda R, Segubre-Mercado E, Tandoc A, Tallo V, Tayag E, Tayzon MF, Padilla C, Destura RV.. Published and Presented at 25th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen, Denmark, April 2015.
  20. The changing molecular epidemiology of HIV in the Philippines: major shift from subtype B to CRF01_AE.. Schwem B, Itable J, Ching P, Ganchua S,Alejandria M, Lim J, Destura RV, Salvana EM. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2014 ; 1 (suppl 1), S410
  21. Opportunistic infections in Filipino HIV patients. Salvana EM, Leyritana K, Alejandria M, Lim J, Destura RV, Tenorio A.. Abstract published and presented at the ID Week 2012 Conference on October 2012 in San Diego, CA..
  22. Construction of a comprehensive interactive genome library for detection, characterization, and drug-resistance surveillance of influenza viruses in a developing country. Salvana EM, Schwem B, Ganchua SK, Trinidad GB, Ma M, Agmata ML, Heralde F, Tayag E, Roque V, Tayzon M, Padilla C, Destura RV. Abstract published and presented at the ID Week 2012 Conference on October 2012 in San Diego, CA.

For more of Dr. Destura’s publications, visit:
https://scholar.google.com.ph/scholar?q=%22Raul+V.+Destura%22&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5

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Published by Philippine Genome Center