Project 1: Harnessing the Psychobiotic Potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Philippine Fermented Foods (PsychoLAB)

This project focuses on the isolation and characterization of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from traditional Philippine fermented foods, aiming to identify candidates with probiotic and psychobiotic potential. The isolates are evaluated through diverse analyses to confirm their identity and assess key probiotic traits, including tolerance to acidic pH, bile salts, and other conventional probiotic benchmarks. Psychobiotic potential is further investigated by examining their ability to withstand commonly prescribed antidepressants or mood stabilizers and to produce or tolerate neuroactive metabolites and neurotransmitters. Findings from this study will expand the repertoire of functionally validated LAB in the Philippines, supporting their potential application in functional foods and microbiome-based strategies for gut and mental health.