LAVINA, Walter Alvarez

Walter Alvarez Laviña, Ph.D.

email: walter_lavina[at mark]bio.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp

(Research background and interest)

Yeast Genetics, Metabolomics

(Degrees)

Dr. Eng.: Department of Advanced Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2013

M. Sc.: Microbiology Division, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 2000

B. Sc.: Microbiology Division, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 1994

(Employment and Training)

(Publications)

1. Laviña, W. A., Shahsavarani, H., Saidi, A., Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., and Harashima, S.: Suppression mechanism of the calcium sensitivity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae ptp2∆msg5∆ double disruptant involves a novel HOG-independent function of Ssk2, transcription factor Msn2 and the PKA component Bcy1, J. Biosci. Bioeng. (Accepted for publication).

2. Laviña, W. A., Hermansyah, Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., and Harashima, S.: Functionally redundant protein phosphatase genes PTP2 and MSG5 co-regulate the calcium signaling pathway inSaccharomyces cerevisiae upon exposure to high extracellular calcium concentration, J. Biosci. Bioeng., 115 (2), 138-146 (2013).

3. Hermansyah, Laviña, W. A., Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., and Harashima, S.: Identification of protein kinase disruptions as suppressors of the calcium sensitivity of S. cerevisiae Δptp2 Δmsg5 protein phosphatase double disruptant, Arch. Microbiol., 192, 157-165 (2010).

4. Aves-Ilagan, Y., Laviña, W. A., Natural, M. P. and Raymundo, A. K.: Genetic homogeneity of the banana-infecting strains of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al in the Philippines, J. Phil. Agric. Scientist., 86 (No.4) 394-402 (2003).

5. Aves-Ilagan, Y., Laviña, W. A., Denny, T. P. and Raymundo A. K.: Development of a polymerase chain reaction-based technique for the detection of Philippine banana strains of Ralstonia solanacearum.(Smith) Yabuuchi et al, J. Phil. Agric. Scientist., 86 (No.4) 385-393 (2003).

6. Laviña, W.A. and Raymundo, A. K.: Polymerase Chain Reaction-based detection of Philippine banana isolates of Ralstonia solanacearum in soil, Phil. J. Biotech. ,12 (No.1-2) 41-51 (2001).

7. Raymundo, A. K., Papa, I. A., Beluso, M. T. , Laviña, W. A., Bernal, E. A. and Calibo, R. L.: Optimization of medium for Penicillin G production by restricted random balance design, Phil. J. Biotech. 11: 1-10 (2000).

(Abstracts in conferences)

1. Laviña, W. A., Sasano, Y., Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., Harashima, S. Suppression of the calcium sensitivity of S. cerevisiae ptp2∆msg5∆ protein phosphatase disruptant involves PKA, Msn2 and a HOG-independent function of Ssk2. 65th Society for Biotechnology Japan Annual Meeting, September 2013, Hiroshima, Japan

2. Laviña, W. A., Y., Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., Harashima, S. Functional redundancy of protein phosphatases Ptp2 and Msg5 prevents hyper-activation of the calcium-mediated signaling inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. 64th Society for Biotechnology Japan Annual Meeting, October 2012, Kobe, Japan

3. Laviña, W. A., Y., Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., Harashima, S. Disruption of PTP2 and MSG5 inSaccharomyces cerevisiae causes chronic stress response upon exposure to high extracellular calcium. 43^rd Yeast Forum of the Yeast Genetics Society of Japan, September 2010, Nara, Japan

4. Laviña, W. A., Y., Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., Harashima, S. Calcineurin and HOG pathway-independent suppression of the calcium sensitivity of the ptp2∆msg5∆ protein phosphatase double disruptant by ssk2∆disruption. The 32^nd Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan, December 2009, Yokohama, Japan

5. Laviña, W. A., Y., Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., Harashima, S. The suppression of the calcium sensitivity of the ptp2∆msg5∆ protein phosphatase double disruptant by ssk2∆ disruption is calcineurin and HOG pathway-independent. 4^th Annual Meeting of the Protein Phosphatase Academic Association of Japan, November 2009, Kumamoto City, Japan

6. Laviña, W. A., Y., Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., Harashima, S. Mechanism involved in the suppression of the calcium sensitivity of the protein phosphatase double disruptant, ptp2∆msg5∆, by ssk2∆ disruption. 42^ndYeast Forum of the Yeast Genetics Society of Japan, July 2009, Tsukuba City, Japan

7. Laviña, W. A., Y., Sugiyama, M., Kaneko, Y., Harashima, S. Elucidation of the mechanism involved in the suppression of the calcium sensitivity of ptp2∆msg5∆ protein phosphatase double disruptant bySSK2. 24^th International Conference on Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology, July 2009, University of Machester, Manchester, United Kingdom

(Awards)

1. The Republic of the Philippines Commission on Higher Education 2005 Republica awards National winner (natural sciences) for the paper entitled “Genetic homogeneity of the banana-infecting strains ofRalstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al in the Philippines”. (J. Phil. Agric. Scientist. 86 (No.4) 394-402)

2. University of the Philippines International Publication Award for the paper entitled “Genetic homogeneity of the banana-infecting strains of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al in thePhilippines”. (J. Phil. Agric. Scientist. 86 (No.4) 394-402)

3. University of the Philippines International Publication Award for the paper entitled “Development of a polymerase chain reaction-based technique for the detection of Philippine banana strains of Ralstonia solanacearum. (Smith) Yabuuchi et al”. (J. Phil. Agric. Scientist. 86 (No.4) 385-393.)

4. Philobioscientia UPLB Life Sciences Society Best Thesis Award for the thesis entitled “Improvement of Medium Composition for the Production of Penicillin G by Penicillium chrysogenum 30T using Random Balance Design”

(Personal Data)

Birthday: October 24, 1973

Hometown: Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines

Hobbies: music, arts, basketball

Favorite quote: “A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping stone to the optimist” – E. Roosevelt

Favorite food: Japanese and Thai food