SIXTH ASIAN-PACIFIC ORGANIZATION FOR CELL BIOLOGY CONGRESS ON
“CHALLENGES IN CELL BIOLOGY, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY AND
EDUCATION”
Held at Manila, Philippines (February 25 to 28, 2011) : A REPORT
Indian Society of Cell Biology is a member organization of Asian-Pacific Organization for Cell
Biology (APOCB) and International Federation of Cell Biology (IFCB). The APOCB office
structure is as follows : President – Dr Filipinas F Natividad, St Luke’s Medical Centre,
Philippines; Vice Presidents – Dr Cynthia Jensen, University of Auckland, New Zealand, Dr
ChungMing Chang, National Yang Ming University, Taiwan, Dr Joobae Park, Samsung
Biomedical Research Institute, Korea; Secretary General – Xiaoyan Ding, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, China; Treasurer – Dr Yoshihiro Yoneda, Osaka University, Japan. APOCB meetings
are held once in four years period. This time the meeting was organized by Dr Filipinas F
Natividad, St Luke’s Medical Centre, under the auspices of Philippines Society of Cell Biology,
held in EDSA Shangri-La at Manila, Philippines and we had the opportunity of participating in the
congress.
The congress had two components : Two Pre-congress workshops and the Scientific deliberations.
Pre-Congress Workshops
Morning workshop on the first day was held on `Teaching Biology with Limited resources’
organized by Dr Cynthia Jensen, University of Auckland, conducted by Dr Omar Harb, University
of Pennsylvania and the facilitators were : Dr Chong Lek Koh and Dr Sam Choon Kook,
Singapore. The facilitators presented models of biology teaching with special emphasis on school
and college teaching where good laboratory facilities do not exist.
The afternoon workshop was on `Scientific writing and publishing for non-native speakers of
English’ conducted by Dr Denys N Wheatley, President IFCB and Dr Kurt Albertine, University
of Utah, USA. The afternoon workshop was followed by welcome reception.
The second day started with Opening ceremonies and the keynote address by Dr Mario G Montejo,
Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Philippines.
Scientific Deliberations
The first day of scientific deliberations had a plenary lecture session followed by twelve
sessions of invited talks, a poster session and the meeting of APOCB Executive Committee.
The scientific deliberations began with the three plenary lectures on the following topics under the
chairmanship of Dr Cynthia P Saloma, Philippines :
`Building immunotherapy platform for cancer autoimmune diseases- Genomic and personalized
medicine in health and disease’ by Ken-ichi Arai, Japan
`Engineered tissues and stem cells for treatment of cardiovascular disease’ by Keith A Webster,
USA
`Generation of neural primordial in vertebrate embryos by mechanisms that challenge the classical
models’ by Hisato Kondoh, Japan
SESSION 1 : PROTEIN QUALITY CONTROL AND CELLULAR HOMEOSTASIS
The session was chaired by Dr Kasuhiro Nagata, Japan and had four invited talks :
`Two distinct ERAD pathways for misfolded glycoproteins and non-glycoproteins’ by Kasuhiro
Nagata, Japan
`Protein quality control by the unfolded protein response’ by Kazuoshi Mori, Japan
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`PCAF interacts with XBP-1S and mediates XBP-1S dependent transcription by Sheng Hao Chao,
Singapore
`Role of Gelectin-3 in apical protein trafficking’ by Ralf Jacob, Germany
SESSION 2 : NUCLEUS AND GENE EXPRESSION
The session had four invited lectures and the chairperson was Dr Yoshihiro Yoneda, Japan :
`Nuclear transport machineries and cell function’ by Yoshihiro Yoneda, Japan
`The contribution of importin alpha-mediated nuclear transport to paraspeckle formation’ by Kate
Loveland, Australia
`A novel role of nuclear transport factor importin alpha in gene regulation’ by Yoichi Miyamota,
Australia
`An EGFR ligand, amphiregulin is translocated from the plasma membrane to the nuclear envelope
and regulates cell migration’ by Miki Hieda, Japan
SESSION 3 : CANCER SIGNALING AND METASTASIS
The session had five invited talks under the chairmanship of Dr Lu-Hai Wang, Taiwan :
`EphA2-Vav3-Rac1 signaling mediates migratory and invasive behaviour of prostate cancer cells
and correlates with the disease progression’ by Lu-Hai Wang, Taiwan
`Bmi1 is essential in Twist1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition’ by Kpu-Juey Wu, Taiwan
`14-3-3 proteins and cancer metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma’ by Bor-Sheng Ko, Taiwan
`A small molecule targeting thymidylate kinase induces DNA repair toxicity’ by Zee-Fen Chang,
Taiwan
`The small GTPase hRAB37 involves in the exocytic pathway and acts as a metastatic suppressor
in lung cancer’ by Yi-Ching Wang, Taiwan
SESSION 4 : CELL DIFFERENTIATION
The session had four invited talks, chaired by Dr Hua-Lin Wu, Taiwan :
`Down-regulation of thrombomodulin induces tumorigenesis’ by Hua-Lin Wu, Taiwan
`Mechanism of cardiomyocyte regeneration by stem cells using inducible Cre-Lox transgenic
mice’ by Ching-Ho Hsieh, Taiwan
`The cullin3-KLHL20 ligase mediates PDZ-RhoGEF ubiquitination to control neutrophin induced
neuronal differentiation’ by Ruey-Hwa Chen, Taiwan
`Endothelial-derived cells contribute significantly to murine vein graft neointima through TGF
beta mediated endothelial to mesenchymal transition’ by Jose Nevado Jr, Philippines
SESSION 5 : BIOCLIPS
The session included five invited talks, chaired by Dr Akihiro Nakano :
`Mechanistic insights into the membrane trafficking through and around the Golgi apparatus’ by
Akihiro Nakano
`Paramecium in action’ by Masahiro Fujishima, Japan
`Mechanism of entry of a flavivirus cell penetration peptide’ by Mah-Lee Mary Ng, Singapore
`A visual demonstration of potential bioactivity of selected plants’ by Ronald R Matias,
Philippines
`Spotlight on chromosome painting and fluorescence in situ hybridization technology:
Strengthening the routine cytogenetic tools’ by Ma Luisa D Enriquez
SESSION 6 : PROTISTOLOGY
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The session had four invited talks and the session was chaired by Dr Masahiro Fujishima, Japan :
`Infection of endonuclear symbiotic bacterium Holospora is controlled by 89 kDa periplasmic
protein’ by Masahiro Fujishima, Japan
`Infection process of symbiotic Chlorella sp to the algal-free paramecium bursaria’ by Yuki
Kodama, Japan
`Fate of the 63kDa periplasmic protein of the infectious form of the endonuclear symbiotic
bacterium Holospora obtuse during the infection process’ by Fema M Abamo, Philippines
`Amacronuclear envelope-specific antigen of the ciliate Paramecium caudatum’ by Kenya Tanaka,
Japan
SESSION 7 : DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
The session included four invited lectures, chaired by Dr Gen Yamada, Japan :
`Essence of urogenital/reproductive organ formation; mutant mouse analysis in the field of
molecular developmental biology’ by Gen Yamada, Japan
`Vascular niches direct human CD34+ CD31+ progenitor cell fate: Roles of beta2 integrin and
Notch’ by Jeng-Jiann Chiu,Taiwan
`Role of Rab11 in Drosophila development’ By Jagat K Roy, India
`Analysis of sperm surface molecule which is involved in the sperm-egg envelope binding in
Xenopus laevis’ by Hideo Kubo, Japan
SESSION 8 : ORGANELLES
The session chaired by Dr Kate Loveland, Australia, had two invited talks :
`ARL4A interacts with GC 185 to modulate Golgi apparatus and endosome to Golgi transport’ by
Fang-jen, Taiwan
`Processing and turnover of the Hedgehog protein in the endoplasmic reticulum’ by Xin Chen,
Taiwan
SESSION 9 : VIRAL-CELL INTERACTIONS
This session under the chairmanship of Dr ChungMing Chang, Taiwan, had three lectures :
`Transforming growth factor beta-1 suppresses hepatitis B virus replication through the reduction
of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha’ by ChungMing Chang, Taiwan
`Strategies and solutions against viral diseases for sustainable aquaculture’ by Huan Eng Ung,
Malaysia
`The role of CLEC5A in dengue virus infection’ by Shie-Liang Hsieh, Taiwan
SESSION 10 : BIOSAFETY
The session had three invited lectures, chaired by Dr Cecelia V Williams, USA :
`Laboratory biorisk management’ by Cecelia V Williams, USA
`Biosecurity Standard Operating procedures (SOPs) in a laboratory animal facility’ by Ranilio G
Resuelo, Philippines
`The Philippine Biosafety and Biosecurity Association, Inc’ by Miguel Martin N Moreno,
Philippines
SESSION 11 : CYTOSKELETON AND CELL MOTILITY
The session had three invited talks chaired by Dr Kazuo Inaba, Japan :
`Proteomics, cell biology and physiology for sperm flagellar motility’ by Kazuo Inaba, Japan
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`Cytosolic glutaredoxin 2 induces a reorganization of the cytoskeleton, enhances cell motility and
functions in neuronal differentiation’ by Christopher Lilig, Germany
`Role of Ca2+ in chemotactic behaviour of ascidian sperm’ by Manabu Yoshida, Japan
SESSION 12 : BIOBANKING
The session included three invited talks under the chairmanship of Dr Ralf Jacob, USA :
`Therapeutic potential on non-embryonic autologous stem cells and the justification for stem cell
banking’ by George Koliakos, Greece
`Latest gamete preservation of rodents for bio-resource banking’ by Kneko Takehito, Japan
`Biobanking initiatives for genomic research on major diseases in the Philippines’ by Maria Luisa
dG Daroy, Philippines
POSTER SESSION
Posters were presented mainly by young students in various areas of cell biology and health
sciences. Since this session gave an opportunity to all the interested participants to search the
posters of their interest and to discuss the work at length, good interactions between the presenting
author and the participants were seen.
The second day of congress had four plenary lectures followed by a session on education.
The day began with the plenary lecture on `Synergies between molecular biology and cell biology’
delivered by Ajay Kohli, Philippines. Jagat K Roy, India, chaired the session.
The second lecture `Global trend and development pathway of biosimilar products’ was delivered
by Brian Kim, Korea under the chair Dr Joobae Park, Korea
The third lecture `Control of vascular cell survival and phenotypes via distinct PPAR/14-3-3
pathways, delivered by Kenneth K-Y Wu, chaired by Dr chungMing Chang, Taiwan
The fourth lecture `Approaches to and conductance of research: lessons from primary cilia and
other projects through a lifetime in cell biology’ was delivered by Denys N Wheatley, UK, under
the chair of Dr Cynthia Jensen, New Zealand.
EDUCATION SESSION
The session included five short talks. The chairperson, Dr Cynthia Jensen, New Zealand, gave an
overview on Teaching and training in Cell biology. Omar Harb, USA, stressed on using online
resources to teach cell biology, while Cheng-Wen Wu, Taiwan informed and discussed about the
IFCB International training programmes in Cell and Molecular biology. Chong Lek Koh,
Singapore, talked on updating pedagogical content knowledge of teachers in molecular biology,
and Sonia D Jacinto, Philippines, discussed on teaching cell biology in a Philippine University.
The last day of congress had four plenary lectures, a poster session and four sessions of talks.
The day started with the plenary talk on `Reprogramming and biomarkers of pluripotent stem
cells’ by Qi Zhou, China, under the chair of Xiaoyan Ding, China.
The second talk was on `Cancer photothermal therapy using nanotubes conjugated with anti-cancer
antibody’ delivered by Cynthia Saloma, Philippines. The talk was chaired by Dr Gabriel O
Romero, Philippines.
The third talk on `Algorithmic cell biology: Translating biological cartoons into computer
programmes’ was presented by Eduardo Mendoza, Germany, under the chair of Dr Sonia D
Jacinto, Philippines.
The prestigious APOCB plenary lecture was by Nobutaka Hirokawa of Japan on `Intracellular
transport and kinesis superfamily molecular motors (KIFs): key regulators for neuronal function,
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development and tumorigenesis. This lecture was the last scientific lecture at the end of the day
prior to the concluding ceremony and was chaired by Dr Yoshihiro Yoneda, Japan.
SESSION 13 : YOUNG INVESTIGATORS FORUM
The session had nine talks by the young scientists and students as follows. The session was chaired
by Dr Windell L Rivera, Philippines.
`Analysis of cell interaction with titanium nanotube array’ by R B Mydin, Philippines
`In silico analysis of the immunogenicity of the Plasmodium falciparum MSP1 block 2 proteins
reveals a dearth of B cell and T cell epitopes for the RO33 variant associated with severe malaria’
by K P Fabian, Philippines
`Development of real time reverse transcriptase-PCR assay for dengue virus’ by I L Tan,
Philippines
`Applications of real-time cell-based assay in evaluating generic chemotherapeutic agents’ by J
Villaruz, Philippines
`Catharanthus roseus aqueous extract induces activation of caspases 3/7 and S phase arrest in
Jurkat cells’ by N H Ahmad, Malaysia
`Comparative in vitro intracellular study on the anti-microbial activity of azithromycin monodehydrate at clinically relevant concentrations’ by M C Catapang, Philippines
`Dual-colour FISH analysis of X and Y chromosomes after sex-mismatched allogeneic peripheral
blood stem cell transplantation’ by M C S Abad, Philippines
`A preliminary study on the effect of the methanolic extract of Syzygium cumini on glucose
utilization in fat-overloaded HepG2 cells’ by B Tan, Philippines
`Single nucleotide variations of the surface gene: a determinant region of hepatitis B virus isolated
from Philippines’ by M Alvarez, Philippines
SESSION 14 : INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The session chaired by Dr Mah-Lee Mary Ng, Singapore, had four invited lectures :
`Biomarker discovery to differentiate dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock
syndrome’ by Mah-Lee Mary Ng, Singapore
`Adaptation of molecular technique for the detection and typing of foot and mouth disease virus
circulating in naturally infected cattle in Bangladesh’ by Munmun Pervin, Bangladesh
`The use of recombinant dengue virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) for detection of dengue
infection’ by Mark Anthony Luz, Philippines
`Molecular cloning and expression of recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific antigen
for serodiagnosis of TB infection’ by Frederick Dela Cruz, Philippines
SESSION 15 : DRUG DISCOVERY AND EMERGING TECHNIQUES
The session had five invited talks, chaired by Dr Ronald R Matias, Philippines :
`Retro MAD1 - A broad spectrum oral delivery anti-viral agent with activity in insect, human,
crustacean, dog and cat viruses’ by Huang Eng Ung, Malaysia
`Pharmacogenomics in drug discovery and development: added cost or business opportunity’ by
Reynaldo Garcia, Philippines
`A novel high throughput assay for anthelminthics: real time motility monitoring’ by Michael
Smout, Australia
`New technologies for global infectious disease surveillance’ by Evan Skoronski, USA
`Development of a rapid and comprehensive arbovirus detection system by LC/MS/MS’ by Kenta
Okamoto, Japan
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SESSION 16 : FREE PAPERS
The session included nine lectures under the chairmanship of Dr Shyamal Majumdar, USA
`In vitro and in vivo response of mouse breast cancer cells to anti-breast cancer drugs’ by Shyamal
Majumdar, USA
`Intratumoral heterogeneity of KRAS and P53 mutations in colorectal cancer’ by Ma Luisa D
Enriquez, Philippines
`Expression of Ras-related protein Rab-1B in lead treated neuronal PC-12 cells’ by Cesar Ortinero,
Japan
`Biological effects of ultrasound: potential therapeutic applications and their implications on the
safety of diagnostic ultrasound’ by Loreto Feril, Japan
`Detection and subtype identification of Blastocystis from wastewater samples in the Philippines’
by Jan Ervin G Banaticla, Philippines
`Genotype characterization of phenotypically identified extended-spectrum beta-lactamase
Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates in metro Manila (2008-2009)’ by
Mark Noe Ritumalta, Philippines
`The role of ecdysone in the development of Malpighian tubules in Drosophila melanogaster’ by
Madhu G Tapadia, India
`Marine mollusk-associated microorganisms induce intracellular calcium changes in the dorsal
root ganglion primary neurons’ by Rowena Antemano, Philippines
`Quantitative genotoxic analysis of two dentin bonding agents on human pulp cells in vitro’ by
Glenn Oyong, Philippines
Overall the lectures were absorbing and gave a glimpse of exciting science being done in many
Asian countries. The hospitality extended was praiseworthy. The meeting concluded with the note
that next APOCB meeting will be held at Singapore in 2014.
Report prepared by
J K Roy and Madhu G Tapadia
Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005
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