Filipino fermented foods have long been known to contain bacteria that offer health benefits, also known as probiotics. Burong isda, a traditional fermented fish from Pampanga, contains a bacterium called Limosilactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum), which is closely related to the well-known Lactobacillus probiotics. Researchers from UP Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) combined genomic and laboratory analyses to provide a comprehensive probiotic profile of two L. fermentum strains in burong isda. Their multidimensional approach also revealed the strains’ antifungal benefits against Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), one of the most common fungi affecting immunodeficient individuals. Their study not only lays the groundwork for developing new probiotic products but is also possibly the first to report the antifungal effects of L. fermentum against A. fumigatus.

Sapigao, H. (2025, October 21). UP study reveals insights on the probiotic and antifungal benefits of bacteria in 'burong isda'. Panay News, p. 10.