AN alumna of Visayas State University won the top prize in the spotlight presentation contest of the 9th Fisheries Scientific Conference.

Ivy Jinky Briones, a graduate of BS in Fisheries, was recognized for her thesis titled “Evaluation of Antibacterial Property of Chitosan and Modified Chitosan from Cuttlefish (Sepia spp.) Bone Against Vibrio spp.”

Briones bested 29 other research papers from 12 different universities across the country during the competition organized by the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute.

The study delved into the use of cuttlefish bone, which is considered a local waste in Surigao. From this material, a sugar called chitosan was extracted and found to show significant potentials in eliminating disease-causing bacteria in aquaculture called vibrio.

“Vibrio causes vibriosis, which is a foodborne infection that can be acquired by eating raw or undercooked shellfish. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, there are about 80,000 cases of vibriosis each year in their country alone,” VSU explained.

“While no specific data is available on the number of local cases of vibriosis in the Philippines, it is assumed that the problem is also common in the country because Filipinos consume fish and fishery products at a mean per capita of 40 kilograms per year,” it added.

Prof. Maria Dulce Alibangbang, the thesis adviser of Briones, emphasized the importance of the research specifically in the area of waste management.

“Crustacean shell waste is a problem that should be dealt with, which is why, utilizing and converting them into something very useful is quite an advantageous feat,” Alibangbang said.

Briones graduated cum laude in 2019, during which time her thesis also won the Best Undergraduate Research.

She currently works as an Agricultural Technician in the Provincial Agricultural Office of Surigao.