Sherilyn Abarra

PhD candidate - Biological Sciences

Member of the Fish Health and Nutrition Research Group

Project Title: Effects of Host-derived Probiotics on the Growth Performance and Health of Tilapia and Carp
Director of Studies: Dr Daniel Merrifield
2nd Supervisor: Dr Mark Rawling
My PhD project investigates on the effects of potential host-derived probiotics on growth, feed utilisation and intestinal health of tilapia and carp. Probiotics derived from the host have gained attention for its suitability and capacity to establish effective colonisation of the host gut. Autochthonous probiotic candidate isolates from mirror carp and Nile tilapia are screened in vitro for pathogen antagonism activity, haemolytic activity, and extracellular enzyme activity. The potential probiotic candidates are tested for antagonism against important fish pathogens such as Aeromonas hydrophila, Streptococcus iniae, Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Yersinia ruckeri. The potential candidate isolates are also subjected to qualitative screening for phytase, xylanase, and tannase activity.
Potential probiotic candidates from the in vitro assays are incorporated in the fish diets and used for in vivo studies. In vivo trials are conducted to assess the effects of the probiotic diets on fish growth performance and carcass composition. Fish intestinal samples are processed for histological examination, microbiological analysis, and gene expression analysis to assess wider impacts of the probiotic diets on gut health status.

• World Aquaculture Society
• Global Seafood Alliance
• Applied Microbiology International
• European Aquaculture Society
• Fisheries Society of the British Isles

• External Reviewer - Sinaya Journal
• Peer Reviewer - Aquaculture International, Aquaculture Research, Journal of the World Aquaculture Society

Teaching Faculty - De La Salle University Integrated School (2017-2022)

Subjects Taught: 

• General Biology (Botany and Zoology) -Lecture and Laboratory
• Practical Research
• Earth and Life Science

Qualifications:

• Master of Science in Biology (MS Biology), Ateneo de Manila University Loyola Schools
• Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) - Major in Biological Science, Laguna State Polytechnic University

Research interests:

• fish nutrition
• functional feed additives 
• sustainable aquaculture

Scholarships and grants:

• Scholarship Recipient - Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Foreign Graduate Scholarship in Priority Science and Technology Fields
• Scholarship Recipient - Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP), DOST-SEI
• Research Grant - DOST Student Research Support Fund
• Plymouth Marine Science and Education Foundation (PlyMSEF) Grant-in-aid 2024 recipient
• School of Biological and Marine Sciences Conference Support Fund recipient

Conference presentations:

Local:

International:

Invited lectures:

March 15, 2024 - Guest Lecture: Status of Aquaculture in the Philippines; Fish and Fisheries Module (Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture)

March 23, 2023 - Guest Lecture: Aquaculture in the Philippines; Fish and Fisheries Module (Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture)