M. Medina

Structural dynamics and functional cooperativity of human NQO1 by ambient temperature serial crystallography and simulations

This study determines the structure of hNQO1 with NADH using serial crystallography and simulations, showing NADH binding stabilizes the protein and drives functional cooperativity through structural communication.

Anatomically-specific coupling between innate immune gene repertoire and microbiome structure during coral evolution.

The paper examines the relationship between coral innate immune gene copy numbers and microbiome structure across different anatomical sites, finding anatomically specific correlations.

Evidence for microbially-mediated tradeoffs between growth and defense throughout coral evolution

This study shows that microbial symbionts, particularly Endozoicomonas, influence coral growth and disease susceptibility across 425 million years of evolution.

A meta-analysis of the stony coral tissue loss disease microbiome finds key bacteria in lesions and unaffected tissue of diseased colonies

This study identifies consistent bacteria associated with stony coral tissue loss disease across different disease states and environments.

Endosomal removal and disposal of dysfunctional, immunostimulatory mitochondrial DNA

The paper investigates how dysfunctional mitochondrial DNA is removed via an endosomal pathway, showing that defects in mtDNA replication and segregation trigger a fission checkpoint leading to immune activation and eventual disposal through RAB7-containing endosomes.

Comparative genomic insights into bacterial induction of larval settlement and metamorphosis in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea

The paper identifies bacteria capable of inducing settlement and metamorphosis in Cassiopea xamachana and finds that inductive bacteria lack certain biosynthetic pathways but share genes that may underlie their inductive capacity.

A surface morphometrics toolkit to quantify organellar membrane ultrastructure using cryo-electron tomography

The paper introduces a surface morphometrics toolkit for quantifying organellar membrane ultrastructure using cryo-ET, showing ER stress induces adaptive mitochondrial ultrastructural remodeling.

Linking photoacclimation responses and microbiome shifts between depth-segregated sibling species of reef corals

This study compares photoacclimation and microbiome shifts in two Caribbean coral species transplanted across depths, finding differential survival and microbial community responses.

Humoral immune responses against seasonal coronaviruses predict efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 spike targeting, FcγR activation, and corresponding COVID-19 disease severity

The paper shows that humoral immune responses against seasonal coronaviruses correlate with SARS-CoV-2 disease severity and antibody targeting of specific epitopes.

Physiological and ecological consequences of the water optical properties degradation on reef corals

This study examines how degraded water optical properties affect light availability and photosynthetic energy in corals, leading to mortality and habitat contraction in Orbicella faveolata.

A metagenomic-based stufy of two sites from the Barbadian reef system

The paper analyzes the microbiome of two Barbadian coral reef sites using metagenomic sequencing to compare microbial community composition in relation to environmental factors.

In silico discovery and biological validation of ligands of FAD synthase, a promising new antimicrobial target

The paper develops an integrative virtual screening protocol to identify ligands for FAD synthase, validates five inhibitors against bacterial pathogens, and demonstrates its cost-effectiveness for drug discovery.