Author

Melissa R. Cruz

The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonORCID 0000-0003-2399-3343Unclaimed ORCID profile · follow to get notified of new preprints

Biology Disciplines

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Genetics· 1 Microbiology· 1 Molecular Biology· 1

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Approach:experimental assay· 2 Organism:bacteria (other)· 1 Organism:C. elegans· 1 Research Focus:drug response / drug discovery· 1 Approach:genetic perturbation / CRISPR· 1 Research Focus:host-pathogen & immune response· 1 Organism:human· 1 Organism:mouse· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

Danielle A. GarsiniD· 3 shared A. Q. DinhiD· 1 shared Ambro van HoofiD· 1 shared April H. NguyeniD· 1 shared Ayesha KhaniD· 1 shared Bhawana IsraniiD· 1 shared Carolaing Gabaldón· 1 shared César A. AriasiD· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2024-2026 · peak 2/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 21 mutual co-author links

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3 shared papersMolecular Biology

Danielle A. GarsinORCID

Mutual co-authors in cluster

Author profile →

3 papers

Recent·Most cited

Molecular BiologybioRxivPreprintAug 20, 2026

Characterization of tRNA ligase function in pathogenic fungi and trypanosomes reveals the ligase domain as a promising drug target

Khondakar Sayef Ahammed, Pedro Miramón, Lukas Schrettenbrunner…·Ambro van Hoof

The paper identifies the Trl1 sealing domain as a promising drug target for antifungal and anti-trypanosomal therapies by analyzing its essentiality in pathogenic fungi and trypanosomes.

DOI 10.64898/2026.08.16.745097

humanmouse

𝕏 PostBluesky

GeneticsbioRxivPreprintJul 26, 2026

LIN-23 Affects C. elegans Pathogen and Stress Resistance by Modulating SKN-1 Activity

Larissa A Tavizon, Carolaing Gabaldón, Melissa R. Cruz…·Danielle A. Garsin

This study identifies LIN-23 as a positive regulator of SKN-1 activity in C. elegans during pathogen exposure, showing it modulates WDR-23 to enhance stress resistance.

DOI 10.64898/2026.07.22.740106

C. elegansexperimental assay

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MicrobiologyThe Journal of Infectious DiseasesPeer-reviewedApr 3, 2024

Membrane Lipids Augment Cell Envelope Stress Signaling and Resistance to Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Peptides in Enterococcus faecalis

William R. Miller, April H. Nguyen, Kavindra V. Singh…·César A. Arias

This study identifies the MadRS system and its operon madEFG as mediators of resistance to antimicrobial peptides and antibiotics in Enterococcus faecalis, linking membrane lipid changes to stress response and virulence.

16 citations

bacteria (other)genetic perturbation / CRISPR

𝕏 PostBluesky