Loyda M. Melendez, Ph.D.
Educational Background:
- B.S. Medical Technology, University of Puerto Rico, R.P. , P.R.1979
- M.S. Microbiology, University of Georgia, 1981
- Ph. D. Exp. Path/Immunology, Emory University and CDC, Altanta, GA, 1990
- Post-doctoral training in Immunohematology/Cytometry, Emory University Pathology Dept, Altanta, GA, 1991 ; and in Pediatrics Infectious Diseases: Role of the placenta in HIV transmission, Emory University Pediatrics, Altanta, GA, 1992
Academic Position: Professor
Academic Address, Telephone & E-Mail:
Dept. of Microbiology and Zoology,
University of Puerto Rico-School of Medicine,
P.O. Box 365067,
San Juan, P.R. 00936-5067
Phone: (787) 758-6132
e-mail: loyda.melendez@upr.edu
Fields of Interest: HIV pathogenesis, neuroscience, and proteomics
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Modulation of cystatins and cathepsins in HIV Neuropathogenesis. Current studies will determine the role of macrophage cystatins, cathepsins, and the proteins affected by their deregulation in HIV replication and neurotoxicity.
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RCMI Translational Proteomics Center. In the second cycle of this 5-year grant (2011-2016) the major goals of this activity are to expand our research core capabilities in Clinical and Basic Science Proteomics and to increase research productivity of Puerto Rico investigators using Proteomics that would lead to improved diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring in health disparities. Infrastructure support provided in part by grants from the National Center for Research Resources (2G12 RR003051) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (8G12MD007600)
Experience mentoring students:
Dr. Melendez has mentored 23 undergraduates, 5 MS, 10 PhD students, and 2 Post-doctoral trainees in the area of HIV pathogenesis over the past 19 years. The most recent post-doc at her lab, Dr. Linda Rivera, was awarded an F32 from NINDS.
Table 1. Students mentored by Dr. Loyda Melendez in chronological order
Name of Past and Current Students |
Undergrad (UG) Graduate (G) Student |
Period of Time Mentored |
Current Status |
Past Students Marinés Plaud |
(G) MS |
1993-1996 |
Research Associate |
Jessicca Renta |
(G) MS |
1994-1997 |
Research Associate |
Johana Meléndez |
(G) MS |
1996-1998 |
Flow Cytometry Assistant Director-Moffit Cancer Center |
Fernando Soto |
(UG) |
1994-1995 |
MD |
Monica Grafals |
(UG) |
1995 |
MD |
Gill Nieves |
(UG) |
1996-1997 |
MD |
Zulma Carrasquillo |
(UG) |
1997 |
|
Robert Bowles |
(UG) |
1999 |
MD |
Mariela Agosto |
(UG) |
2000 |
MD |
Yaritza Puig |
(UG) |
2000 |
MD |
Gisela Torres |
Harvard Medical Student |
1999-2000 |
M.D. U. Texas |
Zulma Sánchez |
(UG) |
2000-2001 |
U.de Colombia |
Rafael Contreras |
(UG) |
2000-2001 |
Post-Doctoral US |
Sylvia Berríos |
(UG) |
Summer-2001 |
MD |
Johanna Méndez |
(UG) |
Summer-2001 |
MD |
Miguel Arroyo |
(G) PhD |
1996-2001 |
Researcher: Walter Reed Army Research Institute |
Manuel Santiago |
(UG) |
2000-2001 |
Graduate Student-School of Public Health |
Johanna Díaz |
(G) PhD |
Summer-2001 |
Doctoral |
Aksim G. Rivera |
(UG) |
2001 |
UG-UPR System |
Lynnette López |
(UG) |
2001 |
MD PhD student |
Lourdes Rodriguez |
(UG) |
Summer 2004 |
UG-UPR System |
Edwin Sánchez |
(G) PhD |
1998-2003 |
Research Scientist |
Pedro Vélez |
(G) MS MD |
2001-2003 |
MD |
Dianedis Toro |
(G) PhD |
2001-2008 |
Assistant Professor UPR Bayamon |
Claribel Luciano |
(G) PhD |
2003-2008 |
Assistant Professor Escuela de Medicina SJ Bautista |
Ixane Velazquez |
(G) MS |
2005-2008 |
Beckton Dickinson |
Lynette Bosques |
(UG) |
Summer 2006 |
MD-PhD-US- Yale U |
Stephanie Dorta |
(UG) |
2006-2007 |
PhD student-U. Texas |
Katia Garcia |
(G) PhD |
2003-2009 |
RISE, NIH Post-doctoral |
Rafael Romeu |
(UG) |
2009-2010 |
Med School UCC |
Christian Avilés |
(UG) |
2010-present |
UPR |
Maria del Carmen Lopez |
(UG) |
2010-present |
UPR |
Eillen Rodriguez |
(G) PhD |
2007-2011 |
Researcher, Amgen |
Silvia Kares |
Lawyer |
2010-2011 |
Medical School |
Viviana Melendez |
(UG) |
Summer 2011 |
NIH Post-BS |
Present Students |
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Krystal Colon |
(G) PhD |
2009-present |
RISE, Doctoral |
Yisel Cantres |
(G) PhD |
2010-present |
RISE, Doctoral |
Frances Zenón |
(G) PhD |
2010-present |
Doctoral |
Raymond Quiles |
(UG) |
2011-present |
Interamericana and UPR-Rio Piedras NeuroID |
Gisela Delgado |
(UG) |
2011-present |
UPR |
Selected peer-reviewed publications
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Melendez L, Nicholson J, and MacDougal S. 1990. Infection of Human Monocytes with HIV-1Ba-L. Effect on Accessory Cell Function for T-Cell Proliferation In Vitro. AIDS Res and Human Retroviruses 7(5): 465-474.
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Arroyo MA, Tien H, Pagán M, Swanstrom R, Hillyer GV, Cadilla CL, and L.M. Meléndez-Guerrero. 2002. Virologic Risk Factors for Vertical Transmission of HIV Type 1 in Puerto Rico. AIDS Res and Human Retroviruses. April 2002, 18(6): 447-460.
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Laspiur J, Anderson E, Ciborowski, P, Wojna V, Plaud-Valentin,M., Rodriguez, E., Duan F., Wojna V, Mayo R, Rodríguez-Orengo J, Gendelman HE, and Meléndez LM. 2007.CSF proteomics in HIV-1 associated cognitive impairment. J. Neuroimmunol. 192:157-170.
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Rozek, W, Ricardo-Dukelow M, Holloway S, Gendelman HE, Wojna V, Melendez LM, and Ciborowski P. 2007. Cerebrospinal fluid proteomics profiling of HIV-1-infected patients with or at risk for cognitive impairment. J Proteome Research. 6:4189-4199.
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Luciano-Montalvo C and Melendez, LM. 2009. Cystatin B Associates with signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 in monocyte-derived and placental macrophages. Placenta 30:464-467.
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Velázquez I, Plaud M, Pérez-Laspiur J, Skolasky R, Wojna V and Meléndez LM. 2009. Antioxidant enzyme dysfunction in monocytes and CSF of Hispanic women with HIV-associated cognitive impairment. J Neuroimmunol 209:206-211.
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Toro Nieves D, Perez Laspiur J, Ciborowski P, Duan F, Wojna V, Meléndez LM. 2009. Proteomic analysis of HIV-1 infected monocyte-derived macrophage following infection with primary viral strains isolated from Hispanic women with cognitive impairment”. J Neurovirology 1:36-50.
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Kraft-Terry S, Gerena Y, Wojna V, Plaud-Valentin M, Rodriguez Y, Ciborowski P, Mayo R, Skolasky R, Gendelman HE, Melendez LM. 2010. Proteomics analysis of monocytes from Hispanic women with HIV-associated dementia show depressed antioxidants. J. Proteomics and Clinical Applications 4:710-714.
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Peters J, Dieppa-Perea L, Melendez LM, Quirk GJ. 2010. Induction of fear extinction with hippocampus infralimbic BDNF. Science 238:1288-1290.
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Melendez LM, Colon K, Rivera L Rodriguez-Franco E, and Toro-Nieves D (Mentee, RISE). 2011. Proteomic analysis of HIV-infected macrophages. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 6:89-106.
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Rivera L, Perez-Laspiur J, Colon, K, and Melendez, L. 2011. Inhibition of interferon response by cystatin B: Implication in HIV replication of macrophage reservoirs. J Neurovirology 18:20-9.
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Rodriguez E, Cantres Y, Plaud M, Romeu R, Rodriguez Y, Skolasky R, Melendez V, Cadilla C, and Melendez L. 2012. Dysregulation of macrophage-secreted cathepsin B contributes to HIV-1-linked neuronal apoptosis. PLoS ONE 7(5): e36571. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036571.
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Cantres Y, Plaud-Valentin M, Gerena Y, Skolasky R, Wojna V, Meléndez LM. Dysregulation of cathepsin B and its inhibitor cystatin B in monocytes and CSF from women with HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. AIDS. 2013 Jan 28; 27(3):347-56
Book Chapters
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Gendelman, H, Anderson E, Melendez, L, and Zheng, J. Chemokines and their receptors in HIV-1 neuropathogenesis. 2006. In Vivo Models of HIV Disease and Control. Eds H. Friedman, S. Specter, andM. Bendinelli. Springer. p. 45-80.
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Melendez, L.M., Luciano, C. Mayo-Santana R., Wojna, V. Ethnicity and Neuro-AIDS Conditions in the HAART Era. 2009. In “The Spectrum of NeuroAIDS Disorders: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment”. ASM Press. p. 427-441.
Patent: A method of reducing HIV-Replication on human body tissuecomprising down regulating the expression of the proteinCystatin B on said human body tissue Pat No. 8,143,231.