{"id":7552,"date":"2025-05-20T13:45:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:45:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.upr.edu\/iii-cayey\/?post_type=dt_team&p=7552"},"modified":"2025-05-20T13:45:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:45:16","slug":"rafael-maldonado-hernandez","status":"publish","type":"dt_team","link":"https:\/\/www.upr.edu\/iii-cayey\/dt_team\/rafael-maldonado-hernandez\/","title":{"rendered":"Rafael Maldonado Hern\u00e1ndez"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dr.<\/a><\/p>\n

Personal Statement<\/strong><\/p>\n

My research focuses on understanding microbial interactions and their implications for both infectious disease and environmental microbiology. One of my primary projects involves the identification and characterization of microorganisms present in the Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi (Coqu\u00ed llanero). Through a combination of microbial isolation, metagenomics, and metabolomics, I aim to identify bioactive compounds with potential antimicrobial properties. This research contributes to the broader understanding of amphibian-microbe symbioses and may lead to the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents that could have biomedical applications. In addition to this project, I am actively involved in studying the persistence and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare environments. Using molecular detection techniques, bioassays, and antimicrobial surface coatings, my work aims to elucidate the role of microbial communities in viral stability and to develop strategies to mitigate viral spread. This research is particularly relevant for infection control in clinical settings and aligns with the ongoing efforts to enhance pandemic preparedness.
\nMy expertise extends to advanced analytical techniques, including mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and proteomics, which I apply to both environmental and biomedical microbiology research. I have experience working with high-resolution mass spectrometry instruments, allowing me to analyze microbial metabolites and protein interactions in complex biological samples. This skill set enables me to integrate multiple approaches for a comprehensive understanding of microbial function and pathogen dynamics. Through these research efforts, I am committed to advancing microbial science by bridging environmental and biomedical applications. By investigating microbial interactions in both natural ecosystems and clinical settings, I seek to contribute to novel therapeutic developments and public health strategies.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Education:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Postdoc <\/strong>in Molecular Biology, Structural Biology and Biochemistry
\nMolecular Sciences and Research Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico<\/p>\n

Ph.D.<\/strong> in Molecular Biology, Structural Biology and Biochemistry
\nUniversity of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras<\/p>\n

OTH<\/strong> in Industrial Biotechnology
\nUniversity of Puerto Rico, Humacao, Puerto Rico<\/p>\n

B.Sc.<\/strong> in Microbiology
\nUniversity of Puerto Rico, Humacao, Puerto Rico<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Positions<\/strong><\/p>\n

2024 – Present tenure-track assistant professor, University of Puerto Rico, Cayey, Puerto Rico<\/p>\n

2022 – 2024 tenure-track assistant professor, University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Rico<\/p>\n

2020 – 2022 Assistant Professor, University of Puerto Rico, Humacao, Puerto Rico<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lista de sus publicaciones<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 2024
    \nRafael Maldonado-Herna\u0301ndez<\/strong>, Orestes Quesada, Jose\u0301 A. Gonza\u0301lez-Feliciano, Abel Baerga, Jose\u0301 A. Lasalde-Dominicci (2024). \u201cIdentification of the native Torpedo californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptor\u2019s glycan composition after a multi-step sequential purification method using MALDI-ToF MS\u201d Journal of Proteomics, 2300151. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/pmic.202300151<\/strong><\/em>.<\/li>\n
  2. 2023
    \nRafael Maldonado-Herna\u0301ndez<\/strong>, (2023), \u201cDataset Advancement: Glycan Composition and Peptide Mass Fingerprinting of the Native Torpedo californica Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor after a Multi-Step Sequential Purification Method\u201d, Mendeley Data, V2, 10.17632\/zbfxf8kwvn.2<\/em><\/strong>.
    \nOrestes Quesada, Joel E. Gonza\u0301lez-Nieves, Jos\u00e9 Col\u00f3n, Rafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez, Carol Gonz\u00e1lez Freire, Jes\u00fas Acevedo-Cintr\u00f3n, Irvin D. Rosado-Mill\u00e1n and Jos\u00e9 A. Lasalde-Dominicci (2023). Assessment of purity, functionality, stability, and lipid composition of Cyclofos-nAChR detergent complexes from Torpedo californica using lipid matrix and macroscopic electrophysiology. J Membrane Biol, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00232-023-00285-x<\/strong><\/em>.<\/li>\n
  3. 2022
    \nG\u00f3mez, Valerie Ortiz; G\u00f3mez, Adriana; Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez, Rafael<\/strong>; Nicolau, Eduardo (2022). Biophysical and molecular characterization of the immobilization of biomimetic peptide-polymer conjugates as building blocks for antimicrobial catheter surfaces to prevent infectious diseases. Biophysical Journal 10.1016\/j.bpj.2022.11.1653<\/strong><\/em>.<\/li>\n
  4. 2021
    \nDelgado-V\u00e9lez, M.; Quesada, O.; Villalobos-Santos, J.C.; Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez, R<\/strong>.; Asmar-Rovira, G.; Stevens, R.C.; Lasalde-Dominicci J.A. (2021) Pursuing High-Resolution Structures of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: Lessons Learned from Five Decades. Molecules, 26, 5753. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/molecules26195753<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. 2020
    \nRafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez<\/strong>, Orestes Quesada, Jos\u00e9 O. Col\u00f3n-S\u00e1ez & Jos\u00e9 Lasalde. (2020) Sequential purification and characterization of Torpedo californica nAChR-DC supplemented with CHS for high-resolution crystallization studies. Journal: Analytical Biochemistry, 113887. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ab.2020.113887<\/em><\/strong>.
    \nRafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez<\/em><\/strong>, Orestes Quesada & Jos\u00e9 Lasalde. Biophysical Characterization of Native Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in Lipid-Like Detergent Complexes. Journal: Data in Brief. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.dib.2020.106230<\/em><\/strong>.
    \nRafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez<\/strong><\/em>; Jos\u00e9 Lasalde & Orestes Quesada (2020), Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching and Circular Dichroism Dataset of Native Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in Lipid-Like Detergent Complexes, Mendeley Data, http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.17632\/hjmf3tgykz.1<\/strong><\/em>.
    \nValerie Ortiz G\u00f3mez, Victor D. Rodr\u00edguez, Rafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez, Jos\u00e9 A. Gonz\u00e1lez and Eduardo Nicolau. Antimicrobial activity of a polymer-peptide conjugate based on Maximin H5 and PEG to prevent biofouling of E. coli and P. aeruginosa ACS Applied Materials, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acsami.0c13492<\/strong><\/em>.
    \nRafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez (2020). Purification and Biophysical Characterization of Native Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in Lipid-like Detergent Complexes, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2020. 28092290.<\/li>\n
  6. 2019
    \nGarton, D. R., Ross, S. G., Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez, R<\/strong>., Quick, M., Lasalde-Dominicci, J. A., & Lizardi-Ortiz, J. E. (2019). Amphetamine enantiomers inhibit homomeric \u03b17 nicotinic receptor through a competitive mechanism and within the intoxication levels in humans. Neuropharmacology, 144, 172-183. http:\/\/10.1016\/j.neuropharm.2018.10.032<\/strong><\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    UNDER REVIEW<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. 2025
      \nValerie Ortiz-G\u00f3mez & Rafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez<\/strong>, (2025). \u201cChallenges and Opportunities: Interplay between Infectious Disease and Antimicrobial Resistance\u201d. ACS Omega Under review
      \nRafael Maldonado-Herna\u0301ndez, Valerie Ortiz-G\u00f3mez, Luis Prieto and Neftal\u00ed R\u00edos-L\u00f3pez (2025). \u201cSerratia Species-Mediated Antimicrobial Defense in the Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi Egg Gelatin Matrix. Symbiosis by Springer Nature. Under review<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      IN PREPARATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. 2025
        \nChristine Wu, Katherine Ayala, Nataniel Medina-Berr\u00edos, Keyla A. L\u00f3pez-P\u00e9rez, Valerie Ortiz G\u00f3mez, Luis Prieto-Costas, Rafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez<\/strong>, Gerardo Morell, Brad R. Weiner. Apr. 2025 Improving the hydrophilicity of the drugs Tetrandrine, Violacein, and Paclitaxel using Carbon-based Quantum Dots. Molecular Pharmaceutics by ACS.<\/li>\n
      2. Valerie Ortiz G\u00f3mez, Rafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez<\/strong>, Orestes Quesada, and Eduardo Nicolau (2025). \u201cEvaluation of the Potential Biomedical Applications of MH5C-Cys and MH5C-Cys-PEG Peptide Conjugates: Cellular Viability and Proteomic Perceptions\u201d. Frontiers in Microbiology.
        \nRafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez<\/strong>, Valerie Ortiz-G\u00f3mez and Luis A. Prieto-Costas, (2025), Serratia: New Perspectives on the Production of Bioactive Compounds. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
        \nKellyann Roma\u0301n-Cruz, Valerie Ortiz-G\u00f3mez & Rafael Maldonado-Herna\u0301ndez, (2026). \u201cElucidating the Impact of Nicotine on \u03b17-nAChR Dynamics in Human Cardiomyocytes Cells Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Variants\u201d. BioMed MDPI.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        RESEARCH FUNDING INFORMATION<\/strong>
        \n\u2022 2024-Present Bioactive Defense Networks in Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi Microbiome: Translational Strategies Against Drug-Resistant Infections Puerto Rico IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence. (Rafael Maldonado-Herna\u0301ndez P.I.<\/strong>). Period: (2024-2026), Direct Cost $125,000. Grant: P20GM103475
        \n\u2022 2024-Present National Institute on Aging by NIH. Cytation 5 Multimode Imaging System for UPR at Mayaguez Biomolecular Chemistry Facilities. (Rafael Maldonado- Herna\u0301ndez Co-P.I.), Direct Cost 244,901.0. Grant: 1S10AG090400-01
        \n\u2022 2024. The American Society for Microbiology 2024 Peggy Cotter Award for Early Career,Rafael Maldonado-Hern\u00e1ndez
        \n\u2022 2024-2024 Puerto Rico IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence by NIH. Exploring Microbiome Diversity through Integrating Nanopore Technology in Undergraduate Research Experiences for Antibiotic Producers. (Rafael Maldonado- Herna\u0301ndez P.I.), Direct Cost $30,000. Grant: P20 GM103475-21 NIH\/NIGMS
        \n\u2022 2023-2024 Upregulation of \u03b17-nAChR as a possible therapeutic target for the activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway preventing the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the human cardiomyocyte cell. The COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity Phase 3 pilot projects by NIH (Rafael Maldonado- Herna\u0301ndez P.I.), Direct Cost $110,000. Grant: P30-GM149367 NIH\/NIGMS
        \n\u2022 2022-2023 Upregulation of \u03b17-nAChR as a possible therapeutic target for the activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway preventing the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the human cardiomyocyte cell.The COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity Phase 2 pilot projects by NIH (Rafael Maldonado- Herna\u0301ndez P.I.), Direct Cost $110,000. Grant: 2P20GM103642 NIH\/NIGMS
        \n\u2022 Seed Money: The COBRE Center for Neuroplasticity Phase 2 by NIH (Rafael Maldonado- Herna\u0301ndez P.I.). Direct Cost $5,000 Grant: 2P20GM103642 NIH\/NIGMS
        \n\u2022 2022-2024. Collaborative Research: Developing Foundations for Nanopore DNA Sequencing Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences at Minority-serving Institutions by NSF.
        \n\u2022 2023 Puerto Rico IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence. Development of Antimicrobial Peptides for Biomedical Uses. STCE-PRINBRE. (Rafael Maldonado-Herna\u0301ndez P.I.). Direct Cost $25,250.
        \n\u2022 2019-2023 Advanced Photon Source supported by U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Argonne National Laboratory under Proposal ID 68121
        \nUNDERGRADUATE MENTORING
        \n2021\u2013Present Research mentor of eight (5-8) undergraduate students (on average\/semester) enrolled in BIOL4990 at UPR-Cayey. Undergraduate research students has been sponsored by NIH\/NIGMS, NIH-RISE program, STCE-PRINBRE and the Puerto Rico Louis Stokes Alliance For Minority Participation and Research Opportunity for Undergraduate Students in STEM (ROUSS) program.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        External Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n

        \"QR\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/a>\"MBAR<\/a><\/p>\n

        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

        MBAR.LAB https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mbar.lab?igsh=MWR0Y2dkOGRwaW1ibw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Personal Statement My research focuses on understanding microbial interactions and their implications for both infectious disease and environmental microbiology. One of my primary projects involves the identification and characterization of microorganisms present in the Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi (Coqu\u00ed llanero). Through a combination of microbial isolation, metagenomics, and metabolomics, I aim to identify bioactive compounds with potential…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":7553,"template":"","dt_team_category":[16],"class_list":["post-7552","dt_team","type-dt_team","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","dt_team_category-investigadores","dt_team_category-16","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.upr.edu\/iii-cayey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dt_team\/7552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.upr.edu\/iii-cayey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dt_team"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.upr.edu\/iii-cayey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/dt_team"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.upr.edu\/iii-cayey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.upr.edu\/iii-cayey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"dt_team_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.upr.edu\/iii-cayey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/dt_team_category?post=7552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}