Laboratory of Bromatology
We focus on studying agronomic traits that influence food quality and safety. We propose strategies to improve sanitary quality and food safety by controlling contamination with mycotoxins. To achieve this, we propose:
- Investigating the biochemical and molecular bases of resistance to aflatoxin contamination in peanuts. This approach seeks to understand the genesis and physiology of this trait, providing knowledge for the improvement of peanut cultivation.
- Establishing state-of-the-art validated methods and procedures to study mycotoxin exposure in humans and identify sources of contamination. Furthermore, we propose strategies to enhance the nutraceutical and organoleptic quality of plant-based foods. We propose studying the biochemical and molecular bases that confer nutraceutical and organoleptic properties in tomato fruits, laying the groundwork for improving these traits in tomato cultivation and applying them to other vegetables.
To achieve this, we propose:
a) Identifying and studying natural bioactive compounds in tomatoes and their potential nutraceutical properties.
b) Performing a functional analysis of the genetic determinants of vitamin E content in tomato fruits.
c) Identifying and studying compounds that contribute to the aroma in tomato fruits.
Ramón Asís is a biochemist from the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the National University of Cordoba and PhD in Chemical Sciences (2004 FCQ-UNC)-FCQ-UNC).
He did his post-doctorate at the Institute of Biotechnology, INTA Castelar, Buenos Aires, 2006-2007.
He joined the CONICET Research Career in 2007 and is currently an independent researcher. He is also Associate Professor – General Bromatology and Nutrition, Applied Bromatology, Ecotoxicology, Environmental Biotechnology at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences – UNC.
He did his post-doctorate at the Institute of Biotechnology, INTA Castelar, Buenos Aires, 2006-2007.
He joined the CONICET Research Career in 2007 and is currently an independent researcher. He is also Associate Professor – General Bromatology and Nutrition, Applied Bromatology, Ecotoxicology, Environmental Biotechnology at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences – UNC.
Belén Catalina Lugo is a biologist graduated from the Faculty of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of the National University of Córdoba (FCEFyN-UNC).
Yanina Morán holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the Faculty of Exact, Physical, Chemical and Natural Sciences of the National University of Río IV (FCEFQyN-UNRC). Alternate member of the Board of Directors of CIBICI- CONICET: Representative of scholarship holders (from 2020 to the present).
Select Publications
- Genomics Analysis of Wild Tomato (Solanum Pennellii) Introgressions Determining Metabolic- Andyield-Associated Traits. Asis, R.; Kamenetzky, L.; Bassi, S.; de Godoy, F.; Bermúdez, L.; Fernie, A.R.; Van Sluys, M.A.; Vrebalov, J.; Giovannoni, J.J.; Rossi, M.; Carrari, F. Plant Physiology (2010) 152, 1772-1786.
- Lipoxygenase activation in peanut seed cultivars resistant and susceptible to Aspergillus parasiticus colonization. Müller, V.; Amé, M.V.; Carrari, F.; Gieco, J.; Asis, R. Phytopatology (2014) 104 (12): 1340-1348.
- Natural Occurring Epialleles Determine Vitamin E Accumulation in Tomato Fruits. Quadrana, L.; Almeida, J.; Asis, R.; Duffy, T.; Dominguez, P.; Bermudez, L.; Conti, G.; Corrêa da Silva, J.; Peralta, I.; Colot, V.; Asurmendi, S.; Fernie, A.R.; Rossi, M.; Carrari, F. Nature Communications (2014) 5.
- Hydrophilic Antioxidants from Andean Tomato Landraces Assessed by their Bioactivities in Vitro and in Vivo. Di Paola Naranjo, R.D.; Otaiza, S.; Saragusti, A.; Baroni, V.M.; Carranza, A.V.; Peralta, I.; Valle, E.; Carrari, F.; Asis R. Food Chemistry (2016) 206, 146–155.
- Peanut Seed Cultivars with Contrasting Resistance to Aspergillus Parasiticus Colonization Display Differential Temporal Response of Protease Inhibitors. Müller, V.; Bonacci, G., Batthyany, C., Amé, M.V.; Carrari, F.; Gieco, J.; Asis, R. Phytopatology (2017) 107 (4): 474-482.
- Contrasting Metabolic Profiles of Tasty Tomato Fruit of the Andean Varieties in Comparison with Commercial Ones. D’s Angelo, M.; Zanor, M.I.; Sance, M.; Cortina, P.R.; Boggio, S.B.; Asprelli, P.; Carrari, F.; Santiago, A.N.; Asis, R.; Peralta, I.E.; Valle, E.M. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture (2018) 98(11), 4128-4134.
- Neuronal Network Analyses Reveal Novel Associations between Volatile Organic Compounds and Sensory Properties of Tomato Fruits. Cortina, P.R.; Santiago, A.N.; Sance, M.M.; Peralta, I.E.; Carrari, F.; Asis, R. Metabolomics (2018) 14(5).
- Chlorogenic Acid Induce Thermotolerance in C. Elegans Via HIF-1, HSF-1 and Autophagy (2020). Carranza, A.V.; Saragusti, A.; Chiabrando, G.A.; Carrari, F.; Asis, R. Phytomedicine, 66, 153132.
- Validated MAGIC and GWAS populations mapping reveal the link between vitamin E contents and natural variation in chorismate metabolism in tomato (2021). Burgos E, De Luca MB, Diouf I, de Haro LA, Albert E, Sauvage C, Jian Tao Z, Bermudez L, Asis R, Nunes Nesi A, Matringe M, Brehelin C, Guiraud T, Ferrand C, Atienza I, Jorly J, Mauxion JP, Baldet P, Fernie AR, Quadrana L, Rothan C, Causse M, Carrari F. Plant Journal, 105(4):907-923
- Assessment and characterization of tomato lipophilic electrophiles and their potential contribution to nutraceutical properties via SKN-1/Nrf2 signaling activation (2022). Carranza, A.V.; Bonacci, G.; Moran, Y.; Asprelli, P.; Carrari, F.; Asis, R. Food Chemistry, 366:130531.