Ana Rosa Ballester Frutos

Biografía

My research topic has been mainly focused on the study of fruit-pathogen interactions, mostly on orange-Penicillium digitatum and apple-Penicillum expansum interactions. I have used genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics to increase our knowledge on the fruit responses after the infection of the pathogen or after elicitation of induced resistance, and on the mechanisms of virulence and pathogenicity of the pathogen. From the point of view of the fruit, my results have shown that secondary metabolites, mainly phenylpropanoids, and ethylene play important roles in the induction of resistance in citrus fruit. I have also participated in unravelling the molecular responses of citrus fruit to moderate dehydration by using a fruit specific ABA-deficient mutant. During my last contracts I was more focused on the pathogen and, our analysis on the P. digitatum genome has established the molecular basis for the inability of this species to assimilate nitrate or produce the secondary metabolites patulin and penicillin. P. expansum is the Penicillium species with the largest potential for the production of secondary metabolites; however, neither patulin nor citrinin are required by the fungus to successfully infect apples.

During my research career I have been also involved in the study of the quality of tomatoes and pepper. We have identified the MYB12 transcription factor, which plays an important role regulating the flavonoid pathway, as a responsible of the pink color in tomato. Regarding pepper fruits, we have explored the biochemical diversity present within the wild and cultivated pepper germplams using metabolomics, and we have elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying the production of flavor and health related compounds. I have also participated in the study of differential tomato transcriptomic responses induced by Pepino mosaic virus isolates, and in the characterization of the tomato FRUITFULL transcription factor that regulates ethylene-independent aspects of fruit ripening.

At present, I am focused on two main research lines that are settled over my previous experience, but that also aim to improve methodologies, designs, and analyses:

Take advantage of omics analysis and the availability of fungal genomes to provide a comprehensive understanding the pathogenicity/virulence specificity. After high-throughput analysis, and based on the comparison of the different Penicillium spp. and another necrotroph pathogens, we can discover putative effectors involved in the pathogenicity/virulence of P. digitatum and P. expansum.
Using the genome-wide analysis of different Penicillium spp. in order to reveal and characterize putative gene clusters and master regulators for different secondary metabolites, such as mycotoxins. I am part of the MICOFOOD (National network on mycotoxins and toxigenic fungi and their decontamination processes).

Proyectos

PID2021-126005OB-I00

URL

Regulación de la virulencia, producción de micotoxinas y control de hongos patógenos postcosecha y alterantes de alimentos (REMYFUN)

AGROALNEXT/2022/028

URL

Sistemas biológicos de CONtrol efectivos contra hongos micotoxigénicos y estrategias inmunoquímicas para el análisis de las micotoxinas Patulina y OcraToxina A (CONPOTA)

INNEST/2023/265

URL

Nuevos métodos de control biológico basados en microrganismos para postcosecha de cítricos

RED2022-134849-T

MICOFOOD

Red nacional sobre las micotoxinas y hongos toxigénicos y de sus procesos de descontaminación

RTI2018-093392-I00 (01/01/2019-31/12/2021)

Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades

URL

Desarrollo de hongos no micotoxigénicos para el control de hongos productores de micotoxinas (MycoClean)

AGL2017-90787-REDT (01/07/2018-30/06/2020)

URL

Red nacional sobre las micotoxinas y hongos toxigénicos y de sus procesos de descontaminación (MICOFOOD)

AGL2014-55802-R (01/01/2015-30/06/2018)

Infección de frutos cítricos por Penicillium digitatum: del estudio de los mecanismos de patogenicidad y defensa al desarrollo de nuevos sistemas de control. IP: Luis González Candelas

PROMETEO/2014/027 Fase II (01/2017-12/2017)

Biotecnología, fisiología y patología postcosecha de frutos. IP: Luis González Candelas.

AGL2014-52648-REDT (01/12/2014-30/11/2016)

URL

Red nacional sobre las micotoxinas y hongos toxigénicos y de sus procesos de descontaminación (MICOFOOD)

AGL2013-41734-R (01/2014-08/2015)

La luz azul LED como nueva tecnología emergente y sostenible en el control de la pérdida de calidad e incidencia de podridos en frutos cítricos. IP: Mª Teresa Lafuente Rodríguez

Programa Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (Ref. CSD2007-00063) (10/2007-12/2012)

Nuevos Ingredientes de Alimentos Funcionales para Mejorar la Salud (FUN-C-FOOD). IP: Tomás Barberán.

AGL2011-30519-C03-01 (01/2012-12/2014)

Caracterización de los mecanismos de virulencia y defensa en la interacción hongo fruto como herramienta para el control de Penicillium patógenos de cítricos y manzanas. IP: Luis González Candelas

COST European Cooperation in Science and Technology (19/04/2011-18/04/2015)

COST ACTION FA1006

COST ACTION FA1006- Plant Engine Plant Metabolic Engineering for High Value Products

AGL2008-0848-C03-02 (01/2008-12/2011)

Una aproximación genómica a la caracterización de las enfermedades postcosecha de cítricos y manzanas causadas por P. digitatum y P. expansum respectivamente. IP: Luis González Candelas

Publicaciones

2022

Llobregat, B., González-Candelas, L. & Ballester, A.-R*. (2022) Ochratoxin a defective Aspergillus carbonarius mutants as potential biocontrol agents. Toxins, 14, 745. doi.
Delgado, J.*, Ballester, A.-R., González-Candelas, L. & Núñez, F. (2022) Impact of the antifungal protein PgAFP on the proteome and patulin production of Penicillium expansum on apple-based medium. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 363, 109511. doi.

2021

Ngea, G.L.N., Qian, X., Yang, Q., Dhanasekaran, S., Ianiri, G., Ballester, A.-R., et al. Securing fruit production: Opportunities from the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of postharvest fungal infections. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety (2021).doi.
Gerin, D., Garrapa, F., Ballester, A.-R., González-Candelas, L., De Miccolis Angelini, R.M., Faretra, F., et al.Functional role of Aspergillus carbonarius AcOTAbZIP gene, a bZIP transcription factor within the OTA gene cluster. Toxins (2021) , 13, 111. doi.
Lafuente, M. T.*, Romero, P. and Ballester, A. R. Coordinated activation of the metabolic pathways induced by LED blue light in citrus fruit. Food Chemistry (2021) 341: 128050. doi.
Lafuente, M.T., Ballester, A.-R., Holland, N., Cerveró, J. & Romero, P. Interrelation between ABA and phospholipases D, C and A2 in early responses of citrus fruit to Penicillium digitatum infection. Postharvest Biology and Technology (2021)175, 111475. doi.

2020

Ballester, A. R. and González-Candelas, L*. EFE-mediated ethylene synthesis is the major pathway in the citrus postharvest pathogen Penicillium digitatum during fruit infection. Journal of Fungi (2020) 6 (3): 175. doi.
Moreno, M. A., Vallejo, A. M., Ballester, A.-R., Zampani, C., Isla, M. I., López-Rubio, A., and Fabra, M. J.*. Antifungal edible coatings containing Argentinian propolis extract and their application in raspberries. Food Hydrocolloids (2020) 107: 105973. doi.
Valente, S., Cometto, A., Piombo, E., Meloni, G. R., Ballester, A.-R., González-Candelas, L.*, and Spadaro, D.*. Elaborated regulation of griseofulvin biosynthesis in Penicillium griseofulvum and its role on conidiation and virulence. International Journal of food Microbiology (2020) 328: 108687. doi.

2019

Ballester, A. R., López-Perez, M., de la Fuente, B., González-Candelas, L*. Functional and pharmacological analyses of the role of Penicillium digitatum proteases on virulence. Microorganisms (2019) 7 (7): 198. doi. Preprints (2019) 2019060074. doi.
Benito-González I, López-Rubio A, Martínez-Abad A, Ballester A-R, Falcó I, González-Candelas L, et al. In-depth characterization of bioactive extracts from Posidonia oceanica waste biomass. Marine Drugs. (2019) 17(7):409. doi.
Delgado J, Ballester A-R, Núñez F, González-Candelas L. Evaluation of the activity of the antifungal PgAFP protein and its producer mould against Penicillium spp postharvest pathogens of citrus and pome fruits. Food Microbiology. (2019) 84: 103266. doi.
Lafuente, M.T.*, A.-R. Ballester, and L. González-Candelas, Involvement of abscisic acid in the resistance of citrus fruit to Penicillium digitatum infection. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2019. 154: p. 31-40. doi.
Levin, E., Kishore, A., Ballester, A. R., Raphael, G., Feigenberg, O., Liu, Y., Norelli, J., Gonzalez-Candelas, L., Wisniewski, M., & Droby, S.* (2019). Identification of pathogenicity-related genes and the role of a subtilisin-related peptidase S8 (PePRT) in authophagy and virulence of Penicillium expansum on apples. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 149, 209-220. doi.
Levin E, Raphael G, Ma J, Ballester AR, Feygenberg O, Norelli J, Aly R, Gonzalez-Candelas L, Wisniewski M and Droby S.* (2019). Identification and functional analysis of NLP-encoding genes from the postharvest pathogen Penicillium expansum. Microorganisms 7(6): 175. doi.
Martínez-Sanz, M.*, Gómez-Mascaraque, L. G., Ballester, A. R., Martínez-Abad, A., Brodkorb, A., & López-Rubio, A. (2019). Production of unpurified agar-based extracts from red seaweed Gelidium sesquipedale by means of simplified extraction protocols. Algal Research, 38, 101420. doi.

2018

Vilanova, L., López-Pérez, M., Ballester, A.-R., Teixidó, N., Usall, J., Lara, I., Viñas, I., Torres, R.*, & González-Candelas, L*. (2018). Differential contribution of the two major polygalacturonases from Penicillium digitatum to virulence towards citrus fruit. International Journal of Food Microbiology, 282, 16-23. doi.
Sánchez-Torres, P.*, Vilanova, L., Ballester, A. R., López-Pérez, M., Teixidó, N., Viñas, I., Usall, J., González-Candelas, L., & Torres, R. (2018). Unravelling the contribution of the Penicillium expansum PeSte12 transcription factor to virulence during apple fruit infection. Food Microbiology, 69, 123-135. doi.
Gerin, D., González-Candelas, L., Ballester, A.-R., Pollastro, S.*, De Miccolis Angelini, R., & Faretra, F. (2018). Functional characterization of the alb1 orthologue gene in the ochratoxigenic fungus Aspergillus carbonarius (AC49 strain). Toxins, 10(3), 120. doi.

2017

Levin, E., Ballester, A. R., Raphael, G., Feigenberg, O., Liu, Y., Norelli, J., Gonzalez-Candelas, L., Ma, J., Dardick, C., Wisniewski, M., & Droby, S*. (2017). Identification and characterization of LysM effectors in Penicillium expansum. PLoS One, 12(10), e0186023. doi.
Ballester, A. R.*, Norelli, J., Abdelfattah, A., Levin, E., González-Candelas, L., Droby, S., & Wisniewski, M*. (2017). Transcriptomic response of resistant (PI613981 – Malus sieversii) and susceptible (‘Royal Gala’) genotypes of apple to blue mold (Penicillium expansum) infection. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 1981. doi.
Ballester, A.-R., and Lafuente, M.T.* (2017). LED blue light-induced changes in phenolics and ethylene in citrus fruit: Implication in elicited resistance against Penicillium digitatum infection. Food Chemistry, 218, 575-583. doi.

2016

Ballester, A.-R., Tikunov, Y., Molthoff, J., Grandillo, S., Viquez-Zamora, M., Vos, R., et al. (2016). Identification of loci affecting accumulation of secondary metabolites in tomato fruit of a Solanum lycopersicum x Solanum chmielewskii introgression line population. Frontiers in Plant Science 7(1428). doi.
Banani, H.†, Marcet-Houben, M.†, Ballester, A.-R.†, Abbruscato, P., González-Candelas, L., Gabaldón, T., et al. (2016). Genome sequencing and secondary metabolism of the postharvest pathogen Penicillium griseofulvum. BMC Genomics 17(1), 19. doi.
Establés-Ortiz, B., Romero, P., Ballester, A.-R., González-Candelas, L., and Lafuente, M.T. (2016). Inhibiting ethylene perception with 1-methylcyclopropene triggers molecular responses aimed to cope with cell toxicity and increased respiration in citrus fruits. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 103, 154-166. doi.
Tian, S., Torres, R., Ballester, A.R., Li, B., Vilanova, L., and González-Candelas, L.* (2016). Molecular aspects in pathogen-fruit interactions: Virulence and resistance. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 122, 11-21. doi.

2015

Ballester, A.R.†, Marcet-Houben, M.†, Levin, E., Sela, N., Selma, C., Carmona, L., et al. (2015). Genome, transcriptome, and functional analyses of Penicillium expansum provide new insights into secondary metabolism and pathogenicity. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 28(3), 232-248. doi.
López-Pérez, M., Ballester, A.-R., and González-Candelas, L.* (2015). Identification and functional analysis of Penicillium digitatum genes putatively involved in virulence towards citrus fruit. Mol. Plant Pathol. 16(3), 262-275. doi.
Rubio, M., Ballester, A.R., Olivares, P.M., Castro de Moura, M., Dicenta, F., and Martínez-Gómez, P.* (2015). Gene expression analysis of Plum pox virus (sharka) susceptibility/resistance in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.). PLoS ONE 10(12), e0144670. doi.
Rubio, M., Rodríguez-Moreno, L., Ballester, A.R., Castro de Moura, M., Bonghi, C., Candresse, T., et al. (2015). Analysis of gene expression changes in peach leaves in response to Plum pox virus infection using RNA-Seq. Mol. Plant Pathol. 16(2), 164-176. doi.

2014

Wahyuni, Y., Stahl-Hermes, V., Ballester, A.-R., Vos, R.C.H., Voorrips, R.E., Maharijaya, A., et al. (2014). Genetic mapping of semi-polar metabolites in pepper fruits (Capsicum sp.): towards unravelling the molecular regulation of flavonoid quantitative trait loci. Mol. Breed. 33(3), 503-518. doi.

2013

Ballester, A.R., Lafuente, M.T., De Vos, C.H.R., Bovy, A., and González-Candelas, L.* (2013). Citrus phenylpropanoids and defense against pathogens. Part I: Metabolic profiling in elicited fruits. Food Chem. 136, 178-185. doi.

Ballester, A.R., Lafuente, M.T., and González-Candelas, L.* (2013). Citrus phenylpropanoids and defense against pathogens. Part II: Gene expression and metabolite accumulation in the response of fruits to Penicillium digitatum infection. Food Chem. 136(1), 285–291. doi.

Wahyuni, Y., Ballester, A.-R., Sudarmonowati, E., Bino, R., and Bovy, A.* (2013). Secondary metabolites of capsicum species and their importance in the human diet (Review). Journal of Natural Products 76(4), 783-793. doi.

Wahyuni, Y., Ballester, A.-R., Tikunov, Y., de Vos, R., Pelgrom, K., Maharijaya, A., et al. (2013). Metabolomics and molecular marker analysis to explore pepper (Capsicum sp.) biodiversity. Metabolomics 9(1), 130-144. doi.

2012

Marcet-Houben, M.†, Ballester, A.-R.†, De la Fuente, B., Harries, E., Marcos, J.F., González-Candelas, L., et al. (2012). Genome sequence of the necrotrophic fungus Penicillium digitatum, the main postharvest pathogen of citrus. BMC Genomics 13, 646. doi.

Bemer, M.†, Karlova, R.†, Ballester, A.R., Tikunov, Y.M., Bovy, A.G., Wolters-Arts, M., et al. (2012). The tomato FRUITFULL homologs SlFUL1 and SlFUL2 regulate ethyleneindependent aspects of fruit ripening. The Plant Cell 24(11), 4437-4451. doi.

Romero, P., Rodrigo, M.J., Alferez, F., Ballester, A.R., González-Candelas, L., Zacarías, L., et al. (2012). Unravelling molecular responses to moderate dehydration in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) by using a fruit-specific ABA-deficient mutant. J. Exp. Bot. 63(7), 2753-2767 doi.

2011

Ballester, A.R., Lafuente, M.T., Forment, J., Gadea, J., De Vos, C.H.R., Bovy, A.G., et al. (2011). Transcriptomic profiling of citrus fruit peel tissues reveals fundamental effects of phenylpropanoids and ethylene on induced resistance. Mol. Plant Pathol. 12(9), 879-897. doi.

Hanssen, I.M.†, van Esse, H.P.†, Ballester, A.R., Hogewoning, S., Parra, N., Paeleman, A., et al. (2011). Differential tomato transcriptomic responses induced by Pepino mosaic virus isolates with differential aggressiveness. Plant Physiol. 156(1), 301–318. doi.

Lafuente, M.T.*, Ballester, A.R., Calejero, J., and González-Candelas, L. (2011). Effect of high-temperature-conditioning treatments on quality, flavonoid composition and vitamin C of cold stored ‘Fortune’ mandarins. Food Chemistry 128(4), 1080-1086. doi.

Wahyuni, Y., Ballester, A.R., Sudarmonowati, E., Bino, R.J., and Bovy, A.G.* (2011). Metabolite biodiversity in pepper (Capsicum) fruits of 32 diverse accessions: variation in health-related compounds and implications for breeding. Phytochemistry 72(11-12), 1358-1370. doi.

2010

Ballester, A. R., Molthoff, J., de Vos, R., Hekkert, B. t. L., Orzaez, D., Fernandez-Moreno, J.-P., Tripodi, P., Grandillo, S., Martin, C., Heldens, J., Ykema, M., Granell, A., & Bovy, A.* (2010). Biochemical and molecular analysis of pink tomatoes: deregulated expression of the gene encoding transcription factor SlMYB12 leads to pink tomato fruit color. Plant Physiology, 152(1), 71-84. doi.

Ballester, A. R., Izquierdo, A., Lafuente, M. T., & González-Candelas, L.* (2010). Biochemical and molecular characterization of induced resistance against Penicillium digitatum in citrus fruit. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 56, 31-38. doi.

Lafuente, M. T.*, Calejero, J., Ballester, A. R., Zacarías, L., & González-Candelas, L. (2010). Effect of heat-conditioning treatments on quality and phenolic composition of ‘Fortune’ mandarin fruit. Acta Horticulturae, 877, 1333-1340. doi.

2007

Ballester, A. R. (2007). Resistencia frente a la infección por Penicillium digitatum durante la postcosecha de los frutos cítricos. Bases moleculares y metabolismo de fenilpropanoides. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Bromatología, Toxicología y Medicina Legal. Universidad de Valencia: Directores: Luis González Candelas y MTeresa Lafuente Rodríguez. URL

2006

Ballester, A. R., Lafuente, M. T., & González-Candelas, L.* (2006). Spatial study of antioxidant enzymes, peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in the citrus fruit-Penicillium digitatum interaction. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 39(2), 115-124. doi.

2005

González-Candelas, L., Sánchez-Torres, P., Alamar, S., Establés, B., Forment, J., Ballester, A. R., Sánchez-Ballesta, M. T., LLuch, Y., Gosalbes, M. J., Granell, A., Zacarías, L., Marcos, J. M., & Lafuente, M. T. (2005). Genomic approaches to postharvest biotic and abiotic stresses of citrus fruit. Acta Horticulturae, 682, 247-251. doi.

Noticias

Fecha:

Viernes, 5 Abril, 2019

Título:

Sseminario “Podemos desarrollar estrategias de control estudiando los mecanismos de patogenicidad de Penicillium digitatum", impartido en el IATA-CSIC.

Enlace:

https://www.iata.csic.es/es/agenda/eventopodemos-desarrollar-estrategias-de-cont…

Fecha:

Viernes, 29 Enero, 2016

Título:

Un trabajo del IATA entre los "Top Articles of 2015" del la revista Molecular Plant- Microbe Interactions

Enlace:

https://www.iata.csic.es/es/noticias/un-trabajo-del-iata-entre-los-top-articles-…

Fecha:

Miércoles, 20 Enero, 2010

Título:

Conquering Asia with the pink tomato