Silicon-based electric chip arrays were developed for characterization of Bacillus cereus with respect to the capacity to produce toxins involved in food poisoning and foodborne infections. Bacteria of the B. cereus group contain different sets of four toxins encoded by eight genes. The purpose of this work was to develop a fast method for determination of the presence of these genes in colonies from primary enrichment cultures. The specific DNA detection was based on immobilization of DNA capture probes, which hybridize to specific sites on the target genes. Biotin-labeled detection probes were designed to hybridize with the target DNA adjacent to the capture probes. An extravidin - alkaline phosphatase complex was subsequently bound to the hybridized detection probes. Finally, p-aminophenyl phosphate was added as substrate for the enzyme, and the product p-aminophenol was brought in contact with the interdigitated gold electrode on the silicon chips surface. The p-aminophenol was oxidized at the anode to quinoneimine, which was then reduced back to paminophenol at the cathode. This redox recycling generates a current that was used as the DNA-chip response to the target DNA. Two versions of the assay were used. In the first version the capture probes were immobilized on magnetic beads and all chemical reactions until and including the enzymatic reaction took place in an eppendorf tube while the redox recycling was used to measure the amount of paminophenol produced after transfer from the tube to the silicon chip surface. In the second version a silicon chip array was used with 16 parallel electrode positions, each activated by immobilization of one type of capture probes on the gold electrodes. With this system all chemical reactions took place at the chip surface. The kinetics of cell disruption and DNA fragmentation from B. cereus by ultrasonication was determined. Maximum cell disruption was achieved within 5 min and the chip response increased in proportion to the ultrasonic time. Further ultrasonication up to 10 min resulted in further increasing current although no further cell disruption was observed. If the sonication time was extended above 10 min the signal declined. Based on analysis of the DNA size distribution by early end-point PCR and gel electrophoresis, it is suggested that the first 5 min ultrasonication increased the signal by increasing the release of target DNA molecules. Thereafter the signal was increased by fragmentation of target DNA which increases the diffusion rate and also the accessibility of the hybridization site. Finally, the DNA fragment sizes approached that of the hybridization site (51-bp) which may reduce the signal because of cleavage of the target DNA in the hybridization region. These studies were performed with the bead-based hybridization assay. The assay was highly specific to the target gene (hblC) of both B. cereus and B. thuringiensis with no response from negative control cells of B. subtilis. The 16 positions of the silicon chip array were activated by immobilization of all known toxin-coding genes of B. cereus and also included both a positive control and a negative control electrode positions. When these chips were exposed to ultrasonicated B. cereus, the gold electrodes were fouled by some component in DNA cell lysates. To circumvent this, the released large DNA was first extracted and then ultrasonicated again, since the extract mainly contains large molecular weight DNA. This DNA extract was applied to characterize one “diarrheal” and one “emetic” strain of B. cereus with the DNA chip arrays. The results agreed with PCR control analysis which means that these electric DNA chip arrays can be used to characterize bacterial colonies with respect to the genes coding of all known toxins of B. cereus: haemolysin (hblA, hblC, hblD), non-haemolytic enterotoxin (nheA, nheB, nheC), cytotoxin K-2 (cytK-2), and cereulide (ces). The chip assay required about 30 min after application of DNA samples. Due to the generic properties of the chips, this technique should also be applicable for characterization of the pathogenicity potential of many other organisms. Keywords: Bacillus cereus, haemolysin, non-haemolytic enterotoxin, cytotoxin K-2, cereulide, toxin-coding genes, bacterial colony, electric DNA chip, ultrasonication, DNA fragmentation. / QC 20101111

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:40:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Heloisa_Maria_Formentini_tese.pdf: 1264963 bytes, checksum: d416be804a86c6ba7273d6aacedf8878 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-31 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In Brazil, the tomato is one of the vegetable species of great importance both economically and socially, however several factors are limiting its production as an example the diseases caused by nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne that limit the production in infested areas. Seeking new measures of protection and control of plant disease induced resistance is na alternative considerering that little attention has been directed to the possibility of induced resistance to root pathogens like nematodes. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the effectiveness of the chemical inducer acibenzolar-S-methyl, the biotic inductor Bacillus cereus and plant extracts of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) in the induced resistance in susceptible and resistant tomato in plants infected with Meloidogyne incognita race 3. Two experiments were conducted simultaneously both followed the 2 x 6 factorial design with two tomato genotypes, one susceptible to M. incognita (Santa Clara) and a resistant (Ivety) and six treatments: ASM (125 mg i.a L -1 ), Bacillus cereus (6.10 7 CFU mL -1 ), rosemary 10%, turmeric 10%, water and a control (no inoculum and no spraying in the aerial part), with five replicates. Each vase with a capacity of 2 L, were filled with a mixture of soil, sand and compost previously autoclaved and homogenized in the ratio 2:2:1 and were transplanted to each one three tomato seedlings susceptible and resistant. The treatments were sprayed in the aerial part in tomato plants in all vases except the absolute control. At 72 h after the first application of treatments was carried out the inoculation of 407/100 cm 3 of J2 and eggs per vase. In the first experiment, using destructive samples of tomato treated and inoculated with M. incognita were determined the response of both genotypes to the treatments applied to the enzymatic activity of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, chitinase, β-1,3 glucanase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase from roots of tomato plants that were macerated and homogenized to withdrawals in time 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, 96 h and 120 h after the first application of the treatments. In the second experiment, the variables analyzed to determine the effect of treatments on nematode population were the number of root-knots, juveniles and eggs in the soil accomplished at 56 days after the first application of the treatments that were reapplied every seven days during this period. From the results obtained it was concluded that there was a reduction in the number of root-knots in the roots of tomato plants showing no difference between the two genotypes for plants that received the treatments with acibenzolar-S-methyl, turmeric, rosemary and B. cereus. There was a reduction in the formation of root-knots in susceptible cultivar, confirming their potential in protecting the genotypes used against the attack of M. incognita. For the enzimatic activity peroxidase was the enzyme strongly associated with resistance with the highest activity in resistant genotype if compared to susceptible regardless of inducer treatment. In susceptible tomato B. cereus stood out in the induction of chitinase and peroxidase whereas for the resistant tomato rosemary induced peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase and rosemary extracts and turmeric induced chitinase enzyme to the susceptible genotype / No Brasil o tomate é uma das espécies de hortaliças de grande importância tanto no ponto de vista econômico quanto social, no entanto vários fatores são limitantes para sua produção como exemplo as doenças causadas por fitonematoides principalmente as espécies do gênero Meloidogyne que inviabilizam a produção nas áreas infestadas. Buscando novas medidas de proteção e controle de doenças de plantas a indução de resistência é uma alternativa haja vista que pouca atenção tem sido direcionada a possibilidade de indução de resistência à patógenos do sistema radicular como os fitonematoides. Assim este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a eficácia do indutor químico acibenzolar-S-metil, do indutor biótico Bacillus cereus e de extratos vegetais de alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis) e cúrcuma (Curcuma longa) na indução de resistência em tomateiros suscetível e resistente infectados com Meloidogyne incógnita raça 3. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos simultaneamente ambos seguiram o esquema fatorial 2 x 6 com dois genótipos de tomateiro um suscetível à M. incognita (Santa Clara) e um resistente (Ivety) e seis tratamentos: ASM (125 mg i.a L -1 ), Bacillus cereus (6.10 7 UFC mL -1 ), alecrim 10%, cúrcuma 10%, água e uma testemunha absoluta (sem inóculo e sem pulverização na parte aérea), com cinco repetições. Cada vaso, com capacidade para 2 L, foram preenchidos com a mistura de solo, areia e composto orgânico previamente autoclavados e homogeneizados na proporção 2:2:1 e para cada vaso foram transplantados três mudas de tomateiro suscetível e resistente. Os tratamentos foram pulverizados na parte aérea dos tomateiros em todos os vasos com exceção da testemunha absoluta. Às 72 h após a primeira aplicação dos tratamentos foi realizada a inoculação de 407/100 cm 3 de J2 e ovos por vaso. No primeiro experimento, utilizando amostras destrutivas de tomateiros tratados e inoculados com M. incognita foram determinadas a resposta dos dois genótipos aos tratamentos aplicados para a atividade enzimática das enzimas peroxidase, polifenoloxidase, quitinase, β-1,3 glucanase e fenilalanina amônia-liase a partir do macerado homogeneizado das raízes dos tomateiros para o tempo de coleta 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, 96 h e 120 h após a aplicação dos tratamentos. No segundo experimento, as variáveis analisadas para determinar o efeito dos tratamentos sobre a população do nematoide foram o número de galhas, juvenis e ovos presentes no solo realizado aos 56 dias após a primeira aplicação dos tratamentos que foram reaplicados a cada sete dias durante este período. A partir dos resultados obtidos concluiu-se que houve uma redução no número de galhas no sistema radicular dos tomateiros não apresentando diferença entre os dois genótipos para as plantas que receberam os tratamentos com acibenzolar-S-metil, cúrcuma, alecrim e Bacillus cereus. Houve uma redução na formação de galhas na cultivar suscetível, confirmando seu potencial na proteção dos genótipos utilizados contra o ataque do M. incognita. Para a atividade enzimática a peroxidase foi a enzima que esteve fortemente associada à resistência com a atividade superior no genótipo resistente em relação ao suscetível independentemente do tratamento indutor. No tomateiro suscetível o B. cereus destacou-se na indução de peroxidase e quitinase enquanto que para o tomateiro resistente o alecrim induziu peroxidase e polifenoloxidase e os extratos de alecrim e cúrcuma induziram a enzima quitinase para o genótipo suscetível

A indução de resistência envolve a ativação de mecanismos de defesa latentes existentes nas plantas em resposta ao tratamento com agentes bióticos ou abióticos. As plantas apresentam sistema de defesa induzível, com a finalidade de economizar energia. Desse modo, a resistência induzida em condições naturais representará custo apenas na presença do patógeno. Porém, plantas que investem seus recursos para se defenderem na ausência de patógenos arcarão com custos que refletirão na produtividade, uma vez que as alterações metabólicas que levam a resistência apresentam custo adaptativo associado, o qual pode pesar mais do que o benefício. O efeito negativo na produtividade ocorre principalmente onde indutores químicos são utilizados repetidas vezes ou em doses mais elevadas. Assim, em alguns casos podemos estar caminhando sobre uma estreita linha entre custo e benefício, onde a cura pode ser tão ruim quanto a própria doença. Neste trabalho foram conduzidos experimentos objetivando verificar alterações bioquímicas e fisiológicas, correlacionando-as com parâmetros de produção do feijoeiro entre a indução mediada por acibenzolar-S-metil (ASM), indutor químico, e, a mediada por Bacillus cereus, indutor biológico, antes da chegada do patógeno. Para tanto, foram avaliados plantas de feijão, induzidas por esses dois indutores e desafiadas com Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, para constatar a ocorrência do fenômeno da indução de resistência. Na ausência do patógeno, foram avaliados os parâmetros fisiológicos respiração e fotossíntese, determinada a atividade de enzimas envolvidas no processo de defesa como peroxidase, quitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, fenilalanina amônia-liase e polifenoloxidase e a atividade de enzimas envolvidas no catabolismo como proteases, a síntese de compostos do metabolismo secundário como fenóis totais e lignina, a síntese de compostos do metabolismo primário como proteínas e açúcares redutores. Também se avaliou o crescimento das plantas, a produtividade e parâmetros de produção e alguns parâmetros de qualidade dos grãos. Observou-se a ocorrência da indução de resistência em função da aplicação dos dois indutores utilizados, porém para o indutor ASM a indução de resistência estava associada a aumentos na atividade de peroxidase, quitinase, β-1,3-glucanase e proteases, aumento da síntese de lignina e redução no teor de fenóis, aumentos no teor de proteínas solúveis e de açúcares redutores nas folhas, redução do crescimento e da produtividade, aumento do teor de proteína dos grãos e redução do teor de amido nestes. Já o B. cereus apenas ocasionou aumento na atividade de peroxidase de forma atenuada e tendeu a aumentar a atividade de proteases, e reduzir o teor de proteínas nas folhas sem interferir no crescimento ou na produtividade, mas reduziu o teor de proteína dos grãos, mas aumentou o teor de amido nestes. Portanto, o indutor B. cereus , aparentemente alterou muito pouco o metabolismo do feijoeiro, sem interferir na produtividade e melhorando a qualidade da produção, enquanto que o indutor abiótico ASM alterou muito mais seu metabolismo, gerando um custo metabólico e redirecionando os fotoassimilados para investir em defesas, a custo da redução da produtividade. / The induction of systemic resistance involves the activation of latent resistance mechanisms in plants against pathogens in response to the treatment with biotic or abiotic agents. The plants present latent defense system that can be activated with the goal of saving energy. Thus, the induced resistance under natural conditions will represent cost only in the pathogen presence. In this way, plants that invest their resources to defend themselves in the absence of the pathogen will pay off with costs that will reflect in productivity, since the metabolic changes that led to resistance have associated fitness cost which could outweigh the benefit. The negative effects on plant productivity usually occur when chemical inducers are used repeatedly or in higher doses, mainly in the absence of the pathogen. Thus, we can say that in some cases we can be walking on a fine line between cost and benefit, where the cure may be as bad as the disease itself. In this work, experiments were carry out to verify biochemical and physiologic alterations, correlating them with production parameters of bean plants treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), chemical inducer, or Bacillus cereus , biological inducer, before the pathogen arrival. Initially, bean plants were evaluated for induced resistance against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli when treated with the two inducers. In the absence of the pathogen, it was evaluated the physiological parameters respiration and photosynthesis and the activity of enzymes involved in the defense as peroxidase, chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and polifenoloxidase and activity of enzymes involved in the catabolism as proteases, and the synthesis of compounds of the secondary metabolism as phenols and lignin, and the synthesis of compounds of the primary metabolism as proteins and sugars. The growth of the plants was evaluated as well as their productivity and production parameters. Some quality parameters of the grains were also evaluated. The occurrence of the resistance induced in the bean plants against the pathogens was observed for the two inducers. However, for the ASM the resistance induced was associated to increases in peroxidase, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities, increase in the protease activity, increase in lignin synthesis and reduction in the phenol content, increase in soluble proteins and sugar content in the leaves, reduction of the growth and productivity, increasing the protein and reducing the starch content of the grains. The B. cereus only increased peroxidase activity in a lower way and showed a tendency to increase protease activity, and to reduce the protein content in the leaves without interfering in the growth or in the productivity, but it reduced the protein content and it increased the starch content of the grains. Therefore, the biotic inducer, B. cereus altered a minimum the metabolism of the bean plant, without interfering in the productivity and improving the quality of the production, while the abiotic inducer ASM altered its metabolism, generating a metabolic cost and consuming the plant photosyntathes to invest in defenses, causing a reduction in the productivity.

Fourteen spore-forming bacterial strains were isolated and screened for entomopathogenic activity. Five displayed toxicity towards the common mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The majority of the isolates were obtained from insect larvae and insect rich environments. The three bacterial species identified were Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, Brevibacillus laterosporus Laubach and Bacillus cereus Frankland and Frankland. Bioassays were conducted using T. molitor larvae. The one isolate of B. cereus required the highest concentration of bacterial cells to achieve its LC50, whereas one of the isolates of B. laterosporus required the lowest cell concentration to achieve its LC50. Dose response curves were generated for the five best isolates, which showed that the isolate of B. laterosporus (NDR2) was substantially more toxic than the other isolates. / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

A indução de resistência envolve a ativação de mecanismos de defesa latentes existentes nas plantas em resposta ao tratamento com agentes bióticos ou abióticos. As plantas apresentam sistema de defesa induzível, com a finalidade de economizar energia. Desse modo, a resistência induzida em condições naturais representará custo apenas na presença do patógeno. Porém, plantas que investem seus recursos para se defenderem na ausência de patógenos arcarão com custos que refletirão na produtividade, uma vez que as alterações metabólicas que levam a resistência apresentam custo adaptativo associado, o qual pode pesar mais do que o benefício. O efeito negativo na produtividade ocorre principalmente onde indutores químicos são utilizados repetidas vezes ou em doses mais elevadas. Assim, em alguns casos podemos estar caminhando sobre uma estreita linha entre custo e benefício, onde a cura pode ser tão ruim quanto a própria doença. Neste trabalho foram conduzidos experimentos objetivando verificar alterações bioquímicas e fisiológicas, correlacionando-as com parâmetros de produção do feijoeiro entre a indução mediada por acibenzolar-S-metil (ASM), indutor químico, e, a mediada por Bacillus cereus, indutor biológico, antes da chegada do patógeno. Para tanto, foram avaliados plantas de feijão, induzidas por esses dois indutores e desafiadas com Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli, para constatar a ocorrência do fenômeno da indução de resistência. Na ausência do patógeno, foram avaliados os parâmetros fisiológicos respiração e fotossíntese, determinada a atividade de enzimas envolvidas no processo de defesa como peroxidase, quitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, fenilalanina amônia-liase e polifenoloxidase e a atividade de enzimas envolvidas no catabolismo como proteases, a síntese de compostos do metabolismo secundário como fenóis totais e lignina, a síntese de compostos do metabolismo primário como proteínas e açúcares redutores. Também se avaliou o crescimento das plantas, a produtividade e parâmetros de produção e alguns parâmetros de qualidade dos grãos. Observou-se a ocorrência da indução de resistência em função da aplicação dos dois indutores utilizados, porém para o indutor ASM a indução de resistência estava associada a aumentos na atividade de peroxidase, quitinase, β-1,3-glucanase e proteases, aumento da síntese de lignina e redução no teor de fenóis, aumentos no teor de proteínas solúveis e de açúcares redutores nas folhas, redução do crescimento e da produtividade, aumento do teor de proteína dos grãos e redução do teor de amido nestes. Já o B. cereus apenas ocasionou aumento na atividade de peroxidase de forma atenuada e tendeu a aumentar a atividade de proteases, e reduzir o teor de proteínas nas folhas sem interferir no crescimento ou na produtividade, mas reduziu o teor de proteína dos grãos, mas aumentou o teor de amido nestes. Portanto, o indutor B. cereus , aparentemente alterou muito pouco o metabolismo do feijoeiro, sem interferir na produtividade e melhorando a qualidade da produção, enquanto que o indutor abiótico ASM alterou muito mais seu metabolismo, gerando um custo metabólico e redirecionando os fotoassimilados para investir em defesas, a custo da redução da produtividade. / The induction of systemic resistance involves the activation of latent resistance mechanisms in plants against pathogens in response to the treatment with biotic or abiotic agents. The plants present latent defense system that can be activated with the goal of saving energy. Thus, the induced resistance under natural conditions will represent cost only in the pathogen presence. In this way, plants that invest their resources to defend themselves in the absence of the pathogen will pay off with costs that will reflect in productivity, since the metabolic changes that led to resistance have associated fitness cost which could outweigh the benefit. The negative effects on plant productivity usually occur when chemical inducers are used repeatedly or in higher doses, mainly in the absence of the pathogen. Thus, we can say that in some cases we can be walking on a fine line between cost and benefit, where the cure may be as bad as the disease itself. In this work, experiments were carry out to verify biochemical and physiologic alterations, correlating them with production parameters of bean plants treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), chemical inducer, or Bacillus cereus , biological inducer, before the pathogen arrival. Initially, bean plants were evaluated for induced resistance against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli when treated with the two inducers. In the absence of the pathogen, it was evaluated the physiological parameters respiration and photosynthesis and the activity of enzymes involved in the defense as peroxidase, chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and polifenoloxidase and activity of enzymes involved in the catabolism as proteases, and the synthesis of compounds of the secondary metabolism as phenols and lignin, and the synthesis of compounds of the primary metabolism as proteins and sugars. The growth of the plants was evaluated as well as their productivity and production parameters. Some quality parameters of the grains were also evaluated. The occurrence of the resistance induced in the bean plants against the pathogens was observed for the two inducers. However, for the ASM the resistance induced was associated to increases in peroxidase, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activities, increase in the protease activity, increase in lignin synthesis and reduction in the phenol content, increase in soluble proteins and sugar content in the leaves, reduction of the growth and productivity, increasing the protein and reducing the starch content of the grains. The B. cereus only increased peroxidase activity in a lower way and showed a tendency to increase protease activity, and to reduce the protein content in the leaves without interfering in the growth or in the productivity, but it reduced the protein content and it increased the starch content of the grains. Therefore, the biotic inducer, B. cereus altered a minimum the metabolism of the bean plant, without interfering in the productivity and improving the quality of the production, while the abiotic inducer ASM altered its metabolism, generating a metabolic cost and consuming the plant photosyntathes to invest in defenses, causing a reduction in the productivity.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] El arroz, es uno de los cereales más consumidos a nivel mundial y debido a su alto valor nutricional, forma parte de la dieta básica de la población en general. Su elevado contenido de almidón, sin modificar o tras su modificación, lo convierte en un alimento atractivo para la industria alimentaria. No obstante, este mismo componente favorece el desarrollo del Bacillus cereus después de su cocción. Este microorganismo forma esporas resistentes al calor, lo que supone un riesgo para el consumidor, especialmente si el arroz cocinado no se almacena a temperatura adecuada. En la presente tesis doctoral, se han propuesto algunas estrategias tecnológicas para mejorar el procesado y garantizar la inocuidad alimentaria del arroz y sus derivados. Estas estrategias consisten en la aplicación de plasma frío y en el uso de quitosano de insecto (Tenebrio molitor) como antimicrobiano. Desde el punto de vista tecnológico, se ha visto que la tecnología de plasma es capaz de modificar determinadas propiedades tecnológicas del almidón que dependen de la variedad del arroz. Estos resultados abren la puerta a un uso más amplio de este componente en la industria alimentaria y en la formulación de alimentos a la carta. En cuanto a la inocuidad del arroz, el plasma frío reduce los niveles de células vegetativas y de esporas de B. cereus, convirtiéndolo en una tecnología alternativa de desinfección de materias primas como el arroz, antes de su procesado posterior. El nivel de inactivación tanto de células vegetativas como de esporas, estuvo determinado por el tiempo y potencia de tratamiento, así como la matriz que lo contenía en el caso de las esporas. El quitosano de insectos redujo la termorresistencia del B. cereus y resultó ser bacteriostático o bactericida en función de la concentración y la temperatura de almacenamiento. Estos efectos lo convierten en una buena estrategia de control de dicho microorganismo en arroz y sus derivados. A través de un modelo de evaluación a la exposición se ha podido corroborar los resultados sobre el efecto del quitosano en el B. cereus, a la vez que se pone de manifiesto la importancia que tienen cambios accidentales en las condiciones de procesado sobre el nivel final de microorganismos en el alimento y del número inicial de microorganismos sobre el porcentaje de unidades infectas después del tratamiento. Los resultados de la presente tesis ponen de manifiesto estrategias más sostenibles que son capaces de mejorar el procesado y la inocuidad del arroz y productos derivados del mismo. / [CA] L'arròs és un dels cereals més consumits a nivell mundial i, a causa del seu alt valor nutricional, forma part de la dieta bàsica de la població en general. El seu alt contingut d'almidó, sense modificar o després de la seva modificació, el converteix en un aliment atractiu per a la indústria alimentària. No obstant això, aquest mateix component afavoreix el desenvolupament del Bacillus cereus després de la seva cocció. Aquest microorganisme forma espores resistents al calor, la qual cosa suposa un risc per al consumidor, especialment si l'arròs cuinat no es conserva a una temperatura adequada. En la present tesi doctoral, s'han proposat algunes estratègies tecnològiques per millorar el processament i garantir la innocuïtat alimentària de l'arròs i els seus derivats. Aquestes estratègies consisteixen en l'aplicació de plasma fred i en l'ús de quitosà d'insecte (Tenebrio molitor) com a antimicrobià. Des del punt de vista tecnològic, s'ha vist que la tecnologia de plasma és capaç de modificar certes propietats tecnològiques de l'almidó que depenen de la varietat de l'arròs. Aquests resultats obren la porta a un ús més ampli d'aquest component en la indústria alimentària i en la formulació d'aliments a la carta. Quant a la innocuïtat de l'arròs, el plasma fred redueix els nivells de cèl·lules vegetatives i d'espores de B. cereus, convertint-lo en una tecnologia alternativa de desinfecció de matèries primeres com l'arròs, abans del seu processament posterior. El nivell d'inactivació tant de cèl·lules vegetatives com d'espores va estar determinat pel temps i potència de tractament, així com la matriu que les contenia en el cas de les espores. El quitosà d'insectes va reduir la termoresistència del B. cereus i va resultar ser bacteriostàtic o bactericida en funció de la concentració i la temperatura d'emmagatzematge. Aquests efectes el converteixen en una bona estratègia de control d'aquest microorganisme en l'arròs i els seus derivats. A través d'un model d'avaluació a l'exposició s'ha pogut corroborar els resultats sobre l'efecte del quitosà en el B. cereus, alhora que es posa de manifest la importància que tenen accidentals canvis en les condicions de processat sobre el nivell final de microorganismes en l'aliment i del nombre inicial de microorganismes sobre el percentatge d'unitats infectades després del tractament. Els resultats de la present tesi posen de manifest estratègies més sostenibles que són capaces de millorar el processament i la innocuïtat de l'arròs i productes derivats del mateix. / [EN] Rice is one of the most widely consumed cereals worldwide, due to its high nutritional value, it is part of the population basic diet. Its high starch content, unmodified or modified, makes it an attractive ingredient for the food industry. However, this same component promotes the development of Bacillus cereus after cooking. This microorganism forms heat-resistant spores, which poses a risk to consumers, especially if the cooked rice is not stored at the correct temperature. In this doctoral thesis, some technological strategies have been proposed to improve the processing and ensure the food safety of rice and its derivatives. These strategies include the application of cold plasma and the use of insect chitosan from Tenebrio molitor as an antimicrobial. From a technological perspective, plasma technology has demonstrated its ability to modify technological properties of starch, which vary based on the type of rice. These results open the door to a broader use of this component in the food industry and in customized food formulation. Regarding the safety of rice, cold plasma reduces the levels of vegetative cells and spores of B. cereus, making it an alternative technology for disinfecting raw materials such as rice before further processing. The level of inactivation of both vegetative cells and spores was determined by the time and power of the treatment, as well as the matrix containing them in the case of the spores. Insect chitosan reduced the thermo-resistance of B. cereus and was found to be bacteriostatic or bactericidal depending on the concentration and storage temperature. These effects make it a good control strategy for this microorganism in rice and its derivatives. Through an exposure assessment model, the results on the effect of chitosan on B. cereus have been corroborated, while also highlighting the importance of accidental changes in processing conditions on the final level of microorganisms in the food and the initial number of microorganisms on the percentage of infected units after treatment. The results of this thesis demonstrate more sustainable strategies that are capable of improving the processing and safety of rice and its derivatives. / La presente tesis doctoral se enmarca dentro del Programa de Doctorado Ciencia, Tecnología y Gestión Alimentaria de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Para el desarrollo de la presente tesis doctoral, María Inés Valdez Narváez, ha disfrutado de una beca concedida por la Generalitat Valenciana para la contratación de personal investigador predoctoral (ACIF/2021/424) llevada a cabo en el Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos de Valencia, Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa, así como una beca BEFPI concedida por la Generalitat Valenciana para Estancias de contratados predoctorales en centros de investigación fuera de la comunidad Valenciana (CIBEFP/2022/56) desarrollada en The Agriculture and Food Development Authority- TEAGASC (Dublin-Irlanda). Este trabajo ha sido cofinanciado además por los proyectos: fondos del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Ref. PID2020- 116318RB-C31 y proyecto TRACE-RICE Ref. AMD-1934-1 / Valdez Narváez, MI. (2024). Estrategias tecnológicas para mejorar la desinfeccion y procesado de derivados de arroz [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/210721 / Compendio

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The fragmented bodies and lives of postcolonial Caribbean women examined in Caribbean literature beget struggle and psychological ruin. The characters portrayed in novels by postcolonial Caribbean writers Edwidge Danticat, Michelle Cliff, and Shani Mootoo are marginalized as “Other” by a Western patriarchal discourse that works to silence them because of their gender, color, class, and sexuality. Marginalization participates in the act of fragmentation of these characters because it challenges their sense of identity. Fragmentation means fractured; in terms of these fictive characters, fragmentation results from multiple traumas, each trauma causing another break in their wholeness. Postcolonial scholars have identified the causes and effects of fragmentation on the postcolonial subject, and they argue one’s need to heal because of it. Danticat, Cliff, and Mootoo prove that wholeness is not possible for the postcolonial Caribbean woman, so rather than ruminate on that truth, they examine the journey of the postcolonial Caribbean woman as a way of making meaning of the pieces of her life. This project contends that fragmentation – and the fracture it produces – does not bind these women to negative existences; in fact, the female subjects of Danticat, Cliff, and Mootoo locate power in their fragmentation. The texts studied include Danticat’s "Breath, Eyes, Memory" (1994) and "The Farming of Bones" (1999), Cliff’s "Abeng" (1984) and "No Telephone to Heaven" (1987), and Mootoo’s "Cereus Blooms at Night" (1996) and "He Drown She in the Sea" (2005).