The clinically silent Plasmodium liver stage is an obligatory step in the establishment of malaria infection and disease. We report here that expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1, encoded by Hmox1) is upregulated in the liver following infection by Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites. HO-1 overexpression in the liver leads to a proportional increase in parasite liver load, and treatment of mice with carbon monoxide and with biliverdin, each an enzymatic product of HO-1, also increases parasite liver load. Conversely, mice lacking Hmox1 completely resolve the infection. In the absence of HO-1, the levels of inflammatory cytokines involved in the control of liver infection are increased. These findings suggest that, while stimulating inflammation, the liver stage of Plasmodium also induces HO-1 expression, which modulates the host inflammatory response, protecting the infected hepatocytes and promoting the liver stage of infection.

Background: Plasmodium sporozoites migrate to the liver where they traverse several hepatocytes before invading the one inside which they will develop and multiply into thousands of merozoites. Although this constitutes an essential step of malaria infection, the requirements of Plasmodium parasites in liver cells and how they use the host cell for their own survival and development are poorly understood.

SummaryPlasmodium , the causative agent of malaria, migrates through several hepatocytes before initiating a malaria infection. We have previously shown that this process induces the secretion of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by traversed cells, which renders neighbour hepatocytes susceptible to infection. The signalling initiated by HGF through its receptor MET has multifunctional effects on various cell types. Our results reveal a major role for apoptosis protection of host cells by HGF/MET signalling on the host susceptibility to infection. Inhibition of HGF/MET signalling induces a specific increase in apoptosis of infected cells leading to a great reduction on infection. Since HGF/MET signalling is capable of protecting cells from apoptosis by using both PI3-kinase/Akt and, to a lesser extent, MAPK pathways, we determined the impact of these pathways on Plasmodium sporozoite infection. Although inhibition of either of these pathways leads to a reduction in infection, inhibition of PI3-kinase/Akt pathway caused a stronger effect, which correlated with a higher level of apoptosis in infected host cells. Altogether, the results show that the HGF/MET signalling requirement for infection is mediated by its anti-apoptotic signal effects. These results demonstrate for the first time that active inhibition of apoptosis in host cell during infection by Plasmodium is required for a successful infection.

The most common human diseases are caused by pathogens. Several of these microorganisms have developed efficient ways in which to exploit host molecules, along with molecular pathways to ensure their survival, differentiation and replication in host cells. Although the contribution of the host cell to the development of many intracellular pathogens (particularly viruses and bacteria) has been unequivocally established, the study of host-cell requirements during the life cycle of protozoan parasites is still in its infancy. In this review, we aim to provide some insight into the manipulation of the host cell by parasites through discussing the hurdles that are faced by the latter during infection.

Water and sucrose diffusion coefficients during osmotic dehydration of sapodilla (Achras zapota L.).Ciência Rural, v.47, n.8, 2017. INTRODUCTIONSapodilla is a fruit from Central America that has adapted well in all regions of the Brazilian territory; however, it has stood out as a crop in the Northeastern region of this country because of its favorable edaphoclimatic conditions (GOMES, 2007). According to GONSALVES (2002) ABSTRACT: Sapodilla is an original fruit from Central America that is well adapted in all regions of the Brazilian territory. Despite its wide adaptation and acceptance in fruit markets, it is rare to find it outside tropical regions, partially because of its high perishability. The development of alternative, simple, and inexpensive methods to extend the conservation and marketing of these fruits is important, and osmotic dehydration is one of these methods. The main objective of this study was to determine the water and sucrose diffusion coefficients during the osmotic dehydration of sapodilla. This process was performed in short duration (up to 6h) to evaluate detailed information on water loss and solids gain kinetics at the beginning of the process and in long duration (up to 60h) to determine the equilibrium concentrations in sapodilla. The immersion time had greater influence on the water and sucrose diffusion coefficients (P<0.05); the maximum water loss (WL) and solute gain (SG) occurred in the osmotic

The probiotic products from the dairy market have been extensively exploited as well as lactose-free derivatives, suitable for lactose intolerant individuals. This research aimed to manufacture stuffed cheese with Brazilian cream cheese and spices in three versions (traditional, lactose-free, and probiotic cheese) and evaluate their quality by physico-chemical and microbiological analyses, Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) viability, and acceptance and preference assays. Physico-chemical properties of the formulations were all in accordance with the standards for the fat content of the Ordinance No. 146 for the traditional (54.06%) and probiotic (45.45%) full-fat samples and free-lactose (39.28%) medium-fat sample. Regarding the microbiological safety, all the samples presented to be ready for consumption, and the LAB count were still viable after 42 days of storage in the probiotic formulation at the order of 108 log CFU/mL. The lactose-free formulation achieved the highest acceptance rates among the public regarding sensorial qualities with an average grade of 7.27 out of 9. In the end, the three types of stuffed coalho cheese were successful in total quality control and also the probiotic formulation with the desired viable count after storage and lactose-free formulation with the best acceptance rates by the public.

To reduce post-harvest losses and diversify the industrial use of red-iamb (Syzygium malaccensis) was used the process of osmotic dehydration using a 2 ³ factorial experimental design complete, having as independent variables: temperature (20 º to 70 º C), concentration of sucrose (16 ° Brix to 84 Brix) and immersion time (1.3 to 4.7 h), and dependent: loss of moisture (PU) and weight (PP), solid gain (SG) and the index of efficiency of dehydration (DEI). The results demonstrated the significant influence of all independent variables on all dependent, emphasizing that the concentration of osmotic solution temperature and had a greater influence on the PU and PP. The tests selected were 6 and 14. The test had 14 more notes attribute the overall quality and compliance with the microbiological standards, thus providing a good alternative to preserve the iamb and diversify its supply.

Se probaron los siguientes ácidos: adipico (0,5%, 1,0% y 2,0%), fosfórico (0,03%, 0,10% y 0,20%), láctico (0,20%, 2,0% y 4,0%), málico (0,20%, 1,0% y 2,0%), tartárico (0,5%, 1,0% y 2,0%) y cítrico (0,5%, 1,0% y 2,0%). Las concentraciones fueron elegidas en función de la legislación brasileña. Los ácidos que más se destacaron como inhibidores del crecimiento y/o productores de aflatoxina fueron adipico, málico y láctico por inhibir parcialmente el crecimiento y la producción de aflatoxina