Ohmic heating as a method of obtaining paraprobiotics: Impacts on cell structure and viability by flow cytometry.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ohmic heating (OH) on probiotic inactivation, cell viability and morphology of the probiotic strains Lactobacillus acidophilus LA 05 (LA), Lacticaseibacillus casei 01 (LC), and Bifidobacterium animalis Bb 12 (BA) to develop paraprobiotics. OH at different electric field magnitudes (4, 8, and 12 V/cm at 60 Hz) and conventional heat treatment (CONV) were performed to determine the most adequate condition for the obtainment of paraprobiotics. Analysis of culturability, flow cytometry (FC), and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was carried out.

Galectin-3 mediates survival and apoptosis pathways during Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell interplay.

Neglected tropical diseases, such as Chagas disease caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, affect millions of people worldwide but lack effective treatments that are accessible to the entire population, especially patients with the debilitating chronic phase. The recognition of host cells, invasion and its intracellular replicative success are essential stages for progression of the parasite life cycle and the development of Chagas disease. It is predicted that programmed cell death pathways (apoptosis) would be activated in infected cells, either via autocrine secretion or mediated by cytotoxic immune cells.

Functional studies of TcRjl, a novel GTPase of Trypanosoma cruzi, reveals phenotypes related with MAPK activation during parasite differentiation and after heterologous expression in Drosophila model system.

The life cycle of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi comprises rounds of proliferative cycles and differentiation in distinct host environments. Ras GTPases are molecular switches that play pivotal regulatory functions in cell fate. Rjl is a novel GTPase with unknown function.

Common Deletion (CD) in mitochondrial DNA of irradiated rat heart.

The purpose of this study was to map the common deletion (CD) area in mtDNA and investigate the levels of this deletion in irradiated heart. The assays were developed in male Wistar rats that were irradiated with three different single doses (5, 10 or 15 Gy) delivered directly to the heart and the analyses were performed at various times post-irradiation (3, 15 or 120 days). The CDs area were sequenced and the CD quantified by real-time PCR.

Pleiotropic functions of pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide on retinal ontogenesis: involvement of KLF4 in the control of progenitor cell proliferation.

We showed previously that the neuropeptide pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) negatively regulates proliferation of postnatal rat retinal progenitor cells through the downregulation of cyclin D1 in a cAMP/protein kinase A dependent manner. In the present study, we describe by microarray analysis several putative PACAP targets regulated by different transcription factor families. One of these families is the Sp/Klf family of transcriptional factors capable of regulating cyclin D1, and among members, we demonstrate by immunocytochemistry that KLF4 is expressed throughout rat retinal development by retinal progenitor cells and in most differentiated cell types.

The GTPase TcRjl of the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi is involved in the cell growth and differentiation.

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas Disease, undergoes through a complex life cycle where rounds of cell division and differentiation occur initially in the gut of triatominae vectors and, after transmission, inside of infected cells in vertebrate hosts. Members of the Ras superfamily of GTPases are molecular switches which play pivotal regulatory functions in cell growth and differentiation. We have previously described a novel GTPase in T.

Up-regulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin II type 1 receptor in irradiated rats.

Purpose: To investigate changes in cardiac functional parameters and the cardiac expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1), procollagen type I (proc-I) and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) in rats irradiated at heart.

Material And Methods: Male Wistar rats were irradiated with a single dose of radiation (0, 5, 10 and 15 Gray [Gy]) delivered directly to the heart and the molecular evaluations were performed at various times post-irradiation (two days, 15 days and four months). The expression of ACE, AT1, proc-I and TGF-ß1 were analysed using Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and/or Western blotting.

Novel role for the double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase PKR: modulation of macrophage infection by the protozoan parasite Leishmania.

The evolution of Leishmania infection depends on the balance between microbicidal and suppressor macrophage functions. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase R (PKR), a classic antiviral protein, is able to regulate a number of signaling pathways and macrophage functions. We investigated the possible role of PKR in the modulation of Leishmania infection.

NF-kappaB-mediated repression of iNOS expression in Leishmania amazonensis macrophage infection.

Host invasion by pathogens is frequently associated with the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), which modulates the expression of genes involved in the immunological response of the host. However, pathogens may also subvert these mechanisms to secure their survival. We describe the effect of Leishmania amazonensis infection on NF-kappaB transcriptional factor activation in macrophages and the subsequent reduction in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression.

Intranasal delivery of naked DNA encoding the LACK antigen leads to protective immunity against visceral leishmaniasis in mice.

We previously showed that intranasal (i.n.) vaccination with pCIneo plasmid encoding the leishmanial LACK gene (pCIneo-LACK) induces long-lasting protective immunity against cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice.

TcRho1, the Trypanosoma cruzi Rho homologue, regulates cell-adhesion properties: evidence for a conserved function.

Rho proteins are members of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. In higher eukaryotes these proteins play pivotal role in cell movement, phagocytosis, intracellular transport, cell-adhesion, and maintenance of cell morphology, mainly through the regulation of actin microfilaments. The GTPase TcRho1 is the only member of the Rho family described in human protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.

TcRho1 of Trypanosoma cruzi: role in metacyclogenesis and cellular localization.

Here we have investigated the function of TcRho1, a Rho family orthologue from the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. We have selected parasites overexpressing wild-type TcRho1 and a truncated form of TcRho1 (TcRho1-DeltaCaaX) which is unable to undergo farnesylation and supposed to interfere with recruitment of Rho effectors to membranes. TcRho1 protein was localized at the anterior region of wild-type and TcRho1 overexpressing epimastigotes, suggesting association with the Golgi apparatus.

RJLs: a new family of Ras-related GTP-binding proteins.

The Ras superfamily of GTP binding proteins encompasses several gene families that regulate a plethora of events in the eukaryotic cell. Here we describe a novel branch of this superfamily which we have named RJLs. These are present in many unicellular organisms and also in deuterostomes but apparently missing in some intermediary phyla, suggesting an intriguing possibility of lateral gene transference between lower and higher eukaryotes.

TcArf1: a Trypanosoma cruzi ADP-ribosylation factor.

Arfs (ADP-ribosylation factors) are conserved GTP-binding proteins involved in the control of coatomers assembling in budding vesicles in the eukaryotic secretory pathway and during some endocytic events. Here, we describe the gene for an Arf-homologue from the unicellular kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, named TcArf1. TcArf1 is present in a discrete copy number in the T.