Is Formal Social Participation Associated with Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies.

This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between formal social participation and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults using data from longitudinal studies. A comprehensive search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science for longitudinal studies that assessed the association between formal social participation and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults published between January 2010 to 19 August 2022. Risk of bias was judged using the RoBANS tool. Meta-analysis using a random-effects model was computed with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for cognitive decline probability. Sensitivity analyses were made to explore any changes to the pooled statistical heterogeneity and pooled effect size. Certainty of evidence was judged using the GRADE framework. We included 15 studies comprising 136,397 participants from 5 countries. Meta-analyses showed that formal social participation was associated with reduced cognitive decline (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.75-0.82, p < 0.001), with very low certainty of evidence. Formal social participation appears to enhance cognition in middle-aged and older adults, but further high-quality research is needed given the very low certainty of evidence.

Association between formal social participation and cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults: a longitudinal study using SHARE data.

Formal social participation significantly impacts health and well-being, potentially mitigating cognitive decline, although not consistently across all studies. Existing research often focuses solely on baseline participation levels, and age-related differences have primarily been explored among the Asian population. Therefore, this longitudinal study aims to assess the association between formal social participation and cognition across different age groups in individuals aged 50+ living in Europe and Israel, while capturing the dynamic nature of formal social participation. We use data from three waves (four, six, and eight) of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), comprising 85,601 respondents. Linear mixed-effects models were applied. The results show that participation in formal social activities mitigates cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults, especially among those aged 70 to 79 and 80+. These findings support the need for social policies promoting formal social activities, for lasting cognitive health benefits.

Genomic history of coastal societies from eastern South America.

Sambaqui (shellmound) societies are among the most intriguing archaeological phenomena in pre-colonial South America, extending from approximately 8,000 to 1,000 years before present (yr BP) across 3,000 km on the Atlantic coast. However, little is known about their connection to early Holocene hunter-gatherers, how this may have contributed to different historical pathways and the processes through which late Holocene ceramists came to rule the coast shortly before European contact. To contribute to our understanding of the population history of indigenous societies on the eastern coast of South America, we produced genome-wide data from 34 ancient individuals as early as 10,000 yr BP from four different regions in Brazil. Early Holocene hunter-gatherers were found to lack shared genetic drift among themselves and with later populations from eastern South America, suggesting that they derived from a common radiation and did not contribute substantially to later coastal groups. Our analyses show genetic heterogeneity among contemporaneous Sambaqui groups from the southeastern and southern Brazilian coast, contrary to the similarity expressed in the archaeological record. The complex history of intercultural contact between inland horticulturists and coastal populations becomes genetically evident during the final horizon of Sambaqui societies, from around 2,200 yr BP, corroborating evidence of cultural change.

Colostrum Antibodies and Cytokines in Puerperal Women with Diabetes Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding maintains the maternal-fetal immune link after birth, favors the transmission of immunological competence, and is considered an important contributing factor to the development of the babies' immune system. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to obtain data related to the effects of gestational diabetes on immunoglobulin A (IgA) and cytokines levels in the colostrum, before and during the pandemic of the new coronavirus, in order to study the possible outcomes regarding the immunological characteristics of human milk. METHODS: This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO CRD42020212397, and the question elaborated using the PICO strategy was: does maternal hyperglycemia associated or not with Covid-19 influence the immunological composition of colostrum? Electronic searching and reference lists of published reports were used to identify studies that reported the influence of gestational diabetes on colostrum and milk composition. RESULTS: Seven studies were selected from the 51 found, six of them were cross-sectional and one was a case report. Six studies included Brazilian groups and only one was conducted in USA. The mothers with gestational diabetes presented a reduced level of IgA and other immunoreactive proteins in colostrum. Those alterations could be related to changes in macronutrient metabolism and cellular oxidative metabolism. CONCLUSION: It was possible to conclude that diabetes changes the immunological composition of breast milk; however, data on the impact of the association between gestational diabetes and Covid-19 infection on the composition of antibodies and cytokines present in human milk are still scarce and inconclusive.

A covid-19 como um analisador do sofrimento de enfermeiras: um ensaio teórico / Covid-19 as a suffering analyzer for female nurses: a theoretical essay / El covid-19 como analizador de sufrimiento de enfermeras: un ensayo teórico

Este ensaio propõe que a Covid-19 pode operar como um analisador, dentro da perspectiva da análise institucional, iluminando um determinado modo de organização social que promove profundas desigualdades e ameaça a vida em diversos níveis e revelando as condições sociais, institucionais e políticas de produção de sofrimento no corpo profissional de Enfermagem. A pandemia desvelou um conjunto de marcas relacionadas à profissão, agravadas pela crise sanitária, reforçando a naturalização das relações de cuidado atribuídas ao feminino, bem como um conjunto de clivagens e hierarquias internas à profissão a partir da sinergia de marcadores da diferença, como gênero, cor/raça, classe e geração. Além disso, este trabalho mostra a presença de uma necropolítica nas respostas à pandemia que banaliza a vida e permite morrer determinados grupos sociais. A ideia de "profissionais de linha de frente" é criticada em suas metáforas bélicas, mas tomada como figura de linguagem em sua potência para afirmar que existem corpos que, pelas marcas sociais e históricas e pela interdependência do cuidado, são mais presentes e exigidos e, portanto, mais vulneráveis à doença e ao sofrimento dela decorrente.(AU)

The essay proposes that Covid-19 can operate as an analyzer, within the perspective of institutional analysis, illuminating a certain mode of social organization that promotes profound inequalities and threatens life at various levels, revealing the social, institutional and political conditions for the production of suffering in the professional nursing body. The pandemic would unveil a set of marks related to the profession, aggravated by the sanitary crisis, reinforcing the naturalization of the care relations attributed to the feminine, as well as a set of cleavages and internal hierarchies to the profession from the synergy of markers of difference as gender, color/race, class and generation. The work shows the presence of necropolitics in responses to the pandemic, which trivializes life and allows certain social groups to die. The idea of "front-line professionals" is criticized in its war metaphors, but taken as a figure of speech in its potency to affirm that there are bodies that by social and historical marks, and by the interdependence of care, are more present and demanded, and therefore more vulnerable to disease and the resulting suffering.(AU)

El ensayo propone que el Covid-19 puede funcionar como analizador, desde la perspectiva del análisis institucional, revelando las condiciones sociales, institucionales y políticas de producción de sufrimiento de enfermeras. La pandemia revela algunas marcas relacionadas con la profesión, agravadas por la crisis de salud, reforzando la naturalización de la atribución del cuidado a lo femenino y un conjunto de jerarquías internas de la profesión. El trabajo también muestra la presencia de una necropolítica en las respuestas a la pandemia. La idea de "profesionales de primera línea" es criticada, pero tomada como una figura del lenguaje en su potencia para afirmar que hay cuerpos que, por las marcas sociales e históricas y por la interdependencia del cuidado, están más presentes y demandados, y por lo tanto más vulnerables a la enfermedad.(AU)

'A gente não quer só comida': integralidade na atuação interprofissional no cuidado da obesidade infantil / 'We don't want only food': integrality in the interprofessional performance in the care of childhood obesity

RESUMO O artigo traz uma análise socioantropológica de uma prática de assistência de caráter interprofissional, da psicologia com a nutrição, voltada ao atendimento de crianças e adolescentes obesos e seus familiares, quase sempre mães, acompanhados em um ambulatório público da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Uerj). A educação em saúde e a integralidade do cuidado são conceitos 'postos em prática', articulando-os ao brincar como instrumento terapêutico e à arte como campo de vivências e expressão de singularidades. O corpo e a corporeidade são abordados nas suas dimensões biopolíticas, mas também sensíveis e simbólicas, na busca por compreender a obesidade infantil e suas nuances. Nas análises, a saúde deixa de ser medida a partir de seu caráter normativo, tomando-se o processo saúde-doença em sua complexidade.

ABSTRACT The article presents a socioanthropological analysis of an interprofessional care practice, of psychology and nutrition, aimed at obese children and adolescents and their families, almost always mothers, assisted in a public outpatient clinic of the Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ). Health education and integrality of care are concepts 'put into practice', articulating play as a therapeutic tool and art as a field for experiences and expression of singularities. The body and corporeality are approached in their biopolitical dimensions, but also in their sensitive and symbolic ones, in the search to understand childhood obesity and its nuances. In the analyses, health is no longer measured from its normative character, taking the healthdisease process in its complexity.

Precautionary behaviours of individuals with multimorbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Studies show that older individuals with multimorbidity are more susceptible to develop a more severe case of COVID-19 when infected by the virus. These individuals are more likely to be admitted to Intensive Care Units and to die from COVID-19-related conditions than younger individuals or those without multimorbidity. This research aimed to assess whether there are differences in terms of precautionary behaviours between individuals aged 50 + with multimorbidity and their counterparts without multimorbidity residing in 25 European countries plus Israel. We used data from the SHARE-COVID19 questionnaire on the socio-demographic and economic characteristics, multimorbidity, and precautionary behaviours of individuals. SHARE wave 8 and 7 databases were also used to fully identify individuals with multimorbidity. Our results showed that individuals with multimorbidity were more likely to exhibit precautionary behaviours than their counterparts without multimorbidity when gender, age, education, financial distress and countries were included as controls. Additionally, we found that women, more educated individuals and those experiencing more financial distress adopt more protective behaviours than their counterparts. Our results also indicate that the prevalence of precautionary behaviours is higher in Spain and Italy and lower in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. To guarantee the adoption of preventive actions against COVID-19, public health messaging and actions must continue to be disseminated among middle and older aged persons with multimorbidity, and more awareness campaigns should be targeted at men and less educated individuals but also at persons experiencing less financial distress, particularly in countries where people engaged in fewer precautionary behaviours.

Um ensaio sobre a cronicidade do viver com HIV/Aids na infância, adolescência e juventude / An essay on the chronicity of living with HIV/AIDS in childhood, adolescence, and youth

RESUMO O presente ensaio trabalha nas dobras do tempo, acionando as noções de experiência, memória e perturbação, a partir da perspectiva socioantropológica, para discorrer acerca da cronicidade do viver com HIV/Aids na infância, adolescência e juventude. Seguindo as definições de ensaio, propôs-se um artesanato conceitual que ofereça outro arranjo de olhar sobre estigma, precariedade, vulnerabilidade e cronicidade. Apostou-se em um olhar que enfrente as barreiras do viver produzidas pelo estigma, discutindo em que medida a cronicidade pode acentuar a precariedade que constitui os humanos, mas que, para muitos, em virtude de sua localização social, pode significar maior precarização e vulnerabilização; considerando que, quando se é criança, adolescente e jovem, essa precarização pode levar a uma impossibilidade na circulação dos afetos, nas trocas cotidianas fundamentais dentro dos grupos, e a uma sensação constante de inadequação.

ABSTRACT This essay works on the intertwining of time using the notions of experience, memory and disturbance from a socio-anthropological perspective to discuss the chronicity of living with HIV/Aids in childhood, adolescence and youth. Following the essay definitions, we propose a conceptual craftwork that offers another way of looking at stigma, precariousness, vulnerability, and chronicity. We invested in a perspective that faces the barriers of living produced by stigma, discussing to what extent chronicity can accentuate the precariousness that constitutes humans, although for many, due to their social location, it can mean greater precariousness and vulnerability; considering that, when one is a child, adolescent, and youth, this precariousness can lead to an impossibility in the flow of affections, in the fundamental daily exchanges within groups, and to a constant feeling of inadequacy.

Social isolation, physical inactivity and inadequate diet among European middle-aged and older adults.

BACKGROUND: Social isolation is a growing public health concern for older adults, as it has been associated with poor health and premature mortality. On the other hand, physical inactivity and an inadequate diet are important health risk behaviours associated with physical and mental health problems. Considering that there is no research examining the possible relationship between social isolation and the above mentioned health risk behaviours of European middle-aged and older adults, this cross-sectional study aims to contribute to filling this gap. METHODS: We used data from the SHARE project (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), wave 6 (2015), release 7.0.0 (N = 67,173 individuals from 17 European countries plus Israel). Statistical tests for a two-group comparison were carried out to assess the differences between highly socially isolated individuals and low/intermediate socially isolated ones. Logistic regressions by country were performed to examine whether social isolation is associated with physical inactivity and an inadequate diet in the population aged 50 + . RESULTS: Our results point out that, for the majority of the countries analysed, highly socially isolated individuals are more likely than low/intermediate isolated ones to be physically inactive and to consume less fruit or vegetables on a daily basis. In 9 European countries (Austria, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Belgium, Poland, Luxembourg and Estonia) highly socially isolated individuals are more likely to be physically inactive. On the other hand, in 14 European countries (Austria, Germany, Sweden, Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Estonia and Croatia), high social isolation increases the likelihood of having an inadequate diet. CONCLUSION: Highly socially isolated European middle-aged and older adults are more prone to be physically inactive and to have an inadequate diet in terms of daily consumption of fruit and vegetables. The reduced social integration, social support and companionship of the highly socially isolated individuals may explain this association. Our results reinforce the importance of social and health policies targeting highly socially isolated European individuals aged 50 + .

Application of extracellular polymers on soil communities exposed to oil and nickel contamination.

The petrochemical industry is responsible for many accidental releases of pollutants in soil such as hydrocarbons and toxic metals. This co-contamination is responsible for a delay in the degradation of the organic pollution. Many successful technologies to remove these metals apply extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). In this study, we tested the application of an EPS from a Paenibacillus sp. to aid the bioremediation of soils contaminated with crude oil and nickel. We conducted a microcosm experiment to soils containing combinations of oil, nickel, and EPS. The final concentration of oil was evaluated with an infrared spectrometer. Also, we sequenced the metagenomes of the samples in an ion torrent sequencer. The application of EPS did not aid the removal of hydrocarbons with or without the presence of nickel. However, it led to a smaller decrease in the diversity indexes. EPS decreased the abundance of Actinobacteria and increased that of Proteobacteria. The EPS also decreased the connectivity among Actinobacteria in the network analysis. The results indicated that the addition of EPS had a higher effect on the community structure than nickel. Altogether, our results indicate that this approach did not aid the bioremediation of hydrocarbons likely due to its effect in the community structure that affected hydrocarbonoclastic microorganisms.

Use of plant materials for the bioremediation of soil from an industrial site.

Bioremediation is one of the existing techniques applied for treating oil-contaminated soil, which can be improved by the incorporation of low-cost nutritional materials. This study aimed to assess the addition of two low-cost plant residues, sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and leaf litter (LL) of the forest leguminous Mimosa caesalpiniifolia plant (sabiá), either separately or combined, to a contaminated soil from a petroleum refinery area, analyzed after 90 days of treatment. Individually, both amounts of SCB (20 and 40 g kg-1) favored the growth of total heterotrophic bacteria and total fungi, while LL at 20 g kg-1 better stimulated the hydrocarbon-degrading microorganism's activity in the soil. However, no TPH removal was observed under any of these conditions. Higher microbial growth was detected by the application of both plant residues in multicontaminated soil. The maximum TPH removal of 30% was achieved in amended soil with 20 g kg-1 SCB and 20 kg-1 LL. All the experimental conditions revealed changes in the microbial community structure, related to the handling of the soil, with abundance of Alphaproteobacteria. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the plant residues SCB and LL as low-cost nutritional materials for biodegradation of hydrocarbon in real oil contaminated soil by indigenous populations.

Federal university hospitals: heterogeneity in the coordination of clinical trials authorized by the National Health Surveillance Agency

Introduction: This study aimed to describe clinical trials approved by the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and coordinated by federal university hospitals (FUHs), as well as to investigate the relationship between the number of clinical trials and the assistance provided by these FUHs. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study based on data obtained from the ANVISA clinical trial consultation system. The National Register of Health Care Facilities and the Ambulatory Care Information System of the Unified Health System (SUS) were used as sources of information on the assistance provided by FUHs, such as the mean number of specialized medical consultations and the number of beds. Scatter plot and Spearman's correlation coefficient analyses were used to verify the association between these aspects of FUHs and the number of clinical trials. Results: Between 2012 and 2013, ANVISA authorized 209 trials to be coordinated by 23 FUHs; 75% of the trials were coordinated by 7 FUHs, 69.8% were phase III trials, and 94% were multicenter studies. The number of clinical trials presented positive and statistically significant associations with the mean number of specialized medical consultations and the number of beds (Spearman's correlation coefficients r = +0.70 and r = +0.64, respectively). Conclusion: FUHs have a leadership role in the conduction of clinical trials in Brazil, but showed heterogeneity regarding their assistance capacities and the number of clinical trials. A predominance of phase III trials may be interpreted as a low use of the scientific potentiality of these facilities. (AU)

Acolhimento psicológico e afeto em tempos de pandemia: práticas políticas de afirmação da vida / Recepción psicológica y afecto en tiempos de pandemia: prácticas políticas de afirmación de vida / Psychological caring and affection in times of pandemic: life-affirming political practices

Resumo Este artigo tem como proposição discorrer acerca do acolhimento psicológico enquanto uma prática política de afirmação da vida e da saúde no panorama nacional, onde as políticas públicas para tratar a pandemia de Covid-19 tomam rumos distanciados de uma noção mais ampla de cuidado. Inspiradas na vivência de atuar em um dispositivo de acolhimento de uma universidade pública nesse momento de pandemia, nosso objetivo neste texto consiste em discutir os desafios para ultrapassar um modelo clássico de "acolhimento" em psicologia. Fundamentadas na cartografia, percorremos 05 pistas: "a-pandemia-em-nós", "o acolhimento e seus rastros", "contato, contágio e a potência dos encontros", "o cuidado como revolução numa experiência viva de afirmação da vida" e "amparo e afeto numa prática engajada". Tais pistas problematizam a prática do acolhimento psicológico partindo da reconfiguração das fronteiras relacionais em situações extremas, no caso, a pandemia, bem como das afetações que esse intervir produz nesse campo de atuação.

Resumen Este artículo propone hablar de la recepción psicológica como práctica política de afirmación de la vida y la salud en el panorama nacional, donde las políticas públicas para hacer frente a la pandemia Covid-19 se alejan de una noción más amplia de cuidado. Inspirándonos en la experiencia de trabajar en un centro de acogida psicológica de una universidad pública en este momento pandémico, nuestro objetivo en este texto es discutir los desafíos para superar un modelo clásico de "recepción " en psicología. A partir de la cartografía, cubrimos 5 pistas: "la-pandemia-em-nosotros", "la acogida y sus huellas", "contacto, contagio y el poder de los encuentros ", "el cuidado como revolución en una experiencia viva de afirmación de vida" y "apoyo y afecto en una práctica comprometida". Tales pistas problematizan la práctica de la recepción psicológica a partir de la reconfiguración de los límites relacionales en situaciones extremas, en este caso la pandemia, así como de los afectos que esta intervención produce en este campo de acción.

Abstract This article proposes to discuss psychological care as a political practice of affirming life and health in the national scenery, in which public policies to address the Covid-19 pandemic have taken a step away from a broader notion of care. Inspired by the experience of working in a public university psychological care facility during this pandemic, our aim with this text is to discuss the challenges to overcome a classic model of "caring" in psychology. Based on cartography, we follow 5 clues: "the-pandemic-in-us", "the psychological care and its tracks", "contact, contagion and the power of encounters", "caring as a revolution in a living experience of affirmation of life" and "support and affection in a committed practice". Such clues problematize the practice of psychological care starting from the reconfiguration of relational boundaries in extreme situations, in this case, the pandemic, as well as from the affections that this intervention produces in psychology.

Configurações e reconfigurações do movimento de jovens vivendo com HIV/AIDS no Brasil: Identidades e prevenções em jogo / Configurations and re-configurations of the young people living with hiv/aids movement in Brazil: Identities and preventions at stake / Configuraciones y reconfiguraciones del movimiento de jóvenes viviendo con VIH / SIDA en Brasil: Identidades y prevenciones en juego

Resumo: Construída como modelar durante as últimas décadas, a "política de AIDS" tem sido, entretanto, posta à prova tendo por base diferentes processos: o aumento de novas infecções entre "jovens" e "populações-chave"; a priorização por parte do governo de abordagens biomédicas; e o arrefecimento do ativismo. Partindo desse panorama, este trabalho discute parte dos resultados de uma pesquisa antropológica que analisou sete Encontros Nacionais de Adolescentes e Jovens Vivendo com HIV/AIDS. Observa-se a passagem da construção de uma "juventude" específica, os jovens vivendo com HIV/AIDS, para a configuração de outra "juventude" bastante genérica, que não distingue potenciais infectados daqueles já atingidos pelo vírus. A retomada da centralidade da noção de "risco" na compreensão da epidemia é percebida por alguns interlocutores do campo como uma possível retomada da velha e ultrapassada noção de "grupo de risco".

Abstract: Having been constructed as a model over recent decades, the "AIDS policy" has, however, been tested by different processes: the increase of new infections among "young people" and "key populations"; the government's prioritization of biomedical approaches; and the cooling of the activism. Based on this perspective, this work discusses part of the results of an anthropological study that analyzed seven National Meetings of Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV/AIDS. It can be seen that the construction of a specific "youth", young people living with HIV/AIDS, has moved to the construction of a rather generic "youth" which does not distinguish potentially infected individuals from those already affected by the virus. A return to the centrality of the "risk" notion in understanding the epidemic is seen by some interlocutors in the field as a possible return to the outdated notion of "risk group".

Resumen: Construida como modelo durante las últimas décadas, la "política de SIDA" ha sido, no obstante, puesta a prueba a partir de diferentes procesos: el aumento de nuevas infecciones en "jóvenes" y "poblaciones clave"; la priorización por parte del gobierno de enfoques biomédicos; y el enfriamiento del activismo. A partir de dicho panorama, este trabajo discute parte de los resultados de una investigación antropológica que analizó siete Encuentros Nacionales de Adolescentes y Jóvenes Viviendo con VIH/SIDA. Se observa el paso de la construcción de una "juventud" específica, los jóvenes viviendo con VIH/SIDA, a la configuración de otra "juventud" bastante genérica, que no distingue entre potenciales infectados y aquellos a los que el virus ya alcanzó. Algunos interlocutores del campo perciben la retomada de la centralidad de la noción de "riesgo" en la comprensión de la epidemia como una posible retomada de la vieja y superada noción de "grupo de riesgo".

The maternal genetic make-up of the Iberian Peninsula between the Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age.

Agriculture first reached the Iberian Peninsula around 5700 BCE. However, little is known about the genetic structure and changes of prehistoric populations in different geographic areas of Iberia. In our study, we focus on the maternal genetic makeup of the Neolithic (~ 5500-3000 BCE), Chalcolithic (~ 3000-2200 BCE) and Early Bronze Age (~ 2200-1500 BCE). We report ancient mitochondrial DNA results of 213 individuals (151 HVS-I sequences) from the northeast, central, southeast and southwest regions and thus on the largest archaeogenetic dataset from the Peninsula to date. Similar to other parts of Europe, we observe a discontinuity between hunter-gatherers and the first farmers of the Neolithic. During the subsequent periods, we detect regional continuity of Early Neolithic lineages across Iberia, however the genetic contribution of hunter-gatherers is generally higher than in other parts of Europe and varies regionally. In contrast to ancient DNA findings from Central Europe, we do not observe a major turnover in the mtDNA record of the Iberian Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age, suggesting that the population history of the Iberian Peninsula is distinct in character.

Plasmodium berghei EXP-1 interacts with host Apolipoprotein H during Plasmodium liver-stage development.

The first, obligatory replication phase of malaria parasite infections is characterized by rapid expansion and differentiation of single parasites in liver cells, resulting in the formation and release of thousands of invasive merozoites into the bloodstream. Hepatic Plasmodium development occurs inside a specialized membranous compartment termed the parasitophorous vacuole (PV). Here, we show that, during the parasite's hepatic replication, the C-terminal region of the parasitic PV membrane protein exported protein 1 (EXP-1) binds to host Apolipoprotein H (ApoH) and that this molecular interaction plays a pivotal role for successful Plasmodium liver-stage development. Expression of a truncated EXP-1 protein, missing the specific ApoH interaction site, or down-regulation of ApoH expression in either hepatic cells or mouse livers by RNA interference resulted in impaired intrahepatic development. Furthermore, infection of mice with sporozoites expressing a truncated version of EXP-1 resulted in both a significant reduction of liver burden and delayed blood-stage patency, leading to a disease outcome different from that generally induced by infection with wild-type parasites. This study identifies a host-parasite protein interaction during the hepatic stage of infection by Plasmodium parasites. The identification of such vital interactions may hold potential toward the development of novel malaria prevention strategies.