5-Oct-2015 Dengue protein modulates human enzyme: Fuel for replication Publicase International Peer-Reviewed Publication A new study published in the Journal of Virology reveals that NS1, a nonstructural protein composing the replication machinery of the dengue virus, binds to a well-known human enzyme as a way to increase energy production to be used for viral replication. Journal Journal of Virology
2-Oct-2015 Colorful caterpillar chemists Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Peer-Reviewed Publication Scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute compared the diets of two caterpillar species, expecting the one that exclusively consumed plants containing toxic chemicals would more easily incorporate toxins into its body than the one with a broad diet. They found the opposite. The new finding flies in the face of a long-held theory that specialist insects are better adapted to use toxic plant chemicals than non-specialists. Journal Journal of Chemical Ecology Funder National Institutes of Health
28-Sep-2015 Children with ADHD and their mothers may live less than average population D'Or Institute for Research and Education Peer-Reviewed Publication Brazilian scientists found that ADHD children and their mothers are more likely to have shorter telomeres, a hallmark of cellular aging, which is associated with increased risk for chronic diseases and conditions like diabetes, obesity and cancer. Journal Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
22-Sep-2015 Report on bioenergy and sustainability to be launched at World Bank Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo Peer-Reviewed Publication Over the past two years, 137 experts from 24 countries and 82 institutions have collaborated to analyze a range of issues related to the sustainability of bioenergy production and use. The resulting report Bioenergy & Sustainability: Bridging the Gaps, will be launched at a symposium at the World Bank, on Sept. 28, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
22-Sep-2015 New clues on the history of the smallpox vaccine virus Publicase International Peer-Reviewed Publication Given the fear that the variola virus could be reintroduced to humans in weaponized form, new generations of smallpox vaccines are highly needed. A new study provides fresh insights on the relationship among the vaccinia strains used to eradicate smallpox in the world and indicates that differently than previously thought, the Dryvax virus that led to the second-generation of smallpox vaccine in the USA is closely related to the Brazilian strain and might as well have come from the French and not the British. Journal Journal of Virology Funder CNPq, Faperj, CAPES
21-Sep-2015 Experiment confirms fundamental symmetry in nature Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo Peer-Reviewed Publication Scientists working with ALICE, a heavy-ion detector on the Large Hadron Collider ring, have made precise measurements of particle mass and electric charge that confirm the existence of a fundamental symmetry in nature. The findings, reported in a paper published online in Nature Physics on Aug. 17, led the researchers to confirm a fundamental symmetry between the nuclei of the particles and their antiparticles in terms of charge, parity and time. Journal Nature Physics Funder São Paulo Research Foundation
9-Sep-2015 Brain plasticity in the most dreaded biblical disease Publicase International Peer-Reviewed Publication A new study shows that nerve damage caused by leprosy is associated to changes in the brain of patients. Journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases Funder Brazilian Innovation Agency, Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support in the State of Rio de Janeiro, National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development, and others
31-Aug-2015 Closer to a treatment for the 'asthma of the esophagus' D'Or Institute for Research and Education Peer-Reviewed Publication Scientists from Brazilian institutions and the Yale University School of Medicine have elucidated the chemical process behind a mysterious gastrointestinal disease that is becoming more frequent every day: the eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), also known as the 'asthma of the esophagus'. The researchers identified a molecule which plays a key role in this condition and that can be a target in a new therapeutic strategy. Journal Mucosal Immunology
13-Aug-2015 Sequestered prion protein takes the good mood away, suggests new hypothesis on depression Publicase International Peer-Reviewed Publication The discovery of antidepressant drugs led to the first biochemical hypothesis of depression, known as the monoamine hypothesis. However, this hypothesis does not seem to fully explain the complexity of human depression. Now a new study offers one more important key that may increase our understanding of the pathogenesis behind clinical depression and neurodegenerative disorders. Journal Journal of Biological Chemistry Funder Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support in the State of Rio de Janeiro, National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development
10-Aug-2015 Brazilian antibody will be used to create new cancer drug Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo Business Announcement A Brazilian company has signed a licensing agreement with an American laboratory, under which the US-based company's technology will be used to produce a monoclonal antibody (mAb), developed in Brazil, that can be deployed for the purposes of cancer treatment. Funder São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP