News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 5-May-2025 09:09 ET (5-May-2025 13:09 GMT/UTC)

1-Dec-2022

Study conducted at hospital in São Paulo state detects measles antibodies in only 75% of under-fifteens

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A total of 252 children living in a city in northwestern São Paulo took part in the study, in which blood samples from hospitalized children were analyzed. The percentage with measles antibodies was less than the 94% target considered ideal to prevent outbreaks.

Journal

Vaccines

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

30-Nov-2022

Post-pandemic outbreak of drug-resistant fungus in Brazil owing to abuse of medications and full up ICUs

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a test of drug resistance, isolates of Candida parapsilosis were cultured in the center of a plate with fluconazole, a widely used antifungal. The fungus is considered resistant when it surpasses 8 milligrams per liter on the scale in the center. In this sample, the level exceeded 256 mg/l.

Journal

Emerging Microbes & Infections

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

29-Nov-2022

New paper highlights the co-benefits of coordinating climate action and peacebuilding

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A recently published paper authored by researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research and Humboldt University of Berlin discussed how climate mitigation and peacebuilding can become a virtuous cycle that generates sustainable development co-benefits.

Journal

Journal of Peacebuilding & Development

29-Nov-2022

Novel device detects COVID-19 antibodies in five minutes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Tests continue to be essential for epidemiological surveillance and for health services to monitor and contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Brazilian scientists have contributed to endeavors in this field by developing an electrochemical immunosensor that detects antibodies against the virus.

Journal

ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

28-Nov-2022

Locally-grown school meals can help children, farmers and the climate

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers from the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) are showing that providing healthier, locally-grown and climate-adapted food to school meal programs can benefit children, farmers and the climate.

28-Nov-2022

New analysis finds pandemic didn’t dampen deforestation

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Despite the massive upheavals in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, deforestation globally proceeded more or less as expected from the trends established over the last 15 years, according to a recent study from researchers at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

Journal

Journal of Forestry Research

23-Nov-2022

Scientists discover new mechanism associated with severe COVID-19

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The researchers detected dysregulation of the immune system mediated by ATP (adenosine triphosphate), one of the main sources of energy for cellular processes. Severe COVID-19 patients had higher levels of ATP in their blood and lower levels of adenosine, which should increase when ATP is metabolized for energy production.

Journal

Frontiers in Immunology

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

22-Nov-2022

Artificial intelligence helps detect gait alterations and diagnose Parkinson’s disease

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at São Paulo State University tested machine learning techniques to estimate parameters such as step length, width and velocity. The method makes clinical diagnosis more precise and can determine the stage reached in progression of the disease.

Journal

Gait & Posture

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

21-Nov-2022

New studies enrich knowledge of genetic factors that naturally protect people against COVID-19

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A team at a FAPESP-supported research center investigated over-90s who were resilient to SARS-CoV-2 and identical twins who had severe COVID-19 with different outcomes, including long COVID. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of vaccines and treatments for this and other viral diseases.

Journal

Frontiers in Immunology

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

18-Nov-2022

Cultural heritage may influence choice of tools by capuchin monkeys, study suggests

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The tools are pieces of quartzite and sandstone found in places referred to as processing sites. The animals frequent these sites solely to look for these stones for use as hammers and anvils. One stone is used to pound a nut or seed resting on another stone used as an anvil.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo