News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 13-Dec-2025 18:11 ET (13-Dec-2025 23:11 GMT/UTC)

23-Mar-2022

A model that mimics malformation associated with severe epilepsy paves way to novel therapies

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

Scientists at a FAPESP-funded research center reprogrammed skin cells from patients with epilepsy to differentiate into cortical organoids with hallmarks of the malformation known as focal cortical dysplasia.

Journal

Brain

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

22-Mar-2022

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as booster magnifies antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by a factor of 25

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

Brazilian researchers measured this increase in immunity in a study involving health workers who had received two doses of CoronaVac. In subjects given the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, the same booster raised immunity by a factor of 7.

Journal

Journal of Infection

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

15-Mar-2022

Even mild or moderate COVID-19 can affect the cardiovascular system in young adults, study shows

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

Researchers at São Paulo State University followed young men and women aged 20-40 without pre-existing disease. The findings show that obesity and physical inactivity increase the impact of the disease on the autonomic nervous system, which regulates blood pressure, heart rate and breathing, among other functions.

Journal

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

10-Mar-2022

Study proposes to involve high school students in mapping natural disaster hazards and impact prevention

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

Brazilian scientists tested a participatory disaster risk monitoring strategy in a town that was partially destroyed in 2010 after an unprecedented flood. The methodology can be applied in other parts of the country.

Journal

Disaster Prevention and Management An International Journal

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

9-Mar-2022

Edible, biodegradable, anti-microbial plastic boasts higher tensile strength than petroleum-based plastic

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

Designed for use as food packaging, the material is produced by scientists at São Paulo State University from gelatin, clay and a nanoemulsion of black pepper essential oil.

Journal

Polymers

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

8-Mar-2022

Mapping of exposed water tanks and swimming pools based on aerial images can help control dengue

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

A study conducted in Brazil combined use of aerial photography and artificial intelligence to identify socio-economically deprived urban areas at risk for diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti.

Journal

PLOS One

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

4-Mar-2022

Deforestation and climate change threaten Brazil’s new agricultural frontier

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

These factors combined have worsened the severe drought conditions in the transition zone between the eastern Amazon and the Brazilian savanna, where the main soybean-producing region (MaToPiBa) is located. The researchers who detected the trend warn that crop yields could fall.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

4-Mar-2022

A decade of deep-reef exploration in the Greater Caribbean

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The use of submersibles exponentially increased the recorded diversity of islands’ deep-reef fish faunas

Journal

Frontiers in Marine Science

Funder

National Geographic Society, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, University of Washington, Burke Museum

3-Mar-2022

Research reveals mechanism involved in transmission of genetic disease from mother to child

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

The study could serve as the basis for novel strategies to ensure that future generations are not affected by such diseases. Existing treatments are palliative, aimed at improving quality of life for the patient or delaying progression of the disease.

Journal

Science Advances

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

2-Mar-2022

Study identifies virus responsible for high mortality rate among pigeons in São Paulo City

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

A multicenter research team investigated an outbreak in 2019, which proved to be due to a subtype of the pathogen that causes Newcastle disease. According to the researchers, the risk to humans and poultry is low.

Journal

Viruses

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo