News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 9-May-2025 19:09 ET (9-May-2025 23:09 GMT/UTC)

18-Dec-2018

Optimizing restoration can deliver an eightfold increase in cost-effectiveness

International Institute for Sustainability
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution presents a novel approach to identify optimal priority areas for restoration, considering multiple criteria such as biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and reduction of costs. In a context of multiple local, national and global targets for ecosystem restoration, the study presents a flexible tool capable of increasing restoration cost-effectiveness by up to eight times.

Journal

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Funder

Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, O Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection and Brazilian Coordination, German Ministry of the Environment's International Climate Initiative, Serrapilheira Institute

18-Dec-2018

Sofosbuvir rids organism of chikungunya and yellow fever viruses

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

Sofosbuvir is already used to treat hepatitis C and has passed all human use approval tests, so it can be fairly easily deployed if the chikungunya epidemic forecast for the next two years materializes.

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

12-Dec-2018

Butantan Institute and MSD agree to collaborate on dengue vaccine development

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Business Announcement

São Paulo State research institution signs agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme to exchange information on proprietary processes and clinical trials of vaccines.

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

11-Dec-2018

Researchers propose guidelines for the therapeutic use of melatonin

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

In an article published in Endocrine Reviews, Brazilian professors discuss the general criteria to be considered when prescribing the pineal hormone as a health supplement. The guidelines will help health professionals to analyze, understand and interpret the effects of melatonin.

Journal

Endocrine Reviews

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

10-Dec-2018

Study identifies a key cellular mechanism that triggers pneumonia in humans

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

Researchers have demonstrated that influenza virus impairs the immune response to pneumococcus, especially monocyte activity. A software tool developed with FAPESP's support was used to interpret the data.

Journal

Nature Immunology

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

10-Dec-2018

Frog sex in the city

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

How do animals adapt to urban environments? In the case of the Tungara frog, city males put on a more elaborate mating display than males in forested areas.

Journal

Nature Ecology & Evolution

Funder

Ecology Fund of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences, Veni Grant, Marie Curie grant, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Science Foundation

7-Dec-2018

Study highlights correlations between violent death and substance use

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

Consumption of alcohol or at least one drug was associated with over half the violent deaths that occurred in São Paulo City in the period analyzed.

Journal

Injury

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

6-Dec-2018

Simple steps to climate-proof farms have big potential upside for tropical farmers

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

Climate-smart agriculture boosts yields, mitigates extreme weather impact and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. A study by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Central America, Africa and Asia points to profitable opportunities for farmers and the environment.

Journal

PLOS One

Funder

International Fund for Agricultural Development

4-Dec-2018

Oral cancer prognostic signature identified

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

Discovery based on analysis of tissue and saliva samples from oral cancer patients shows a correlation between a signature comprising three peptides and the presence of lymph node metastasis.

Journal

Nature Communications

Funder

São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Brazil). Geochronologic research at the MIT Isotope Lab

3-Dec-2018

Study puts the Neotropics on the map of the world's food production centers in antiquity

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

Sambaqui societies had sophisticated diet. Study suggests that hunter-gatherer communities living in coastal Atlantic Forest areas between 8,000 and 1,000 years ago consumed a range of plants and more carbohydrates than expected for the period and region.

Journal

Royal Society Open Science

Funder

Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)