News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 10-May-2025 00:09 ET (10-May-2025 04:09 GMT/UTC)

6-Nov-2018

Pathway to resolve allergic asthma is discovered

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

Researchers identify the function of a protein that controls allergic diseases. Study could lead to development of medications for autoimmune disorders and other diseases, such as certain types of cancer.

Journal

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Funder

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

6-Nov-2018

First study of humpback whale survivors of orca attacks in the Southeastern Pacific

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scars left by orca attacks indicate that most victims are young whales on the first trip from breeding to feeding grounds. Increasing numbers of scars may mean that there are more orcas in the Southern Pacific, researchers say.

Journal

Endangered Species Research

1-Nov-2018

Bioluminescent substance discovered in Brazilian cave worm larva

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

Identification of the first luciferin-producing insect belonging to the order Diptera in the Neotropics paves the way for researchers to investigate other biochemical functions of the molecule in these organisms.

Journal

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences

Funder

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

31-Oct-2018

Genes that could lead to improvement of beef cattle are identified

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

Researchers identify 35 genes associated with reproduction, milk composition, growth, meat and carcass, health or body conformation traits in Gir cattle.

Journal

PLOS One

Funder

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

30-Oct-2018

Discovery of Zika virus in monkeys suggests disease may also have wild cycle

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

Sylvatic cycle would give virus a natural reservoir from which it could more frequently reinfect humans. Study on subject has been published by Brazilian researchers in Scientific Reports.

Journal

Scientific Reports

Funder

São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

26-Oct-2018

Cappuccino made with jackfruit seed flour has chocolate aroma

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

A study conducted in Brazil shows that flour made from roasted jackfruit seeds can replace cocoa powder in a mixture of milk and coffee used to make cappuccino.

Journal

PLOS One

Funder

São Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

25-Oct-2018

New Bat Behavior Discovered

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Reports and Proceedings

25-Oct-2018

Researchers observe novel bat behavior in Panama

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

According to a new report from researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) who studied Peters' tent-making bats (Uroderma bilobatum), mothers prod their young with their forearms, perhaps encouraging them to fledge and wean.

Journal

PLOS One

Funder

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Clemson University, Fulbright Scholar Program, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

24-Oct-2018

Chemotherapy drug paclitaxel also acts as an immune response modulator

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

By finding that the cancer drug also activates a key cellular receptor in the innate immune system, a study at the Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases (CRID), in Brazil, may lead to new treatment strategies.

Journal

Cancer Research

Funder

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

18-Oct-2018

Colored filter improves dyslexic children's reading speed

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

Volunteers aged 9-10 with dyslexia took less time to read passages from children's books, possibly thanks to attenuated excitability of the cerebral cortex.

Journal

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP