News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 16-Jun-2025 22:09 ET (17-Jun-2025 02:09 GMT/UTC)

14-Dec-2022

Religion is not the factor that most influences rejection of evolutionary theory in schools, study says

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

A survey of 5,500 Brazilian and Italian school students aged 14-16 pointed to nationality, social perceptions of science and household income as more influential than religion. The findings are published in PLOS ONE.

Journal

PLOS One

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

13-Dec-2022

Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of losing muscle strength by 78%

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

Researchers in Brazil and the UK analyzed data for more than 3,000 people aged 50 or more to prove the importance of vitamin D to muscles.

Journal

Calcified Tissue International

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

13-Dec-2022

Effects of antidepressants taken during pregnancy are poorly understood, scientists note

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

Brazilian researchers advocate trials using mini-brains grown in the lab to investigate the impact of these drugs on fetal neurodevelopment.

Journal

Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

6-Dec-2022

Infection of visceral fat cells may contribute to severe COVID-19, study suggests

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

The researcher said that It was possible to observe that visceral adipocytes are more susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2. Viral load increased far more in this fat cell type than in subcutaneous adipocytes due mainly to higher levels of the protein ACE-2.

Journal

Nature Communications

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

5-Dec-2022

Study links genetic variant to digestive disturbances in patients with Chagas disease

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

An article published in the journal Biomedicines describes a study led by Brazilian researchers showing that mutations occurred in the mitochondrial genes of patients with Chagas disease megaesophagus, a disorder in which the esophagus dilates and loses motility. The discovery could pave the way to the development of novel treatments.

Journal

Biomedicines

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

1-Dec-2022

Despite peculiarities, conservation challenges are similar in Madagascar and Brazil

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

Two articles published in the journal Science by an international group of researchers that includes Brazilians present an up-to-date review of existing knowledge of the island’s rich biodiversity and how it is protected. Maintaining harmony between the species found on this tropical island off the coast of Africa and its human population is a daunting challenge.

Journal

Science

Funder

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

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