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Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo


Co-infection by novel species of parasite is confirmed in visceral leishmaniasis patient

A child patient was co-infected with Leishmania infantum and an unnamed Crithidia parasite species, revealing a rare case of non-ulcerated cutaneous leishmaniasis. Genome sequencing confirmed the presence of both parasites, sparking new research questions on disease transmission and host susceptibility.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateAug 8, 2023

Three out of every ten meals ordered from the main food delivery app in Brazil come from dark kitchens

A study in Brazil found that 35.4% of restaurants on a popular food delivery app are 'dark kitchens' with no direct contact with consumers, serving mainly Brazilian food at lower costs. The research highlights health and safety issues, consumer perceptions, and the need for legal viability to ensure sanitary inspection.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalFood Research International·DateAug 3, 2023

Luzio, who lived in São Paulo 10,000 years ago, was Amerindian like Indigenous people now, DNA reveals

A study analyzing genomic data from 34 fossils, including the famous sambaquis shell mounds, found that Luzio, São Paulo's oldest skeleton, was a descendant of the ancestral population that settled the Americas at least 16,000 years ago. The research also revealed differences between coastal and inland communities, suggesting two disti...

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJul 31, 2023

Research with Brazilian participation is first to create models of bovine embryos

Researchers at the University of São Paulo's Institute of Biosciences successfully developed blastoids from bovine pluripotent stem cells, creating an accessible in vitro model for studying embryogenesis. This breakthrough could lead to improved farm animal reproduction and enable breeding cattle with desirable characteristics.

Compound reduced inflammation in COVID-19-infected mice without compromising immune response to virus

Researchers identified a new class of molecules capable of preventing excessive inflammation in severe COVID-19. Blocking the link between peptide C5a and its cellular receptor reduced lung damage and other complications in mice. This finding suggests that antagonists of C5aR1 could be useful for treating severe COVID-19.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 25, 2023

Study shows Kant’s influence on Georges Canguilhem, who anticipated concepts current in medicine today

French philosopher Georges Canguilhem was influenced by Immanuel Kant's ideas on 'technique', 'technical activity' and 'practice', which shaped his conception of medicine. Canguilhem prioritized the egalitarian principles symbolized by the French Republic's motto, emphasizing the importance of social well-being in health.

Study suggests resistance training can prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers found that four weeks of resistance training with weights reversed behavioral and physical alterations characteristic of the disease in mice. The study's results suggest that physical activity can be an effective strategy to avoid or delay the appearance of symptoms of sporadic Alzheimer’s, which may be associated with aging.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateJul 3, 2023

Study proposes simple low-cost solutions to improve thermal comfort in social housing

Researchers developed a pilot study to address the issue of thermal discomfort in social housing projects. They proposed replacing conventional windows with fully openable tilting windows, monolithic expanded polystyrene walls, and green-tinted tempered glass, which can reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Study identifies a protein that could be a target for a vaccine against spotted fever

Researchers at the University of São Paulo identified a protein in Amblyomma ticks essential to their survival while feeding, making it a promising target for developing a vaccine. The study found that silencing gene expression of an inhibitor of apoptosis protein reduced bacterial proliferation and made ticks more resistant to infection.

Brazilian algorithm aims to project future of Amazon Rainforest and predict changes in carbon capture

The CAETÊ algorithm projects the future of vegetation in the Amazon, presenting scenarios for transformation driven by climate change. It shows that a drier climate could increase biodiversity but lower carbon storage, with carbon absorption dropping between 57.48% and 57.75% compared to regular climate conditions.

International scientific collaboration helps reduce regional disparities in tackling climate change

Experts at the Global Research Council's annual meeting emphasize the need for equal opportunities and local context-specific challenges to address climate change impacts. The assessment highlights the importance of global research collaboration, tailored solutions, and partnerships between countries to mitigate and adapt to climate ch...

Research project analyzes medical, nutritional and environmental applications of new Antarctic bacteria

Researchers discovered two new psychrophilic species of bacteria with cold-adapted enzymes, which can be used in biotechnology to produce refrigerated foods, improve detergent quality, and remove pollutants from cold environments. The study was conducted in collaboration with Uruguayan scientists and supported by FAPESP.

Leishmania parasite manipulates organism’s defense system to continue replicating, study shows

Researchers at USP in Brazil discovered that Leishmania parasites manipulate the protein gasdermin-D to prevent the immune system from killing them. This allows the parasite to continue replicating and causing disease. The findings offer hope for developing novel treatments for leishmaniasis, a disease affecting 30,000 people annually.

Study points out errors in illustrations of one of the most famous scientific experiments

A study by researcher Breno Arsioli Moura investigated the depictions of Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment in illustrations published in the 19th century. The study found several inaccuracies, including the incorrect location where the experiment was performed and the method used to harness electricity from the clouds.

Brazilian researchers test technique that can make analysis of male fertility potential more accurate

Researchers at São Paulo State University developed a new technique for analyzing male fertility potential using flow cytometry, which can detect and analyze chemical and physical characteristics of human sperm simultaneously. This technique has the potential to enhance the accuracy of fertility prediction and treatment.

Researchers find compound that combats multidrug-resistant bacteria in less than one hour

Researchers have discovered a compound that can combat multidrug-resistant bacteria within one hour, including the ESKAPE group of pathogens. The compound, Pln149-PEP20, is a synthetic peptide inspired by molecules secreted by Lactobacillus plantarum and has been found to be highly active against MDR bacteria.