News from Latin America

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-Oct-2026 09:16 ET (27-Oct-2026 13:16 GMT/UTC)

3-Aug-2018

 

Each tropical tree species specializes in getting the nutrients it needs

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers looking for general patterns in the way tropical trees capture nutrients were surprised to find that every species has its own way of getting the nutrients it needs. The concept of biodiversity extends to their behavior.

Journal

Ecology Letters

Funder

HSBC Bank USA, Stanley Motta, Small World Institute Fund, Hoch Family, Smithsonian Institution, National Science Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation

2-Aug-2018

 

Tropical forest seeds use three strategies to survive

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Peer-Reviewed Publication

From tiny banana seeds to giant coconuts, it's tough for seeds to survive in tropical soils where they are under constant attack by fungi, bacteria, insects and animals. By understanding how seeds defend themselves, tropical biologists contribute to reforestation, crop management and sustainable agriculture in the tropics.

Journal

Ecology

Funder

U.S. National Science Foundation and Simons Foundation

2-Aug-2018

 

Study elucidates epigenetic mechanisms behind autoimmune diseases

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

Brazilian researchers use an editing tool to investigate a gene that plays a key role in eliminating autoaggressive cells and controlling the development of diseases such as type 1 diabetes. In tests with mice, the disrupting of medullary thymic epithelial cells gene impaired the processing of mRNA involved in their adhesion to autoaggressive T lymphocytes.

Journal

Frontiers in Immunology

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

30-Jul-2018

Study shows how Oropouche virus replicates in human cells

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

Results described in PLOS Pathogens point to potential targets worth exploring in effort to halt infection by the emerging virus, which is transmitted by the C. paraensis midge. Oropouche's strategy of 'hijacking' the Golgi complex in order to replicate itself has never been described before, state the researchers.

Journal

PLOS Pathogens

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

26-Jul-2018

New two-dimensional material could revolutionize solar fuel generation

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

International group of researchers including Brazilian scientists obtain from hematite a new material with application as a photocatalyst, christened 'hematene.' The three-atom thick hematene is a ferromagnetic material, as opposed to the iron ore from which it was created from.

Journal

Nature Nanotechnology

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

24-Jul-2018

Research shows how the Little Ice Age affected South American climate

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

For the first time, scientists reconstruct the rainfall distribution in Brazil during the climate changes that marked the Middle Ages using isotopic records from caves.

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

19-Jul-2018

Cold fronts may increase stroke mortality

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

Study conducted in Southern Hemisphere's subtropical zone detects correlation between drop in temperature and rise in deaths from stroke, especially among women and older people.

Journal

International Journal of Biometeorology

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

18-Jul-2018

Identified RNA molecules that regulate action of male hormone in prostate cancer

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

A study detected in tumoral tissue hundreds of RNAs that do not encode proteins but appear to regulate effects of androgens and androgen receptors on gene expression in tumors. By investigating the connection between the presençe of these molecules and tumor aggressiveness, the research paves the way for new scientific approaches focusing on the transcription process of noncoding RNA.

Journal

Frontiers in Genetics

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

16-Jul-2018

Startup innovates by developing IoT technology for forestry sector

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

Treevia, a internationally-awarded Brazilian firm, replaces costly manual collection operations for a wearable device that uses electronic sensors to monitor tree growth, quality and health in real time. The system also employs big data to generate reports in order to increase forest management efficiency.

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP

13-Jul-2018

Study describes enzyme's key role in immune response to Chagas disease parasite

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

A study shows that the expression of PI3Kγ protein increases during infection by T. cruzi, an essential response in avoiding excessive inflammation and controlling parasitemia. Heart tissue analyses involving human patients who developed cardiopathy in the disease's chronic stage also provided results. The next challenge is to devise treatment for Chagas using molecules capable of modulating the cellular signaling pathway mediated by PI3Kγ.

Journal

Nature Communications

Funder

Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP