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The Indigenous peoples of South America are descended from three waves of migration. According to a study conducted exclusively by researchers from the continent, one of these waves, which is most represented in the current population, came from Mesoamerica around 1,300 years ago. This finding reveals the greater complexity of the history of Indigenous peoples and their greater genetic diversity than previously anticipated. The research is featured on the cover of the May 7 issue of the [...]

The Sabiá virus causes an acute hemorrhagic and neurological syndrome. Four fatal cases have been recorded in the state of São Paulo since 1990. The virus has been circulating in Brazil for about 142 years. Genomic analyses of two cases recorded in 2019 and 2020 show that the virus has undergone genetic changes over time, which explains why it was not identified by existing tests. These results are part of a study published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases . The study was [...]

Like fireflies and many deep-sea creatures, certain fungi can naturally emit light through bioluminescence pathways in which specialized enzymes convert chemical energy into visible light. Medical researchers have used fungal light-producing enzymes in the Fungal Bioluminescence Pathway (FBP) to visually track processes like tumor progression and inflammatory responses. New research published in The FEBS Journal provides insights that may help improve and expand such bioluminescence-based tools [...]

Witches’ broom disease, caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, decimated cocoa crops in southern Bahia state, Brazil, in the 1990s. It was even the subject of a local soap opera and continues to plague the chocolate industry in the Amazon region. However, a recent study published in Scientific Reports offers hope that increased cocoa production in the Amazon region will not rely so heavily on fungicides and fertilizers. Supported by FAPESP and conducted at the Frederico Afonso [...]

The protein p53 is often called the guardian of the genome for its central role in preventing cancer. Yet paradoxically, it is also one of the most frequently mutated and dysfunctional proteins in human tumors. A longstanding mystery has been why p53 - unlike its closely related paralogs p63 and p73 - is so prone to misfolding and forming toxic aggregates. A new study published in Communication Chemistry now provides a detailed molecular explanation for this vulnerability. Led by researchers [...]

Creatine, one of the most popular supplements among gym-goers and athletes, does not appear to have the anti-inflammatory effect that many imagine. This conclusion comes from a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in Brazil by researchers at São Paulo State University (UNESP), which evaluated clinical trials in humans. The study indicates that, to date, there is no consistent evidence that creatine reduces inflammatory markers in the body. Supported by FAPESP , the study was [...]

Researchers affiliated with the Center for Development of Functional Materials ( CDMF ), at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, have demonstrated an electrochemical strategy capable of producing amines directly from molecular nitrogen (N₂). The CDMF is a FAPESP Research, Innovation, and Dissemination Center ( RIDC ). This method could pave the way for more sustainable production of chemical inputs widely used in industry. Amines are a [...]

Neurons and white blood cells differ greatly in shape, function, and location within the body. However, researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil discovered that certain genes are equally dysregulated in both cell types in people with depression. This finding not only reinforces the systemic nature of depression, which has repercussions that extend beyond mental health, but also paves the way for future blood tests that can identify the type and severity of depression. The [...]

A two-dimensional lamellar crystal composed of atomically thin layers of lead iodide (PbI₂) could be used to manufacture a new generation of circuits that use light and mechanical vibrations (rather than electrons) to transmit information in the terahertz frequency range. This promising technology was studied by researchers at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), in partnership with colleagues from the University of Lille (France) and other international [...]