More news from The Americas
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NewsRice resists change: Study reveals viral tools for probing gene function fall short
Researchers tested two popular viral vectors - barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) and foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) - to see if they could temporarily switch genes on or off in rice (Oryza sativa). They found no evidence that these virus-enabled reverse genetics (VERG) techniques work in rice.
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NewsParasitic fungus may have emerged 18 million years before the ants with which it lives today
An analysis of 309 strains indicates that the genus Escovopsis emerged 56.9 million years ago, but only began interacting with today’s mutualistic ants 38 million years ago, challenging the theory that they all emerged at the same time.
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NewsStudy links childhood vaccination to lower risk of drug-resistant bacteria
Children in Guatemala who received a common vaccine that helps prevent pneumonia were less likely to carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a new study examining whether rotavirus (RV) and pneumococcal (PCV13) vaccines reduce gut colonization by a group of bacteria.
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NewsMetabolites produced in the intestine play a central role in controlling obesity and diabetes
A study has identified a group of metabolites that travel from the intestine to the liver and then to the heart, where they are pumped throughout the body. These metabolites play an important role in controlling metabolic pathways in the liver and insulin sensitivity.
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NewsRainfall and temperature shape mosquito fauna in Atlantic Forest bromeliads, including malaria vectors
Results from a study of mosquito larvae conducted in a natural area in the municipality of São Paulo (Brazil) may help estimate the effects of climate change on disease transmission risk in the biome.
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NewsMissing links for rabies in Peru highlights global threats of health inequity
Researchers found that efforts to track dog-related rabies in poorer areas of Peru’s second largest city were lacking even though more dogs were found to have the disease there than in wealthier neighborhoods.
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NewsAccessible imaging technique can predict cardiac risks in patients with Chagas disease
A simple imaging exam capable of assessing myocardial deformation during contraction has emerged as a promising tool for predicting the risk of cardiac complications in patients with chronic Chagas disease.
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NewsGlobal Virus Network welcomes new centers of excellence across the Americas
The Global Virus Network (GVN), a coalition of leading medical virologists representing 80+ Centers of Excellence and Affiliates in 40+ countries, has announced the addition of three new Centers of Excellence.
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NewsMalaria risk in the Amazon is higher in regions with intermediate forest degradation
Research shows that areas with 50% deforestation near residential areas or fragmented vegetation allow greater contact between mosquitoes and humans. The study helps us understand the link between forest destruction and the spread of the disease.
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NewsUnderwater thermal vents may have given rise to the first molecular precursors of life
A new study shows that, without the presence of enzymes, natural gradients of pH, redox potential, and temperature present in underwater hydrothermal vents could have promoted the reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid and the subsequent formation of acetic acid.
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NewsIn the midst of a global dengue epidemic, Wolbachia kept a Brazilian city safe
In the middle of the world’s worst global dengue epidemic, a city in Brazil was effectively protected by an innovative program that introduced the bacterium Wolbachia into the local mosquito population, lowering the rate of dengue by almost 90 per cent.
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NewsProtein nanorings designed to detect and neutralize SARS-CoV2 virus
Scientists have generated a new ring-shaped protein nanomaterial capable of strongly binding to and neutralising the SARS-CoV2 virus. The new nanomaterial is formed by a scaffold based on recombinant ring-like proteins (RLPs), to which mini proteins were incorporated.
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News1,000-year-old gut microbiome revealed for young man who lived in pre-Hispanic Mexico
Analysis of preserved feces and intestinal tissue has revealed specific types of bacteria that were present in the microbiome of a young adult man who lived in Mexico about 1,000 years ago, prior to Spanish colonization.
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NewsBreakthrough results from elephant herpesvirus trial find vaccine to be safe
The world’s first vaccine trial against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) – a leading cause of death in young Asian elephants – is safe and triggers a strong virus-fighting immune response, according to a research team.
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NewsQdenga vaccine shows effectiveness against dengue under real-world conditions during Brazil’s 2024 outbreak
An international team of researchers has demonstrated that the tetravalent dengue vaccine Qdenga provides significant protection against the disease under real-world conditions, during the large 2024 epidemic in São Paulo, Brazil.
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NewsSuper-resistant bacteria found in wild birds at a rehabilitation center in Brazil
Researchers have found antibiotic-resistant bacterial clones in wild birds at a rehabilitation center. The identified Escherichia coli clones have been found in community- and hospital-acquired human infections worldwide, and were present in the intestinal tracts of a vulture and an owl.
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NewsPlant-derived compound has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects against periodontal disease
Morin-based powder, extracted from guava leaves, apple peel, and figs, can be slowly released with the help of polymers and serve as an alternative to antibiotics.
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NewsStudy recommends integrated risk assessment for zoonotic and vector-borne diseases
A summary of published studies on the risk of emerging diseases shows that only 7.4% simultaneously consider hazard, exposure, and vulnerability to infection.
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NewsCoral reefs set to stop growing as climate warms, scientists warn
Most coral reefs will soon stop growing and may begin to erode – and almost all will do so if global warming hits 2°C, according to a new study in the western Atlantic.
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NewsResearch identifies immune response that controls Oropouche infection and prevents neurological damage
Research conducted on mice has identified that the rapid response of a specific type of defense cell is essential for controlling Oropouche virus infections and preventing serious neurological damage.