All The Americas articles
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NewsMaterial extends shelf life and prolongs release of fungus used as bioinsecticide
Encapsulating Beauveria bassiana in a biopolymer made of cellulose and aluminum increased the viability of the fungus from 69% to 85% after five months of storage, providing a more sustainable alternative that releases the bioinsecticide.
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NewsPathogenic fungus transmitted by domestic cat scratches is present in wild animals
Researchers detected pathogenic species of Sporothrix in the internal organs of mammals, birds, and reptiles that were killed by vehicles on Brazilian roads. The study reveals a new reservoir for fungi and highlights the need for surveillance.
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NewsClimate-driven dengue surge: Predicting future outbreak risk across Costa Rica
Scientists have developed a practical framework for predicting how shifting temperature and precipitation patterns could influence dengue fever outbreaks across Costa Rica.
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NewsAccelerating chikungunya vaccine development in Africa: Launch of the ACT-CHIK Project
Funded by the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, a new €15.3 million project coordinated by Institut Pasteur brings together seven partners across four continents to advance clinical trials and prepare for the manufacturing of a chikungunya vaccine in Africa.
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NewsBiomaterial made from jackfruit latex is a promising treatment for periodontitis
Researchers have developed a biomaterial containing jackfruit latex, pomegranate peel extract, and simvastatin that shows promising efficacy in treating periodontitis. This chronic inflammatory disease of infectious origin leads to the progressive destruction of the tissues supporting the teeth, resulting in bone resorption and loss of attachment.
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NewsResearchers aim to improve access to high-quality research and biomanufacturing tools in resource-limited settings
Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of a suite of low-cost, portable biotechnology tools designed to improve access to laboratory research and diagnostics in resource-limited settings.
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FeaturesBottling the extremes: culturing the hidden microbiomes of caves and deserts
Imagine an environment so extreme that most life cannot survive: a pitch-dark cave deep beneath the mountains of Northern Spain, or a hyper-arid desert in Chile where rainfall is virtually non-existent. These are not lifeless wastelands. Beneath cave walls and within the dusty top layer of desert soils, thriving communities of cyanobacteria, green algae, and fungi quietly engineer their ecosystems: fixing carbon, weathering rock, and cycling nutrients in conditions that would defeat most organisms on Earth.
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NewsBrazilian medical students increase vaccine confidence
Vaccination coverage in Brazil has declined in recent years. Medical students at the University of Pernambuco designed and delivered a low-cost, two-hour educational intervention for 25 parents and caregivers waiting for routine appointments at a Family Health Unit in Recife.
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NewsICU pneumonia has mortality rates of 37% to nearly 60% in middle-income countries. In high-income countries, rates are16% to 26%
A scientific review evaluated outcomes of adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in middle-income countries. In contrast to high-income countries, where mortality ranges from 16% to 26%, the study found significantly higher rates in the countries analyzed.
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NewsSabiá virus has been circulating in Brazil for 142 years and mutating, study finds
Researchers developed a new method and identified the infection in two patients who died from acute hemorrhagic and neurological syndrome in São Paulo in 2019 and 2020.
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NewsResearch outlines strategy to protect Amazonian cocoa against witches’ broom
A new study evaluated 25 cocoa cultivars and identified two with superior performance. Both demonstrated a greater ability to maintain high productivity in mineral-poor soils and when attacked by the witches’ broom fungus. Production increased by up to 32% compared to more susceptible varieties.
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NewsResearch findings could expand bioluminescence-based applications in medicine and other industries
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 provides insights that may help improve and expand such bioluminescence-based tools and applications.
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NewsBiodegradable sensors attached to plants detect pesticides in three minutes
Researchershave created biodegradable, “wearable” sensors for plants to monitor their health, made from carbon ink and screen-printed onto transparent cellulose acetate bioplastics. They can monitor temperature, humidity, dehydration, biomarkers, diseases, nutrient levels, and the presence of pesticides.
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NewsMicrofossils interpreted as animal traces were actually algae and bactéria
A reexamination of microfossils found in Brazil shows that the marks previously interpreted as traces of worms or other small oceanic animals are actually communities of fossilized microscopic bacteria and algae.
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NewsScientists discover ‘hidden switch’ in immune cells that helps the body kill deadly fungus
Scientists have discovered a “control switch” inside our immune cells that helps the body destroy dangerous fungal infections. A protein called RAB5c helps white blood cells kill Aspergillus fumigatus – an airborne fungus that can cause life‑threatening lung infections in people with weakened immune systems.
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NewsScientists use ultrasound to destroy influenza A and COVID-19 viruses without damaging human cells
Researchers have discovered that high-frequency ultrasound waves similar to those used in medical exams can eliminate viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1 without damaging human cells. Acoustic resonance causes structural changes in viral particles until they rupture and become inactivated.
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CareersQ&A: Meet Letters in Applied Microbiology Junior Editor Verônica Ortiz Alvarenga
We caught up with Verônica Ortiz Alvarenga, a food engineer and Professor at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil, who is one of the newest Junior Editors with Letters in Applied Microbiology.
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NewsHantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship highlights ongoing zoonotic risk and the need for vigilance
Experts emphasized caution while underscoring the importance of environmental controls, early detection, and clear communication in travel settings.
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NewsStudy confirms effectiveness of medicinal plant against SARS-CoV-2 virus
A study has revealed that galloylquinic acids extracted from the leaves of Copaifera lucens Dwyer, a tree endemic to Brazil primarily found in the Atlantic Forest, have a multi-targeted effect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
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NewsComparing veterinary antimicrobial stewardship: Why Brazil needs stronger monitoring systems
A new comparative analysis reveals critical gaps in antimicrobial monitoring frameworks across three major economies, with significant implications for global public health and food security.