Fapesp

FAPESP and the Sustainable Development Goals

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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

News

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Brazilian researchers obtain more efficient red bioluminescence
SDG 3, SDG 9
Brazilian researchers obtain more efficient red bioluminescence

Luciferin-luciferase system developed in collaboration with Japanese researchers produces brighter and longer-lasting far red light. The innovation can be used to image cells and tissues for diagnosis and biomedical research.


Preliminary study suggests CoronaVac neutralizes novel variants of SARS-CoV-2
SDG 3
Preliminary study suggests CoronaVac neutralizes novel variants of SARS-CoV-2

Laboratory trial by Butantan Institute in partnership with the University of São Paulo involved inoculation of variants P.1 and P.2 into cultured cells containing blood serum from vaccinated subjects. The results were satisfactory, according to the researchers.


Brazilian startup develops remotely operated room sterilization device
SDG 3, SDG 9
Brazilian startup develops remotely operated room sterilization device

The technology uses ultraviolet-C, which can inactivate the novel coronavirus. Startup BioLambda was supported by FAPESP and partnered with the Albert Einstein Jewish-Brazilian Hospital in São Paulo.


Study could help develop biosensors for non-invasive diagnosis of diseases
SDG 3, SDG 9
Study could help develop biosensors for non-invasive diagnosis of diseases

Brazilian researchers tested the capacity of different materials to produce sensors for the detection of PCA3, a gene that is overexpressed in prostate cancer. The technique can also be used to diagnose infectious diseases, including COVID-19.


Researchers discover inflammatory mechanism responsible for bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis
SDG 3
Researchers discover inflammatory mechanism responsible for bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis

In a study of the effects of cigarette smoking on exacerbation of the disease, scientists at a FAPESP-supported research center identified a novel pathway in the inflammatory process relating to bone damage.


Amazon strain of coronavirus already predominates in cases of COVID-19 in a city 2,500 km from Manaus
SDG 3
Amazon strain of coronavirus already predominates in cases of COVID-19 in a city 2,500 km from Manaus

In Araraquara, state of São Paulo, researchers detected the P.1 variant in 93% of samples from patients diagnosed at a primary healthcare facility in the first two months of the year.


Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 induced by prior infection are six times less effective against P.1 variant
SDG 3
Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 induced by prior infection are six times less effective against P.1 variant

Blood plasma from COVID-19 convalescents was tested against Brazilian variant isolates obtained from patients diagnosed in Manaus. The study also assessed the effectiveness of plasma from volunteers immunized with CoronaVac.


Study suggests the Brazilian variant emerged in November, is more transmissible and can cause reinfection
SDG 3
Study suggests the Brazilian variant emerged in November, is more transmissible and can cause reinfection

Published by an Anglo-Brazilian epidemiological research center, the study revealed that in only seven weeks SARS-CoV-2 lineage P.1 became the most prevalent strain of the virus in Manaus. Analysis of more than 900 samples from patients diagnosed in the period pointed to a higher viral load.


Project investigates remote control of enzymes using light
SDG 3
Project investigates remote control of enzymes using light

In a study conducted at the University of São Paulo, researchers used infrared laser irradiation to accelerate the activity of enzymes immobilized on gold nanoparticles. The technique could have biomedical and industrial applications.


COVID-19 Data Sharing/BR makes more datasets available
SDG 3
COVID-19 Data Sharing/BR makes more datasets available

Open-access repository established to facilitate research on the disease holds anonymized data including clinical examinations and laboratory test results from 485,000 patients processed by five institutions.


Molecule with potential to treat multiple sclerosis and asthma passes toxicology testing in zebrafish
SDG 3
Molecule with potential to treat multiple sclerosis and asthma passes toxicology testing in zebrafish

Study conducted at a FAPESP-supported research center shows that anti-inflammatory peptide TnP could lead to drug development.


Deforestation in the Amazon favors an increase in the diversity of antibiotic-resistant soil bacteria
SDG 3
Deforestation in the Amazon favors an increase in the diversity of antibiotic-resistant soil bacteria

Study suggests that replacing native vegetation with pasture or crops increases competition among microorganisms, favoring those with antimicrobial resistance genes. Brazilian scientists advocate more research to find out whether bacteria can migrate to food and reach humans.


Study suggests shortening quarantine for people infected by novel coronavirus to ten days would be risky
SDG 3
Study suggests shortening quarantine for people infected by novel coronavirus to ten days would be risky

In October the CDC recommended ten instead of 14 days of isolation for patients with mild or moderate symptoms, but Brazilian researchers found viable viral particles in 25% of samples collected from patients on the tenth day of symptoms.


Innovative cancer treatment found to be a promising approach to the control of fungal infections
SDG 3
Innovative cancer treatment found to be a promising approach to the control of fungal infections

The use of CAR T-cells reprogrammed to “recognize” Cryptococcus spp. proved effective to combat the infection in vitro and in mice.


Models to predict dengue, zika and yellow fever outbreaks are developed by international research group
SDG 3
Models to predict dengue, zika and yellow fever outbreaks are developed by international research group

Scientists will monitor areas in which these diseases are endemic, such as São Paulo, the Amazon, the Pantanal and Panama, to investigate the factors that trigger outbreaks.


Structure of novel coronavirus inspires design of nanoparticles for drug delivery
SDG 3, SDG 9
Structure of novel coronavirus inspires design of nanoparticles for drug delivery

According to a paper by Brazilian researchers published in Nano Today, the spatial arrangement of proteins on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 assures highly efficient interaction with target receptors on human cells.


COVID-19 vaccines are not comparable in terms of efficacy, according to specialists
SDG 3
COVID-19 vaccines are not comparable in terms of efficacy, according to specialists

The different criteria used in Phase 3 clinical trials of the vaccines approved so far were explained by scientists in a webinar hosted by FAPESP. The impact of delays in vaccinating Brazilians was one of the topics discussed.


Markers of COVID-19 severity and therapeutic targets possibly unveiled in patients’ blood plasma
SDG 3
Markers of COVID-19 severity and therapeutic targets possibly unveiled in patients’ blood plasma

An analysis conducted in the Brazilian state of São Paulo detected seven proteins in plasma from hospitalized patients that could be used in novel treatments and methods of identifying potentially severe or critical cases.


Exercising regularly does not affect severe COVID-19 prognosis or outcomes
SDG 3
Exercising regularly does not affect severe COVID-19 prognosis or outcomes

Study involving more than 200 hospitalized patients in São Paulo shows physically active individuals are not fully protected against the disease.


Study confirms safety of COVID-19 convalescent plasma therapy
SDG 3
Study confirms safety of COVID-19 convalescent plasma therapy

Clinical trial conducted in Brazil suggests the treatment can be beneficial if administered within ten days of symptom onset.


COVID-19 can alter the brain’s functional connectivity pattern, study shows
SDG 3
COVID-19 can alter the brain’s functional connectivity pattern, study shows

Brazilian researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess 86 volunteers who had moderate COVID-19 and compared the results with those of uninfected volunteers. Preliminary findings have not yet been published but were presented during a conference held at the University of Campinas.


Social distancing has changed Brazilian women’s eating habits, study shows
SDG 3, SDG 5
Social distancing has changed Brazilian women’s eating habits, study shows

More than 1,000 volunteers completed an online questionnaire designed by Brazilian researchers. The results show that more women are cooking, sitting down to eat, snacking between meals, and ordering takeaway meals, while dieting and supermarket shopping have declined.


Studies use mathematics to analyze the semantics of dream reports during the pandemic
SDG 3
Studies use mathematics to analyze the semantics of dream reports during the pandemic

Researchers at a center for neuromathematics say dreams reflect the fear and anxiety fueled by the disease.


Researchers develop 10-minute COVID-19 diagnostic test that wage workers can afford
SDG 3
Researchers develop 10-minute COVID-19 diagnostic test that wage workers can afford

Technology based on nanoparticles identifies IgG antibodies and costs only about a fifth of similar devices now on the market. It was developed by scientists at the University of São Paulo and Brazilian startup Biolinker.


Lung ultrasound helps predict COVID-19 patient outcomes
SDG 3
Lung ultrasound helps predict COVID-19 patient outcomes

Brazilian researchers applied an examination protocol based on an analysis of 12 lung regions to 180 severe patients and found that the higher the lung ultrasound score the greater the risk of ICU admission, intubation and death.


News about research projects funded by FAPESP and articulated with the SDGs: