In the 1930s, pharmacologist Paulo Seabra from Rio de Janeiro developed a copper salt formulation (colloidal cupric morrhuate) that could be administered intravenously to treat tuberculosis. Sold under the brand name Gadusan, it was even exported to other countries. With the discovery of streptomycin — the first antibiotic effective against what was once known as the “white plague” — Seabra’s formulation fell out of use and eventually production was halted.
As anticipated by Alexander Fleming, the widespread use of antibiotics has led to the issue of antimicrobial resistance. The battle to stop microorganisms from evading the action of these drugs has become, in the words of Pesquisa FAPESP Biomedical Sciences Editor Ricardo Zorzetto, a global nightmare. The challenge is driving research into new antimicrobials and other types of medication, such as the one developed by Seabra.
There are several factors behind the development of antimicrobial resistance, which is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in Brazil every year. This issue’s cover story describes how intensive use in human healthcare and in the treatment and feeding of livestock results in antibiotics leaking into the environment. With bacteria regularly exposed to doses that are too low to kill them, some are able to survive and multiply after contact, accumulating changes in their DNA that allow them to become resistant to the drugs.
Complementary approaches are needed to tackle the problem, such as responsible prescription and application of antibiotics, the use of vaccinations where possible, and the development of new treatments. One significant obstacle is the pharmaceutical industry’s focus on profitable medications.
The use of AI and computational modeling in drug research is reducing the amount of time spent screening new compounds. Another advance in the testing of new medicines is reconstructed human tissue. Bioprinters allow researchers to create three-dimensional structures made of living cells, molecules, and biocompatible materials. Body-on-a-chip (BoC) platforms can be used to assess the toxicity of products on skin and intestinal tissues.
Several other concerning but important topics are also covered in this issue. One is the agreement reached at COP28, which represents an important step forward, despite not going far enough. Other reports include the catastrophe occurring in the city of Maceió, where entire neighborhoods are sinking as a result of salt mining, and the transformation of the Caatinga biome. Only 11% of the typical vegetation in the semiarid scrubland biome remains unaltered by human activity, primarily related to agriculture.
There are positive articles too, describing the lives of those dedicated to science in its diverse forms and processes. Diplomat Alberto da Costa e Silva combined his professional work with his interest in Africa, becoming a reference for historians. It is practically impossible to work or take an interest in scientific communication in Brazil without knowing of Ennio Candotti, former director of the Brazilian Society for the Advancement of Science and founder of the Amazon Museum. Physician Sandro Matas, who suffered from infantile paralysis at the age of six months, is committed to making his institution, UNIFESP, more inclusive. Science in audiovisual media is covered through reports on film festivals and TikTok influencers that use entertainment to promote science.
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