39 Proteins to Survive a World Cup

Reporter: Adda Avendaño / Photographer: Jorge Aguilar

The National School of Medicine and Homeopathy created a protein trading card album in which students earn stickers through academic and sports activities.

Proteins associated with metabolism, muscle function, and physical performance, as well as those involved in sensations, emotions, and behavior, have been drafted by the Physiology Academy of the National School of Medicine and Homeopathy (ENMH) into a unique lineup designed to spark interest in biochemistry during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Professor and researcher Claudia Guadalupe Benítez Cardoza, faculty member of the Graduate Studies and Research Section (SEPI) and coordinator of the scientific outreach series Biochemical Code, developed the initiative based on the thesis project of a student studying the TRPV1 protein, better known as capsaicin, which is responsible for the burning sensation experienced when eating chili peppers.

“We selected proteins related to different aspects of life, including taste perception, metabolism, athletic performance, emotions, and even how we recover from defeat. We adapted them to factors such as schedule changes, stress, sleep, hunger, and energy, among many others,” explained Dr. Benítez Cardoza.

In an interview, she highlighted other proteins featured in the collection, including ACTN3, found in muscle fibers and associated with power, sprinting, and fast-twitch muscle activity before, during, and after a match; ADRB2, a receptor that helps regulate breathing and physiological readiness for action; and ENaC, an epithelial channel located in taste buds that contributes to the perception of salty flavors in snacks.

Building on this concept, the Educational Technology and Virtual Campus Unit (UTEC), led by Diana Gutiérrez Luque and supported by Rodrigo Adrián Maceda Jasso and José Daniel Esparza Cruces, proposed creating a sticker album similar to those traditionally released for World Cup players, but featuring the selected proteins instead. The collection includes 39 protein cards and five additional stickers, for a total of 44 collectible items.

“A total of 120 albums were printed, along with the exact number of collectible stickers that students could earn through classroom activities such as presentations and participation, as well as through sports-related activities. Duplicate stickers could be exchanged among classmates,” explained Maceda Jasso.

The 39 proteins selected to experience the World Cup through science—one to be unveiled each day over a period of 39 days—were organized into two teams. The first, Metabolism and Performance, focuses on oxygen, glucose, muscle contraction, and power. The second, Sensation, Emotion, and Behavior, highlights taste, hunger, social bonding, stress, and sleep. The teams are coached by two “managers” representing adaptation and learning, overseen by three “referees” symbolizing regulation, rhythm, and response, and supported by 12 substitute proteins.

Students, grouped into teams of four or five, traded cards in an effort to complete their albums. The activity will culminate with the unveiling and distribution of the final two stickers, which will grant participants the “championship trophy” of this academic initiative.

Many students became involved after encouragement from professors in the Physiology Academy and the Sports Activities Department, who offered extra credit as an incentive. Participants reported that the trading-card dynamic helped them connect with classmates while also expanding their knowledge of proteins and biochemistry.

The outreach initiative will continue beginning June 11, the opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the publication of one protein infographic per day through ENMH’s official social media channels.