研究发现蚊子体内含有可抵抗疟疾的微生物

Researchers: Micro-organism Protects Mosquitoes from Malaria
研究发现蚊子体内含有可抵抗疟疾的微生物
Scientists from Britain and Kenya may have found a way to control malaria and possibly destroy one of the world’s most dangerous diseases.
来自英国和肯尼亚的科学家可能找到了控制疟疾的方法，并或将消灭这个全球最危险的疾病之一。
The scientists say they have found a microbe that prevents mosquitoes from being infected with the organism that causes the disease.
科学家们表示他们发现了一种微生物，这种微生物可以防止蚊子感染能引发疟疾的病原虫。
A report on the research was published in Nature Communications. It says the microbe completely protects the insects from infection.
这项研究报告发表于《自然通讯》杂志。研究表示这种微生物可以完全确保蚊子免受感染。
The microbe is called Microsporidia MB. The scientists found it inside the body and sex organs of mosquitoes living around Lake Victoria in Kenya.
这种微生物被称为“微孢子虫MB”。科学家在肯尼亚维多利亚湖附近的蚊子体内和性器官中发现了它。
The researchers reported they could not find a single mosquito with the microbe that causes malaria.
研究人员报告称，他们发现的所有体内含有这一微生物的蚊子均能免疫疟疾疾病。
Jeremy Herren is an expert on insects. He said, “The data we have suggest it is 100% blockage, it’s a very severe blockage of malaria.”
杰里米·赫伦是一位昆虫专家。他说：“研究数据显示这种微生物可以百分百封锁疟疾，即非常彻底对疟疾免疫。”
Experts say they do not know how the microbe prevents the mosquitoes from carrying the malaria parasite. But they suspect that it affects the mosquito’s natural defenses so the insect does not become infected.
专家称，他们尚不知晓这种微生物是如何阻止疟原虫进入蚊子体内的。但是他们怀疑它会影响蚊子的自然防御能力，因此导致蚊子不会被感染。
The scientists estimate that about five percent of mosquitoes carry the microbe naturally. The researchers say the next step is to study ways to release the microbe-carrying mosquitoes into the wild.
科学家们估计大约有5%的蚊子天生携带这种微生物。研究人员称，下一步是研究将携带这种微生物的蚊子释放到野外的方法。
Malaria kills about 400,000 people every year. The disease spreads to people through mosquito bites. The World Health Organization (WHO) says most of the victims are children younger than five years.
疟疾每年造成约40万人死亡。且这种疾病会通过蚊虫叮咬传播给人们。世界卫生组织表示，大多数受害者是五岁以下的儿童。
Mosquito nets and insect-killing chemicals have aided in the fight against malaria over the past 20 years. This is especially the case in African countries south of the Sahara Desert. However, mosquitoes in some areas are becoming resistant to chemical products.
过去20年，蚊帐和杀虫剂有效地帮助了人们抗击疟疾，尤其是在撒哈拉沙漠以南的非洲国家。然而，某些地区的蚊子已开始对杀虫剂产品产生抵抗力。
The WHO predicts that the number of malaria deaths could reach 769,000 or higher this year.
世界卫生组织预测，今年疟疾引发的死亡人数可能达到769,000或更高。
I’m Mario Ritter, Jr.
小马里奥·里特报道。