经济学人238:新疫苗让人类离消灭疟疾更近了一步

 　　Not swatted yet

　　消灭疟疾任重道远

　　A new vaccine¹ is one step towards a distant goal

　　一种新疫苗让人类离消灭疟疾更近了一步

　　MAN has vanquished² only one disease, smallpox³. In 2007 Bill Gates set out to eradicate⁴ another, malaria⁵. The World Health Organisation⁶ (WHO) was soon rallying its troops to the cause and a flood of money followed. $612m went to research in 2009 alone. This week the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation trumpeted⁷ another announcement: results from a phase III trial (the more extensive process of testing drugs in people) of a malaria vaccine called RTS,S. This is the world’s most advanced vaccine for malaria and the results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, were encouraging.

　　到目前为止人类只消灭了天花这一种疾病。2007年，比尔?盖茨宣布开始着手消灭另一种疾病即疟疾。世界卫生组织迅速召集队伍致力于这项事业，并在随后投入大量资金，2009年仅在研究上就投入了6.12亿美元。本周，“比尔和梅琳达?盖茨基金会”发表了另一个声明，内容是世界上对抗疟疾最先进的疫苗RTS，S的第三试验阶段（在人群中广泛使用药物并测量反应）的结果，发表于《新英格兰医学杂志》上的结果振奋人心。

　　It is an important step in combating a disease that still kills more than 700,000 people a year and debilitates⁸ millions more. But it is also a reminder⁹ of how much work remains¹⁰ to be done.

　　每年因疟疾致死的人有700000人，致残的有 数百万人，这个试验结果是战胜这一疾病的重大进步。但是它也提醒人们还有多少任务尚未完成。

　　Mr Gates is only malaria’s latest adversary¹¹. The parasite¹² has plagued man for millennia¹³. Chinese texts from 2700BC describe plants to treat its fevers. More recently, in 1955, the WHO embarked¹⁴ on its first malaria-eradication effort. But transmission rates in Africa seemed intractable. After 14 years the WHO gave up. The last time the world tried to eliminate malaria, some scientists lament¹⁵, the world eliminated malariologists.

　　疟疾祸害人类千年，盖茨先生最近一个反抗它的对手。公元前2700年中国的文字资料就记载着一些植物能治疗由疟疾引起的发烧的。再往离现在近的时间看，世界卫生组织在1955年展开首次消灭疟疾的行动。但是在非洲，遏制疟疾的传播率似乎非常棘手。14年之后，世卫放弃了。有些科学家慨叹，上一次世界本来试图消灭疟疾，结果被消灭的是疟疾学家。

　　The new wave of enthusiasm came with the founding of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership¹⁶ in 1998 (to co-ordinate planning), the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative in 1999 (with money from the Gates Foundation) and the United Nations’ Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis¹⁷ and Malaria in 2002. This culminated¹⁸ in Mr Gates’s call to arms four years ago and has helped to lower the number of malaria deaths by 20% over the past decade.

　　随着1998年“遏制疟疾伙伴关系”（共同测绘）、1999年“疟疾疫苗开发计划”（资金来自盖茨基金会）和2002年联合国全球治疗艾滋病肺结核和疟疾基金的建立，对抗疟疾的新一轮热潮出现了。四年后盖茨振臂一呼，在十年里疟疾死亡率降低了20%，推动抗疟疾的热潮达到顶峰。

　　More progress will be difficult. The existing tools of insecticide-treated bed nets and treatment drugs require careful co-ordination and good health systems. Eliminating malaria in a stable country is dramatically easier than doing so in a turbulent one. Worryingly, these tools may become less effective. Parasites¹⁹ in South-East Asia, for example, seem to be developing resistance to artemisinin-based treatments. To achieve eradication—or anything close to it—new weapons are needed.

　　要想获得更多进展非常困难。现有的带有杀虫剂蚊帐和药物治疗要求配合细致和良好的医疗系统。在一个政局稳定的国家消灭疟疾比在政局动荡的国家更容易。比如，东南亚的寄生虫似乎对基于青蒿素的治疗起了抗药性。要想消灭疟疾——或是向这个目标再迈进一大步—就得发展新武器。

　　RTS,S, developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a British pharmaceutical²⁰ company, will help. The vaccine tries to stop one type of malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, before it has a chance to wreak²¹ havoc²². A mosquito’s bite delivers malaria to the body. Travelling swiftly to the liver, the parasites hide, mature and multiply before staging a grand second act in the bloodstream, where they invade red blood cells, multiply again, and invade more cells. RTS,S combines a circumsporozoite protein, which exists on the parasite’s surface, with a protein from a hepatitis B vaccine. Together, these trigger an immune response which can fight off invading parasites before the second act.

　　这个新武器就是由英国制药公司葛兰素史克公司(GlaxoSmithKline研制的RTS，S。该疫苗能停止疟疾寄生虫恶性疟原虫的活性，使它不能为非作歹。蚊子叮一口就会把疟疾传到人身上。它传播敏捷，在寄主身上隐藏起来、成熟、繁殖，然后在血液里进行第二个大的行动，入侵红细胞后再次繁殖，接着侵占更多细胞。RTS,S把存在于寄生虫表面的环子孢子蛋白和肝炎B型疫苗里的一种蛋白结合在一起。它们共同作用引发一种免疫反应，在第二次活动前就击退入侵的寄生虫。

　　GSK tested the vaccine in 6,000 infants across sub-Saharan Africa. It reduced the risk of clinical malaria by 56% and severe malaria by 47%. This efficacy was “on the positive side of what we were expecting,” says Christian²³ Loucq of the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, GSK’s partner on RTS,S.

　　葛兰素史克公司在撒哈拉以南非洲的6000名婴儿身上测试了这种疫苗。患临床疟疾的风险减少了56%，患严重疟疾的风险减少了47%。葛兰素史克公司在研制RTS.S的搭档“疟疾疫苗开发计划”的Christian Loucq说这种效力“是我们曾期待的积极一面”。

　　However, more is to come. The trial examined children aged²⁴ 5-17 months. Results for younger babies will follow. Still uncertain is how long the vaccine’s protection lasts. The first year that the vaccine might be used would be 2015, and that is if everything goes as planned. Even then, it is unclear how RTS,S might be deployed²⁵. Its price is uncertain and its power limited. “We realise that RTS,S is not the ultimate malaria vaccine,” says David Brandling-Bennett of the Gates Foundation. “But it will have some role. The challenge is figuring out what that role is.”

　　然而，更多的试验紧随其后。上面提到的试验测试对象是5-17个月大的婴儿。随后会出炉年龄更小婴儿的结果。这种疫苗的保护能持续多久还不清楚。疫苗投入使用可能会从2015年开始，前提是如果一切按计划进行的话。即使到那时候，还不清楚RTS.S会怎样投放。价格不定，效力也是有限的。“我们认识到RTS.S并非是最好的疟疾疫苗，”盖茨基金会的大卫?布兰丁-博内特这样说，“但是它会起到一些作用。我们的挑战是研究出这种作用是什么。”

　　Researchers are already working on the next generation of vaccines²⁶. GSK hopes to induce a stronger immune response by combining RTS,S with a vaccine from Crucell, another drug firm. Scientists are also keen to develop vaccines that target different kinds of malaria parasites and in different ways—for example, in mosquitoes’ guts²⁷. All of this work requires further investment at a time when global health programmes must compete fiercely for cash. Mr Gates has helped to spur progress. Sustaining it is the next challenge.

　　研究者已经开始从事下一代疫苗的开发。葛兰素史克公司希望使用RTS，S和另一家制药公司Crucell的一种疫苗的结合体来引起更强烈的免疫反应。科学家也努力研制针对不同种类疟疾寄生虫和不同感染途径——比如，在蚊子的内脏里——的疫苗。这些工作都需要继续投入资金，而现在正是全球医疗项目必须为资金激烈竞争的时候。盖茨先生已经为推动研究进步做出贡献。如何保持这种势头是下一个挑战。

1 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

2 vanquished   

v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制

参考例句：

• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I vanquished her coldness with my assiduity. 我对她关心照顾从而消除了她的冷淡。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 smallpox   

n.天花

参考例句：

• In 1742 he suffered a fatal attack of smallpox.1742年，他染上了致命的天花。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child?你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

4 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。

5 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

6 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

7 trumpeted   

大声说出或宣告（trumpet的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Soldiers trumpeted and bugled. 士兵们吹喇叭鸣号角。
• The radio trumpeted the presidential campaign across the country. 电台在全国范围大力宣传总统竞选运动。

8 debilitates   

v.使（人或人的身体）非常虚弱( debilitate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Heat debilitates many people. 酷热使得很多人体弱力衰。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 adversary   

adj.敌手，对手

参考例句：

• He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。
• They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。

12 parasite   

n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客

参考例句：

• The lazy man was a parasite on his family.那懒汉是家里的寄生虫。
• I don't want to be a parasite.I must earn my own way in life.我不想做寄生虫，我要自己养活自己。

13 millennia   

n.一千年，千禧年

参考例句：

• For two millennia, exogamy was a major transgression for Jews. 两千年来，异族通婚一直是犹太人的一大禁忌。
• In the course of millennia, the dinosaurs died out. 在几千年的时间里，恐龙逐渐死绝了。

14 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

15 lament   

n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹

参考例句：

• Her face showed lament.她的脸上露出悲伤的样子。
• We lament the dead.我们哀悼死者。

16 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

17 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

18 culminated   

v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• a gun battle which culminated in the death of two police officers 一场造成两名警察死亡的枪战
• The gala culminated in a firework display. 晚会以大放烟火告终。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 parasites   

寄生物( parasite的名词复数 )； 靠他人为生的人； 诸虫

参考例句：

• These symptoms may be referable to virus infection rather than parasites. 这些症状也许是由病毒感染引起的，而与寄生虫无关。
• Kangaroos harbor a vast range of parasites. 袋鼠身上有各种各样的寄生虫。

20 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

21 wreak   

v.发泄；报复

参考例句：

• She had a burning desire to wreak revenge.她复仇心切。
• Timid people always wreak their peevishness on the gentle.怯懦的人总是把满腹牢骚向温和的人发泄。

22 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

23 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

24 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

25 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

26 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

27 guts   

v.狼吞虎咽，贪婪地吃，飞碟游戏（比赛双方每组5人，相距15码，互相掷接飞碟）；毁坏（建筑物等）的内部( gut的第三人称单数 )；取出…的内脏n.勇气( gut的名词复数 )；内脏；消化道的下段；肠

参考例句：

• I'll only cook fish if the guts have been removed. 鱼若已收拾干净，我只需烧一下即可。
• Barbara hasn't got the guts to leave her mother. 巴巴拉没有勇气离开她妈妈。 来自《简明英汉词典》