VOA慢速英语--关于冠状病毒新突变的研究告诉我们什么？

Studies of genetic¹ material from thousands of samples of the novel coronavirus show that it is changing. Experts say those findings might affect the current pandemic and efforts to develop vaccines² and treatments.

The GISAID Initiative is a partnership³ between a not-for-profit group and the governments of Germany, Singapore, and the United States. The initiative was formerly⁴ called the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza⁵ Data. It collects records of genetic information on influenza viruses and releases them to the public.

Researchers in the United States used GISAID data to follow genetic changes, or mutations, in the "spike⁷" of the new coronavirus. The spike is the part of the coronavirus that gives it its unusual shape.

The researchers said they discovered 14 such mutations early in their investigation⁸ at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. They noted⁹ that one, called D614G, was "of urgent concern" because it may make the disease more infectious.

Using the same GISAID records, a team in Britain studied genetic material from more than 7,500 virus samples from infected patients around the world.

The team is from University College London. They reported finding 198 mutations in the coronavirus genomes they examined, but none appeared to be of special concern.

Scientists at Britain's Glasgow University also studied mutations in the samples of the genomes. But they found these changes did not confirm the existence of different strains of the virus.

That finding disproved an earlier study by Chinese researchers. Their study suggested there had been two strains in patients at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. One of the strains had been noted as more "aggressive," the researchers said.

Eric Topol is a heart specialist and geneticist. He established the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California. He told the Reuters news agency the idea that there are several strains of the virus must be rejected.

"We know there is only one strain," Topol said.

Jonathan Stoye is head of virology at Britain's Francis Crick Institute. He said that taken together, the studies offer an interesting look at the coronavirus, and show that it is "a moving target."

"The virus is evolving and is changing. And we don't yet know what the consequences of those changes are," Stoye said.

"This coronavirus mutates just like any good RNA virus should," added Mark Schleiss, a molecular¹⁰ genetics expert. He is with the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Genetics and biology experts say it is still too early to know whether any of the mutations are meaningful.

Lawrence Young is a professor of molecular oncology at the University of Warwick in Britain. He said that while there have been many predictions about the rise of more aggressive strains, studies so far show that is not the case.

Eric Topol noted scientists will have to examine exactly how a given genetic mutation⁶ affects the behavior of the virus to find out more.

I'm Pete Musto.

Words in This Story

sample(s) – n. a small amount of something that gives you information about the thing it was taken from

pandemic – n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world

strain(s) – n. a group of closely related plants, animals or other organisms

outbreak – n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease

target – n. a place, thing, or person at which an attack is aimed

consequence(s) – n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions

RNA – n. a substance in the cells of plants and animals that helps make proteins

oncology – n. the study and treatment of cancer and tumors

1 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

2 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。

3 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。

4 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

5 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

6 mutation   

n.变化，变异，转变

参考例句：

• People who have this mutation need less sleep than others.有这种突变的人需要的睡眠比其他人少。
• So far the discussion has centered entirely around mutation in the strict sense.到目前为止，严格来讲，讨论完全集中于围绕突变问题上。

7 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

10 molecular   

adj.分子的；克分子的

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms.这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。
• For the pressure to become zero, molecular bombardment must cease.当压强趋近于零时，分子的碰撞就停止了。