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科学美国人60秒 SSS 好奇害死老鼠

时间:2020-12-23 05:05来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
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This is Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin.

这里是科学美国人——60秒科学。我是凯伦·霍普金。

Parasites2 live on or even inside another organism. And some can even change the behavior of their host to boost the odds3 of their transmission. Take the single-celled Toxoplasma gondii. Mice infected with this bug4 appear to become attracted to the smell of cat pee, an odor that uninfected mice smartly avoid. The infection thus raises the chances that a mouse will wind up in a cat's mouth. Obviously, bad news for the mouse—but good news for the parasite1, which needs a kitty to complete its life cycle and spread to additional hosts.

寄生虫生活在另一个生物体身上甚至体内。有些寄生虫甚至可以改变宿主的行为,以提高传播几率。以单细胞弓形虫为例。感染这种虫的老鼠似乎会被猫尿的气味吸引,而未感染的老鼠则会巧妙地避开。因此,感染会增加老鼠落入猫口的几率。显然,对老鼠来说这是个坏消息,但对寄生虫来说却是个好消息,因为寄生虫需要猫咪来完成其生命周期,并传播至其他宿主身上。

Devious5, indeed. But it turns out this cunning scheme may be less precisely6 targeted than it initially7 appears—because a new study finds that Toxoplasma doesn't specifically eliminate a mouse's natural aversion to cats. Rather the infection makes them generally less anxious and more adventurous—which makes them them curious about cats and pretty much everything else. Their work appears in the journal Cell Reports.

这的确很狡猾。但事实证明,这种狡猾的计谋可能没有最初看起来那么目标精准,因为一项新研究发现弓形虫并不能明确消除老鼠对猫的自然厌恶。相反,感染普遍令老鼠的焦虑减少,变得更喜欢冒险,这使它们对猫和几乎一切都感到好奇。他们的研究成果发表在《细胞报告》期刊上。

"The story about Toxoplasma gondii manipulating the behavior of its host is simply fascinating."

“弓形虫操纵宿主行为的故事简直令人着迷。”

Biologist Ivan Rodriguez of the University of Geneva, one of the study's senior authors.

日内瓦大学的生物学家伊万·罗德里格斯是这项研究的高级作者之一。

"It was particularly intriguing8 for us to understand how the parasite achieves a specific alteration9 of the neural10 circuits involved in the response toward feline11 predators—something that has never been elucidated12."

“我们特别感兴趣的是,这种寄生虫为何会明确改变神经回路,而且神经回路还包括对猫科捕食者的反应——这以前是从未阐明过的。”

So Rodriguez and his colleagues set out to determine the molecular13 mechanisms15 that underlie16 this legendary17 feline fatal attraction. For their first step:

因此,罗德里格斯及其同事开始研究,确定猫咪这种传奇的致命吸引力的分子机制。第一步:

"We decided18 to perform a quite broad panel of behavioral assays19 with infected mice in order to get an overview20 of how the parasite affects its host. We quickly observed that infected mice were less anxious, were more explorative and reacted quite differently than control mice when confronted with potential threats."

“我们决定对受感染的老鼠进行大量行为分析,以了解寄生虫影响宿主的方式。我们很快观察到,与控制组老鼠相比,受感染老鼠在面对潜在威胁时,焦虑更低、探索欲更高、反应也大不相同。”

For example, mice infected with Toxoplasma were quicker to check out the far reaches of an elevated maze21 than their uninfected comrades. They interacted with the human investigators22' hands and were unperturbed when an anesthetized rat was plonked into the middle of their cage—an event that caused uninfected mice to freeze in their tracks.

例如,相比未感染老鼠,感染弓形虫的老鼠会更快地检查遥远高处的迷宫。它们会与人类研究者的手互动,当被麻醉老鼠被扔进笼子中间时,它们并不会受到干扰,而未受感染老鼠则会当场呆住。

And the infected mice in this study did indeed show an attraction to the urine of bobcats. But they were even more interested in the scents23 of foxes and guinea pigs. Of course, whether or not infected mice are drawn24 specifically to the smell of cats, the parasite still gets what it wants, says Rodriguez.

在这项研究中,受感染老鼠确实对山猫的尿液显示出兴趣。但它们对狐狸和豚鼠的气味更感兴趣。罗德里格斯表示,当然,无论受感染老鼠是否被猫的气味特别吸引,寄生虫都能得偿所愿。

"The end result is to favor the transmission of the infected rodent25 to the cat."

“最终结果都是有利于寄生虫从受感染老鼠传播到猫身上。”

As to the mechanism14, it appears that the parasite triggers a general inflammation of the brain.

至于传播机制,似乎寄生虫会引发大脑的一般性炎症。

"One interesting finding is that we observe a correlation26 between the level of inflammation and the severity of behavioral alterations27."

“一个有趣的发现是,我们观察到了炎症水平与行为改变严重程度之间的相关性。”

Madlaina Boillat, a graduate student in the Rodriguez lab.

马德莱纳· 博拉特是罗德里格斯实验室的研究生。

She and Rodriguez will continue to explore how neuroinflammation sends mice to their almost certain doom28. Does it render these mice blind to danger—or endow them with the kind of curiosity that is usually associated with their feline foes29?

她和罗德里格斯将继续探索神经炎症如何让老鼠走向几乎必然的厄运。神经炎症是会让这些老鼠对危险视而不见,还是让它们产生了通常与猫科敌人有关的好奇心?

Thanks for listening for Scientific American's 60-second Science. I'm Karen Hopkin.

谢谢大家收听科学美国人——60秒科学。我是凯伦·霍普金。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 parasite U4lzN     
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。
2 parasites a8076647ef34cfbbf9d3cb418df78a08     
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。
3 odds n5czT     
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别
参考例句:
  • The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
  • Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗?
4 bug 5skzf     
n.虫子;故障;窃听器;vt.纠缠;装窃听器
参考例句:
  • There is a bug in the system.系统出了故障。
  • The bird caught a bug on the fly.那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫。
5 devious 2Pdzv     
adj.不坦率的,狡猾的;迂回的,曲折的
参考例句:
  • Susan is a devious person and we can't depend on her.苏姗是个狡猾的人,我们不能依赖她。
  • He is a man who achieves success by devious means.他这个人通过不正当手段获取成功。
6 precisely zlWzUb     
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地
参考例句:
  • It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
  • The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
7 initially 273xZ     
adv.最初,开始
参考例句:
  • The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
  • Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。
8 intriguing vqyzM1     
adj.有趣的;迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词);激起…的好奇心
参考例句:
  • These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。
  • It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 alteration rxPzO     
n.变更,改变;蚀变
参考例句:
  • The shirt needs alteration.这件衬衣需要改一改。
  • He easily perceived there was an alteration in my countenance.他立刻看出我的脸色和往常有些不同。
10 neural DnXzFt     
adj.神经的,神经系统的
参考例句:
  • The neural network can preferably solve the non- linear problem.利用神经网络建模可以较好地解决非线性问题。
  • The information transmission in neural system depends on neurotransmitters.信息传递的神经途径有赖于神经递质。
11 feline nkdxi     
adj.猫科的
参考例句:
  • As a result,humans have learned to respect feline independence.结果是人们已经学会尊重猫的独立性。
  • The awakening was almost feline in its stealthiness.这种醒觉,简直和猫的脚步一样地轻悄。
12 elucidated dffaae1f65de99f6b0547d9558544eaa     
v.阐明,解释( elucidate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He elucidated a point of grammar. 他解释了一个语法要点。
  • The scientist elucidated his theory by three simple demonstrations. 这位科学家以三个简单的实例来说明他的理论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 molecular mE9xh     
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。
14 mechanism zCWxr     
n.机械装置;机构,结构
参考例句:
  • The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
  • The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。
15 mechanisms d0db71d70348ef1c49f05f59097917b8     
n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 );机械装置;[生物学] 机制;机械作用
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。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 underlie AkSwu     
v.位于...之下,成为...的基础
参考例句:
  • Technology improvements underlie these trends.科技进步将成为此发展趋势的基础。
  • Many facts underlie my decision.我的决定是以许多事实为依据的。
17 legendary u1Vxg     
adj.传奇(中)的,闻名遐迩的;n.传奇(文学)
参考例句:
  • Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
  • Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。
18 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
19 assays 6209b4c0ed77a9f367c2079571988d1f     
n.化验( assay的名词复数 );试验;尝试;试金
参考例句:
  • The ore assays high in gold. 这矿石经分析证明含金量很高。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The ore assays high in silver. 这种矿石验明含银量很高。 来自辞典例句
20 overview 8mrz1L     
n.概观,概述
参考例句:
  • The opening chapter gives a brief historical overview of transport.第一章是运输史的简要回顾。
  • The seminar aims to provide an overview on new media publishing.研讨会旨在综览新兴的媒体出版。
21 maze F76ze     
n.迷宫,八阵图,混乱,迷惑
参考例句:
  • He found his way through the complex maze of corridors.他穿过了迷宮一样的走廊。
  • She was lost in the maze for several hours.一连几小时,她的头脑处于一片糊涂状态。
22 investigators e970f9140785518a87fc81641b7c89f7     
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
  • The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 scents 9d41e056b814c700bf06c9870b09a332     
n.香水( scent的名词复数 );气味;(动物的)臭迹;(尤指狗的)嗅觉
参考例句:
  • The air was fragrant with scents from the sea and the hills. 空气中荡漾着山和海的芬芳气息。
  • The winds came down with scents of the grass and wild flowers. 微风送来阵阵青草和野花的香气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
25 rodent DsNyh     
n.啮齿动物;adj.啮齿目的
参考例句:
  • When there is a full moon,this nocturnal rodent is careful to stay in its burrow.月圆之夜,这种夜间活动的啮齿类动物会小心地呆在地洞里不出来。
  • This small rodent can scoop out a long,narrow tunnel in a very short time.这种小啮齿动物能在很短的时间里挖出一条又长又窄的地道来。
26 correlation Rogzg     
n.相互关系,相关,关连
参考例句:
  • The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
  • A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。
27 alterations c8302d4e0b3c212bc802c7294057f1cb     
n.改动( alteration的名词复数 );更改;变化;改变
参考例句:
  • Any alterations should be written in neatly to the left side. 改动部分应书写清晰,插在正文的左侧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code. 基因突变是指DNA 密码的改变。 来自《简明英汉词典》
28 doom gsexJ     
n.厄运,劫数;v.注定,命定
参考例句:
  • The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
  • The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。
29 foes 4bc278ea3ab43d15b718ac742dc96914     
敌人,仇敌( foe的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
  • She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战,挫败过很多对手。
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