在线英语听力室

VOA慢速英语 200707020041

时间:2007-08-07 01:14:52

搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号:tingroom,领取免费英语资料大礼包。

(单词翻译)

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

Scientists say they have made more progress in developing malaria1-resistant mosquitoes. The idea is to release genetically2 engineered insects like these into mosquito populations as a way to control the disease.


Malaria is spread by mosquitoes

Each year more than three million people become infected with malaria. At least one million die, mostly young children and pregnant women in Africa. Malaria is also a problem in Asia and South America.

The parasites4 that cause malaria enter people's blood when they are bitten by the mosquitoes that carry the organisms. The parasites travel to the liver where they divide and grow. After a week or two, they invade red blood cells and reproduce thousands of times. They can destroy major organs.

People die from malaria because they are not treated or treatment is delayed. Drugs can prevent the parasites from developing in the body. But experts still say the best way to prevent malaria is not to be bitten by a mosquito.

Their advice could change in the future with the help of mosquitoes genetically engineered to block development of the parasite3. In other words, they would not be able to spread the disease. Computer studies show that if malaria control is to succeed, insects like these are needed to replace mosquitoes in the wild.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the United States reported on their work in the Proceedings5 of the National Academy of Sciences. They put equal numbers of malaria-resistant mosquitoes in a box with other mosquitoes. The insects mated, and all of them fed on mice infected with the malaria parasite.

The researchers took eggs produced by the mosquitoes and kept them until they became adult mosquitoes. These insects were then permitted to feed on infected mice. The researchers did this again and again. After nine generations, seventy percent of the mosquitoes were malaria-resistant.

Earlier studies showed that disease-resistant mosquitoes would die early and not be able to replace wild ones. But in the new research, the scientists say they developed stronger mosquitoes. In any case, malaria-resistant mosquitoes might still need to be used in combination with drugs and insect poisons to control the disease.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Nancy Steinbach. To learn more about malaria, use the search box at www.unsv.com and then click on Archive.
分享到:


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 malaria B2xyb     
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。
2 genetically Lgixo     
adv.遗传上
参考例句:
  • All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
  • Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物
3 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。
4 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。
5 proceedings Wk2zvX     
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报
参考例句:
  • He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
  • to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎 点击提交 分享给大家。