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Study: Medieval Plague May Have Shaped Human Immunity

时间:2022-11-07 02:08:13

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Study: Medieval Plague May Have Shaped Human Immunity1

Genes3 that helped people survive the plague hundreds of years ago may have made people more vulnerable to some diseases today, a new study says.

The information is a good example of the way germs shape us over time, scientists said in the new study published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

"Our genome today is a reflection of our whole evolutionary4 history," said Luis Barreiro. He is one of the writers of the research. Some germs, like those behind the bubonic plague, have had a big effect on our immune systems.

The Black Death in the 14th century was the single deadliest event in recorded history. It spread through Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, killing5 30 to 50 percent of the population.

Barreiro worked with partners at the University of Chicago, McMaster University in Ontario and the Pasteur Institute in Paris. They examined ancient DNA6 samples from the bones of more than 200 people from London and Denmark. The people died during a 100-year period before, during and after the Black Death went through that area.

They identified four genes that, depending on the version, either protected against or increased vulnerability to the bacteria that causes bubonic plague. The plague is most often spread by the bite of an infected flea7.

They found that what helped people in ancient times led to problems generations later. Some of the same genetic8 versions identified as protective against the plague are connected to certain diseases, like Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis9 and lupus. In these sorts of diseases, the immune system that defends the body against disease and infection attacks the body's own healthy tissues. When that happens, it is called a hyperactive immune system.

"A hyperactive immune system may have been great in the past but in the environment today it might not be as helpful," said Hendrik Poinar. He in an anthropology10 professor at McMaster and another writer of the new study.

Past research has also sought to examine how the Black Death affected11 the human genome. But Barreiro said he believes his team's study is the first to show that the Black Death was important to the evolution of the human immune system. One important part of the study, he said, was to center on a given time window around the event.

Monica H. Green is a writer and historian of medicine who has studied the Black Death. She said the research includes important issues, like how the same version of a gene2 can protect people from a bad infection, but and also put modern people at risk for other illnesses.

There is also a question of how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect human evolution. Barreiro said does not think it will have a big effect because COVID is much less deadly than the Black Death.

In the future, however, he said more deadly pandemics will continue to shape us at the most basic level.

"It's not going to stop," Barreiro said. "It's going to keep going for sure."

Words in This Story

plague — n. a disease that causes death and that spreads quickly to a large number of people

vulnerable — adj. open to attack, harm, or damage

genome — n. the complete set of genetic material of a human, animal, plant, or other living thing

reflection — n. something that shows the effect, existence, or character of something else

evolution — n. the process by which changes in plants and animals happen over time

adapt — v. to change so that it functions better or is better suited for a purpose

immune system — n. the system that protects your body from diseases and infections

flea — n. a very small insect that lives on animals and that has strong legs used for jumping

hyperactive — adj. extremely active or too active


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1 immunity dygyQ     
n.优惠;免除;豁免,豁免权
参考例句:
  • The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
  • He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。
2 gene WgKxx     
n.遗传因子,基因
参考例句:
  • A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
  • The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。
3 genes 01914f8eac35d7e14afa065217edd8c0     
n.基因( gene的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因,所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪
4 evolutionary Ctqz7m     
adj.进化的;演化的,演变的;[生]进化论的
参考例句:
  • Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
  • These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。
5 killing kpBziQ     
n.巨额利润;突然赚大钱,发大财
参考例句:
  • Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
  • Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
6 DNA 4u3z1l     
(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸
参考例句:
  • DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
  • Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。
7 flea dgSz3     
n.跳蚤
参考例句:
  • I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话,我就要对他不客气了。
  • Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。
8 genetic PgIxp     
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。
9 arthritis XeyyE     
n.关节炎
参考例句:
  • Rheumatoid arthritis has also been linked with the virus.风湿性关节炎也与这种病毒有关。
  • He spent three months in the hospital with acute rheumatic arthritis.他患急性风湿性关节炎,在医院住了三个月。
10 anthropology zw2zQ     
n.人类学
参考例句:
  • I believe he has started reading up anthropology.我相信他已开始深入研究人类学。
  • Social anthropology is centrally concerned with the diversity of culture.社会人类学主要关于文化多样性。
11 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

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