2006年VOA标准英语-Scientists Explore New Approaches to Fight Mala

By Zulima Palacio
Washington, DC
13 December 2006
 
watch Malaria¹ Research report

 
Malaria is spread by mosquitoes
Experts and scientists around the world agree that the fight against malaria will only be won through a combination of approaches ranging from new medications and the final discovery of a vaccine², to the use of mosquito bed nets and residential³ spraying of insecticide.   The John Hopkins Malaria Research Institute in (the eastern city of) Baltimore, Maryland is working in many of the fronts.  VOA's Melinda Smith narrates⁴ for producer Zulima Palicio.

Could a genetically⁶ modified mosquito be the key element in the fight against malaria?  If so, it could  be a mosquito genetically altered in this laboratory, so it can no longer carry the deadly parasite⁷ which causes malaria.

Dr. George Dimopoulos and his team at the John Hopkins Malaria Research Institute have made great advances in the study of the "Anopheles gambiae", the mosquito responsible for spreading malaria. "The idea is to develop a genetically modified mosquito which can mix with a natural population and this resistant⁸ gene⁵ will be inherited by the offspring."

Dr. Dimopoulos says researchers now know the complete DNA⁹ composition of the mosquito.  And from its 1500 genes¹⁰, they have identified ten directly connected to malaria.  He says if we could better understand the mosquito's immune system, we could block the parasite in the mosquito, and thus the transmission of malaria.

 
George Dimopoulos
"The research we do is not only going to be used for developing a transgenic mosquito approach but there are other ways… like spread a compound that would kill the parasite in the mosquito and work like an insecticide, but instead of killing¹¹ the mosquito it would kill the parasite, or we would activate¹² an immune response from the mosquito, to kill the parasite."

But scientists around the world agree that malaria is one of the most difficult illnesses to control; and that the solution will require a combined action.  

Dr. Diane Griffin is the director of the John Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, one of the few research centers that has decided¹³ to study nearly every aspect of malaria, from the mosquito's DNA composition to the human immune system. 

She says the solution to malaria will take more than one approach: "The vaccine, a new drug or a new insecticide or a new diagnostic agent, any one of those things are not the answer in themselves.  We really need to tackle the disease in multiple fronts in order to really have an impact on control."

The Johns Hopkins Institute is also trying to create a new, effective and fast system diagnosing the disease.

Dr. Griffin adds, "We know that probably more than half of diagnoses of malaria are incorrect and then when the drugs are used in those individuals, that just increases the opportunity for drug resistance, plus is expensive, the newer drugs being used, artemisinin, are expensive compared to the older drugs.

Scientists have determined¹⁴ malaria proteins appear in the urine.  Researcher David Sullivan says they developed a test very similar to a pregnancy¹⁵ test, in which the patient's urine is used instead of drawing blood. "This is a positive urine test, the top line means that the test is working, it's a control band.  The line towards the bottom shows that it is positive for malaria.  We are still refining this.  We hope to improve this test and make it more accessible over the next year or two."

Dr. Sullivan describes another project he is working on.  "We have quinine and quinidine… these are drugs for the working laboratory."

From a drug library of 2000 approved medications, Dr. Sullivan and his team are trying to see if drugs already in use for other illnesses can be used against malaria.

"Our idea is if we discover a new use for an existing drug, then we could rapidly get into the market.  Recently we found an antihistamine¹⁶.  One out of about 20-30 antihistamines¹⁷ that we tested, inhibits¹⁸ the malaria parasite and suppresses the malaria infection, so we are cautiously optimistic."

Dr. Griffins says, "Its such a cause of death in children and morbidity¹⁹ in adults. More than a million people a year dying of malaria, is a huge challenge." 

Dr. Griffin says there are more victims of malaria now than ever before.  One reason is an increase in the world's population.  But it is also true that for the last 3000 years the resilient malaria parasite has managed to adapt and survive almost anything that humankind has invented to destroy it.

1 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。

2 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。

3 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

4 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

5 gene   

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。

6 genetically   

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

7 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。

8 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

9 DNA   

(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。

10 genes   

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

11 killing   

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。

12 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

13 decided   

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。

14 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

15 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

16 antihistamine   

n.抗组胺剂

参考例句：

• Taking an antihistamine isn't the only way to battle seasonal allergies.采取抗组织胺并不是唯一防止季节性过敏的方法。
• Antihistamine drugs may offer an effective treatment.抗组胺剂药物可以提供比较有效的治疗。

17 antihistamines   

n.抗组织胺药( antihistamine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cough suppressants and some antihistamines may help quiet an annoying cough. 镇咳药和一些抗组织胺类药物能帮助驱除烦人的咳嗽。 来自互联网
• Antihistamines are the medications most commonly used to diminish allergic symptoms. 抗组胺药是药物最常用的，以减少过敏症状。 来自互联网

18 inhibits   

阻止，抑制( inhibit的第三人称单数 )； 使拘束，使尴尬

参考例句：

• A small manufacturing sector inhibits growth in the economy. 制造业规模太小有碍经济增长。
• His bad English inhibits him from speaking freely. 他英语学得不好，这使他不能表达自如。

19 morbidity   

n.病态；不健全；发病；发病率

参考例句：

• MC's also significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality induced by honeybee venom. 肥大细胞同样也能显著降低蜜蜂毒液诱发疾病的发病率和死亡率。 来自互联网
• The result shows that incidence of myopia morbidity is 44.84%. 结果表明：近视眼的发病率为44.84%。 来自互联网