蚊子的嗅觉在夜间更灵敏

时间：2013-09-02 07:13:42

（单词翻译:单击）

In work published this week in Nature: Scientific Reports, a team of researchers from the University of Notre Dame1's Eck Institute for Global Health, led by Associate Professor Giles Duffield and Assistant Professor Zain Syed of the Department of Biological Sciences, revealed that the major malaria2 vector in Africa, the Anopheles gambiae mosquito, is able to smell major human host odorants（有气味的东西） better at night. The study reports an integrative approach to examine the mosquito's ability to smell across the 24-hour day and involved proteomic（蛋白质组学）, sensory3 physiological4, and behavioral techniques. The researchers examined the role for a major chemosensory family of mosquito proteins, odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), in the daily regulation of olfactory5 sensitivities in the malarial6 mosquito. It is thought that OBPs in the insect antennae7 and mouth parts function to concentrate odorant molecules8 and assist in their transport to the actual olfactory receptors, thereby9 allowing for odorant detection. The team revealed daily rhythmic10 protein abundance of OBPs, having higher concentrations in the mosquito's sensory organs at night than during the day. This discovery could change the way we look at protecting ourselves from these disease-carrying pests.
 
The team also included Matthew M. Champion, Eck Institute for Global Health Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, who specializes in proteomics.
 
This study utilized11 mass spectrometry to quantify protein abundance in mosquito sensory organs, and electroantennograms to determine the response induced by host odorants at different times of the day. The coincident times of peak protein abundance, olfactory sensitivity and biting behavior reflect the extraordinarily12 fine-tuned control of mosquito physiology13. Olfactory protein abundance and olfactory sensitivity are high when needed (at night) and low when not required (daytime).
 
Samuel Rund, a doctoral candidate in the laboratory of Duffield and a former Eck Institute for Global Health Fellow, and Nicolle Bonar, a visiting undergraduate student from Queens University of Ontario, Canada, were the lead authors on this research. The Notre Dame team also included then-undergraduate student John Ghazi, Class of 2012; undergraduate Cameron Houk, Class of '14; and graduate student Matthew Leming.
 
Rund noted14, "This was an exciting opportunity to bring many people and techniques together to make some really fascinating findings on the mosquito's ability to smell humans, its host. Just think, during the day the mosquito is sleeping and doesn't need to smell you. But when the sun goes down, the mosquito's olfactory system becomes extra-sensitive, and she is ready to smell and then bite you."

分享到：


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 dame dvGzR0     
n.女士
参考例句：
  • The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
  • If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。
2 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。
3 sensory Azlwe     
adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的
参考例句：
  • Human powers of sensory discrimination are limited.人类感官分辨能力有限。
  • The sensory system may undergo long-term adaptation in alien environments.感觉系统对陌生的环境可能经过长时期才能适应。
4 physiological aAvyK     
adj.生理学的，生理学上的
参考例句：
  • He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
  • Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。
5 olfactory Z5EzW     
adj.嗅觉的
参考例句：
  • He is to develop a sensor to substitute for the olfactory abilities of dogs.克罗克将研制一种传感器用以代替狗的嗅觉功能。
  • Based on these findings, Keller suspects that each person has an olfactory blind spot.根据这些发现，凯勒推断，每个人都有一个嗅觉盲区。
6 malarial 291eb45ca3cfa4c89750acdc0a97a43c     
患疟疾的，毒气的
参考例句：
  • Malarial poison had sallowed his skin. 疟疾病毒使他皮肤成灰黄色。
  • Standing water like this gives malarial mosquitoes the perfect place to breed. 像这样的死水给了传染疟疾的蚊子绝佳的繁殖地点。
7 antennae lMdyk     
n.天线；触角
参考例句：
  • Sometimes a creature uses a pair of antennae to swim.有时某些动物使用其一对触须来游泳。
  • Cuba's government said that Cubans found watching American television on clandestine antennae would face three years in jail.古巴政府说那些用秘密天线收看美国电视的古巴人将面临三年监禁。
8 molecules 187c25e49d45ad10b2f266c1fa7a8d49     
分子( molecule的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
  • Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。
9 thereby Sokwv     
adv.因此，从而
参考例句：
  • I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
  • He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。
10 rhythmic rXexv     
adj.有节奏的，有韵律的
参考例句：
  • Her breathing became more rhythmic.她的呼吸变得更有规律了。
  • Good breathing is slow,rhythmic and deep.健康的呼吸方式缓慢深沉而有节奏。
11 utilized a24badb66c4d7870fd211f2511461fff     
v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • In the19th century waterpower was widely utilized to generate electricity. 在19世纪人们大规模使用水力来发电。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The empty building can be utilized for city storage. 可以利用那栋空建筑物作城市的仓库。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 extraordinarily Vlwxw     
adv.格外地；极端地
参考例句：
  • She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。
  • The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨，大海出奇地宁静。
13 physiology uAfyL     
n.生理学，生理机能
参考例句：
  • He bought a book about physiology.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
  • He was awarded the Nobel Prize for achievements in physiology.他因生理学方面的建树而被授予诺贝尔奖。
14 noted 5n4zXc     
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。

©2005-2010英文阅读网