阻止蚊子传播疾病的新方法:使它们“憋尿”
文章来源:未知 文章作者:meng 发布时间:2010-03-04 00:10 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

Cornell researchers have found a protein that may lead to a new way to control mosquitoes that spread dengue fever(登革热) , yellow fever(黄热病) and other diseases when they feed on humans: Prevent them from urinating(小便,撒尿) as they feed on blood. The work may lead to the development of new insecticides(杀虫剂) to disrupt the mosquito's renal(肾脏的) system, which contributes to a mosquito's survival after feeding on blood.

Aedes aegypti(埃及伊蚊) mosquitoes transmit the virus that causes dengue fever, putting 40 percent of the world's population at risk of catching1 the disease, and causing 50 million to 100 million infections (22,000 deaths) annually2. They pick up diseases when feeding on infected hosts and can then infect new hosts when they feed again. Currently, no vaccine3 or treatment protects against dengue, so the only way to stop its spread is by controlling mosquitoes.

But now, a Cornell study published in the March 4, 2010 issue of the American Journal of Physiology4 – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology has identified a protein from the renal tubules(肾小管) of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that appears to be involved in promoting urination as they feed on blood. When mosquitoes consume and process blood meals, they must urinate to prevent fluid and salt overloads5(负荷过重) that can kill them.

Also, "they have to undergo(经历,忍受) rapid urination when feeding, or they can't fly away," said Peter Piermarini, the paper's lead author and a postdoctoral research associate in the lab of Klaus Beyenbach, a professor of biomedical sciences in Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine and the paper's senior author. "Too much weight will impair6 the mosquito's flight performance, like an aircraft with too much payload(有效负荷) . [If they get too heavy,] they may become more susceptible7 to being swatted(重拍,猛击) by their host or eaten by a predator," said Piermarini.

The researchers discovered a key protein expressed in the mosquito's renal system that contributes to urination. In lab experiments, Piermarini, Beyenbach and colleagues demonstrated that blocking the protein's function in the renal tubules with a drug reverses the enhanced rates of urination that would occur during blood feeding.

"Thus, blocking the function of this protein in natural populations of mosquitoes may limit their ability to survive the physiological8 stresses of a blood meal and to further transmit viruses," said Piermarini.

The Aedes aegypti renal system also serves as a valuable model for parts of the mammalian(哺乳动物的) kidney, with similar cells in each system and possibly similar proteins, said the authors.



点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 catching cwVztY     
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住
参考例句:
  • There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
  • Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。
2 annually VzYzNO     
adv.一年一次,每年
参考例句:
  • Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
  • They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
3 vaccine Ki1wv     
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。
4 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。
5 overloads 0ac32381a92183c75cf67ac5672b6652     
使负担太重( overload的第三人称单数 ); 使超载; 使过载; 给…增加负担
参考例句:
  • Given these overloads, we can see the working of the rules above. 对于给定的这些重载,我们可以看看上述规则的工作方式。
  • The numerous overloads for each data access method have been reduced. 每一个数据访问方法重载的数量被减少了。
6 impair Ia4x2     
v.损害,损伤;削弱,减少
参考例句:
  • Loud noise can impair your hearing.巨大的噪音有损听觉。
  • It can not impair the intellectual vigor of the young.这不能磨灭青年人思想活力。
7 susceptible 4rrw7     
adj.过敏的,敏感的;易动感情的,易受感动的
参考例句:
  • Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
  • We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。
8 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。
发表评论
请自觉遵守互联网相关的政策法规,严禁发布色情、暴力、反动的言论。
评价:
表情:
验证码:点击我更换图片