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ArinjayBanerjee_BatAdaptations_2020E-_为什么蝙蝠不会生病？_-
If this bat were a human, she'd be in deep trouble. 如果这只蝙蝠是人,
She’s infected with several deadly viruses, including ones that cause rabies , SARS, and Ebola . 她被数种致命病毒感染, 包括造成狂犬病、SARS, 及伊波拉的病毒。
But while her diagnosis would be lethal for other mammals , this winged wonder is totally unfazed . 虽然她的诊断结果 对其他哺乳类动物会很致命, 这只有翅膀的奇迹生物 却完全不受影响。
In fact, she may even spend the next 30 years living as if this were totally normal– because for bats, it is. 事实上,她可能会把 这个状况当作家常便饭一样 过接下来 30 年的生活——
infected:adj.带菌的; v.传染; (infect的过去分词和过去式) deadly:adj.致命的;非常的;死一般的;adv.非常;如死一般地; rabies:n.[内科]狂犬病,恐水病; Ebola:n.埃博拉病毒; diagnosis:n.诊断; lethal:adj.致命的,致死的;n.致死因子; mammals:n.哺乳动物;(mammal的复数) unfazed:adj.未受干扰;不觉担忧;
So what’s protecting her from these dangerous infections ? 所以,是什么原因让她能 不受这些危险的感染影响？
To answer this question, we first need to understand the relationship between viruses and their hosts . 要回答这个问题,我们首先要了解 病毒和其宿主之间的关系。
Every virus has evolved to infect specific species within a class of creatures . 每种病毒都已经演化成会感染
infections:n.传染病;口腔病害(infection复数形式); hosts:n.主人; v.主办,主持(活动); (host的第三人称单数和复数) evolved:v.(使)逐渐形成;进化;进化形成;(evolve的过去分词和过去式) specific:adj.特殊的,特定的;明确的;详细的;[药]具有特效的;n.特性;细节;特效药; species:n.[生物]物种;种类; creatures:n.生物;动物;(具有某种特征的)人(creature的复数)
This is why humans are unlikely to be infected by plant viruses, and why bees don’t catch the flu. 那就是为什么人类不太可能 被植物病毒感染, 以及为什么蜜蜂不会感冒。
However, viruses do sometimes jump across closely related species 然而,病毒的确有时会跳到近亲物种上。
And because the new host has no established immune defenses, the unknown virus presents a potentially lethal challenge. 因为新的宿主尚未建立免疫防御, 未知的病毒会带来可能致命的危害。
unlikely:adj.不大可能发生的;非心目中的;非想象的;难以相信的; established:adj.已确立的;著名的;v.建立;创立;设立;(establish的过去分词和过去式) immune:adj.免疫的;免于…的,免除的;n.免疫者;免除者; potentially:adv.可能地,潜在地;
This is actually bad news for the virus as well. 其实这对病毒而言也是坏消息。
Their ideal host provides a steady stream of resources and comes into contact with new parties to infect— two criteria that are best met by living hosts. 理想的宿主会持续提供 稳定而源源不绝的资源, 并且会去接触新的感染对象—— 活宿主最好都能达到这两项标准。
All this to say that successful viruses don’t typically evolve adaptations that kill their hosts— including the viruses that have infected our flying friend. 这一切的意思就是,成功的病毒 通常不会演化出会造成 宿主死亡的适应性—— 包括感染我们那些蝙蝠 朋友的病毒亦是如此。
steady:adj.稳定的; v.使稳定; v.稳定地; n.关系固定的情侣; resources:n.[计][环境]资源; v.向…提供资金(resource的第三人称单数); contact:n.接触,联系;v.使接触,联系; criteria:n.标准,条件(criterion的复数); typically:adv.代表性地;作为特色地; adaptations:n.适应;改编(adaptation的复数);
The deadly effects of these viruses aren’t caused by the pathogens directly , but rather, by their host’s uncontrolled immune response . 这些病毒的致命作用 并非由病原体直接造成, 而是由其宿主控制不了的 免疫反应所造成。
Infections like Ebola or certain types of flu have evolved to strain the immune system of their mammalian host by sending it into overdrive . 像伊波拉或某些类型的感冒 等感染,都已经演化成 会让哺乳类宿主的免疫系统 过度操劳而负荷过重。
The body sends hordes of white blood cells, antibodies and inflammatory molecules to kill the foreign invader . 身体会派出大量白血球细胞、 抗体, 以及促使发炎的分子,以杀死外来的入侵者。
pathogens:n.[基医]病原体;病原菌;[基医]致病菌; directly:adv.直接地;立即;马上;正好地;坦率地;conj.一…就; uncontrolled:adj.不受控制的; immune response:n.免疫应答(机体对抗原的应答); strain:n.压力;品系;应力;张力;v.扭伤;拉紧;滤;损伤; immune system:n.免疫系统; mammalian:adj.哺乳类动物的;n.哺乳类; overdrive:v.驱使过度;虐待;工作过度;n.超速档;[机]超速传动; hordes:n.游牧部落;一大群(horde的复数);v.成群结队(horde的第三人称单数); antibodies:n.[免疫]抗体(antibody的复数); inflammatory:adj.炎症性的;煽动性的;激动的; molecules:n.[化学]分子,微粒;[化学]摩尔(molecule的复数); invader:n.侵略者;侵入物;
But if the infection has progressed to high enough levels, an assault by the immune system can lead to serious tissue damage. 但,如果已经发展成很高度的感染, 免疫系统的攻击可能会 对组织造成严重损伤。
In particularly virulent cases, this damage can be lethal. 在特别剧烈的情况下, 这种损伤可能会致命。
And even when it’s not, the site is left vulnerable to secondary infection. 就算不致命, 受损伤处也很容易受到二度感染。
But unlike other mammals, bats have been in an evolutionary arms race with these viruses for millennia , and they’ve adapted to limit this kind of self-damage. 但和其他哺乳类不同的是, 数千年来,蝙蝠都一直在 和这些病毒进行演化竞赛, 牠们已经适应, 能够限制这种自我损伤。
assault:v.袭击;殴打;威胁;非议;(assault的现在分词) tissue:n.纸巾,手巾纸;(人、动植物细胞的)组织; particularly:adv.特别地,独特地;详细地,具体地;明确地,细致地; virulent:adj.剧毒的;恶性的;有恶意的; site:n.地点;位置;场所;v.设置;为…选址; vulnerable:adj.易受攻击的,易受…的攻击;易受伤害的;有弱点的; secondary:adj.第二的;中等的;次要的;中级的;n.副手;代理人; evolutionary:adj.进化的;发展的;渐进的; arms race:n.军备竞赛; millennia:n.千年期(millennium的复数);一千年;千年庆典;太平盛世; adapted:adj.适于…的; v.使适应,使适合; (adapt的过去分词和过去式)
Their immune system has a very low inflammatory response; an adaptation likely developed alongside the other trait that sets them apart from other mammals: self-powered flight. 牠们的免疫系统发炎反应非常低, 这种适应性可能是和牠们的 另一项特性一起发展出来的, 这项特性让牠们与其他哺乳 有所不同:自供能式飞行。
This energy-intensive process can raise a bat’s body temperature to over 40oC. 这个需要大量能量的过程,
Such a high metabolic rate comes at a cost; flight produces waste molecules called Reactive Oxygen Species that damage and break off fragments of DNA. 这么高的代谢率,是有代价的; 飞行会产生废弃分子, 它们会破坏并将 DNA 的 一些片段切断。
trait:n.特性,特点;品质;少许; self-powered:adj.自供电的;自动推进的; energy-intensive:un.能源消耗量大的;能量密集的; process:v.处理;加工;列队行进;n.过程,进行;方法,adj.经过特殊加工(或处理)的; metabolic:adj.变化的;新陈代谢的; Reactive:adj.反应的;电抗的;反动的; fragments:n.碎片(fragment的复数);片断;[计]分段;v.破碎(fragment的三单形式);打碎;
In other mammals, this loose DNA would be attacked by the immune system as a foreign invader. 换作其他哺乳类,这种鬆散的 DNA 会被免疫系统视为 外来入侵者而发动攻击。
But if bats produce these molecules as often as researchers believe, they may have evolved a dampened immune response to their own damaged DNA. 但如果蝙蝠产生这些分子的频率 有研究者所相信的那么频繁, 牠们可能已经演化成 对自己的受损 DNA 只会产生较轻的免疫反应。
loose:adj.宽松的; v.释放; v.松散地; n.放纵; dampened:使潮湿;抑制(dampen的过去式和过去分词);
In fact, certain genes associated with sensing broken DNA and deploying inflammatory molecules are absent from the bat genome . 事实上,某些和感测受损 DNA 及部署促炎分子有关的基因
The result is a controlled low-level inflammatory response that allows bats to coexist with the viruses in their systems. 结果就是调节得当的低度发炎反应, 让蝙蝠能够和其系统中的病毒共存。
Even more impressive , bats are able to host these viruses for decades without any negative health consequences . 更让人印象深刻的是, 蝙蝠能当这些病毒的宿主数十年 而不会在健康上有任何负面影响。
genes:n.基因;(gene的复数) associated:adj.有关联的; v.联想; (associate的过去分词和过去式) deploying:v.部署,调度(军队或武器);有效地利用;调动;(deploy的现在分词) absent:adj.缺席的;缺少的;心不在焉的;茫然的;v.使缺席; genome:n.基因组;染色体组; low-level:adj.低水平的;低级别的; coexist:vi.共存;和平共处; impressive:adj.感人的;令人钦佩的;给人以深刻印象的; negative:adj.[数]负的;消极的;否定的;阴性的;n.否定;负数;[摄]底片;v.否定;拒绝; consequences:n.后果,结果;影响(consequence的复数);
According to a 2013 study, bats have evolved efficient repair genes to counteract the frequent DNA damage they sustain . 一篇 2013 年的研究指出, 以对抗牠们经常受到的 DNA 损伤。
These repair genes may also contribute to their long lives. 这些修复基因可能也是 牠们寿命长的原因之一。
Animal chromosomes end with a DNA sequence called a telomere . 动物染色体的末端 是叫做「端粒」的 DNA 序列。
These sequences shorten over time in a process that many believe contributes to cell aging. 这类序列会随时间缩短, 许多人相信这个过程 和细胞老化有关。
According to:根据,据说; efficient:adj.有效率的;有能力的;生效的; repair:v.修理;修补;修缮;补救;n.修理;修补;修缮; counteract:vt.抵消;中和;阻碍; frequent:adj.频繁的;经常发生的;v.常到(某处); sustain:v.支持;支撑;遭受;证实; contribute to:有助于;捐献; chromosomes:n.[遗][细胞][染料]染色体(chromosome的复数形式); telomere:n.[遗]端粒; shorten:vt.缩短;减少;变短;vi.缩短;变短; contributes:[图情]投稿;[经]捐助;[经]捐献(contribute的第三人称单数);
But bat telomeres shorten much more slowly than their mammalian cousins— granting them lifespans as long as 41 years. 但蝙蝠的端粒缩短速度 比其他哺乳类要慢很多—— 让牠们的寿命能长达 41 年。
Of course, bats aren’t totally invincible to disease , whether caused by bacteria , unfamiliar viruses, or even fungi . 当然,蝙蝠并不是完全不怕疾病, 能让牠们致病有细菌、 陌生病毒,甚至霉菌。
Bat populations have been ravaged by a fungal infection called white-nose syndrome , which can fatally disrupt hibernation and deteriorate wing tissue. 蝙蝠的数量曾经被一种 叫做白鼻症的霉菌感染而锐减, 这种疾病会打断冬眠、 让翅膀组织退化,最后致命。
telomeres:n.染色体终端(telomere的复数); granting:v.同意,承认,允许;(grant的现在分词) lifespans:n.寿命;预期生命期限;预期使用期限; as long as:conj.只要;长达;如果;既然; invincible:adj.无敌的;不能征服的; disease:n.病,[医]疾病;弊病;vt.传染;使…有病; bacteria:n.[微]细菌; unfamiliar:adj.不熟悉的;不常见的;没有经验的; fungi:n.真菌;菌类;蘑菇(fungus的复数); ravaged:v.毁坏;损坏;严重损害;(ravage的过去分词和过去式) fungal:adj.真菌的(等于fungous); syndrome:n.[临床]综合征;综合症状;并发症状;校验子;并发位; fatally:adv.致命地;命中注定地;不可避免地; disrupt:vt.破坏;使瓦解;使分裂;使中断;使陷于混乱;adj.分裂的,中断的;分散的; hibernation:n.冬眠;过冬;避寒; deteriorate:vi.恶化,变坏;vt.恶化;
These conditions prevent bats from performing critical roles in their ecosystems , like helping with pollination and seed dispersal , and consuming pests and insects. 这些疾病让蝙蝠无法扮演 牠们在生态系统中的重要角色, 比如协助授粉、传播种子, 以及吃掉危害作物的动物和昆虫。
To protect these animals from harm, and ourselves from infection, humans need to stop encroaching on bat habitats and ecosystems. 为了保护这些动物不受伤害 以及保护我们自己不受感染, 人类必须要停止侵犯蝙蝠的栖息地和生态系统。
Hopefully, preserving these populations will allow scientists to better understand bats’ unique antiviral defense systems. 希望做好蝙蝠族群的保育, 能让科学家更了解蝙蝠独特的抗病毒防御系统。
performing:adj.表演的;演奏的;v.做;执行;演出;运转(perform的现在分词) critical:adj.鉴定的;[核]临界的;批评的,爱挑剔的;危险的;决定性的;评论的; ecosystems:n.生态系统(ecosystem的复数); pollination:n.[农学]授粉(作用); dispersal:n.分散;传播;散布;疏散;消失; consuming:adj.消费的;强烈的;v.消耗(consume的ing形式); encroaching:adj.渐渐渗入的; habitats:n.[生态]栖息地;(动植物的)[经]产地(habitat的复数形式); preserving:n.保留,保存; unique:adj.独特的,稀罕的;[数]唯一的;n.独一无二的人或物; antiviral:adj.抗病毒的;抗滤过性病原体的;n.抗病毒物质(等于antidote);
And maybe one day, this research will help our own viral immunity take flight. 也许有一天,这些研究也能协助 我们自己对病毒免疫力起飞。
immunity:n.免疫力;豁免权;免除;