onionwormimmune

　　Researchers at Tulane School of Medicine have published groundbreaking evidence that Schistosoma mansoni, the blood fluke responsible for schistosomiasis, has evolved the ability to completely shut down pain and itch signals during skin invasion.

　　杜兰大学医学院的研究人员发表了开创性的证据，表明导致血吸虫病的血吸虫（曼氏血吸虫）已经进化出在皮肤侵入过程中完全关闭疼痛和瘙痒信号的能力。

　　Published in The Journal of Immunology, the study reveals how this parasitic worm produces mysterious molecules that suppress TRPV1+ protein activity—the same neural pathway that makes you feel the burn from chili peppers or the pain from a hot stove.

　　该研究发表在《免疫学杂志》上，揭示了这种寄生蠕虫如何产生神秘的分子来抑制 TRPV1+ 蛋白的活性——正是这个神经通路让你感受到辣椒带来的灼烧感或热炉子带来的疼痛。

　　The stealth mechanism is devastatingly effective. While bacteria and other pathogens trigger immediate painful skin reactions that alert the immune system, S. mansoni slips through skin completely undetected, allowing it to establish chronic infections that can persist for decades.

　　这种隐匿机制的效果极为惊人。细菌和其他病原体会引发立即的皮肤疼痛反应，从而警示免疫系统，而曼氏血吸虫却能完全不被察觉地穿透皮肤，从而建立起可持续数十年的慢性感染。

　　The worm’s molecular toolkit blocks signals that would normally scream “danger” to the brain, creating a biological invisibility cloak that has helped it infect over 240 million people worldwide through contaminated freshwater.

　　这种蠕虫的分子工具箱能阻断本应向大脑发出“危险”信号的机制，从而形成一种生物学的“隐形斗篷”，帮助它通过受污染的淡水感染了全球超过 2.4 亿人。

　　But here’s where the discovery gets revolutionary: Dr. De’Broski R. Herbert and his team believe they can reverse-engineer this parasitic superpower for medicine.

　　但这一发现的革命性之处在于：德布罗斯基·R·赫伯特博士及其团队认为，他们可以对这种寄生虫的“超级能力”进行逆向工程，用于医学。

　　“If we identify and isolate the molecules used by helminths to block TRPV1+ activation, it may present a novel alternative to current opioid-based treatments for reducing pain,” Herbert explains.

　　“如果我们能够识别并分离出寄生蠕虫用来阻断 TRPV1+ 激活的分子，它可能会成为现有阿片类止痛治疗的全新替代方案。”赫伯特解释道。

　　The same molecules that help worms evade detection could become the foundation for non-addictive painkillers and treatments for inflammatory conditions.

　　那些帮助蠕虫逃避免疫侦测的分子，可能成为非成瘾性止痛药物和炎症治疗的基础。

　　The research also reveals that TRPV1+ activation is crucial for immune defense—when the protein functions normally, it rapidly mobilizes immune cells including γδ T cells, monocytes, and neutrophils to fight off invasion.

　　研究还表明，TRPV1+ 的激活对于免疫防御至关重要——当该蛋白正常发挥功能时，它会迅速动员包括 γδ T 细胞、单核细胞和中性粒细胞在内的免疫细胞来抵御入侵。

　　This suggests that understanding how parasites manipulate our pain systems could lead to both better pain management and topical treatments that activate TRPV1+ to prevent parasitic infections in high-risk areas.

　　这提示我们，理解寄生虫如何操纵我们的疼痛系统，既可能带来更好的疼痛管理方法，也可能推动开发能够激活 TRPV1+ 的局部治疗，从而在高风险地区预防寄生虫感染。

　　Evolution’s cruelest trick might become medicine’s greatest breakthrough.

　　进化最残酷的“诡计”，或许会成为医学上最伟大的突破。

　　————

　　精选词汇

　　【groundbreaking】/ɡrandbrek/ adj. new, original, and important 开创性的，突破性的

　　例句：Her groundbreaking research changed the field of neuroscience forever.

　　她的开创性研究永远改变了神经科学领域。

　　【fluke】/fluk/ n. a parasitic flatworm; also, something happening by chance 寄生吸虫；侥幸

　　例句：Catching such a rare butterfly was a complete fluke.

　　抓到那只稀有蝴蝶完全是侥幸。

　　【schistosomiasis】/skstsmass/ n. a disease caused by infection with blood flukes 血吸虫病

　　例句：Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in many developing countries.

　　血吸虫病在许多发展中国家仍然是重大公共卫生问题。

　　【suppress】/spres/ v. to stop something from being expressed or operating 抑制，压制

　　例句：The drug works by suppressing the virus’s replication.

　　该药物通过抑制病毒复制发挥作用。

　　【neural】/njrl/ adj. relating to nerves or the nervous system 神经的

　　例句：The disease damages neural pathways in the brain.

　　这种疾病会损伤大脑中的神经通路。

　　【stealth】/stelθ/ n. secret or quiet action to avoid being noticed 潜行，隐匿

　　例句：The stealth of the predator allowed it to catch its prey easily.

　　捕食者的隐匿性使它轻易捕获猎物。

　　【devastatingly】/devstetli/ adv. extremely effectively or destructively 毁灭性地，极其有效地

　　例句：The new virus spreads devastatingly fast in crowded cities.

　　这种新病毒在拥挤城市中传播得极其迅速。

　　【pathogen】/pθdn/ n. a microorganism that causes disease 病原体

　　例句：The laboratory is equipped to handle dangerous pathogens.

　　该实验室具备处理危险病原体的设备。

　　【undetected】/ndtktd/ adj. not noticed or discovered 未被发现的

　　例句：The virus can remain undetected in the body for years.

　　这种病毒可以在体内潜伏多年而不被发现。

　　【chronic】/krnk/ adj. long-lasting and difficult to cure 慢性的，长期的

　　例句：He suffers from chronic back pain.

　　他长期饱受背痛困扰。

　　【toolkit】/tulkt/ n. a set of tools or skills 工具箱；技能组合

　　例句：Digital marketing requires a new toolkit of online strategies.

　　数字营销需要一套新的网络策略工具。

　　【cloak】/klok/ n. a covering that hides something; v. to conceal 披风；掩盖

　　例句：The project was cloaked in secrecy.

　　该项目笼罩在秘密之中。

　　【contaminated】/kntmnetd/ adj. made impure or unsafe by contact with harmful substances 受污染的

　　例句：The river was contaminated by industrial waste.

　　这条河被工业废料污染了。

　　【reverse-engineer】/rvrs endnr/ v. to analyze a product to discover how it was made 逆向工程

　　例句：Hackers reverse-engineered the software to find security flaws.

　　黑客通过逆向工程分析该软件以寻找安全漏洞。

　　【superpower】/suprpar/ n. extraordinary ability or strength 超能力，超级大国

　　例句：Reading minds would be a fascinating superpower.

　　读心术将是一种令人着迷的超能力。

　　【helminth】/hlmnθ/ n. a parasitic worm 寄生蠕虫

　　例句：Helminth infections are common in tropical regions.

　　蠕虫感染在热带地区很常见。

　　【opioid】/opid/ n. a drug similar to opium, often used for pain relief 阿片类药物

　　例句：Doctors are searching for alternatives to opioids for chronic pain management.

　　医生们正在寻找替代阿片类药物的慢性疼痛管理方法。

　　【non-addictive】/nɑn dktv/ adj. not causing dependence 非成瘾性的

　　例句：Scientists aim to develop non-addictive pain relievers.

　　科学家们致力于研发非成瘾性的止痛药。

　　【inflammatory】/nflmtri/ adj. relating to inflammation 炎症的；煽动性的

　　例句：Arthritis is an inflammatory condition affecting the joints.

　　关节炎是一种影响关节的炎症性疾病。

　　【mobilize】/moblaz/ v. to organize and prepare for action 动员

　　例句：The government mobilized troops to respond to the crisis.

　　政府动员军队应对危机。

　　【monocyte】/mnsat/ n. a type of white blood cell 单核细胞

　　例句：Monocytes play a vital role in fighting infections.

　　单核细胞在抗击感染中起着至关重要的作用。

　　【neutrophil】/njutrfl/ n. a type of white blood cell 中性粒细胞

　　例句：Neutrophils are the first responders to bacterial infection.

　　中性粒细胞是对细菌感染最先作出反应的细胞。

　　【manipulate】/mnpjlet/ v. to control or influence cleverly or unfairly 操纵，控制

　　例句：Parasites manipulate host behavior to ensure their survival.

　　寄生虫操纵宿主行为以确保自身生存。

　　【topical】/tɑpkl/ adj. applied to a particular place on the skin 局部的；时事的

　　例句：The doctor prescribed a topical cream for the rash.

　　医生为皮疹开了一种外用药膏。

　　【prevention】/prvenn/ n. the act of stopping something from happening 预防

　　例句：Vaccination is key in the prevention of many infectious diseases.

　　接种疫苗是预防许多传染病的关键。

　　【high-risk】/ha rsk/ adj. more likely than others to experience danger or harm 高风险的

　　例句：Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group for malaria.

　　孕妇被视为疟疾的高风险人群。

　　【evolution】/ivlun/ n. gradual development of organisms or systems 进化

　　例句：Human evolution has been shaped by environmental pressures.

　　人类进化受到了环境压力的影响。

　　【cruel】/krul/ adj. causing pain and suffering 残酷的

　　例句：It was cruel to leave the injured animal without help.

　　让受伤的动物得不到帮助是残忍的。

　　【breakthrough】/brekθru/ n. an important discovery 突破，重大进展

　　例句：The discovery of penicillin was a medical breakthrough.

　　青霉素的发现是医学上的一次重大突破。

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