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  • 研究中的病毒

    Green illustration of viruses, emphasizing their role in research and medicine.

    Can viruses be helpful, or just harmful?
    ::病毒是有用还是有害?

    are extensively used in research and medicine to both understand basic biology and to improve human health. Imagine having a tool that is able to inject its into a host . The possibilities of using such a tool are endless. That tool would be a virus.
    ::研究和医学广泛用于了解基本生物学和改善人类健康。 想象一下拥有一个能够将其注入宿主的工具。 使用这样一个工具的可能性是无穷无尽的。 这个工具将是一种病毒。

    Viruses in Research
    ::研究中的病毒

    Viruses are an extremely important tool in the study of molecular and cellular biology. Since viruses infect cells by moving their genetic material into the host cell's , they are helpful in the investigation of the functions of cells. For example, the use of viruses in research has helped our understanding of the basics of molecular genetics , such as DNA replication , , processing, , transport, and immunology.
    ::病毒是分子和细胞生物学研究中极为重要的工具。 由于病毒通过将遗传物质移入宿主细胞而感染细胞,因此它们有助于研究细胞的功能。 比如,病毒在研究中使用有助于我们了解分子遗传学的基本原理,如DNA复制、复制、加工、加工、运输和免疫学。

    Viruses and Medicine
    ::病毒和药物

    Geneticists often use viruses as vectors to introduce genes into cells that they are studying. A viral vector is a tool commonly used by molecular biologists to place genetic material into cells. To be a useful viral vector, the virus is modified so that it will not cause disease, and it will infect only certain types of cells. Phages are often used as vectors to genetically modify .
    ::遗传学家常常利用病毒作为媒介,将基因引入他们正在研究的细胞。病毒媒介是分子生物学家常用的工具,用来将遗传物质引入细胞。 作为一种有用的病毒媒介,病毒经过修改后不会引起疾病,它只会感染某些种类的细胞。 病毒媒介经常被用作基因改变的媒介。

    In a similar fashion, viral therapy uses viruses to genetically modify diseased cells and tissues . Viral therapy shows promise as a method of and in the treatment of . Gene therapy is the insertion of genes into a person’s cells and tissues to treat a disease. In the case of a genetic disease, the defective gene is replaced with a working gene. Although the technology is still new, it has been used with some success.
    ::类似地,病毒疗法也利用病毒基因改变疾病细胞和组织。病毒疗法作为一种治疗方法或治疗方法很有前途。基因疗法是将基因插入一个人的细胞和组织以治疗疾病。在基因疾病的情况下,缺陷基因被工作基因所取代。虽然技术仍然很新,但已经成功地应用了。

    Scientists have focused on gene therapy for diseases caused by single-gene defects, such as cystic fibrosis , hemophilia, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia. In gene therapy, the correct version of the gene is introduced to human cells by using a viral vector such as the adenovirus shown in the Figure .
    ::科学家关注单基因缺陷引起的疾病的基因疗法,如细胞纤维化、血友病、肌肉萎缩和镰状细胞贫血。 在基因疗法中,通过使用图中显示的亚丁病毒等病毒媒介,将正确的基因引入人体细胞。

    Phages have been used for over 60 years as an alternative to antibiotics in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. They are seen as a hope against multi-drug-resistant strains of many bacteria because they can infect and kill these “superbugs”. However, in the case of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ), a phage infecting the bacterium produces a toxin that makes the bacterium more virulent and difficult to contain.
    ::60多年来,在前苏联和东欧,作为抗生素的替代方法,使用这些药片已经使用了60多年,它们被视为对许多细菌抗多种药物菌株的希望,因为它们能够感染和杀死这些“超级虫”,但是,就MRSA(抗药Staphylococccus aureus)而言,感染细菌的药片会产生一种毒素,使细菌更加毒害和难以抑制。

    Viruses that infect cancer cells are being studied for their use in cancer treatments. Oncolytic viruses are viruses that lyse and kill cancer cells. Some researchers are hoping to treat some cancers with these viruses.
    ::感染癌症细胞的病毒正在被研究用于癌症治疗。 肿瘤病毒是治疗和杀死癌症细胞的病毒。 一些研究人员希望用这些病毒治疗一些癌症。

    Gene therapy process using an adenovirus vector to introduce new genes into human cells.

    Gene therapy using an Adenovirus vector. A new gene is inserted into an adenovirus vector, which is used to introduce the modified DNA into a human cell. If the treatment is successful, the new gene will get into the nucleus and into the target cell DNA to make a functional protein.
    ::使用亚登病毒媒介的基因治疗。一种新的基因被插入一种亚登病毒媒介,该媒介用来将经过修改的DNA引入人体细胞。如果治疗成功,新基因将进入核,进入目标细胞DNA,以产生功能性蛋白。

       

     

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Viruses are useful tools in scientific research and medicine.
      ::病毒是科学研究和医学的有用工具。
    • Viruses help us understand molecular biology. They are also used in gene therapy.
      ::病毒帮助我们了解分子生物学,也用于基因治疗。

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. Why are viruses especially useful tools for understanding molecular biology?
      ::为什么病毒对了解分子生物学特别有用?
    2. What have scientists learned by studying the viruses and their invasion of host cells?
      ::科学家们通过研究病毒和入侵宿主细胞学到了什么?
    3. What is a viral vector? Are they harmful?
      ::什么是病毒矢量?它们有害吗?

    Resources
    ::资源