VOA标准英语2011--Genetically-Modified Fungus Kills Malari

University of Maryland scientists are working on a genetically-engineered fungus³ that would kill the malaria⁴ parasite⁵.
The battle against malaria continues to challenge doctors, scientists, and public health officials. Now, a team of British and American scientists have developed a novel and promising⁶ approach to malaria control.
Malaria kills about a million victims a year, mostly children in Africa, and almost half the world's population is at risk.
The malaria parasite is carried from victim to victim by mosquitoes, which are increasingly developing resistance to the insecticides used to kill them.
As an alternative to chemicals, University of Maryland professor Raymond St. Leger and his colleagues have been working on a genetically-engineered fungus to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
One possibility they considered was using the fungus to kill the mosquito, the way insecticides do.
"The problem with that is, if the mosquitoes have evolved resistance against chemical insecticides, they could also evolve resistance against the pathogen," St. Leger explained. "So we did something different. We took genes⁷ which encode anti-malarial, anti-parasite proteins - so we put those into the fungus."
The result is a fungus that kills the parasite directly. And, the genetic² modification⁸ of the fungus could be adjusted to counter resistance in the malaria parasite as it evolves.
St. Leger says the anti-malaria fungus could be used just like chemical insecticides.
"So you could apply it on cotton sheets hanging inside houses which the mosquitoes would light on - netting, bed netting, on walls, baited traps or as sprays. That's how it could be applied⁹, just [as] you would apply a chemical insecticide," he says.
It may be a couple of years before this modified fungus is approved for use. But it wouldn't be the first fungus-based product on the market. A similar modified fungus is already in use against locusts¹⁰ in Africa, Australia and China, and at a cost comparable to chemical insecticides.
And St. Leger says that using genetically-modified fungi¹¹ to control disease may be a very promising field, for example, in a disease carried by ticks.
"We can put a gene¹ for an antibody there which will knock out lyme disease. We're working with another strain which attacks the parasites¹² in tsetse fly. Dengue virus is also susceptible¹³ to a particular gene we're working with. So we can actually manipulate and model these pathogens to produce specific pathogens targeted to different insects."

1 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

2 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

3 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

4 malaria   

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。

5 parasite   

n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客

参考例句：

• The lazy man was a parasite on his family.那懒汉是家里的寄生虫。
• I don't want to be a parasite.I must earn my own way in life.我不想做寄生虫，我要自己养活自己。

6 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

7 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

8 modification   

n.修改，改进，缓和，减轻

参考例句：

• The law,in its present form,is unjust;it needs modification.现行的法律是不公正的，它需要修改。
• The design requires considerable modification.这个设计需要作大的修改。

9 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

10 locusts   

n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树

参考例句：

• a swarm of locusts 一大群蝗虫
• In no time the locusts came down and started eating everything. 很快蝗虫就飞落下来开始吃东西，什么都吃。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 fungi   

n.真菌，霉菌

参考例句：

• Students practice to apply the study of genetics to multicellular plants and fungi.学生们练习把基因学应用到多细胞植物和真菌中。
• The lawn was covered with fungi.草地上到处都是蘑菇。

12 parasites   

寄生物( parasite的名词复数 )； 靠他人为生的人； 诸虫

参考例句：

• These symptoms may be referable to virus infection rather than parasites. 这些症状也许是由病毒感染引起的，而与寄生虫无关。
• Kangaroos harbor a vast range of parasites. 袋鼠身上有各种各样的寄生虫。

13 susceptible   

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。