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This is Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I'm Steve Mirsky. Got a minute?

The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology¹ or Medicine goes to Bruce Beutler at the Scripps Research Institute in California, Jules Hoffmann at the French National Center for Scientific Research and Ralph Steinman at Rockefeller University in New York City. Beutler and Hoffman helped to elucidate² innate³ immunity⁴. That's the non-specific array of initial responses by the body's immune system that can recognize invading microorganisms as being foreign and try to destroy them.

Steinman investigated dendritic cells, and their key role in what's called adaptive immunity—the specialized⁵ response to specific invaders⁶ that comes into play when innate immunity isn't enough. Thanks to adaptive immunity infected cells get wiped out, and exposure to a specific pathogen can leave us with long-standing protection against that pathogen.

The detailed⁷ understanding of the immune system provided by the new Nobel laureates has given other researchers the ability to improve vaccines⁸ and to attempt to stimulate⁹ immune reactions to cancer. Their insights also inform efforts to damp down the immune system when it becomes too zealous¹⁰, which can lead to excessive inflammation and autoimmunity.

Thanks for the minute. For Scientific American's 60-Second Science, I'm Steve Mirsky.

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1 physiology
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。

2 elucidate
v.阐明，说明
参考例句：
The note help to elucidate the most difficult parts of the text.这些注释有助于弄清文中最难懂的部分。 This guide will elucidate these differences and how to exploit them.这篇指导将会阐述这些不同点以及如何正确利用它们。

3 innate
adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的
参考例句：
You obviously have an innate talent for music.你显然有天生的音乐才能。 Correct ideas are not innate in the mind.人的正确思想不是自己头脑中固有的。

4 immunity
n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权
参考例句：
The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。 He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

5 specialized
adj.专门的，专业化的
参考例句：
There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。 These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

6 invaders
入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )
参考例句：
They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。 The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。

7 detailed
adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的
参考例句：
He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。 A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

8 vaccines
疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )
参考例句：
His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。 The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

9 stimulate
vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋
参考例句：
Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。 Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

10 zealous
adj.狂热的，热心的
参考例句：
She made zealous efforts to clean up the classroom.她非常热心地努力清扫教室。 She is a zealous supporter of our cause.她是我们事业的热心支持者。