2006年VOA标准英语-Study Shows Bacteria Found in Yogurt May H

By Paige Kollock
Washington, DC
14 February 2006
 
watch Yogurt and HIV report
 
  
  
Yogurt makers¹ like to advertise the health benefits of eating their product.

VOA's Paige Kollock reports they may be right in a surprising way.

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Scientists at Brown University in the Northeastern United States discovered that bacteria from yogurt can be made into a substance that helps fight HIV. 

Led by Professor Bharat Ramratnam, they modified the bacteria to create cyanovirin -- a protein that protects the body from infection by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi².

The hope is to use the bio-engineered yogurt bacteria as the active ingredient in a foam³, cream or suppository that can be applied⁴ before sex to prevent HIV transmission.

 
Jim Turpin 
  
Jim Turpin is a microbiologist at the National Institute of Allergy⁵ and Infectious Diseases outside Washington D.C.  "One of the major hurdles⁶ in this area has been to be able to show that you can actually take these bacteria, engineer them to express the drug, or the inhibitor of the HIV, and then have it still be active." 

Because the cyanovirinin would come from bacteria, which is inherently mutable, its effect could be short-term at best.  But Turpin says it could provide a way for discordant⁷ couples, meaning one person who has HIV and one who does not, to have sexual intercourse⁸.  He also says human trials are a ways off.

"It may be five, ten years, or it may never happen, but, basic science-wise, we now have the confidence that we can produce these proteins in these bacterias, and that it has the potential to be a good strategy to prevent transmission," said Mr. Turpin.

Scientists hope bio-engineered yogurt would eventually provide a cheaper, more effective way of delivering AIDS drugs. Ramratnam hopes to have a treatment to test in animals beginning this summer and in humans after that.

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

3 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。

4 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。

5 allergy   

n.(因食物、药物等而引起的)过敏症

参考例句：

• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。
• The patient had an allergy to penicillin.该患者对青霉素过敏。

6 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

7 discordant   

adj.不调和的

参考例句：

• Leonato thought they would make a discordant pair.里奥那托认为他们不适宜作夫妻。
• For when we are deeply mournful discordant above all others is the voice of mirth.因为当我们极度悲伤的时候，欢乐的声音会比其他一切声音都更显得不谐调。

8 intercourse   

n.性交；交流，交往，交际

参考例句：

• The magazine becomes a cultural medium of intercourse between the two peoples.该杂志成为两民族间文化交流的媒介。
• There was close intercourse between them.他们过往很密。