科學(xué)家們發(fā)現(xiàn)，病毒會(huì)形成一種捉弄人的 “隱性球體” 以導(dǎo)致我們生病。英國(guó)國(guó)家衛(wèi)生研究所（ National Institutes of Health ）的團(tuán)隊(duì)稱，他們的發(fā)現(xiàn)將改寫(xiě)教科書(shū)中有關(guān)感染的內(nèi)容。

文字稿

We normally think of viruses as 'lone wolves', each waging a solo campaign of infection. But inside the stool samples of patients with either norovirus or rotavirus, scientists discovered something new. Up to 40 viruses were gathering together and wrapping themselves up in a sphere of fat.

我們通常認(rèn)為病毒是 “獨(dú)行俠”，每個(gè)病毒都各自組織感染人體的活動(dòng)。但在諾如病毒或輪狀病毒攜帶者的糞便樣本中，科學(xué)家們發(fā)現(xiàn)了一種新的形態(tài)。有將近四十個(gè)個(gè)病毒聚集在一起，把自己包在一個(gè)脂肪球里。

Experiments, published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe, showed the spheres gave the viruses huge advantages. They acted like an invisibility cloak that hid the viruses from the immune system, protected them from harsh environments including stomach acid, and helped them overwhelm their target cells in the intestines. Norovirus infections started by these spheres were more severe and lasted longer than those caused by lone viruses.

發(fā)布在《細(xì)胞 · 宿主與微生物》期刊上的一系列實(shí)驗(yàn)結(jié)果顯示，該球狀體給病毒帶來(lái)了很大的優(yōu)勢(shì)。它們就像一頂隱形斗篷，讓免疫系統(tǒng)無(wú)從發(fā)覺(jué)被藏起來(lái)的病毒，保護(hù)它們不受包括胃酸等惡劣環(huán)境的影響，還幫它們擊敗腸道內(nèi)的靶細(xì)胞。由這類球狀體引起的諾如病毒感染比個(gè)體病毒導(dǎo)致的感染更嚴(yán)重，持續(xù)時(shí)間更長(zhǎng)。

Rotavirus is the biggest cause of diarrhoea in children and norovirus is so infectious it spreads rampantly through schools, care homes and cruise ships.

輪狀病毒是導(dǎo)致兒童腹瀉的最大原因，而諾如病毒傳染性極強(qiáng)，它在學(xué)校、看護(hù)中心里和大型游輪上猖獗地蔓延開(kāi)來(lái)。

There are no drugs that treat these infections. The researchers hope their study could lead to new ways of tackling these common diseases.

目前還沒(méi)有能治愈這類感染病的藥物。研究人員希望他們的研究可以為對(duì)抗這類常見(jiàn)病開(kāi)辟新途徑。

1. 詞匯表

lone wolves “獨(dú)行俠”，喜歡單獨(dú)行動(dòng)的人
waging 發(fā)起、組織（活動(dòng)）
stool samples 糞便樣本
sphere 球狀體
invisibility cloak 隱形斗篷
immune system 免疫系統(tǒng)
stomach acid 胃酸
intestines 腸、腸道
diarrhoea 腹瀉
rampantly 猖獗地、肆虐地
care homes 看護(hù)中心
tackling 對(duì)付、對(duì)抗

2. 閱讀理解：請(qǐng)?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問(wèn)題 。 

1. How many viruses have been found to join together in a 'sphere of fat'?

2. True or false? This 'sphere of fat' meant the immune system could not see the viruses.

3. What are the effects of infections caused by these 'spheres', compared to a lone virus?

4. Which drugs can be used to stop infections like norovirus and rotavirus?

3. 答案

1. How many viruses have been found to join together in a 'sphere of fat'?
Up to 40 viruses were discovered gathering together and wrapping themselves up in a sphere of fat. 

2. True or false? This 'sphere of fat' meant the immune system could not see the viruses.
True. The 'sphere of fat' acted like an invisibility cloak that hid the viruses from the immune system – so they couldn't be seen.

3. What are the effects of infections caused by these 'spheres', compared to a lone virus?
Norovirus infections started by these spheres were found to be more severe and lasted longer than those caused by lone viruses.

4. Which drugs can be used to stop infections like norovirus and rotavirus?
There are no drugs that treat these infections but researchers hope their study could lead to new ways of tackling these common diseases.