巴西蛇毒有助于对抗新冠肺炎

Brazilian researchers found a molecule in snake venom that could fight COVID-19

刘立军 供稿

TRANSCRIPT

Brazilian researchers have found a molecule in snake venom that could fight COVID-19. The discovery might be the first step toward a medication to fight the virus. Scientists found that the molecule produced by the jararacussu snake prevented the virus' ability to spread in monkey cells by 75 percent. The study was published in the scientific publication Molecules this month.

Rafael Guido is a professor with the University of Sao Paulo and an author of the study. He said the molecule in the venom "was able to inhibit a very important protein from the virus." The molecule is called a peptide, or a group of amino acids. The molecule is able to connect to an enzyme of the coronavirus called PLPro without harming other cells. PLPro is an important part of how the virus reproduces. The peptide is already known to scientists for its ability to fight bacteria. Guido said the peptide can be made in a laboratory, so jararacussu snakes do not need to be caught.

"We're wary about people going out to hunt the jararacussu around Brazil, thinking they're going to save the world," said zoologist Giuseppe Puorto with the Butantan Institute in Sao Paulo. "It's not the venom itself that will cure the coronavirus," he added.

The jararacussu is one of the largest snakes in Brazil, and can be up to 2 meters long. It lives in Brazil's Atlantic Forest and is also found in Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Researchers will test different amounts of the molecule and see if it is able to prevent the virus from entering cells at all. They hope to test the molecule in human cells one day, but there are currently no plans to start.

I'm Dan Novak.

VOCABULARY

1. molecule n. (chemistry 化) the smallest unit, consisting of a group of atoms, into which a substance can be divided without a change in its chemical nature 分子

2. venom n. the poisonous liquid that some snakes, spiders, etc. produce when they bite or sting you （毒蛇、蜘蛛等分泌的）毒液

3. peptide n. (chemistry 化) a chemical consisting of two or more amino acids joined together 肽

4. wary adj. careful when dealing with sb./sth. because you think that there may be a danger or problem （对待人或事物时）小心的，谨慎的，留神的，小心翼翼的

QUESTIONS

Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.

Brazilian researchers have found a molecule in snake venom that could fight COVID-19. The discovery might be the first step toward a (Q1) _______________ to fight the virus. Scientists found that the molecule produced by the jararacussu snake prevented the virus' ability to (Q2) _________ in monkey cells by 75 percent. The study was published in the scientific publication Molecules this month.

Rafael Guido is a (Q3) ____________ with the University of Sao Paulo and an author of the study. He said the molecule in the venom "was able to inhibit a very important protein from the virus." The molecule is called a peptide, or a group of amino acids. The molecule is able to (Q4) ____________ to an enzyme of the coronavirus called PLPro without harming other cells. PLPro is an important part of how the virus reproduces. The peptide is already known to scientists for its ability to (Q5) _______________. Guido said the peptide can be made in a (Q6) _______________, so jararacussu snakes do not need to be caught.

"We're wary about people going out to (Q7) ____________ the jararacussu around Brazil, thinking they're going to (Q8) ____________________," said zoologist Giuseppe Puorto with the Butantan Institute in Sao Paulo. "It's not the venom itself that will cure the coronavirus," he added.

The jararacussu is one of the largest snakes in Brazil, and can be up to 2 meters long. It lives in Brazil's Atlantic Forest and is also found in Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Researchers will test different amounts of the molecule and see if it is able to prevent the virus from entering cells at all. They hope to test the molecule in (Q9) ____________________ one day, but there are currently (Q10) ______________________.

I'm Dan Novak.

KEY

Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.

Brazilian researchers have found a molecule in snake venom that could fight COVID-19. The discovery might be the first step toward a (Q1) medication to fight the virus. Scientists found that the molecule produced by the jararacussu snake prevented the virus' ability to (Q2) spread in monkey cells by 75 percent. The study was published in the scientific publication Molecules this month.

Rafael Guido is a (Q3) professor with the University of Sao Paulo and an author of the study. He said the molecule in the venom "was able to inhibit a very important protein from the virus." The molecule is called a peptide, or a group of amino acids. The molecule is able to (Q4) connect to an enzyme of the coronavirus called PLPro without harming other cells. PLPro is an important part of how the virus reproduces. The peptide is already known to scientists for its ability to (Q5) fight bacteria. Guido said the peptide can be made in a (Q6) laboratory, so jararacussu snakes do not need to be caught.

"We're wary about people going out to (Q7) hunt the jararacussu around Brazil, thinking they're going to (Q8) save the world," said zoologist Giuseppe Puorto with the Butantan Institute in Sao Paulo. "It's not the venom itself that will cure the coronavirus," he added.

The jararacussu is one of the largest snakes in Brazil, and can be up to 2 meters long. It lives in Brazil's Atlantic Forest and is also found in Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Researchers will test different amounts of the molecule and see if it is able to prevent the virus from entering cells at all. They hope to test the molecule in (Q9) human cells one day, but there are currently (Q10) no plans to start.

I'm Dan Novak.

  (封面图片来源于摄图网，版权归摄图网所有）