有位朋友低烧不退,咽喉肿痛。去医院看病,医生给开了一些头孢拉定。但是一周下来病势并无好转,于是他担忧地跟我聊起,说西医不可靠,还是去一间中医诊所,服几味中药才是上策。 人道是“西医治标,中医治本”,这位朋友这样想不为过。问题在于,大家接触的“西医”,是真的西医么?看症状,测体温,查血象,只能是西医诊断的一个开始。回想起我在悉尼的Westmead Hospital实习时,这类病人的检查应该是:记录症状、体温和病史,查血象;有了大致的判断后(细菌、真菌或是病毒感染),开始血清的免疫学检查,如ELISA和Western Blot,前者的灵敏度高,但是特异性略逊,后者的特异性高,但是灵敏度较差。对于不能确定病因(要精确到是哪一种微生物的感染)的,需要从口腔取样,在培养基上培养。这是一个很耗时间的检查,一般在两天左右。在分离出可能的致病菌后,做RFLP(特定片段长度多态性)、PCR等试验,确定到具体某一种病原体的某一种亚种。这时,对症下药和给予医嘱相对容易。 记得那时有一位老头,在院前拦住我,说:“Hey, you're an intern here, I saw you. Could you tell me what medicine I should take, it's bothered me for weeks”看到他手臂上的红斑,我认为是真菌感染,很想推荐他试一试antifungal的药膏。但是在他没有拿到诊断结果时,我去臆断和误导是严重违规的。 我想,这样的医学检查、诊断、治疗,乃至接下来的康复流程,不仅仅是“治标”,也同样可以“治本”。但是,并不是说一直对症下药后就一定会立竿见影。一方面,由假阳性导致的误诊仍是诊断界努力解决的问题;另一方面,药物在疗效和副作用的取舍上限制了它本身的大面积杀伤性。由突变和耐药性产生而出现的新亚种,在诊断上增加了很大难度,但相随的科研工作可以解决这个问题。09年我们的组长发现了几例特殊的链球菌感染患者,将细菌分离后进行了分子层面的研究,如通过蛋白二位电泳的方法发现了一个蛋白的突变,由此开展的一系列试验找到了细菌耐药的原因和可以暂时替代的抗生素。同时,该过程也报告在了新英格兰医学杂志。 对于这样的“西医”,不仅对于大的疾病刨根究底,对于普通患者也认真对待,我认为是值得崇尚的。国内的庞大的患者群,使得医生对于小的疾病、感染只做简单化验和经验式的诊断,可能是不得已而为之。不过,我想还是不能轻易说“西医只治标”。
附注: 美国生物公司和中国某些转基因推广者长期声称转基因是安全的。实际上,转基因作物的可怕之处在于其隐伏危害的长期性和不确定性。 2011年2月11日,美国退役的军方科学家胡伯 Huber 博士给美国农业部长 维尔萨克 写信,指出:最近在转基因作物中发现一种新的病原体,是导致动物绝种(不孕或流产)的根源。联想到多年前在中国就已经出现的“杀精玉米”,以及先玉335玉米造成老鼠退化等现象,这一情况有必要引起中国有关方面的重视: 2011年2月中旬,美国《农场与牧场自由联盟》(Farm and Ranch Freedom)网站发布一条消息,标题为:《 研究者:草甘膦终结者除草剂或抗草甘膦作物可能是动物流产与不育的根源 》。这篇文章的主要内容是一位美国科学家最近写给美国农业部长的一封信。这位美国科学家名叫顿-M-胡伯(Don.M. Huber) ,他是美国高级土壤学科学家、农业部国家植物疾病恢复系统(NPDES)协调员、美国普渡大学名誉教授、退休上校。胡伯博士过去40年一直在专业机构和军事机构担任科学家,帮助对防备包括细菌战和疾病暴发在内的自然和人为生物威胁进行评估。 尊敬的维尔萨克部长: 由植物和动物高级科学家组成的小组最近提请我注意他们在电子显微镜下发现的一种病原体,它们看来对植物与动物的健康,以及可能亦对人类健康,造成显着影响。基于对有关 数据的审查,这种新近发现的生物体在抗孟山都草甘磷“终结者”除草剂(RR)转基因大豆和玉米中普遍、非常严重,且浓度非常高,提出可能与抗草甘磷转基因作物的基因或更 可能与草甘膦除草剂的存在联系。这种微生物看来是科学上的新发现! 这是高度敏感的信息,可能导致美国大豆和玉米出口市场的崩溃,并造成国内食品和饲料供应重大混乱。另一方面,这种新的生物体可能是已经造成的重大损害的罪魁祸首(见下 文)。我和我的同事,因此将我们的调查加快谨慎进行,同时寻求美国农业部和其他机构协助查明病原体的来源、发病率、影响以及补救措施。 我们在这个早期阶段及时向美国农业部通知这些调查结果,特别是由于您延迟决定对抗草甘磷转基因苜蓿的批准。当然,如果孟山都草甘磷“终结者”除草剂转基因(RR)的基因 ,或者草甘膦除草剂(Roundup)本身是这一病原体的推动因素或协作因素,那么这样的批准可能是一场灾难。 根据目前的证据,这个时候合理的行动是将放松管制推迟到有足够数据证明这种病原体与孟山都抗草甘膦除草剂转基因作物种植系统无关,如果确实无关的话。 在过去的40年里,我一直在专业的和军事机构担任科学家,它们对防备包括细菌战和疾病暴发在内的自然和人为生物威胁组织有关的评估。根据我的这种经验,我相信面对的来自 这种病原体的威胁是独特的以及高风险状态的。通俗地说,它应该被视为紧急情况。 这种前所未知的生物体,只有在电子显微镜(放大36,000 X倍)下才能够见到 ,它的尺寸近似等于一个中等大小的病毒。它能够自我复制,似乎是一种微型--真菌类--生物。如果这 样的话,这将是被识别出来的第一个这样的显微真菌菌。有强烈的证据表明,这种传染性的病原体既导致植物的疾病,也会导致哺乳动物的疾病,这极其罕见。 在孟山都抗草甘膦除草剂转基因大豆饲料与转基因玉米中,在饲料加工蒸馏器的饲料中、在发酵了的饲料产品中、在猪的胃中残渣中,在猪与牛的胎盘中。感染了两种已经普遍存 在两种疾病的转基因大豆与转基因玉米中这种生物体很多,它们是大豆中的猝死综合症(SDS)以及玉米的戈斯枯萎病(and Goss’ wilt),导致减产、降低农民收入。在SDS(腐 皮镰刀菌)的真菌病原体中也发现有这种病原体。 实验室试验证实这种微生物经历自然流产和不孕症种类繁多牲畜中存在。在进行研究的初步结果也得以在临床中重现这样的流产。这些病原体有可能解释美国的牛、奶牛、猪和马 养殖中过去数年不断上升的不孕和自然流产的原因。最近的一些报告提出小母牛不孕症超过20%,牛的自然流产则高达45%以上。 例如,喂食小麦的1000头怀孕的母牛有450头发生自然流产。同一时期,同一牛群喂食干草的另外1000头母牛则没有任何流产的情况。喂食怀孕母牛的小麦中确认有高浓度的上述病 原体,它们种植时治理野草中使用了草甘膦除草剂。 总之,鉴于抗草甘磷作物检测出了高浓度的这种新的动物病原体,它与植物和动物疾病的关联性,已经达到流行病比率的程度,我们要求美国农业部参与一项多机构的调查,并且 立即暂停对抗除草剂转基因作物的控制放松,直至草甘膦除草剂和/或抗草甘膦转基因作物与它们对农作物和畜牧生产和人类健康构成威胁的因果关系可以排除为止。 迫切需要研究草甘膦的使用的副作用是否可能促进了这种病原体的生长,或允许它们对植物和动物宿主造成更大的削弱性伤害。有良好的记录证明草甘膦促进土壤中病原体的发展 以及知道它与40多种植物疾病的增加有牵连;它通过螯合对植物维持生命必须的营养物,破坏了植物的防御系统;从而也降低了动物对饲料营养素的生物利用度,这反过来又可以 导致动物机能失调。为了正确地评估这些因素,我们要求查阅美国农业部有关的数据。 我本人对植物的病原体已经进行了50多年研究。我们现在看到一个植物和动物疾病和病症日益严重的前所未有的趋势。这种病原体可能对认识和解决这个问题有所帮助。它值得立 即关注和投入大量资源,以避免我们的关键性的农业基础设施发生普遍性的崩溃。 诚挚的, 上校(退休)顿·M·胡伯 (美国)普渡大学名誉教授 APS协调员,美国农业部国家植物疾病恢复系统(NPDES) 信件原文: Dear Secretary Vilsack: A team of senior plant and animal scientists have recently brought to my attention the discovery of an electron microscopic pathogen that appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals, and probably human beings. Based on a review of the data, it is widespread, very serious, and is in much higher concentrations in Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans and corn—suggesting a link with the RR gene or more likely the presence of Roundup.This organism appears NEW to science! This is highly sensitive information that could result in a collapse of US soy and corn export markets and significant disruption of domestic food and feed supplies. On the other hand, this new organism may already be responsible for significant harm (see below). My colleagues and I are therefore moving our investigation forward with speed and discretion, and seek assistance from the USDA and other entities to identify the pathogen’s source, prevalence, implications, and remedies. We are informing the USDA of our findings at this early stage, specifically due to your pending decision regarding approval of RR alfalfa. Naturally, if either the RR gene or Roundup itself is a promoter or co-factor of this pathogen, then such approval could be a calamity. Based on the current evidence, the only reasonable action at this time would be to delay deregulation at least until sufficient data has exonerated the RR system, if it does. For the past 40 years, I have been a scientist in the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural and manmade biological threats, including germ warfare and disease outbreaks. Based on this experience, I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen is unique and of a high risk status. In layman’s terms, it should be treated as an emergency. A diverse set of researchers working on this problem have contributed various pieces of the puzzle, which together presents the following disturbing scenario: Unique Physical Properties This previously unknown organism is only visible under an electron microscope (36,000X), with an approximate size range equal to a medium size virus. It is able to reproduce and appears to be a micro-fungal-like organism. If so, it would be the first such micro-fungus ever identified. There is strong evidence that this infectious agent promotes diseases of both plants and mammals, which is very rare. It is found in high concentrations in Roundup Ready soybean meal and corn, distillers meal, fermentation feed products, pig stomach contents, and pig and cattle placentas. The organism is prolific in plants infected with two pervasive diseases that are driving down yields and farmer income—sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soy, and Goss’ wilt in corn. The pathogen is also found in the fungal causative agent of SDS (Fusarium solani fsp glycines). Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of this organism in a wide variety of livestock that have experienced spontaneous abortions and infertility. Preliminary results from ongoing research have also been able to reproduce abortions in a clinical setting. The pathogen may explain the escalating frequency of infertility and spontaneous abortions over the past few years in US cattle, dairy, swine, and horse operations. These include recent reports of infertility rates in dairy heifers of over 20%, and spontaneous abortions in cattle as high as 45%. For example, 450 of 1,000 pregnant heifers fed wheatlege experienced spontaneous abortions. Over the same period, another 1,000 heifers from the same herd that were raised on hay had no abortions. High concentrations of the pathogen were confirmed on the wheatlege, which likely had been under weed management using glyphosate. In summary, because of the high titer of this new animal pathogen in Roundup Ready crops, and its association with plant and animal diseases that are reaching epidemic proportions, we request USDA’s participation in a multi-agency investigation, and an immediate moratorium on the deregulation of RR crops until the causal/predisposing relationship with glyphosate and/or RR plants can be ruled out as a threat to crop and animal production and human health. It is urgent to examine whether the side-effects of glyphosate use may have facilitated the growth of this pathogen, or allowed it to cause greater harm to weakened plant and animal hosts. It is well-documented that glyphosate promotes soil pathogens and is already implicated with the increase of more than 40 plant diseases; it dismantles plant defenses by chelating vital nutrients; and it reduces the bioavailability of nutrients in feed, which in turn can cause animal disorders. To properly evaluate these factors, we request access to the relevant USDA data. I have studied plant pathogens for more than 50 years. We are now seeing an unprecedented trend of increasing plant and animal diseases and disorders. This pathogen may be instrumental to understanding and solving this problem. It deserves immediate attention with significant resources to avoid a general collapse of our critical agricultural infrastructure. Sincerely, COL (Ret.) Don M. Huber Emeritus Professor, Purdue University APS Coordinator, USDA National Plant Disease Recovery System (NPDRS) 原文地址: http://farmandranchfreedom.org/gmo-miscarriages
蒋高明 2月22日,笔者在北京听了美国转基因技术著名学者Jeffry Smith,针对转基因作物对生态环境、人体健康、动物生长发育等影响的的学术报告。报告中,他提到了有科学家已在美 国转基因作物中发现了一种未知微生物。正如人们滥用抗生素诱发了超级细菌一样,这是人类打乱生物进化规律和生态平衡后,又一个非常值得注意的生物安全问题。因为他讲得 较快,仅对图片有一些印象,尽管我做了些文字记录,但详细的信息还是不确定。 今天看到了陈一文先生的文章,才对这件事情有了完整的了解。陈先生的文章链接如下: http://www.wyzxsx.com/Article/Class20/201102/216879.html 为了便于科学网网友了解一些事情内幕,特在陈先生文章基础上,整理出如下的信息,供大家参考。 现在,我们需要做的是,要了解这个信息的准确性,并正确反思我们的转基因农业技术。有没有胡伯这个人?有没有写过那封信?有没有出现那个不知名的病毒?如果这些都是真 实的,那么中国拟推广的转基因水稻好玉米,以及正在种植的转基因玉米,正在进口的转基因玉米、大豆,则充满了风险。 据陈先生介绍,胡伯是美国高级土壤学科学家、农业部国家植物疾病恢复系统(NPDES)、美国普渡大学名誉教授、退休上校顿·胡伯博士。过去40年,他一直在专业和军事机构担 任科学家,帮助对防备包括细菌战和疾病暴发在内的自然和人为生物威胁进行评估。胡伯博士写信给美国农业部长提出严重警告,提出在孟山都抗草甘膦转基因大豆与转基因玉米 中新近发现普遍大量聚集的一种不知名的病原体生物具有造成农业动物不育与自然流产的潜在可能,为此对人类健康可能造成的影响。胡伯博士非常清楚,他的信的内容“是高度 敏感的信息,可能导致美国大豆和玉米出口市场的崩溃,并造成国内食品和饲料供应重大混乱”,为了避免社会恐慌,他先给美国农业部长写了封私人信。 胡伯的信写于2011年2月11日,在美国农业部批准不加限制可以种植抗草甘磷转基因苜蓿之前。然而,他的信并没有引起重视。鉴于美国农业部对“这种新的生物体可能是已经造成 的重大损害的罪魁祸首”的警告置若罔闻,不得不将它公布出来。 胡伯博士给美国农业部长来信的全文如下,感谢陈一文先生将原信翻译成中文: 尊敬的维尔萨克部长: 由植物和动物高级科学家组成的小组最近提请我注意他们在电子显微镜下发现的一种病原体,它们看来对植物与动物的健康,以及可能亦对人类健康,造成显着影响。基于对有关 数据的审查,这种新近发现的生物体在抗孟山都草甘磷“终结者”除草剂(RR)转基因大豆和玉米中普遍、非常严重,且浓度非常高,提出可能与抗草甘磷转基因作物的基因或更 可能与草甘膦除草剂的存在联系。这种微生物看来是科学上的新发现! 这是高度敏感的信息,可能导致美国大豆和玉米出口市场的崩溃,并造成国内食品和饲料供应重大混乱。另一方面,这种新的生物体可能是已经造成的重大损害的罪魁祸首(见下 文)。我和我的同事,因此将我们的调查加快谨慎进行,同时寻求美国农业部和其他机构协助查明病原体的来源、发病率、影响以及补救措施。 我们在这个早期阶段及时向美国农业部通知这些调查结果,特别是由于您延迟决定对抗草甘磷转基因苜蓿的批准。当然,如果孟山都草甘磷“终结者”除草剂转基因(RR)的基因 ,或者草甘膦除草剂(Roundup)本身是这一病原体的推动因素或协作因素,那么这样的批准可能是一场灾难。 根据目前的证据,这个时候合理的行动是将放松管制推迟到有足够数据证明这种病原体与孟山都抗草甘膦除草剂转基因作物种植系统无关,如果确实无关的话。 在过去的40年里,我一直在专业的和军事机构担任科学家,它们对防备包括细菌战和疾病暴发在内的自然和人为生物威胁组织有关的评估。根据我的这种经验,我相信面对的来自 这种病原体的威胁们是独特的以及高风险状态的。通俗地说,它应该被视为紧急情况。 这种前所未知的生物体,只有在电子显微镜(放大36,000 X倍)下才能够见到 ,它的尺寸近似等于一个中等大小的病毒。它能够自我复制,似乎是一种微型--真菌类--生物。如果这 样的话,这将是被识别出来的第一个这样的显微真菌菌。有强烈的证据表明,这种传染性的病原体既导致植物的疾病,也会导致哺乳动物的疾病,这极其罕见。 在孟山都抗草甘膦除草剂转基因大豆饲料与转基因玉米中,在饲料加工蒸馏器的饲料中、在发酵了的饲料产品中、在猪的胃中残渣中,在猪与牛的胎盘中。感染了两种已经普遍存 在两种疾病的转基因大豆与转基因玉米中这种生物体很多,它们是大豆中的猝死综合症(SDS)以及玉米的戈斯枯萎病(and Goss’ wilt),导致减产、降低农民收入。在SDS(腐 皮镰刀菌)的真菌病原体中也发现有这种病原体。 实验室试验证实这种微生物经历自然流产和不孕症种类繁多牲畜中存在。在进行研究的初步结果也得以在临床中重现这样的流产。这些病原体有可能解释美国的牛、奶牛、猪和马 养殖中过去数年不断上升的不孕和自然流产的原因。最近的一些报告提出小母牛不孕症超过20%,牛的自然流产则高达45%以上。 例如,喂食小麦的1000头怀孕的母牛有450头发生自然流产。同一时期,同一牛群喂食干草的另外1000头母牛则没有任何流产的情况。喂食怀孕母牛的小麦中确认有高浓度的上述病 原体,它们种植时治理野草中使用了草甘膦除草剂。 总之,鉴于抗草甘磷作物检测出了高浓度的这种新的动物病原体,它与植物和动物疾病的关联性,已经达到流行病比率的程度,我们要求美国农业部参与一项多机构的调查,并且 立即暂停对抗除草剂转基因作物的控制放松,直至草甘膦除草剂和/或抗草甘膦转基因作物与它们对农作物和畜牧生产和人类健康构成威胁的因果关系可以排除为止。 迫切需要研究草甘膦的使用的副作用是否可能促进了这种病原体的生长,或允许它们对植物和动物宿主造成更大的削弱性伤害。有良好的记录证明草甘膦促进土壤中病原体的发展 以及知道它与40多种植物疾病的增加有牵连;它通过螯合对植物维持生命必须的营养物,破坏了植物的防御系统;从而也降低了动物对饲料营养素的生物利用度,这反过来又可以 导致动物机能失调。为了正确地评估这些因素,我们要求查阅美国农业部有关的数据。 我本人对植物的病原体已经进行了50多年研究。我们现在看到一个植物和动物疾病和病症日益严重的前所未有的趋势。这种病原体可能对认识和解决这个问题有所帮助。它值得立 即关注和投入大量资源,以避免我们的关键性的农业基础设施发生普遍性的崩溃。 诚挚的, 上校(退休)顿·M·胡伯 (美国)普渡大学名誉教授 APS协调员,美国农业部国家植物疾病恢复系统(NPDES) Dear Secretary Vilsack: A team of senior plant and animal scientists have recently brought to my attention the discovery of an electron microscopic pathogen that appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals, and probably human beings. Based on a review of the data, it is widespread, very serious, and is in much higher concentrations in Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans and corn—suggesting a link with the RR gene or more likely the presence of Roundup. This organism appears NEW to science! This is highly sensitive information that could result in a collapse of US soy and corn export markets and significant disruption of domestic food and feed supplies. On the other hand, this new organism may already be responsible for significant harm (see below). My colleagues and I are therefore moving our investigation forward with speed and discretion, and seek assistance from the USDA and other entities to identify the pathogen’s source, prevalence, implications, and remedies. We are informing the USDA of our findings at this early stage, specifically due to your pending decision regarding approval of RR alfalfa. Naturally, if either the RR gene or Roundup itself is a promoter or co-factor of this pathogen, then such approval could be a calamity. Based on the current evidence, the only reasonable action at this time would be to delay deregulation at least until sufficient data has exonerated the RR system, if it does. For the past 40 years, I have been a scientist in the professional and military agencies that evaluate and prepare for natural and manmade biological threats, including germ warfare and disease outbreaks. Based on this experience, I believe the threat we are facing from this pathogen is unique and of a high risk status. In layman’s terms, it should be treated as an emergency. A diverse set of researchers working on this problem have contributed various pieces of the puzzle, which together presents the following disturbing scenario: Unique Physical Properties This previously unknown organism is only visible under an electron microscope (36,000X), with an approximate size range equal to a medium size virus. It is able to reproduce and appears to be a micro-fungal-like organism. If so, it would be the first such micro-fungus ever identified. There is strong evidence that this infectious agent promotes diseases of both plants and mammals, which is very rare. It is found in high concentrations in Roundup Ready soybean meal and corn, distillers meal, fermentation feed products, pig stomach contents, and pig and cattle placentas. The organism is prolific in plants infected with two pervasive diseases that are driving down yields and farmer income—sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soy, and Goss’ wilt in corn. The pathogen is also found in the fungal causative agent of SDS (Fusarium solani fsp glycines). Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of this organism in a wide variety of livestock that have experienced spontaneous abortions and infertility. Preliminary results from ongoing research have also been able to reproduce abortions in a clinical setting. The pathogen may explain the escalating frequency of infertility and spontaneous abortions over the past few years in US cattle, dairy, swine, and horse operations. These include recent reports of infertility rates in dairy heifers of over 20%, and spontaneous abortions in cattle as high as 45%. For example, 450 of 1,000 pregnant heifers fed wheatlege experienced spontaneous abortions. Over the same period, another 1,000 heifers from the same herd that were raised on hay had no abortions. High concentrations of the pathogen were confirmed on the wheatlege, which likely had been under weed management using glyphosate. In summary, because of the high titer of this new animal pathogen in Roundup Ready crops, and its association with plant and animal diseases that are reaching epidemic proportions, we request USDA’s participation in a multi-agency investigation, and an immediate moratorium on the deregulation of RR crops until the causal/predisposing relationship with glyphosate and/or RR plants can be ruled out as a threat to crop and animal production and human health. It is urgent to examine whether the side-effects of glyphosate use may have facilitated the growth of this pathogen, or allowed it to cause greater harm to weakened plant and animal hosts. It is well-documented that glyphosate promotes soil pathogens and is already implicated with the increase of more than 40 plant diseases; it dismantles plant defenses by chelating vital nutrients; and it reduces the bioavailability of nutrients in feed, which in turn can cause animal disorders. To properly evaluate these factors, we request access to the relevant USDA data. I have studied plant pathogens for more than 50 years. We are now seeing an unprecedented trend of increasing plant and animal diseases and disorders. This pathogen may be instrumental to understanding and solving this problem. It deserves immediate attention with significant resources to avoid a general collapse of our critical agricultural infrastructure. Sincerely, COL (Ret.) Don M. Huber Emeritus Professor, Purdue University APS Coordinator, USDA National Plant Disease Recovery System (NPDRS)
09年12月9 日 HZI 研究人员澄清免疫细胞的关键发育环节 免疫系统可以保护我们的身体免受病原体的侵袭。它或者是在胚胎发育的过程中由肝脏干细胞、或者是出生后由骨髓而形成。截止目前,研究人员一向认为在出生之后各种免疫细胞的发育业已完成。若是胚胎肝细胞或者儿童骨髓未能形成某些细胞,那它们就会终身缺失。 不伦瑞克亥姆霍兹感染研究中心(HZI)的研究人员现在找到了反证:只要他们愿意,他们可以随时在成年小鼠的身上成功地造出各种免疫细胞。科研人员在最新一期的《blood》杂志上发现了此项成果。免疫系统是由多种不同的细胞类型共同组成。B细胞的主要作用是产生所谓的抗体。这些抗体识别入侵的病菌,并沾附在它们上面。由引或者降低其危害或者为吞噬细胞作出标记。在人体内有两类B细胞,分别是B1和B2细胞。B1细胞是由胚胎肝细胞所形成的,而B2细胞是在出生之后由骨髓干细胞形成的。这两种B细胞的任务也不同,B1细胞属于是人体的第一道防线,它们可能很早就在演化中出现并形成可以附着在细菌的一般性的表面结构上。而B2细胞相反可产生针对不同结构的特定抗体。它们比如可以用于疫苗接种从而保护某种特定的病原体。 迄今为止,研究人员一向认为在出生之后不再会形成新的B1细胞。他们猜测现有的细胞有较长的寿命并通过时不时的细胞分裂而实现自身的再生。HZI的科研人员现在否定了这些猜测,并由此成功地向理解免疫系统及其灵活性迈出了一大步。 HZI“分子免疫学”科研团队的研究人员改造了了小鼠的遗传基因。他们人为关闭了这些小鼠身上的一个启动免疫系统发育的基因- 于是这些基因修饰的动物在出生时就没有免疫细胞。只有当这些动物获得一种化学物质之后,这个基因才被激活,小鼠才开始制造免疫细胞。研究人员已经能够证明,与其年龄无关,即使在成年小鼠身上能发现新的B1细胞。 “我们由此率先证明,这些免疫细胞不仅产生胚胎也同样产生于成年动物身上”,一位在HZI进行重组小鼠课题的研究者桑德拉.都伯尔(Sandra Düber)说。通过这种特殊的小鼠,科研人员现在可以更好地了解免疫系统的各种属性,更方便地进行研究。 科研人员可以把这种方法用于各种类型的免疫细胞。“我们将借助它来研究诸如多发性硬化症以及糖尿病等自身免疫性疾病”,科研团队负责人西格弗里德.韦斯(Siegfried Wei)说。 “由于我们现在可以通过外界手段干预形成阶段的免疫系统,因此就能研究免疫系统为何会向自己发起进攻,并导致机体患病。”为了能理解这些包括人体在内的出偏的免疫反应,并最终预防乃至治疗这些疾病,这项工作是极其重要的。 原始文章: Induction of B-cell development in adult mice reveals the ability of bone marrow to produce B-1a cells. Düber S, Hafner M, Krey M, Lienenklaus S, Roy B, Hobeika E, Reth M, Buch T, Waisman A, Kretschmer K, and Siegfried Wei. Blood, 3 December 2009, Vol. 114, No. 24, pp. 4960-4967.