Garlic Hope In Infection Fight
1/31/2007
大蒜有望治疗感染
Source: University of Nottingham
来源：诺丁汉大学
Garlic has been hailed a wonder drug for centuries and has been used to prevent gangrene, treat high blood pressure, ward off common colds and is even believed by some to have cancer-fighting properties.
几个世纪以来，大蒜一直作为一种神奇的药物，它可用于预防坏疽、治疗高血压、治愈普通感冒、甚至有抗癌作用。
Now, scientists at The University of Nottingham are leading a new pilot study to see if the pungent bulb could also hold the key to preventing cystic fibrosis patients from falling foul of a potentially-fatal infection.
现在，诺丁汉大学的科学家作了一个初步研究，观察辛辣的蒜头是否能在防止囊性纤维变性患者出现潜在致命危险的感染。
The research will look at whether taking garlic capsules can disrupt the communication system of the pathogen Pseudomonas to prevent illness from taking hold.
研究观察，服用大蒜胶囊可中断病原体假单胞菌的通讯系统，从而防止疾病的发生。
The project will unite University experts in child health, respiratory medicine and molecular microbiology with clinicians at the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
该项目将联合大学各个学科的专家，包括儿童卫生、呼吸医学、分子微生物学以及诺丁汉大学医院国民健康服务信托的临床医生。
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition that affects around 7,000 people in the UK, half of whom are children. The disease causes difficulties in digesting food and children may be slow to put on weight and grow properly. Both children and adults with the condition are vulnerable to repeated and chronic chest infections which damage the lungs and which may, ultimately, be fatal.
囊性纤维化是一种遗传病，在英国有大约7000人患有该病，其中一般是儿童。该病主要引起食物消耗障碍，患病儿童体重增长缓慢且不能正常成长。患病的儿童和成年人都易发生反复的肺部感染而损伤肺，最终将致命。
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common causes of chronic infection in CF patients. Current treatment aims to eradicate it when it first appears. If the infection becomes established it may be suppressed with antibiotic nebulisers. However, these have a major impact on quality of life for the patient because they are time-consuming (given twice a day, every day, for life) and often the patient still has to be admitted to hospital for more intensive treatment.
绿脓杆菌是囊性纤维化患者慢性感染最常见的病原体。目前的治疗目的是一旦首次出现，就必须彻底清除。如果感染已经确诊，雾化抗生素可抑制感染。然而，这将导致患者的生活治疗下降，因为治疗需要花费很多时间（终生治疗，每天2次），患者经常需要住院接受更强效的治疗。
During the study, half the volunteer CF patients will be given garlic capsules, while the other half will receive a placebo (olive oil capsules) over a two month period. At the beginning and end of the study, researchers will measure the levels of germs in patients' sputum samples, the patients' lung function and weight will be monitored and blood tests carried out to ensure the garlic capsules are safe.
在该研究中，一半的囊性纤维化志愿者接受大蒜胶囊治疗，另一半接受安慰剂（橄榄油胶囊），疗程2个月。在研究的起点和终点，研究者检测患者痰标本内病原体的水平、患者肺功能，监测体重，血液检查以确保大蒜胶囊治疗的安全性。
Dr Alan Smyth of the University's School of Human Development, who is leading the project, said: “The garlic components inhibit a bacterial communication system called quorum sensing (QS). This is responsible for the germ forming tenacious colonies in the lungs called 'biofilms'. The QS molecules also switch on bacterial weapons such as 'elastase', an enzyme which breaks down elastic tissue in the lung.
作为该项目的领导者，大学人类发育学校的Alan Smyth博士说：“大蒜的成分能够抑制细菌的叫做内部传感（QS）的通讯系统。该通讯系统与病原体在肺内形成牢固菌落即生物膜有关。内部传感分子同时也是细菌武器，如弹性蛋白酶的开关，该酶能够破坏肺内的弹性组织。”
“The beauty of this approach is that we may be able to render the germ harmless without killing it. If we use a conventional antibiotic which kills the Pseudomonas, there will always be some survivors, some of which may develop antibiotic resistance. The trick is not to allow Pseudomonas to use natural selection as a weapon against us.”
“这种治疗方法的美妙之处在于，它并不杀死细菌就能够使其变得无害。如果使用常规抗生素杀死假单孢菌，那么总是有一些幸存的，它们将来发展成为耐药菌。这种新的策略使假单孢菌利用自然选择作为武器来抵御我们治疗的计划落空。”
The study is funded by the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and The University of Nottingham, with garlic capsules supplied by the Nottingham-based company Boots.
研究得到了诺丁汉大学医院国家卫生服务信托和诺丁汉大学的资助，诺丁汉建立的公司提供大蒜胶囊。
Among Dr Smyth's collaborators on the project at The University of Nottingham are Dr David Barrett in the School of Pharmacy, Dr Alan Knox in the School of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Professor Paul Williams, Dr Miguel Camara and Dr Karima Righetti — an EU-funded Marie Curie fellow — in the School of Molecular Medical Sciences.
该项目的合作者有，药剂学学校的David Barrett博士、内科和外科科学学校的Alan Knox博士、Paul Williams教授、Miguel Camara博士、以及分子医学科学学校的EU资助的Marie Curie的同事Karima Righetti博士。
