为什么有些人更容易受到蚊子的青睐？ [美国媒体]

Why are some people more susceptible to mosquito bites?

为什么有些人更容易受到蚊子的青睐？



Mosquitos are one of the worst things about summer, with the ability to turn an idyllic evening in the great outdoors into a borderline unbearable scratching frenzy. But why is it that some people seem to suffer more at the hands of these blood-sucking insects than others?

蚊子可以说是夏天最令人不爽的事情之一了，它们能把原本人们在室外惬意度过的舒爽傍晚变成瘙痒难忍之夜。不过，似乎有些人更容易受到蚊子的青睐，这是为什么呢？

Researchers in the UK are in the process of determining the extent to which genetics affect how attractive we are towards the bugs using nothing less than 200 sets of smelly already-worn socks. We certainly don't envy them! 

来自英国的学者们正在通过200双早已磨破的气味难闻的袜子，对基因到底多大程度上决定了更易受蚊子叮咬这一问题进行研究。

The study
The socks were taken from pairs of identical and non-identical twins, with the hope of establishing which odours produced attractive (and, conversely, repellent) chemicals. Lead researcher James Logan told Scientific American:

研究内容如下
调查研究的领导人詹姆斯·罗根(James Logan)在采访中告诉《科学美国人》杂志，这些成对的袜子来源于同卵双胞胎和非同卵双胞胎们，学者们希望通过研究袜子来确定到底什么样的气味含有能够吸引（或者令蚊子反感）蚊子的化学成分。

"We know very little about the genetics of what makes us attractive to mosquitoes. We hope this study will give us more insights into the mechanisms that help change our body odors to make us more or less attractive to mosquitoes."

“对于为什么有些人更吸引蚊子的遗传学解释，我们目前还知之甚少。我们希望该项研究能够更好地帮助我们理解该机制，使得我们得以改变我们身体的气味来防止蚊子叮咬。”

The team chose to use twins for their work after prior research on a smaller sample showed mosquitoes to be seemingly more attracted to identical twins compared to non-identical twins. Logan added:

该研究团队这次使用了双胞胎来进行研究，不过在此之前的对较小样本的研究已经表明，相比非同卵双胞胎，阿蚊似乎更喜欢叮咬同卵双胞胎。
罗根补充道：

"If we can identify important genes, perhaps we could develop a pill or medication that would allow the body to produce natural repellents to keep mosquitoes away."

“如果我们能够确定某些关键基因，那么也许我们就能够发明一种药片或其他药物，使得人们的身体能够产出天然驱虫剂来防止蚊子叮咬。”

In the next stage of the research, the team plan to place the smelly socks in a wind tunnel along with mosquitoes.

研究的下一阶段，研究团队打算将散发气味的袜子和蚊子一起放进风洞中来研究。

Previous research
This is not the first time that the science behind mosquito bites has been examined. It is known that genetics accounts for a whopping 85% of humans' susceptibility to the insect bites, with certain elements – such as high concentrations of steroids or cholesterol, when found in excess on the skin's surface – making them swarm closer.

之前的研究：
这可不是科学家对蚊子叮咬问题的首次研究。据称，基因占到了蚊子叮咬因素的85%，其中某些成分，比如当皮肤表面聚积有过量的高浓度激素或胆固醇的时候，更容易招惹蚊子。

It's also been suggested that mosquitoes target people who produce excess amounts of certain acids, like uric acid – which trigger the insects' sense of smell – while pregnant women are also more likely to be bitten. However, it seems that the process of attraction begins a long time before the bite – with the pesky bugs able to smell their dinner from up to 50 metres away.

科学家还认为，身体会产生过量的某种酸性物质的人，比如尿酸，更容易成为蚊子的目标，这也是为什么孕妇经常被蚊子叮咬的原因。然而研究表明，似乎吸引蚊子的过程在被叮咬之前很早就开始了，因为这种恼人的小虫子似乎能够在最远50米开外就闻到“食物”的味道。

Despite all the research, scientists still reckon it's going to be a long time before we figure out a way to prevent insect bites. Until then, the NHS recommends taking the following steps: 

尽管对于该问题已经有了各种各样的研究，但科学家们还是承认，在如何防止被蚊虫叮咬的问题上，还有很长的路要走。目前，NHS（英国国家医疗服务体系）建议采取以下几种方法来防止蚊虫叮咬：

Wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers / skirts.

穿长袖长裤或长裙。

Keep cool.

保持身体凉爽。

Use insect repellent.

使用驱虫剂。

The current study is being conducted in affiliation with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

目前该研究正在由“伦敦卫生与热带医学院”进行。