美国和瑞典科学家最新研究发现,造成鼠疫具有杀伤力的关键原因之一,可能是从其他微生物转移至其病原体的一个基因。这一结果表明,一些原本危害不大的微生物,可能会通过出人意料的重新“包装”,而“摇身一变”成为致命“杀手”。 鼠疫是由耶尔森氏鼠疫菌引起的一种烈性传染病,历史上曾给人类造成过严重危害。14世纪鼠疫在欧洲逞凶时,造成欧洲四分之一的人口丧生,因此被称为“黑死病”。 Recent studies by U.S. and Swedish scientists have found that one of the key causes of lethal plague can be a gene that is transferred from other microbes to its pathogen. This result suggests that some previously unhealthy microbes may become “lethal” killers by “unexpected changes” in packaging. Plague is a potent infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis and has historically caused serious harm to humans. The 14th century plague in Europe, when the result of Europe, resulting in a quarter of the European population died, so called “black death.”