齲齒是一種由細菌感染引起的慢性進展性口腔疾病，發病人群范圍廣，對人類健康及公共衛生危害大。中國科學院武漢病毒研究所成功研發出第二代重組蛋白抗齲疫苗，可通過鼻內黏膜無創滴注或直接噴霧，甚至可以自行接種，安全方便。

Dreaded trips to see your dentist could be replaced with a vaccine to prevent tooth decay in the future, researchers predict.
據研究人員預測，預防齲齒的疫苗有望問世，之后你就再不用為看牙醫擔驚受怕了。

The jab, developed by Chinese scientists, offers a dose of proteins that are effective at removing build-ups of plaque responsible for cavities.
這種疫苗由中國科學家研發，疫苗中的一種蛋白質可有效清除導致齲齒的齒斑堆積。

Early trials show it to be 64 percent effective - meaning people would still have to brush their teeth twice a day to avoid a trip to the dentist's chair.
早期實驗表明齲齒疫苗有效率達64%，也就是說，人們仍需每日刷牙兩次以預防齲齒。

It offers hope of a 'fantastic' answer for preventing or even reversing cavities, which strike a third of adults, according to figures.
齲齒疫苗為預防甚至逆轉齲齒帶來了希望，令人不可思議。據數據顯示，成年人中有三分之一患有齲齒。

The researchers said the vaccine would be welcomed in Western countries, where teeth-rotting sugar is consumed heavily.
研究人員表示，齲齒疫苗將在西方國家流行，這些國家中導致齲齒的糖類消耗量巨大。

But the team at the Wuhan Institute of Virology said the jab is several years away from undergoing clinical tests. However, experts are excited.
但武漢病毒所的研究小組表示，還要過幾年才能將齲齒疫苗投入臨床試驗。但專家已為此感到振奮。

專家這樣說

Dr Richard Marques, a Harley Street dentist, told MailOnline: 'This sounds like a fantastic development in dentistry.
倫敦哈利街的一位牙醫理查德-馬奎斯博士告訴每日郵報網站：“這是牙醫學的巨大進展?！?/p>

'Preventing tooth decay through vaccination would totally change the dental situation of many children and adults around the world.
“通過接種疫苗來預防齲齒將完全改變全球眾多孩子和成年人的牙齒狀況?！?/p>

'Dental decay is such a problem and a drain on healthcare resources so this has the potential to transform dental healthcare.'
“齲齒是個大問題，也消耗了醫療衛生資源，因此齲齒疫苗有望改變牙科保健?！?/p>

It works by using proteins from the bacteria Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) - which is the main cause of dental cavities.
齲齒疫苗通過使用變異鏈球菌中的蛋白質起效，變異鏈球菌是主要的致齲病原菌。

They are then fused together with proteins derived from strains of E. coli bacteria, Science Alert reports.
根據《科學前沿》的報道，科學家將這種蛋白質與大腸桿菌菌株中提取的蛋白質混合。

Previous studies had shown this combination to be effective in protecting against cavities, but produced unwanted side effects.
此前研究表明，這種混合物對預防齲齒有效，但會產生有害的副作用。

工作原理

The new vaccine is fused together with a third protein, derived from flagella proteins - cells that help the combination to move around.
科學家在這種新的疫苗中添加了另外一種蛋白質——提取自鞭毛素蛋白，幫助疫苗起效。

The prototype vaccine, which produced fewer side effects, was administered as a nasal spray in laboratory tests on rodents.
疫苗樣品產生的副作用較少，以鼻部噴霧的方式對嚙齒動物進行了實驗測試。

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, the researchers found it offered a similar amount of the protection as the initial vaccine.
研究人員發現，與初始疫苗相比，重組后的疫苗提供的保護效應大致相當。研究報告發表在《科學報告》期刊上。

The vaccine had a 64.2 percent prophylactic efficacy. It also reversed tooth decay by 53.9 percent, the researchers noted.
研究人員表示，疫苗的預防功效為64.2%，逆轉齲齒的功效為53.9%。

Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said: 'Any realistic scientific development which could help reduce the impact of tooth decay is welcome.
口腔健康基金會的董事長奈杰爾-卡特博士說：“我們歡迎所有有助于減少齲齒危害的現實科學進展?！?/p>

'This study shows initial promise, however, there may be a substantial wait, involving clinical trials before anything can be rolled out at a patient level.'
“這項研究帶給我們希望，但我們可能還要等很久，在大規模接種前還要進行臨床試驗?！?/p>

英文來源：每日郵報
翻譯&編審：yaning