研究发现，一种可抵御抗生素、属于耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（ MRSA ）的超级细菌，是野生刺猬皮肤上的真菌和细菌相互斗争而自然进化出来的。

Having discovered this strain of MRSA in dairy cattle a decade ago, scientists from the University of Cambridge wanted to know where it came from, and whether the use of antibiotics on farms had caused it to emerge.

十年前，剑桥大学的科学家在乳牛中发现了耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）的这支菌株，他们想了解它来自何处，以及在农场使用抗生素是否导致了它的出现。

So, a team of biologists across Europe collected and examined more than a thousand samples of the bacteria taken from wild animals. Their painstaking genetic investigation revealed that the strain evolved on hedgehog skin more than 200 years ago in an evolutionary arms race with a common skin fungus that releases a natural antibiotic.

因此，来自欧洲各地的一个生物学家团队收集并检查了从野生动物身上采集的一千多个样本。经过潜心研究，他们的基因调查显示，200多年前，这支菌株是在与一种释放天然抗生素的普通皮肤真菌争相进化时，在刺猬的皮肤上演生出来的。

But the researchers stress that while it’s crucial to understand the sources of antibiotic resistance in nature, our own overuse of antibiotics is the main driver of resistance in harmful bacteria.

但研究人员强调，虽然了解自然界抗生素耐药性的来源至关重要，但人类自身对抗生素的滥用才是有害细菌产生耐药性的主要驱动因素。

词汇表

strain （病菌的）株，品种
antibiotics 抗生素
emerge 出现
painstaking 辛勤的，潜心的
evolutionary 进化的
fungus 真菌
resistance 耐药性，抵抗力
overuse 过度使用，滥用

阅读理解：请在读完上文后，回答下列问题。

1. Where was this strain of MRSA discovered?

2. How many samples of bacteria did a team of biologists across Europe collect from wild animals?

3. According to the findings, when and where did this new strain originally come from?

4. What do scientists say is the main driver in the resistance of harmful bacteria in humans?

答案  

1. Where was this strain of MRSA discovered?
This strain of MRSA was originally discovered in dairy cattle 10 years ago.

2. How many samples of bacteria did a team of biologists across Europe collect from wild animals?
They collected more than a thousand samples.

3. According to the findings, when and where did this new strain originally come from?
It evolved on hedgehog skin over 200 years ago.

4. What do scientists say is the main driver in the resistance of harmful bacteria in humans?
Our own overuse of antibiotics.