医学翻译，多为直译，意译的比例很小。但有时候作者的语言写的比较难以理解，不能用常规直译进行表述时，译者应优先考虑意译。本文列举一个意译为主的实例，供大家查看。翻译时用到意译的标准，以不能直观表述句子的意思为准。且不可生硬翻译，否则效果会大打折扣。
原文
The potential for IL-17 to mediate immune pathology as seen in autoimmune  diseases and infection models, suggests that IL-17 may have detrimental effect in chronic bacterial infections such as TB.  In order to spread and infect new hosts, Mtb is actually dependent on  effective immunity and generation of granuloma- tous responses. Specifically in susceptible individuals, the granuloma develops to eventually become necrotic (caseating tubercles), allowing bacilli to become extracellular and able to be expelled out of the lungs upon coughing. How   this pathological response is regulated is still not well understood, but a balance between protective and damaging immunity needs to be achieved to allow control of Mtb proliferation and reduce transmission and morbidity.
The capacity of Th17 cells, and their associated cytokines, to be important players in combating infections and maintaining homeostasis of mucosal surfaces contrasts with their ability to be involved in tissue destruction. It is therefore of critical importance to understand their role  both in  the protective and in the damaging responses to Mtb infection. To help in this regard we here discuss new advances in the understanding on the role of IL-17 and Th17 derived cytokines in the host immune response to Mtb, with emphasis in the induction and regulation of  these responses  and the mechanisms of protection and pathology associated with IL-17 and Th17 cells.

译文
    IL-17在自身免疫疾病与感染方面的作用表明，IL-17可用于长期细菌感染（如TB）的预防与控制。结核分枝杆菌（Mtb）常通过自身免疫调节及肉芽肿反应快速感染新的宿主。在易感人群中，肉芽肿最终导致干酪样坏死。使得细菌到达细胞外，并通过咳嗽排到肺部以外。 目前，其病理机制尚不明确。但存在免疫保护及损坏平衡，借此控制Mtb增殖，降低病原体传播及致死率。
    Th17细胞及其相关细胞因子在控制感染及维持粘膜稳定性方面具有重要作用。同时，它们也参与组织破坏。因此，有必要明确Th1细胞及细胞因子在Mtb传染中的免疫保护及破坏效应。本文就IL-17及Th17来源的细胞因子在宿主免疫系统对Mtb应答中的作用及研究进展进行综述，并着重阐述IL-17及Th17细胞相关的保护机制及发病机制。
  鑫达医学翻译专注医学/药学/生物学学术翻译

对楼主的帖子很感兴趣！所以瞎说几句：)

楼主说的很对，我们在翻译英文文献的时候，有时不宜直译，而要将外文的意思充分理解后用我们中国人自己的习惯来表达，就是楼主说的要意译，这是一个再创作的过程。

不过，楼主在翻译这段短文时有些地方对原意的理解好像不太准确。

比如第一句：The potential for IL-17 to mediate immune pathology as seen in autoimmune diseases and infection models, suggests that IL-17 may have detrimental effect in chronic bacterial infections such as TB.  楼主翻译为： IL-17在自身免疫疾病与感染方面的作用表明，IL-17可用于长期细菌感染（如TB）的预防与控制。

其实这句话并没有“IL7能够用于细菌感染的预防和控制”的意思。而是说IL7在慢性细菌感染，比如结核感染方面，具有对机体有害的(或者破坏性)效果。

我们做意译，一定要在完全理解了外文原意后，再用自己的语言比较准确地表达出来。科技文献和文学/文艺方面的作品不同，这种意译一定要忠实原文的意思，切不可以随便更改原文的意思，不可随便加入原文没有的东西。否则会误导读者。