How Scientists Revived Ancient Viruses from Siberian Permafrost
A group of scientists from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) have successfully revived ancient ‘zombie viruses’ found in Siberian permafrost. These viruses are capable of infecting amoeba cells, a single-celled organism, and could potentially pose a threat to human health.
The Discovery
In 2014, the team of scientists discovered the viruses in Siberia, frozen for thousands of years in the permafrost. They identified and classified the viruses, which are similar in shape and genetic makeup to modern-day giant viruses that infect amoebas.
The team then proceeded to revive the viruses, recognizing that climate change could cause melting permafrost to release new viruses into the world.
The Implications
While giant viruses are not harmful to humans, the revival of ancient viruses that could infect them is a cause for concern. The researchers stated that “the revival of viruses that are considered to have been eradicated, such as the smallpox virus, whose replication process is similar to that of Pithovirus, is no longer limited to science fiction.” This highlights the importance of being prepared for potential outbreaks of dormant diseases.
The Importance of Amoeba Research
Amoeba are ubiquitous in freshwater, soil, and marine environments and play an essential role as decomposers and as a food source for organisms further up the food chain. However, they are also a potential host for many dangerous viruses, which makes studying them significant for understanding viral evolution and disease transmission.
Conclusion
The discovery and revival of ancient ‘zombie viruses’ from Siberian permafrost underscores the importance of scientific research in understanding the emergence and re-emergence of viruses. It highlights the need for the scientific community to be proactive in their studies of potential disease transmission and outbreak prevention, and the critical role amoeba research plays in identifying and studying viral evolution.