Recent scientific research has brought to light a startling discovery: the emergence of previously unknown viruses from the depths of ancient Siberian permafrost, a consequence of global warming leading to the thawing of long-frozen soil. In late 2022, scientists uncovered a total of 13 new viruses in soil samples taken from Siberian permafrost. These findings, though yet to undergo peer review, were followed up by subsequent research published on February 18.
The research revealed that several strains of ancient viruses were isolated from the permafrost and demonstrated their ability to infect cultured amoeba cells. Even more astonishing was the discovery that DNA viruses could remain infectious for an astounding period of over 48,500 years in the permafrost environment.
The term “zombie viruses” has been coined to describe these viruses that have been trapped in permafrost, effectively frozen in time. When thawed, these ancient viruses show the ability to become active and infectious once again. The name “zombie viruses” seems fitting as they essentially return to life after being dormant for millennia.
One study from Aix-Marseille University found DNA viruses capable of infecting Acanthamoeba, single-celled organisms found in soil and water, could retain their infectious properties for thousands of years. As the researchers pointed out, it is plausible that as ancient permafrost continues to thaw due to global warming, these unknown viruses could be released and pose potential risks.
The impact of these zombie viruses on public health remains uncertain. Exposure to outdoor conditions such as UV light, oxygen, and heat could potentially affect their longevity and likelihood of infecting a suitable host. With global warming leading to the acceleration of permafrost thawing and the increased human presence in Arctic regions due to industrial activities, the risk of encountering and facing a public health threat from these zombie viruses is likely to rise.
While prior studies have focused on prokaryotic microbiomes in permafrost, there has been limited research on the presence of “live” viruses until now. The emergence of these ancient viruses has raised concerns that they could not only infect single-celled organisms but also pose a threat to humans.
Professor Jean-Michel Claverie, an expert in medicine and genomics, has identified a total of seven families of zombie viruses ranging from 27,000 to 48,500 years old. His team believes that the amoeba-infecting viruses found in the permafrost are representative of other viruses present in the same environment.
Despite the surprising ability to recover viruses from nearly 50,000 years ago, it is well known that viruses can remain viable when frozen for extended periods. While the viruses recovered in this research primarily infected amoeba, it highlights the potential risks posed by these ancient pathogens. The study serves as a critical reminder of the importance of monitoring and understanding the implications of thawing permafrost and its impact on infectious agents that could resurface after being buried in ice for millennia.
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