Accordingly, this 48,500-year-old virus is named Pandoravirus yedoma, related to Pandora’s box in Greek mythology. The virus was found in a sample of permafrost taken from a depth of 52 feet (16 m) on the bottom of a lake in Yukechi Alas in the Russian Republic of Yakutia.

This particular virus is one of a total of nine different viruses that have been unearthed and revived from permafrost samples in Siberia in recent years. Of which, 7 samples have just been revived by scientists in this latest study, while 2 viruses with 30,000 years old have been unearthed since 2013. Their common point is that they have all been frozen since tens of thousands of years ago. A virus with the ’youngest’ age was frozen 27,000 years ago.

Aside from its age, the other notable feature of this pandoravirus is its size. Classified as a giant virus, Pandoravirus yedoma is about 1 micrometer long and 0.5 micrometer wide. This means that they can be examined directly under a microscope. It contains about 2,500 genes, in contrast to modern viruses that infect humans with no more than 10 to 20 genes, while being many times smaller in size.

Worth mentioning, the revival of ancient viruses is causing many people concern, when they think that they may leak out of the laboratory and cause a new pandemic.

However, the scientists claim the study is needed to as‌sess the dangers as‌sociated with climate change. A quarter of the Northern Hemisphere is covered by permanently frozen ground, known as permafrost. With the disintegration of the permafrost, organic matter that has been frozen for millions of years is melting. One of the effects of this is the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect. Part of this organic matter also includes revived cellular bacteria (prokaryotes, unicellular eukaryotes), as well as viruses that have been dormant since prehistoric times.

By extracting viruses from permafrost samples and reviving them under controlled conditions, we can as‌sess the nature of the threat they pose to the health and safety of humans. humans in a warmer future, when there will be no more permafrost.

The ancient virus may soon return, in huge numbers

Given that permafrost covers more than a quarter of the total land area in the Northern Hemisphere, this concern is not unfounded. The viral load currently trapped in the permafrost is certainly enormous.

If they are released in the next few decades, the risk of a new wave of viral infection in many host species is predictable. The problem is that the immune systems of animals as well as humans are hardly immune to the effects of viral agents that have not been circulating for tens of thousands of years.

Of course, the immune systems will eventually adjust, but this may happen too late to prevent a catastrophic loss that can affect a wide range of microorganisms, plants and animals. .

Concerns about the melting of the permafrost are not just predictions, they are actually happening. Areas that had been frozen for several tens of thousands of years have begu‌n to melt, allowing scientists to unearth the remains of prehistoric animals in very good condition.

In recent years, scientists have found the carcass of a furry rhinoceros that went extinct 14,000 years ago, and in one case, scientists recovered the head of a 40,000-year-old wolf. in almost intact condition.

In particular, woolly mammoth remains have been shown to be particularly easy to find in newly thawed lands. The number of remains was so great that a black market industry was born, when illegally excavated mammoth tusks were sold to ivory traders.

Climate change and the resulting melting of the permafrost could release unprecedented amounts of viruses into the environment.

This is also what scientists are concerned about, as viral infectious agents may be lurking inside these well-preserved ancient animal carcasses. For example, the 27,000-year-old virus found in this new study was isolated from frozen mammoth droppings taken from a permafrost core. This means that the viruses released from the host are dead bodies. Prehistoric animals will most likely evolve into a new virus that threatens our civilization.

Present. Areas near the Arctic are largely uninhabited. But researchers point out that a greater number of people are visiting the coldest regions of the planet than ever before, mainly to exploit precious resources such as oil, gold and diamonds, which are in abundance in previously unexplored areas.

Thus, accidental exposure to the virus during mining activities and permafrost digging is possible in the near future. Besides, other scientists have warned about the danger of viruses released in the Arctic through the melting of glaciers. This is another possible side effect of global warming. This could expose animals and humans to melting glaciers that could carry pathogens to new areas further south.