Melting Ice Could Wake Up Ancient Frozen Viruses

Melting polar regions are already causing unprecedented sea level rise but there are other threats besides water buried in the swiftly melting ice.

Since 2003, large viruses (longer than 0.5 microns) have been found ensconced in permafrost, a layer of soil in the Arctic that is usually permanently frozen. In a new study published in PNAS today, scientists announced that they were studying a 30,000 year old virus found in the same frigid environment. The ancient virus, Mollivirus sibericum, is able to infect a modern amoeba, which raises concerns among scientists.

The authors of the paper worry that while the few ancient viruses identified in the permafrost sample don't appear to be harmful to humans (they haven't found varieties of small pox or herpes), others might not be so benign.

There is a concern that rising temperatures and melting ice--not to mention oil exploration in the Arctic--could see the reappearance of ancient deadly viruses.

"If we are not careful, and we industrialize these areas without putting safeguards in place, we run the risk of one day waking up viruses such as small pox that we thought were eradicated," one of the lead researchers, Jean-Michel Claverie, told AFP.

And it isn't just giant viruses found in the colder regions of the world. Small viruses were recently discovered in arctic lakes. It looks like all kinds of infection-causing viruses could defrost as the world warms.

Melting Ice Could Wake Up Ancient Frozen Viruses

Ohh we almost forgot this aspect. What are the climate deniers gonna say now? Government controlled diseases ?
Actually dug up in the ice core samples ?
A super ancient small pox, or MEASLES!!!
I got it... these are the "aliens" they spread by airplanes... ohh come on!
I guess we are doomed .. ?

No, its a really dangerous thing to unfreeze old organisms, don't you think ?
Or do you think they are so old they wont have any influence?
Tests have been done, but i wait until the folks give a comment...

The other samples 'resurrected' have not been dangerous, and it is unlikely this one "giant" virus will be either . But because of the Walking Dead and The X Files, yes this scares me

a reply to: zazzafrazz

Is that in the sphere of antibiotics?

a reply to: kloejen

If I am not mistaken, we take that risk just by drilling oil

techrosoft.com...

a reply to: kloejen
Okay, this is weird. I found a news article you might find interesting. Basically, French scientists want to revive a virus they found frozen in permafrost. I just saw the article minutes before seeing this thread.
Here

originally posted by: infolurker
a reply to: kloejen

If I am not mistaken, we take that risk just by drilling oil

techrosoft.com...

Good point, but this is the permafrost we are talking about.
Drilling for oil will elaborate maybe a thousand bacteria... unfreezing the permafrost is billions set free. Thats why i asked about antibiotics/vaccines ? Will they help ?

a reply to: Skid Mark

Thanks for the info buddy

With the way we use Antibotics, It's only a matter of time before the viruses we have now become the super viruses you speak of being defrosted.

On the melting of viruses and bacteria issues, they're machines remember, biological machines, they get turned back on someday, your guess is as good as mine with how all that ends, bacteria is what made this world habitable, I would imagine they have the potential to make it just as inhabitable.

It's only a matter of time...

a reply to: kloejen
You're welcome. I just thought it was a weird coincidence seeing the article right before I saw your thread. The two do kind of go together.

a reply to: Skid Mark

Well im glad you made the connection. I would have in a later thread.
Because i have a small fever at the moment, but i fell its just an ordinary influenza virus, combined with allergy. No biggie.
Im ok, just alot of snot, and caughs, hope im the only one

Keep in mind Humans were around the same time as these permafrost viruses, it is likely they are not foreign to our systems.

a reply to: kloejen
Oh, yuck. I hate being sick during summer. You have my sympathies. I hope you feel better soon.

I read stories like this and think of The Stand by Stephen King. What if a really bad virus that they didn't understand got out of the lab?

a reply to: kloejen

Yeah, no. Great Sci-fi movie tho,

a reply to: kloejen

I think with the mutation rates of existing unfrozen virii, there is little actual comparative likelihood of unleashing a viral apocalypse upon us.

We (and nature) have already survived these ancient ills and will likely be able to survive another onslaught.

Our immune systems have continued to evolve while these pathogens were frozen unchangeably.

Just posted a link to another story on another thread, or rather another version of the same story. The part I find fascinating (other then the pure stupidity of some scientist) is how complex the virus is. Over 500 genes? Modern flu has 8. What do the others do?

Ok, I am curious. Fire that thing up!

a reply to: tnhiker

Can you please post a link to it here?

Thanks

originally posted by: kloejen
a reply to: tnhiker

Can you please post a link to it here?

Thanks

Sure thing.

30000 Year Old Virus

a reply to: kloejen

Antibiotics do not work on viruses.