Scientists recently have discovered an ancient and dangerous virus has come back to life after a long sleep and buried for at least 30 thousand years. The virus, known as Pithovirus sibericum, was found frozen in the deepest layer of the permafrost in Siberia, after scientists found it and tried to melt the ice.
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| The virus, known as Pithovirus sibericum, was revived from samples from ancient permafrost, which the researchers used to infect amoebas in their lab. (Picture from: http://io9.com/) |
As reported by the BBC, on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, some scientists unravel the layers of ice that melted revive a virus that has been long sleep and the virus is very contagious. French scientist, Professor Jean - Michel Claverie said the transmission does not pose a hazard to humans or animals, but a variety of other viruses could be released into the wild.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Professor Claverie of the National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS) at the University of Aix - Marseille in France, said this is the first time we see the virus retains infectivity after death in the long term.
This ancient pathogens found buried 30 m below the frozen soil layer in Siberia. This virus is called Pithovirus sibericum, which is also named in the class of giant virus discovered 10 years ago. The size is large enough virus 1.5 micrometers in length make it visible under a microscope. "This is the largest ever found," says Claverie.
This virus infects worked last time more than 30,000 years ago, but in the laboratory the virus to live once again. Tests carried out on the virus to attack the amoeba, which is a single-celled organism. But the results do not infect humans or other animals.
"This virus entry into cells and eventually kills the cells multiply these cells., But this can only happen and kill the amoeba, do not infect human cells," said Dr. Chantal Abergel of CNRS. However, the researchers believe there are other more deadly pathogens that are still trapped in the deepest layer of ice in the permafrost of Siberia.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BBC | THE VERGE]
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