From incredibly preserved extinct megafauna like the woolly rhino, to the 40,000-year-old remains of a giant wolf, and bacteria over 750,000 years old.
"These are viruses that would have thrived in extreme environments," said Ohio State University microbiologist Matthew Sullivan, with "signatures of genes that help them infect cells in cold environments – just surreal genetic signatures for how a virus is able to survive in extreme conditions."
Comparing their genetic sequences to a database from known viruses, the team found the most abundant viruses in both ice core samples were bacteriophages that infect Methylobacterium – bacteria important to the methane cycle within ice.
They were most related to viruses found in Methylobacterium strains in plant and soil habitats – consistent with a previous report that the main source of dust deposited on Guliya ice cap likely originates from the soils.
"These frozen viruses likely originate from soil or plants and facilitate nutrient acquisition for their hosts," the team concluded.
While the specter of ancient viruses seems particularly worrisome after the COVID-19 pandemic, the greatest danger lies in what else the melting ice is releasing – massive reserves of sequestered methane and carbon.
But it's clear the ice could also hold insights into past environmental changes, and the evolution of viruses too.
"We know very little about viruses and microbes in these extreme environments, and what is actually there," explained Earth scientist Lonnie Thompson, who noted we still have many important questions unanswered.
"How do bacteria and viruses respond to climate change? What happens when we go from an ice age to a warm period like we're in now?""These are viruses that would have thrived in extreme environments," said Ohio State University microbiologist Matthew Sullivan, with "signatures of genes that help them infect cells in cold environments – just surreal genetic signatures for how a virus is able to survive in extreme conditions."
Comparing their genetic sequences to a database from known viruses, the team found the most abundant viruses in both ice core samples were bacteriophages that infect Methylobacterium – bacteria important to the methane cycle within ice.
They were most related to viruses found in Methylobacterium strains in plant and soil habitats – consistent with a previous report that the main source of dust deposited on Guliya ice cap likely originates from the soils.
"These frozen viruses likely originate from soil or plants and facilitate nutrient acquisition for their hosts," the team concluded.
While the specter of ancient viruses seems particularly worrisome after the COVID-19 pandemic, the greatest danger lies in what else the melting ice is releasing – massive reserves of sequestered methane and carbon.
But it's clear the ice could also hold insights into past environmental changes, and the evolution of viruses too.
"We know very little about viruses and microbes in these extreme environments, and what is actually there," explained Earth scientist Lonnie Thompson, who noted we still have many important questions unanswered.
"How do bacteria and viruses respond to climate change? What happens when we go from an ice age to a warm period like we're in now?"
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