Monday, November 24, 2014

Ancient viruses regenerated from 700-year-old frozen reindeer poop

A new study led by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) recreates ancient viruses from cryogenically preserved materials, using modern techniques in the field of molecular genetics. Now one may wonder what purpose do viruses 700 years old have on us? Well as the earth gets slightly warmer every year will global warming resurrect old, infectious viruses? Viruses preserved in ancient samples provide valuable information about viral diversity from long ago. These viruses help us trace the evolution of today’s species and study their biology. Recreating these viruses was not an easy task since concentrations of genetic information are low in ancient specimens and most have been tremendously degraded.

                                 


In the study researchers managed to regenerate two sufficiently well-preserved ancient viruses from reindeer poop that has been preserved for 700 years in a subarctic ice patch in northern Canada. The method used to resurrect the ancient viruses was called "viral particle-associated nucleic acid enrichment." From the two viruses the team was able to recover and characterize a small circular DNA viral genome, ancient caribou feces associated virus (aCFV) and a partial RNA viral genome, Ancient Northwest Territories cripavirus (NCV). Then using "reverse genetics," they reconstituted one of the viruses and showed how it was able to spread and reproduce in a living plant.

Under frozen conditions, "encapsidated viral nucleic acids" can survive for centuries, providing enough material to allow molecular genetics to regenerate viruses to study their biology. So the question arises as to whether or not dormant, potentially infectious pathogens can emerge if global warming melts enough ice and permafrost. There are controversy regarding the importance of this kind of research. As one professor states, "old viruses could only re-emerge if they have significant advantages over the countless perfect viruses we have at present". In many ways he has a good point, should we really be worrying about the countless of diseases that have plagued the country in the past when we cannot even solve the mysteries behind the diseases that are killing people today. I do find it fascinating to think that we can reconstruct viruses that are over 700 years old. I also find that such action may be dangerous because recreating it does not necessarily mean that we can find a cure for it. Although such research is amazing with our technological advances I believe that trying to regenerate all these countless viruses that have a slight chance of spreading due to global warming is near impossible. Rather the main focus should be dealing with the viruses that continue to claim the lives of thousands every day.

Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284582.php

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