- Jan 31, 2009
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Its first victim was a poor little Amoeba:
Full article: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/s...turn-of-smallpox-in-modern-times-9168442.html
The discovery of an infectious giant virus that had been entombed in Siberian permafrost for 30,000 years has led scientists to warn of other disease-causing viruses and microbes that may escape from the frozen earth once it has melted.
Scientists in France and Russia discovered the giant virus in samples of frozen earth taken from the far north-east of Russia. Tests in the laboratory showed that the virus was capable of infecting amoeba – single-celled micro-organisms – although it cannot infect multi-cellular animals and humans.
The virus is much larger than usual viruses and is so big it can be seen under ordinary optical microscopes. It is similar to two other known types of giant viruses, but its genetic material is different enough for it to be classified as belonging to a distinct species, Pithovirus sibericum, within a totally new group of viruses.
Scientists in France and Russia discovered the giant virus in samples of frozen earth taken from the far north-east of Russia. Tests in the laboratory showed that the virus was capable of infecting amoeba – single-celled micro-organisms – although it cannot infect multi-cellular animals and humans.
The virus is much larger than usual viruses and is so big it can be seen under ordinary optical microscopes. It is similar to two other known types of giant viruses, but its genetic material is different enough for it to be classified as belonging to a distinct species, Pithovirus sibericum, within a totally new group of viruses.
Full article: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/s...turn-of-smallpox-in-modern-times-9168442.html