Microbiologists of the Arctic Floating University 2024 expedition will, for the first time, search for giant viruses in the Arctic, with sizes comparable to bacteria. These viruses can be seen with a light microscope, whereas regular viruses can only be observed using electron microscopy.
«I would like to find new representatives of this group, new giant viruses. I plan to collect soil samples and have already gathered seawater samples. Next, I plan to check these samples for the presence of giant viruses, either by culturing them and looking for them in the cultures or by confirming their presence using molecular methods. For example, conducting a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers for conserved regions of their genome,» said Ivan Gorokhov, a member of the metagenomic research group at Saint-Petersburg Pasteur Institute.
Water samples for these life forms were taken from the depth of 25 metres. After filtering the water and removing the bacteria, scientists will begin working with cultures of amoebas and giant viruses.
«There are some concerns related to the fact that the processes of virus interaction with protozoa, like amoebas, somewhat resemble the processes of virus interaction with human immune cells. Amoebas feed by capturing their prey in a manner similar to phagocytosis,» explained Artemy Goncharov, head of the Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Proteomics of Microorganisms. «Therefore, it is suggested that some of the giant viruses might be pathogens of humans and mammals».
Several genera of giant viruses have already been discovered. Sometimes their DNA resembles the samples taken from patients with respiratory infections. Thus, it is currently impossible to completely rule out the possibility that these viruses may cause an infection in humans. Some of these viruses were found in samples taken from fossilized animals in the Yakutian permafrost.
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