Dormant virus comes back to life after 30,000 years

Scientists claim that an ancient virus has come back to life after 30,000 years.

16:30 04 March 2014

A dormant virus, which was found frozen in a deep layer of the Siberian permafrost, has come back to life after lying dormant for at least 30,000 years. A French scientist said that although the virus does not pose danger to animals and humans, other viruses could be unleashed as the ground becomes exposed.

In a study published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Professor Jean-Michel Claverie, from National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS) at the University of Aix, Marseille in France, said: "This is the first time we've seen a virus that's still infectious after this length of time."

The virus, called Pithovirus sibericum, was discovered buried 100ft down in the frozen ground. Scientists say that it belongs to a class of giant viruses that were discovered 10 years ago. Tests conducted show that the virus attacks amoeba but does not infect humans or animals.

Co-author Dr Chantal Abergel, also from the CNRS, said: "It comes into the cell, multiplies and finally kills the cell. It is able to kill the amoeba - but it won't infect a human cell."