No one has posted this, which was the first thing that came to mind; 
Posted on 03/04/2014 5:37:31 AM PST by JoeProBono
A large ancient virus that lied dormant in the Siberian permafrost for at least 30,000 years has sprung back to life after French scientists revived it in the laboratory.
The virus, found buried 30m down in the frozen ground, poses no danger to humans or animals, but other viruses could be unleashed as the ground becomes exposed, scientists said.
"This is the first time we've seen a virus that's still infectious after this length of time," said Professor Jean-Michel Claverie, from the National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS) at the University of Aix-Marseille in France.
The pathogen, called Pithovirus sibericum, belongs to a class of giant viruses that were discovered 10 years ago.
These are all so large that, unlike other viruses, they can be seen under a microscope. And this one, measuring 1.5 micrometres in length, is the biggest that has ever been found, 'BBC News' reported.
Scientists thawed the virus and it replicated in a culture in a petri dish. Tests showed that it attacks amoebas, which are single-celled organisms, but does not infect humans or other animals.
Researchers believe that other more deadly pathogens could be locked in Siberia's permafrost.
Since the 1970s, the permafrost has retreated and reduced in thickness, and climate change projections suggest it will decrease further, researchers said.
It has also become more accessible, and is being eyed for its natural resources.
Claverie warned that exposing the deep layers could expose new viral threats.
He said that ancient strains of the smallpox virus, which was declared eradicated 30 years ago, could pose a risk.
"If it is true that these viruses survive in the same way those amoeba viruses survive, then smallpox is not eradicated from the planet - only the surface," he said.
"By going deeper we may reactivate the possibility that smallpox could become again a disease of humans in modern times," he added.
However, it is not yet clear whether all viruses could become active again after being frozen for thousands or even millions of years.
The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
"Given enough time and opportunity, anything that can go wrong will go wrong
I'm not sure which philospher gets credit for first stating that.
If this virus was discovered today, how many days until an immunization for it is required by my school board?
The makings for a SyFy Saturday night movie of the week:
It was dormant. The scientists revive it in the lab. They discover it was the virus that wiped out all of the dinosaurs. Clumsy lab tech drops the vial. The virus begins to spread and escapes the lab into the general atmosphere ...
***Clumsy lab tech drops the vial. The virus begins to spread and escapes the lab into the general atmosphere***
Hey, don’t laugh! That actually happened several decades ago with smallpox.
“Go, Chickenheart, Go!”
——but does not infect humans or other animals.——
Considering the enormous amount of diverse life forms this planet holds...
I will take that with a grain of salt....
I am not buying it. This is the same way we found Captain America and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer; overall benefits to our society.
Another example of just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
Dean Koontz’s “Phantoms”. It’s the Ancient Enemy...
No one has posted this, which was the first thing that came to mind;
Excellent thread about ancient pathogens!
And speaking of Hillary...
The pathogen, called Pithovirus sibericum, belongs to a class of giant viruses that were discovered 10 years ago.
Tell us more, please.
The news had been bragging about how Smallpox was annihilated until this incident.
More here.
http://www.msdsonline.com/resources/msds-resources/free-safety-data-sheet-index/variola-virus.aspx
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: Except for a laboratory-associated smallpox death at the University of Birmingham, England, in 1978, no further cases have been identified. All known variola virus stocks are held under security at WHO collaborating centers located at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United States, or the State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia(1,4). The possession and use of variola viruses are restricted to the WHO collaborating centers(27). - See more at: http://www.msdsonline.com/resources/msds-resources/free-safety-data-sheet-index/variola-virus.aspx#sthash.Raye9Lo0.dpuf
FYI: Edward Jenner (credited for smallpox vaccination) was a student of Dr. John Hunter, immortalized in Robert Louis Stevens' 'Jekyll and Hyde.'
Not one of her better movies, but I’ll watch just about anything with Jamie Lee Curtis in it.
Well, actually that one is true...though the Siberian tree line is still some 90 kilometers south of where it was a couple of millennium ago.
It’s true, but utterly misleading.
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