Climate change could accelerate the release of ancient pathogens from melting permafrost, posing significant risks to the environment and humanity, according to a global study. Computer simulations show that even the release of a small percentage of dormant pathogens could cause major environmental damage and the loss of host organisms worldwide. The study highlights the need to understand and prepare for the threats posed by these "time-traveling" pathogens, which could survive and thrive in modern environments. The researchers emphasize the importance of being prepared for the potential consequences of releasing these ancient microbes into the modern world.
As Earth's climate continues to warm, ancient pathogens that have been frozen in glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost for millennia are being released into the environment. While the number of microorganisms being released is unfathomably large, the ecological risks they pose to modern ecosystems remain unknown. However, a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology reveals that the release of just one dormant pathogen could cause major environmental damage and widespread loss of host organisms. The simulations conducted in the study showed that invading pathogens often survived and evolved in modern biological communities, potentially leading to a reduction in host diversity. This unpredictable threat, previously confined to science fiction, could become a powerful driver of ecological change and highlights the need for society to understand and prepare for the potential risks.
As Earth's climate warms, melting ice is releasing ancient pathogens that have been frozen for millennia, posing a potential risk to modern ecosystems. Scientists have already revived bacteria and viruses from ancient ice, and outbreaks of diseases like anthrax have been linked to thawing permafrost. A new study calculates the ecological risks of releasing unpredictable ancient viruses and finds that just 1% of simulated releases of one dormant pathogen could cause major environmental damage and widespread loss of host organisms. While the risk to humans is uncertain, the potential for ice-bound viruses to enter the human population via zoonotic pathways is plausible.
A study by the European Commission Joint Research Centre warns that melting permafrost and ice due to climate change could release ancient pathogens that have been trapped for millennia, posing ecological risks. Using simulated experiments, researchers found that these pathogens could survive, evolve, and potentially cause severe ecological damage. The study highlights the need to understand and prepare for the potential risks posed by these "time-traveling" pathogens.
