Thursday 6.6.2024
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Last update 19:18
In recent times, global warming has turned our eyes to the accelerated melting of Greenland, a phenomenon that has worried scientists and environmentalists alike.
Now, a novel discovery has revived interest in this phenomenon: the existence of mysterious giant viruses in the ice. To the surprise of some, this is not just another discouraging news, but could play a crucial role in mitigating the melt.
How is this possible?
This is because these giant viruses coexist with pigmented algae that flourish on the surface of Greenland’s glaciers and ice sheets, which darken the ice, reducing its ability to reflect sunlight and therefore accelerating the thaw.
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Thus, according to researchers at Aarhus University, led by postdoctoral fellow Laura Perini, within the framework of the Deep Purple project, these giant viruses seem to infect these algae, which could limit their proliferation and reduce melting.
This finding, published in the journal Microbiome, marks the first time that viruses of such magnitude have been discovered in Arctic snow and ice, although they had already been found in other environments, including marine and terrestrial environments, and even in humans.
This discovery reveals a much richer and more complex Arctic ecosystem than previously thought, hosting not only these viruses, but also bacteria, fungi and protists that interact with algae.
How much is “giant”?
Although invisible to the human eye, they are giants in their scale: they can reach up to 2.5 micrometers, that is, 2,500 nanometers, which makes them up to 125 times larger than a common virus and larger than most bacteria. Its genome is also huge, with approximately 2.5 million base pairs.
Perini’s team collected samples from various habitats on the Greenland ice sheet, such as dark ice, red and green snow, and melt holes. Through DNA and RNA analysis, they confirmed the active presence of these giant viruses. Detection of viral mRNA, which indicates protein synthesis, confirmed that these viruses are alive and active on ice.
Although knowledge about these viruses is still incipient, initial results are promising. Researchers believe that these viruses could be a natural tool to control the growth of algae and, consequently, mitigate the melting they cause.
“We don’t know much about viruses, but I think they could be useful in alleviating melting ice caused by algae blooms,” Perini said in a statement. “We still don’t know how specific they are or how effective they are. But by exploring them further, we hope to answer some of those questions,” he added.
Despite advances, many aspects of these giant viruses remain a mystery. They are known to possess an extensive genetic repertoire, allowing them to perform complex functions such as DNA repair and replication without the help of a host. However, it is still unclear which organisms they specifically infect or the purpose of their genetic capabilities.
Future investigations
Perini’s team is working hard to unravel the interactions of these viruses and their role in the Arctic ecosystem. Upcoming studies will focus on the impact of viruses on microalgae that thrive in Greenland ice, with the hope of discovering new strategies to protect the ice from accelerated melting.
“We continue to study the giant viruses to learn more about their interactions and what exactly their role is in the ecosystem. Later this year we will publish another scientific paper with more information about the giant viruses that infect a cultured microalgae that thrives on the surface of the ice. of Greenland,” concludes Perini.
