Preservation of viral genomes in 700-y-old caribou feces from a subarctic ice patch

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
• Main Authors: Ng, Terry Fei Fan, Chen, Li-Fang, Zhou, Yanchen, Shapiro, Beth, Stiller, Mathias, Heintzman, Peter D., Varsani, Arvind, Kondov, Nikola O., Wong, Walt, Deng, Xutao, Andrews, Thomas D., Moorman, Brian J., Meulendyk, Thomas, MacKay, Glen, Gilbertson, Robert L., Delwart, Eric
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: National Academy of Sciences 2014
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4250163/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25349412; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1410429111

Knowledge of ancient viruses is limited due to their low concentration and poor preservation in ancient specimens. Using a viral particle-associated nucleic acid enrichment approach, we genetically characterized one complete DNA and one partial RNA viral genome from a 700-y-old fecal sample preserved in ice. Using reverse genetics, we reconstituted the DNA virus, which replicated and systemically spread in a model plant species. Under constant freezing conditions, encapsidated viral nucleic acids may therefore be preserved for centuries. Our finding indicates that cryogenically preserved materials can be repositories of ancient viral nucleic acids, which in turn allow molecular genetics to regenerate viruses to study their biology.