Future Tense Ancient viruses, new threats
Nov 20, 2025
Dr. Jean-Michel Claverie, an expert on ancient viruses, discusses how thawing permafrost could release dangerous pathogens, detailing the revival process in the lab. Dr. Christine Pratt explains her work at the European Virus Archive, emphasizing the need for global cooperation in pandemic preparedness. Meanwhile, Dr. Aaron Bernstein connects climate change to emerging infectious diseases, highlighting how habitat shifts increase spillover risks. Together, they stress the urgency of proactive measures to prevent future pandemics and the pivotal role of decentralized archives.
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Ancient Viruses Can Be Revived
- Dr Jean-Michel Claverie shows ancient viruses can remain infectious like microscopic seeds after millennia in permafrost.
- Reviving them in lab cultures produces viruses indistinguishable from modern ones once activated.
Permafrost Hides Massive Viral Diversity
- Metagenomics reveals a vast unseen diversity of ancient viral sequences in permafrost beyond what lab revival shows.
- Claverie warns our experiments sample only a tiny fraction of that ancient viral diversity.
Reduce Arctic Exposure To Thawing Sites
- Limit human and animal exposure in thawing Arctic regions to reduce risk from released pathogens.
- Target industrial activity and ensure biosafety measures where permafrost is melting and people gather.