44,000-YO Siberian Wolf Discovery Raises Concerns About Ancient Viruses, Will This Change Fate Of Future Meds?

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A 44,000-year-old wolf discovered in Yakutia, eastern Russia, is providing researchers with valuable insights into the ancient animal's genetics, lifestyle, diet, and even the bacteria and viruses it carried. The Pleistocene predator was found in permaf, which has begun to thaw in many places due to rising global temperatures.

Scientists at North-Eastern Federal University in Yakut, Russia are studying the well-preserved remains. The wolf's stomach may contain its last meal and other ancient microbes that could play a role in the development of future medicines.

Discovering The Secrets Of An Ancient Wolf

The frozen conditions helped mummify and perfectly preserve the ancient wolf. Its teeth and much of its fur are still intact, as are some of its organs. "It's shocking, actually," said Robert Losey, an anthropologist at the University of Alberta who wasn't involved in the research. "It's the only complete adult Pleistocene wolf that's ever been found, so that in itself is really remarkable and completely unique." Studying the animal's genome will help reveal where it fits into the canine family tree.

Researchers took samples of its stomach and digestive tract to learn more about its diet and are awaiting results. They may also be able to determine what functions ancient microbes performed in the wolf's gut and whether it had parasites. If any of the microorganisms are unknown to science, they could play a role in the development of future medicines.

Ancient Animals And Infectious Agents

As permafrost thaws due to rising global temperatures, more ancient creatures like this wolf are re-emerging. In 2016, thawing in Siberia's Yamal Peninsula released anthrax from a once-frozen reindeer carcass, causing an outbreak that infected 36 people and killed one child. Researchers fear that other pathogens may slumber in the tundra as well.

Last year, researcher Jean-Michel Claverie announced that he had revived a 48,000-year-old virus found in Siberian permafrost that could still infect single-celled amoebas. "We view these amoeba-infecting viruses as surrogates for all other possible viruses that might be in permafrost," Claverie told CNN at the time.

"We see the traces of many, many, many other viruses. So we know they are there. We don't know for sure that they are still alive," she said. Any ancient viruses or bacteria in the guts of the Yakutia wolf could help researchers better understand the microbes hiding inside permafrost creatures.

This discovery is part of a larger collaboration to study other ancient animals such as fossil hares, a horse, and a bear. The researchers have previously studied a wolf head from the Pleistocene era and have another wolf fossil awaiting dissection.