Antarctic Mysteries Unveiled: 13 New Papillomaviruses Discovered in Seals

Researchers at Arizona State University have made a significant breakthrough in the study of Antarctica’s wildlife, discovering 13 new papillomaviruses in Antarctic seals, as reported in the journal Virology.

Papillomaviruses are tiny DNA viruses that target the epithelial cells of both humans and animals. With several hundred variants identified in humans, these viruses are categorized based on their cancer-causing potential.

This group of viruses, known to infect a wide range of hosts including mammals like seals and even reptiles, has predominantly been studied in the context of human health.

Melanie Regney, a doctoral candidate at the Varsani Lab of ASU and the study’s primary investigator, is driven by a curiosity about viruses in less studied species, highlighting the ubiquitous yet mysterious nature of viruses.

Regney and her team conducted their research on samples from various seal species such as leopard seals, Weddell seals, and Antarctic fur seals. Through advanced genome sequencing techniques, they unveiled 13 previously unknown papillomaviruses, 11 of which represent completely new categories of the virus.

An evolutionary analysis revealed that these newly found viruses share a close relationship with those found in other carnivorous species, suggesting a unique evolution alongside their hosts.

A notable discovery within this research is that nine of the identified viruses contain genes that might be linked to cancer, similar to certain strains of human papillomaviruses known for their carcinogenic properties.

The effect of these viruses on the seal populations is still to be fully understood, with Regney emphasizing the need for further study to protect these animals and the pristine Antarctic ecosystem. She pointed out the critical nature of understanding the virome of Antarctica to gain insights into the continent’s overall ecosystem health, given its minimal human impact and largely unexplored status.