Determining the single "oldest" virus is challenging due to the limitations of detecting and dating ancient viral genetic material. However, several studies have identified remarkably old viruses. Currently, a 48,500-year-old pandoravirus, revived from Siberian permafrost, holds the record for the oldest restored virus. [1, 6] This doesn't necessarily mean it's the absolute oldest virus ever to exist, only the oldest one successfully revived and studied.
Other ancient viruses have been identified, including:
- Viruses from 50,000-year-old Neanderthal bones: Analysis of these bones revealed the presence of three modern human viruses, indicating the long-term co-evolution of viruses and humans. [3]
- Seven ancient viruses ranging in age from 27,000 to 48,500 years old: These viruses were also recovered from Siberian permafrost. [4]
- A 7,000-year-old hepatitis B virus: This virus was sequenced from the tooth of a Neolithic man, representing an extinct lineage of the virus. [8]
- A 1,000-year-old plant virus: Discovered in ancient corn cobs at a Native American archaeological site. [7]
Smallpox and measles are among the oldest known viruses to infect humans, having evolved from animal viruses and appearing in Europe and North Africa thousands of years ago. [1, 2] However, pinpointing their exact age remains difficult.
It's important to note that the discovery of older viruses is an ongoing process. Advancements in technology continue to improve our ability to detect and analyze ancient viral genetic material, potentially revealing even older viruses in the future.
