Infectious Microbes At The Ice Poles

The Antarctic, a frozen dessert, the north pole of the earth. The only continent without a native human population, except for scientific bases, home to penguins, blue whales, orcas, among other animals and microorganisms.

Around 5000 temporary inhabitants can stay in the 70 active scientific facilities of the Antarctic, which belong to 29 different countries. However, the continent that was supposed to remain free of Covid-19 has reported its first cases.

The Chilean army reports 36 cases of Covid-19 at its Bernardo O'Higgins research station in the Antarctic Peninsula. The Chilean Navy said that everyone who had embarked on the trip to Antarctica had taken verification tests, and all results had been negative for Covid-19.

Image 1: Antarctica has already reported its first infections of Covid-19 in 2020.

Additionally, several species of animals have suffered infections with Covid-19 strains, such as felines, primates, ferrets, and minks, which reflects the capacity of the virus to adapt between species.

The virus has already reached all regions of the earth, including the North Pole and the South Pole. There may be some remote place that has not been present. However, we already see its scope. The future implications are unknown, and it is not clear in the term that could imply.

COVID-19 infecting species

The virus reached humans from an animal species; we are another destination that includes the adaptation cycle of Covid-19.

Viruses do not have a metabolism; their only objective is to infect to reproduce. On the other hand, viral adaptation has the sole purpose of adjusting it to the ideal conditions to replicate excessively and in a more optimal way.

Viruses have two components that are essential to their integrity. The first is the genetic material (RNA for Covid-19), which gives the virus an identity, assigns it a shell; it is the inheritance for the daughter viruses. The second is the shell, which is for structure, the ability to infect with its proteins; naturally, it protects the genetic material.

Image 2: Covid-19 has an exceptional speed of adaptation, more than 15 different strains in 1 year.

The change in the ability to infect various species is due to the passage of viral generations; when reproducing result is the generation of viruses that have some discrepancies in the genetic material. Small changes in genetic material do not usually generate a significant alteration between individual viruses. However, on some occasions, they can disable the virus, make it more contagious, or give it the ability to infect other species.

I like to make the analogy that a virus is a "puzzle" that is solved with the help of adaptation, using one or several species (such as Covid-19 that uses several species). It can have many possible forms until it finally resolves and reaches its sweet spot.

It is very worrying in the case of Covid-19 since it adapts in a fast short term; how long the pandemic has lasted, approximately one year and a half, it has already mutated into more than 15 different variants, a figure that continues to increase.

When Covid-19 comes into contact with a species that it cannot infect, it begins to adapt; as the interaction time increases, there is a greater probability that it will generate mutations to attack that species. It can finally adapt, infect the species, and use it for its purposes.

There are animal species that are more susceptible than others against Covid-19, but the virus will continue to search for its ideal reservoir or adapt optimally among many of them. While it finds it, it will seek to use all the animal cells in its path. Even if it finds its optimal reservoir, it does not mean that it will disappear as other variants may prevail.

These adaptations can bypass and disable the body's defenses, vaccines (such as the flu), and medications; it could even acquire a different entry route. As the interaction time between Covid-19 and humans increases, the chances of adaptation increase much more.

Image 3: Covid-19 went from humans to minks and then from minks to humans again.

Implications

The new coronavirus originated with wild animals, and the most relevant thing is its threat to humans, but its consequences affect in many more ways.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 200 people appeared to have the mink-adapted coronavirus strains of Denmark. Denmark slaughtered all the minks in the country, approximately 17 million animals.

Denmark's example is a warning, the spread of Covid-19 from humans to mink and mink appeared first in the Netherlands in April 2020, and since it, there are reports in Spain, Italy, the United States, Sweden. and Greece.

For decades, the effects of microorganisms in frozen sites, where there is permanent ice, and their relationship with climate change is current research.

Microorganisms can enter a latency state that allows them to survive for many years until they return to life in the right conditions.

An anthrax outbreak in Siberia killed thousands of reindeer in 2016. Never-before-seen ancient viruses discovered encased in a Tibetan glacier and polar ice.

This layer is expanding, and more active becomes a new habitat, where an increase in unfrozen water is enough to activate some biological processes. The microorganisms awakened from their lethargy can take the opportunity to move to other places, interact with animals or humans.

Image 4: Ice can harbor viruses and bacteria, like the 2016 anthrax outbreak in Siberia.

With the introduction of the coronavirus in these polar zones, it could fall and frozen in the ice; and come out in later years to complicate the situation. Likewise, if penguins are predisposed to this virus, it could cause a plague and irreparable damage to the ecosystem.

In a 2020 study, researchers ran computer simulations and found that cetaceans (whales, dolphins, or porpoises) have a high susceptibility to Covid-19, seals, and birds had a lower infection risk. If the virus gets into these environments, it is very likely to circulate and adapt uncontrollably.

Because it is a region of difficult access, without highly complex hospitals, and with difficulties for the evacuation of patients, the spread of Covid-19 to these areas is severe. Therefore, it was essential to avoid this threat to the continuity of scientific work.

Some countries like Turkey and Peru had canceled their expeditions, and the rest made adjustments by reducing trips and participants. However, at the moment, the German scientific ship Polarstern is heading precisely towards the white continent for its summer program in the southern sea, which is not an inconvenience if the absence of the virus is guaranteed.

Image 5: Antarctica is a fragile place with animals that could be reservoirs for the virus.

Direct contact with people presents the highest risk of spreading the virus to wildlife, and researchers are more vectors than tourists. More than 73,000 tourists traveled to the Antarctic continent between October 2019 and April 2020, when Covid-19 was emerging.

The distance between bases and the prohibition of contact between them may ensure that the COVID-19 does not spread through Antarctica.

However, the international association Council of National Antarctic Program Managers (COMNAP) joins together with all the world's Antarctic programs. Established protocols to follow in detail to avoid destabilizing the ecosystem.

References

• COVID has reached Antarctica. Scientists are extremely concerned for its wildlife – The Conversation. Michelle Power. Meagan Dewar. February 10, 2021 2.08pm EST.  Link https://theconversation.com/covid-has-reached-antarctica-scientists-are-extremely-concerned-for-its-wildlife-154481.

• Ancient viruses found in Tibetan glaciers. Science Magazine. Rodrigo Pérez Ortega Jan. 17, 2020 , 12:20 PM. Link https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/ancient-viruses-found-tibetan-glacier. 

• Unearthed. Zach Boren. The permafrost pandemic: could the melting Arctic release a deadly disease?. 03.07.2020. Link https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2020/07/03/arctic-permafrost-pandemic-life-uh-finds-a-way/.

• The Human Society. Brianna Grant. How the COVID-19 pandemic impacts animals.  December 15, 2020. Link https://www.humanesociety.org/news/how-covid-19-pandemic-impacts-animals.

• Skynews. David Mercer. Coronavirus: Why scientists are worried about the mutated virus from minks. Wednesday 11 November 2020 19:18, UK. Link https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-its-quite-a-volatile-situation-why-scientists-are-worried-about-virus-mutation-from-minks-12128390.

• Oceanwide. Caitlyn Bishop. A Look Into the International Research Stations of Antarctica. Link https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/a-look-into-the-international-research-stations-of-antarctica.