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The study of mammoth microorganisms will help to explore present infectious agents. Artemy Goncharov

  • 20 March 2015
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The study of mammoth microorganisms will help to explore present infectious agents. Artemy Goncharov

The study of the microorganisms’ genome, found in the carcass of Malolyakhovsky mammoth, will shed light on the evolution of present infectious agents, according to Artemy Goncharov, the Head of Research Laboratory of the Department of Epidemiology, Parasitology and Disinfectology of North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov.

"Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Genomic Research of North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov engaged in microbiological studies of fossil animals, in particular Malolyakhovsky mammoth. "We received a lot of information relating to the cultured microorganisms. These are the microorganisms, which we can identify, using modern microbiological research subjects, receive the culture of these organisms and study their properties", microbiologist Artemy Goncharov, the Head of Research Laboratory, said.

He noted that the age of bacteria corresponds to the age of the paleontological discovery. «Several strains of carnobacteria representative group were identified in found bacteria. These microorganisms have a high degree of resistance to low temperature, low pressure, and other natural phenomena. We are interested in the study of these organisms, since we work with ancient representatives of this family ", he said.

"The study of the genome of these organisms arouses great interest because they are relatives of modern mutagenic microorganisms. Their study will shed light on the evolution of modern infectious agents", the microbiologist summarized.

Author: Varvara JIRKOVA, NEFU Newsroom

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