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Yuan JN, Ye ZX, Chen MN, Ren PP, Ning C, Sun ZT, Chen JP, Zhang CX, Li JM, Mao Q. Identification and Characterization of Three Novel Solemo-like Viruses in the White-Backed Planthopper, Sogatella furcifera. INSECTS 2024; 15:394. [PMID: 38921109 PMCID: PMC11203538 DOI: 10.3390/insects15060394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Agricultural insects play a crucial role in transmitting plant viruses and host a considerable number of insect-specific viruses (ISVs). Among these insects, the white-backed planthoppers (WBPH; Sogatella furcifera, Hemiptera: Delphacidae) are noteworthy rice pests and are responsible for disseminating the southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV), a significant rice virus. In this study, we analyzed WBPH transcriptome data from public sources and identified three novel viruses. These newly discovered viruses belong to the plant-associated viral family Solemoviridae and were tentatively named Sogatella furcifera solemo-like virus 1-3 (SFSolV1-3). Among them, SFSolV1 exhibited a prevalent existence in different laboratory populations, and its complete genome sequence was obtained using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approaches. To investigate the antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) response in WBPH, we conducted an analysis of virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs). The vsiRNAs of SFSolV1 and -2 exhibited typical patterns associated with the host's siRNA-mediated antiviral immunity, with a preference for 21- and 22-nt vsiRNAs derived equally from both the sense and antisense genomic strands. Furthermore, we examined SFSolV1 infection and distribution in WBPH, revealing a significantly higher viral load of SFSolV1 in nymphs' hemolymph compared to other tissues. Additionally, in adult insects, SFSolV1 exhibited higher abundance in male adults than in female adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Na Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
| | - Zhuang-Xin Ye
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Meng-Nan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
| | - Peng-Peng Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
| | - Chao Ning
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
| | - Zong-Tao Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
| | - Jian-Ping Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Chuan-Xi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
| | - Jun-Min Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
| | - Qianzhuo Mao
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; (J.-N.Y.); (Z.-X.Y.); (M.-N.C.); (P.-P.R.); (C.N.); (Z.-T.S.); (J.-P.C.); (C.-X.Z.); (J.-M.L.)
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Estevez-Castro CF, Rodrigues MF, Babarit A, Ferreira FV, de Andrade EG, Marois E, Cogni R, Aguiar ERGR, Marques JT, Olmo RP. Neofunctionalization driven by positive selection led to the retention of the loqs2 gene encoding an Aedes specific dsRNA binding protein. BMC Biol 2024; 22:14. [PMID: 38273313 PMCID: PMC10809485 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01821-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquito borne viruses, such as dengue, Zika, yellow fever and Chikungunya, cause millions of infections every year. These viruses are mostly transmitted by two urban-adapted mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Although mechanistic understanding remains largely unknown, Aedes mosquitoes may have unique adaptations that lower the impact of viral infection. Recently, we reported the identification of an Aedes specific double-stranded RNA binding protein (dsRBP), named Loqs2, that is involved in the control of infection by dengue and Zika viruses in mosquitoes. Preliminary analyses suggested that the loqs2 gene is a paralog of loquacious (loqs) and r2d2, two co-factors of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, a major antiviral mechanism in insects. RESULTS Here we analyzed the origin and evolution of loqs2. Our data suggest that loqs2 originated from two independent duplications of the first double-stranded RNA binding domain of loqs that occurred before the origin of the Aedes Stegomyia subgenus, around 31 million years ago. We show that the loqs2 gene is evolving under relaxed purifying selection at a faster pace than loqs, with evidence of neofunctionalization driven by positive selection. Accordingly, we observed that Loqs2 is localized mainly in the nucleus, different from R2D2 and both isoforms of Loqs that are cytoplasmic. In contrast to r2d2 and loqs, loqs2 expression is stage- and tissue-specific, restricted mostly to reproductive tissues in adult Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Transgenic mosquitoes engineered to express loqs2 ubiquitously undergo developmental arrest at larval stages that correlates with massive dysregulation of gene expression without major effects on microRNAs or other endogenous small RNAs, classically associated with RNA interference. CONCLUSIONS Our results uncover the peculiar origin and neofunctionalization of loqs2 driven by positive selection. This study shows an example of unique adaptations in Aedes mosquitoes that could ultimately help explain their effectiveness as virus vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos F Estevez-Castro
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
- CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U1257, Université de Strasbourg, 67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Murillo F Rodrigues
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-5289, USA
| | - Antinéa Babarit
- CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U1257, Université de Strasbourg, 67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Flávia V Ferreira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Elisa G de Andrade
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
- CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U1257, Université de Strasbourg, 67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Eric Marois
- CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U1257, Université de Strasbourg, 67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Rodrigo Cogni
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Eric R G R Aguiar
- Department of Biological Science, Center of Biotechnology and Genetics, State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, 45662-900, Brazil
| | - João T Marques
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil.
- CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U1257, Université de Strasbourg, 67084, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Roenick P Olmo
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil.
- CNRS UPR9022, Inserm U1257, Université de Strasbourg, 67084, Strasbourg, France.
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Genetic Associations and Differential mRNA Expression Levels of Host Genes Suggest a Viral Trigger for Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceus. Viruses 2022; 14:v14050879. [PMID: 35632621 PMCID: PMC9144834 DOI: 10.3390/v14050879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The long search for the environmental trigger of the endemic pemphigus foliaceus (EPF, fogo selvagem) has not yet resulted in any tangible findings. Here, we searched for genetic associations and the differential expression of host genes involved in early viral infections and innate antiviral defense. Genetic variants could alter the structure, expression sites, or levels of the gene products, impacting their functions. By analyzing 3063 variants of 166 candidate genes in 227 EPF patients and 194 controls, we found 12 variants within 11 genes associated with differential susceptibility (p < 0.005) to EPF. The products of genes TRIM5, TPCN2, EIF4E, EIF4E3, NUP37, NUP50, NUP88, TPR, USP15, IRF8, and JAK1 are involved in different mechanisms of viral control, for example, the regulation of viral entry into the host cell or recognition of viral nucleic acids and proteins. Only two of nine variants were also associated in an independent German cohort of sporadic PF (75 patients, 150 controls), aligning with our hypothesis that antiviral host genes play a major role in EPF due to a specific virus−human interaction in the endemic region. Moreover, CCL5, P4HB, and APOBEC3G mRNA levels were increased (p < 0.001) in CD4+ T lymphocytes of EPF patients. Because there is limited or no evidence that these genes are involved in autoimmunity, their crucial role in antiviral responses and the associations that we observed support the hypothesis of a viral trigger for EPF, presumably a still unnoticed flavivirus. This work opens new frontiers in searching for the trigger of EPF, with the potential to advance translational research that aims for disease prevention and treatment.
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Cardoso MA, Brito TFD, Brito IADA, Berni MA, Coelho VL, Pane A. The Neglected Virome of Triatomine Insects. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.828712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Triatominae subfamily (Reduviidae) harbors some hematophagous insect species that have been firmly connected to the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Triatomines not only host and transmit trypanosomatids, but also coexist with a variety of symbiotic microorganisms that generally reside in the insect’s intestinal flora. The microbiome has profound effects on the physiology, immunity, fitness and survival of animals and plants. The interaction between triatomines and bacteria has been investigated to some extent and has revealed important bacteria symbionts. In contrast, the range of viral species that can infect triatomine insects is almost completely unknown. In some cases, genomic and metatranscriptomic approaches have uncovered sequences related to possible viral genomes, but, to date, only eight positive single-strand RNA viruses, namely Triatoma virus and Rhodnius prolixus viruses 1 - 7 have been investigated in more detail. Here, we review the literature available on triatomine viruses and the viruses-insect host relationship. The lack of broader metagenomic and metatranscriptomic studies in these medically relevant insects underscores the importance of expanding our knowledge of the triatomine virome both for surveillance purposes as well as to possibly harness their potential for insect vector population control strategies.
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de Brito TF, Coelho VL, Cardoso MA, Brito IADA, Berni MA, Zenk FL, Iovino N, Pane A. Transovarial transmission of a core virome in the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009780. [PMID: 34407148 PMCID: PMC8372912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Triatomine assassin bugs comprise hematophagous insect vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Although the microbiome of these species has been investigated to some extent, only one virus infecting Triatoma infestans has been identified to date. Here, we describe for the first time seven (+) single-strand RNA viruses (RpV1-7) infecting Rhodnius prolixus, a primary vector of Chagas disease in Central and South America. We show that the RpVs belong to the Iflaviridae, Permutotetraviridae and Solemoviridae and are vertically transmitted from the mothers to the progeny via transovarial transmission. Consistent with this, all the RpVs, except RpV2 that is related to the entomopathogenic Slow bee paralysis virus, established persistent infections in our R. prolixus colony. Furthermore, we show that R. prolixus ovaries express 22-nucleotide viral siRNAs (vsiRNAs), but not viral piRNAs, that originate from the processing of dsRNA intermediates during viral replication of the RpVs. Interestingly, the permutotetraviruses and sobemoviruses display shared pools of vsiRNAs that might provide the basis for a cross-immunity system. The vsiRNAs are maternally deposited in the eggs, where they likely contribute to reduce the viral load and protect the developing embryos. Our results unveil for the first time a complex core virome in R. prolixus and begin to shed light on the RNAi-based antiviral defenses in triatomines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vitor Lima Coelho
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maira Arruda Cardoso
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Mateus Antonio Berni
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fides Lea Zenk
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nicola Iovino
- Department of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Attilio Pane
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Wan S, Cao S, Wang X, Zhou Y, Yan W, Gu X, Wu TC, Pang X. Generation and preliminary characterization of vertebrate-specific replication-defective Zika virus. Virology 2021; 552:73-82. [PMID: 33075709 PMCID: PMC7733535 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that replicates in both vertebrate and insect cells, whereas insect-specific flaviviruses (ISF) replicate only in insect cells. We sought to convert ZIKV, from a dual-tropic flavivirus, into an insect-specific virus for the eventual development of a safe ZIKV vaccine. Reverse genetics was used to introduce specific mutations into the furin cleavage motif within the ZIKV pre-membrane protein (prM). Mutant clones were selected, which replicated well in C6/36 insect cells but exhibited reduced replication in non-human primate (Vero) cells. Further characterization of the furin cleavage site mutants indicated they replicated poorly in both human (HeLa, U251), and baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells. One clone with the induced mutation in the prM protein and at positions 291and 452 within the NS3 protein was totally and stably replication-defective in vertebrate cells (VSRD-ZIKV). Preliminary studies in ZIKV sensitive, immunodeficient mice demonstrated that VSRD-ZIKV-infected mice survived and were virus-negative. Our study indicates that a reverse genetic approach targeting the furin cleavage site in prM can be used to select an insect-specific ZIKV with the potential utility as a vaccine strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengfeng Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China; Department of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20059, USA; Department of Nephrology, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease and Immunology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital (Zhengzhou University People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Shengbo Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Xugang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | | | - Weidong Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China; Department of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20059, USA
| | - Xinbin Gu
- Department of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20059, USA
| | - Tzyy-Choou Wu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Xiaowu Pang
- Department of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Howard University, Washington, DC, 20059, USA.
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Pimentel AC, Beraldo CS, Cogni R. Host-shift as the cause of emerging infectious diseases: Experimental approaches using Drosophila-virus interactions. Genet Mol Biol 2020; 44:e20200197. [PMID: 33237151 PMCID: PMC7731900 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2020-0197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Host shifts, when a cross-species transmission of a pathogen can lead to successful infections, are the main cause of emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19. A complex challenge faced by the scientific community is to address the factors that determine whether the cross-species transmissions will result in spillover or sustained onwards infections. Here we review recent literature and present a perspective on current approaches we are using to understand the mechanisms underlying host shifts. We highlight the usefulness of the interactions between Drosophila species and viruses as an ideal study model. Additionally, we discuss how cross-infection experiments - when pathogens from a natural reservoir are intentionally injected in novel host species- can test the effect cross-species transmissions may have on the fitness of virus and host, and how the host phylogeny may influence this response. We also discuss experiments evaluating how cooccurrence with other viruses or the presence of the endosymbiont bacteria Wolbachia may affect the performance of new viruses in a novel host. Finally, we discuss the need of surveys of virus diversity in natural populations using next-generation sequencing technologies. In the long term, these approaches can contribute to a better understanding of the basic biology of host shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- André C. Pimentel
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de
Ecologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila S. Beraldo
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de
Ecologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- University of Helsinki, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research
Program, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rodrigo Cogni
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de
Ecologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Ramos-Nino ME, Fitzpatrick DM, Tighe S, Eckstrom KM, Hattaway LM, Hsueh AN, Stone DM, Dragon J, Cheetham S. High prevalence of Phasi Charoen-like virus from wild-caught Aedes aegypti in Grenada, W.I. as revealed by metagenomic analysis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227998. [PMID: 32004323 PMCID: PMC6993974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Arboviruses cause diseases of significant global health concerns. Interactions between mosquitoes and their microbiota as well as the important role of this interaction in the mosquito's capacity to harbor and transmit pathogens have emerged as important fields of research. Aedes aegypti is one of the most abundant mosquitoes in many geographic locations, a vector capable of transmitting a number of arboviruses such as dengue and Zika. Currently, there are few studies on the metavirome of this mosquito particularly in the Americas. This study analyzes the metavirome of A. aegypti from Grenada, a Caribbean nation with tropical weather, abundant A. aegypti, and both endemic and arboviral pathogens transmitted by this mosquito. Between January and December 2018, 1152 mosquitoes were collected from six semi-rural locations near houses in St. George Parish, Grenada, by weekly trapping using BG-Sentinel traps. From these, 300 A. aegypti were selected for analysis. The metavirome was analyzed using the Illumina HiSeq 1500 for deep sequencing. The generation sequencing library construction protocol used was NuGEN Universal RNA with an average read length of 125 bp. Reads were mapped to the A. aegypti assembly. Non-mosquito reads were analyzed using the tools FastViromeExplorer. The NCBI total virus, RNA virus, and eukaryotic virus databases were used as references. The metagenomic comparison analysis showed that the most abundant virus-related reads among all databases and assemblies was Phasi Charoen-like virus. The Phasi Charoen-like virus results are in agreement to other studies in America, Asia and Australia. Further studies using wild-caught mosquitoes is needed to assess the impact of this insect-specific virus on the A. aegypti lifecycle and vector capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E. Ramos-Nino
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Daniel M. Fitzpatrick
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Scott Tighe
- University of Vermont Massively Parallel Sequencing Facility, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Korin M. Eckstrom
- University of Vermont Massively Parallel Sequencing Facility, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Lindsey M. Hattaway
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Andy N. Hsueh
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Diana M. Stone
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Julie Dragon
- University of Vermont Massively Parallel Sequencing Facility, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Sonia Cheetham
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies
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