Insect-specific RNA viruses detection in Field-Caught Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from Argentina using NGS technology
Lucas Ripoll1, Javier Iserte2, Carolina Susana Cerrudo1
1Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Celular y Molecular-Área de virus de insectos, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases
|January 10, 2025
Summary
Researchers used Nanopore sequencing to detect viruses in mosquitoes in Argentina. This method identified Humaita Tubiacanga Virus, Phasivirus, and totivirus, aiding arbovirus outbreak surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Arthropod-borne virus surveillance
- Next-generation sequencing applications
- Mosquito-borne disease ecology
Background:
- Mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti, transmit significant arboviruses like Dengue and Zika.
- Effective arbovirus surveillance is critical for preventing outbreaks and developing control strategies.
- Characterizing circulating viruses in mosquito populations provides key insights into disease transmission dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To implement and evaluate a sequencing pipeline for arboviral detection in field-caught mosquitoes.
- To identify and sequence viral genomes from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Argentina using Nanopore technology.
- To assess the utility of this approach for broad-spectrum viral surveillance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION Mk1b for rapid sequencing.
- Employed a Sample-In, Sample-Out (SISPA) method for viral sequence enrichment.
- Analyzed sequencing data to identify and assemble full viral genomes.
- Collected mosquito samples from Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and Salta provinces in Argentina.
Main Results:
- Successfully sequenced the full genomes of Humaita Tubiacanga Virus (HTV), Phasi Charoen-like Phasivirus (PCLV), and Aedes aegypti totivirus (AaeTV).
- Detected these viruses in distinct geographical regions across Argentina.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of Nanopore sequencing coupled with SISPA for viral discovery.
Conclusions:
- Nanopore sequencing provides a powerful tool for arboviral surveillance in mosquitoes.
- This method enables the detection of both human-pathogenic and insect-specific viruses.
- The approach can enhance early detection of arboviruses and inform public health strategies.
