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Amphipoda and the Riboviria: viral diversity on a global scale
Amy L Burgess1, Donald C Behringer2, Louisa E Wood3
1National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington DL1 1HG, UK; School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BX, UK.
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
|March 16, 2026
Summary
This study reveals diverse RNA viruses in amphipods globally, with significant differences in viral communities across environments, but not host invasion status. It enhances understanding of virus evolution and ecology in crustaceans.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Ecology
- Crustacean Biology
Background:
- RNA viruses are globally abundant pathogens, yet their diversity and associations with amphipods remain largely unexplored.
- Amphipods, as key components of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, may harbor significant but unknown viral communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diversity of RNA viruses in both invasive and native amphipod species across various global environments.
- To analyze the relationship between RNA virus diversity, host invasion status, environmental type, and host taxa.
- To contribute to the understanding of viral evolution, host range, and ecological roles within benthic communities.
Main Methods:
- Sampled 8 amphipod populations and screened 152 additional populations from NCBI for RNA viruses.
- Utilized next-generation sequencing to identify and characterize viral contigs and genomes.
- Performed alpha and beta diversity analyses to compare viral communities across different environments and host species.
Main Results:
- Recovered 412 viral contigs, identifying 134 novel virus species, including 41 with complete genomes.
- Observed significant differences in RNA virus alpha diversity across freshwater, marine, and brackish environments, as well as among amphipod host species.
- Found that host invasion status did not significantly impact viral diversity, while environmental type significantly influenced viral community composition.
Conclusions:
- Amphipods host a diverse range of RNA viruses across various global environments.
- Environmental factors play a significant role in shaping RNA virus community composition in amphipods.
- This research expands knowledge on RNA virus evolution, host-virus interactions, and their ecological implications in Crustacea.
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