Discovery of four novel phenuiviruses from public mosquito RNA-seq data using reference-guided assembly

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Arthropod-borne viruses

Background:

• Phasi Charoen-like viruses (PCLVs) are a group of arthropod-borne viruses.
• Understanding PCLV diversity is crucial for assessing their impact on public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize novel PCLV sequences identified in mosquito RNA sequencing data.
• To expand the known genetic diversity of phenuiviruses.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of mosquito RNA sequencing datasets.
• Determination of complete coding sequences for four divergent PCLVs.
• Genomic characterization including L, M, and S segments.

Main Results:

• Complete coding sequences of four distinct PCLVs were obtained.
• Each virus genome comprised L, M, and S segments.
• The identified sequences represent a significant expansion of known phenuivirus diversity.

Conclusions:

• The discovery of these PCLVs contributes to the understanding of phenuivirus evolution.
• These novel sequences may be valuable for future research on mosquito vector competence.
• Further investigation could elucidate interactions between PCLVs and other viruses, such as dengue virus.