RNA virome screening in diverse but ecologically related citrus pests reveals potential virus-host interactions

• Published in: Journal of invertebrate pathology 2020-02, Vol.170, p.107329-107329, Article 107329
• Main Authors: Niu, Jinzhi, Li, Xiao-Lin, Wu, Yue-Ling, Sun, Qin-Zhe, Zhang, Wei, Cao, Mengji, Wang, Jin-Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Arachnida; Gastropoda; Gene Library; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Insecta; Insecta - virology; Jingchuvirales; Mites - virology; Nidovirales; Picornavirales; RNA interference; RNA virus; RNA, Viral - analysis; Snails - virology; Virome
• ISSN: 0022-2011; 1096-0805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107329

[Display omitted] •RNA viromes were investigated in seven citrus pests.•Virus sequences from Picornavirales, Jingchuvirales, and Nidovirales were identified.•Picornavirales species may replicate and induce the host antiviral RNAi response.•Eotetranychus kankitus picorna-like virus may infect multiple pest species.•Tetranychus urticae mivirus may infect multiple pest species. As an evergreen ecosystem, citrus orchards have specialized pest species and stable ecological homeostasis; thus, they provide an ideal model for investigating RNA viromes in diverse but ecologically related species. For this purpose, we collected specialized citrus pests from three classes of invertebrates, Insecta, Arachnida, and Gastropoda and we constructed two kinds of libraries (RNA and small RNA) for the pests by deep sequencing. In total, six virus-derived sequences were identified, including four Picornavirales, one Jingchuvirales and one Nidovirales. The picornavirus-derived small RNAs showed significant small RNA peaks and symmetric distribution patterns along the genome, which suggests these viruses infected the hosts and triggered host antiviral immunity RNA interference. Screening of virus-derived sequences in multiple species of citrus pests (n = 10 per species) showed that Eotetranychus kankitus picorna-like virus and Tetranychus urticae mivirus may be present in multiple pests. Our investigation in citrus pests confirmed that RNA viruses revealed by metagenomics could impact host immunity (e.g. RNAi). An approach with parallel deep sequencing of RNAs and small RNAs is useful not only for viral discoveries but also for understanding virus-host interactions of ecologically related but divergent pest species.