Characterization of a Novel Mitovirus of the Sand Fly Lutzomyia longipalpis Using Genomic and Virus–Host Interaction Signatures

Abstract

Hematophagous insects act as the major reservoirs of infectious agents due to their intimate contact with a large variety of vertebrate hosts. <i>Lutzomyia longipalpis</i> is the main vector of <i>Leishmania chagasi</i> in the New World, but its role as a host of viruses is poorly understood. In this work, <i>Lu. longipalpis</i> RNA libraries were subjected to progressive assembly using viral profile HMMs as seeds. A sequence phylogenetically related to fungal viruses of the genus <i>Mitovirus</i> was identified and this novel virus was named Lul-MV-1. The 2697-base genome presents a single gene coding for an RNA-directed RNA polymerase with an organellar genetic code. To determine the possible host of Lul-MV-1, we analyzed the molecular characteristics of the viral genome. Dinucleotide composition and codon usage showed profiles similar to mitochondrial DNA of invertebrate hosts. Also, the virus-derived small RNA profile was consistent with the activation of the siRNA pathway, with size distribution and 5' base enrichment analogous to those observed in viruses of sand flies, reinforcing <i>Lu. longipalpis</i> as a putative host. Finally, RT-PCR of different insect pools and sequences of public <i>Lu. longipalpis</i> RNA libraries confirmed the high prevalence of Lul-MV-1. This is the first report of a mitovirus infecting an insect host.