Nine new RNA viruses associated with the fire ant Solenopsis invicta from its native range

AbstractThe red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) escaped its natural enemies when it was introduced into North America in the 1930s from South America. US efforts have focused on discovery of natural enemies, like viruses, to provide sustainable control of the ant. Nine new virus genomes were sequenced from the invasive fire antSolenopsis invicta using metagenomic RNA sequencing. The virus genomes were verified by Sanger sequencing and random amplification of cDNA ends reactions. In addition to the nine new virus genomes, the previously described Solenopsis viruses were also detected, including Solenopsis invicta virus 1 (SINV-1), SINV-2, SINV-3, SINV-4, SINV-5, and Solenopsis invicta densovirus. The virus sequences came fromS. invicta workers, larvae, pupae, and dead workers taken from midden piles collected from across the ant ’s native range in Formosa, Argentina. One of the new virus genomes (Solenopsis invicta virus 6) was also detected in populations of North AmericanS. invicta. Phylogenetic analysis of the RNA dependent RNA polymerase, the entire nonstructural polyprotein, and genome characteristics were used to tentatively taxonomically place these new virus genome sequences; these include four new species ofDicistroviridae, onePolycipiviridae, oneIflaviridae, oneTotiviridae, and two genome sequences that were too taxonomically divergent to be placed with certainty. TheS. invicta virome is the best characterized from any ant species and includes 13 positive-se...
Source: Virus Genes - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research