Wang Jihan, Zhu Yu, Li Dongyuan, Zheng Xinyue, Chai Chunlian, Zhang Jie, Wu Jianguo, Hu Qun, Zhao Shanshan
State Key Laboratory of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity, Center for Genetic Improvement, Vector-borne Virus Research Center, College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.
Yunnan Provincial Key Lab of Agricultural Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology and Germplasm Resources, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, China.
Front Microbiol. 2025 Jun 18;16:1617239. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1617239. eCollection 2025.
Metagenomic analyses has significantly advanced our understanding of viral evolution and their functions within organismal biology. In particular, exploring the virome of agricultural pests like the white-backed planthopper (WBPH) is essential for understanding their role as potential virus vectors and developing effective pest management strategies.
To explore viral diversity, we collected white-backed planthoppers (WBPHs) from nine sites spanning four Chinese provinces (Liaoning, Fujian, Guangxi, and Yunnan) and performed metagenomic sequencing.
Our analysis identified 11 novel viruses belonging to 7 viral families, encompassing positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA), negative-sense single-stranded RNA (-ssRNA), and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses. Remarkably, eight of the southern Chinese sites, excluding one in Liaoning province, contained a previously undiscovered virus. Using rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), we determined the complete genome sequence of this novel virus. Subsequent analyses of its encoded proteins, potential structural domains, and phylogenetic relationships suggested that it may belong to a new genus within the . Small RNA sequencing confirmed viral replication in WBPH by revealing that virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) were primarily 21 and 22 nucleotides long.
Our results have important implications for understanding virus carriage in WBPHs, evaluating their role as virus vectors, and informing the development of improved pest management strategies. Furthermore, this study highlights the power of metagenomics in uncovering novel viruses and expanding our knowledge of viral diversity.
宏基因组分析极大地推进了我们对病毒进化及其在生物生物学中功能的理解。特别是，探索像白背飞虱（WBPH）这样的农业害虫的病毒组对于理解它们作为潜在病毒载体的作用以及制定有效的害虫管理策略至关重要。
为了探索病毒多样性，我们从中国四个省份（辽宁、福建、广西和云南）的九个地点收集了白背飞虱，并进行了宏基因组测序。
我们的分析鉴定出11种属于7个病毒科的新型病毒，包括正链单链RNA（+ssRNA）、负链单链RNA（-ssRNA）和双链RNA（dsRNA）病毒。值得注意的是，中国南方的八个地点，不包括辽宁省的一个地点，含有一种以前未发现的病毒。使用cDNA末端快速扩增（RACE），我们确定了这种新型病毒的完整基因组序列。随后对其编码蛋白、潜在结构域和系统发育关系的分析表明，它可能属于该属内的一个新属。小RNA测序通过揭示病毒衍生的小干扰RNA（vsiRNA）主要为21和22个核苷酸长，证实了病毒在白背飞虱中的复制。
我们的结果对于理解白背飞虱中的病毒携带情况、评估它们作为病毒载体的作用以及为改进害虫管理策略的制定提供信息具有重要意义。此外，这项研究突出了宏基因组学在发现新型病毒和扩展我们对病毒多样性知识方面的力量。
