Mapping the virome in lab-reared and wild-caught Aedes albopictus mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are known vectors that can harbor a wide array of viruses that range from classical arboviruses that can infect vertebrates to insect-specific viruses that are restricted only in mosquito. Recent advances in the field of metagenomics and bioinformatics have strongly supported studies on mosquito-associated viruses. However, the study for mosquito virome profile is still inadequate. In the present study, we aimed to investigate and compare the virome structure and profile between laboratory reared and wild-caught Aedes albopictus mosquito. Four mosquito samples (egg, larvae, pupae, adult) of laboratory rearedand two (larvae and adult)of field collected from Guangzhou of China were prepared for next generation sequencing (NGS) and analyzed. The results indicated that the common viruses presented in all samples were High Island virus, Aedes flavivirus, and Guato virus, whereas the Wenzhou sobemo-like virus 4 and Hubei mosquito virus 2 were the most dominant virus and presented only in wild mosquito samples. Additionally, unclassified Papillomaviridae viruses was the most dominant vertebrate virus, which was significantly detected only in wild adult mosquitoes. Important to note, the viral composition of larvae obtained from the wild was the most diverse group with many viruses belonging to virus families including Flaviviridae, Totiviridae, Tymoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Iflaviridae and unclassified viruses. This observed diverse nature can be attributed to influence of environment substrates and water in which the mosquito larvae inhabit. In conclusion, our findings provide essential information necessary in understanding the structure and diversity of Aedes virome.

Keywords: mosquito, virome, Aedes albopictus, next generation sequencing.