title: Simultaneous occurrence of covert infections with small RNA viruses in the lepidopteran Spodoptera exigua.
abstract: Viral covert infections in invertebrates have been traditionally attributed to sublethal infections that were not able to establish an acute infection. Recent studies are revealing that, although true for some viruses, other viruses may follow the strategy of establishing covert or persistent infections without producing the death of the host. Recently, and due to the revolution in the sequencing technologies, a large number of viruses causing covert infections in all type of hosts have been identified. The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a worldwide pest that causes significant losses to agricultural and ornamental plant industries. In a previous project we used NGS to obtain a comprehensive transcriptome of the larval stage, revealing the presence of an important number of unigenes belonging to novel RNA viruses, most of them from the order Picornavirales. In order to characterize S. exigua viral complex, in this work we have completed the genomic sequences of two picorna-like viruses, and compared them to a SeIV1, a member of Iflaviridae previously described by our group. We performed additional studies to determine virus morphology, horizontal transmission, tissue and life stage distribution and abundance in the hosts. We discuss the role of virus persistent infections on insect populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain. Electronic address: agata.jakubowska@uv.es.
authors.forename: Agata K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jakubowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Angiolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: González-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.
authors.forename: Anabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Millán-Leiva
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-UPNa-Gobierno de Navarra, 31192 Mutilva Baja, Navarra, Spain.
authors.forename: Arkaitz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carballo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-UPNa-Gobierno de Navarra, 31192 Mutilva Baja, Navarra, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murillo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Agrobiotecnología, CSIC-UPNa-Gobierno de Navarra, 31192 Mutilva Baja, Navarra, Spain.
authors.forename: Primitivo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herrero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016679:Genome, Viral; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D010802:Phylogeny; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Covert infection; Iflavirus; Persistent infection; Picornavirales; RNA virus; Spodoptera exigua