title: Fungal DNA virus infects a mycophagous insect and utilizes it as a transmission vector.
abstract: Mycoviruses are usually transmitted horizontally via hyphal anastomosis and vertically via sexual/asexual spores. Previously, we reported that a gemycircularvirus,Sclerotinia sclerotiorumhypovirulence-associated DNA virus 1 (SsHADV-1), could infect its fungal host extracellularly. Here, we discovered that SsHADV-1 could infect a mycophagous insect,Lycoriella ingenua, and use it as a transmission vector. Virus acquired by larvae feeding on colonies of a virus-infected strain ofS. sclerotiorumwas replicated and retained in larvae, pupae, adults, and eggs. Virus could be transmitted to insect offspring when larvae were injected with virus particles and allowed to feed on a nonhost fungus. Virus replication in insect cells was further confirmed by inoculatingSpodoptera frugiperdacells with virus particles and analyzing with RT-PCR, Northern blot, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry assays. Larvae could transmit virus once they acquired virus by feeding on virus-infected fungal colony. Offspring larvae hatched from viruliferous eggs were virus carriers and could also successfully transmit virus. Virus transmission between insect and fungus also occurred on rapeseed plants. Virus-infected isolates produced less repellent volatile substances to attract adults ofL. ingenuaFurthermore,L. ingenuawas easily observed onSclerotinialesions in rapeseed fields, and viruliferous adults were captured from fields either sprayed with a virus-infected fungal strain or nonsprayed. Our findings may facilitate the exploration of mycoviruses for control of fungal diseases and enhance our understanding of the ecology of SsHADV-1 and other newly emerging SsHADV-1-like viruses, which were recently found to be widespread in various niches including human HIV-infected blood, human and animal feces, insects, plants, and even sewage.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.|The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Si
authors: S
authors: Liu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.|The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jiatao
authors: J
authors: Xie
authors: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.|The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jiasen
authors: J
authors: Cheng
authors: The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Chen
authors: The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Yanping
authors: Y
authors: Fu
authors: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.|The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Guoqing
authors: G
authors: Li
authors: Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China.
authors: Manqun
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Huanan
authors: H
authors: Jin
authors: College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Hu
authors: H
authors: Wan
authors: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China; daohongjiang@mail.hzau.edu.cn.|The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Daohong
authors: D
authors: Jiang
keywords: biological control; gemycircularvirus; mutualism; mycophagous insect; mycovirus