title: Discovery of flavivirus-derived endogenous viral elements inAnophelesmosquito genomes supports the existence ofAnopheles-associated insect-specific flaviviruses.
abstract: TheFlavivirusgenus encompasses several arboviruses of public health significance such as dengue, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. It also includes insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) that are only capable of infecting insect hosts. The vast majority of mosquito-infecting flaviviruses have been associated with mosquito species of theAedesandCulexgenera in the Culicinae subfamily, which also includes most arbovirus vectors. Mosquitoes of the Anophelinae subfamily are not considered significant arbovirus vectors; however, flaviviruses have occasionally been detected in field-caughtAnophelesspecimens. Whether such observations reflect occasional spillover or laboratory contamination or whetherAnophelesmosquitoes are natural hosts of flaviviruses is unknown. Here, we providein silicoandin vivoevidence of transcriptionally active, flavivirus-derived endogenous viral elements (EVEs) in the genome ofAnopheles minimusandAnopheles sinensis. Such non-retroviral endogenization of RNA viruses is consistent with a shared evolutionary history between flaviviruses andAnophelesmosquitoes. Phylogenetic analyses of the two newly described EVEs support the existence of a distinct clade ofAnopheles-associated ISFs.
authors.affiliation: Insect-Virus Interactions Group, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité de Recherche Associée 3012, Paris, France; University Pierre et Marie Curie, Cellule Pasteur UPMC, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lequime
authors.affiliation: Insect-Virus Interactions Group, Department of Genomes and Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité de Recherche Associée 3012, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lambrechts
keywords: Anopheles minimus; Anopheles sinensis; EVE; Flavivirus; ISF; host range