Discovery of new viruses in A. esculenta and S. latissima using smallRNA-sequencing.
This study investigates virus-associated small interfering RNA (siRNA) responses in 24 samples obtained from three commercially relevant seaweed species, Ulva lactuca, Saccharina latissima and Alaria esculenta, in order to understand RNA virus diversity. Through small RNA sequencing we identified three new RNA viruses Aev-NL1, Slv-NL2 and Slv-NL3, and one DNA virus (phaeovirus).