The Diversity and Distribution of Viruses Associated with Culex annulirostris Mosquitoes from the Kimberley Region of Western Australia
Simon Hedley Williamsa b✉, Avram Levyc, Rachel A. Yatesa, Nilusha Somaweerad, Peter J. Nevilled, Jay Nicholsond, MICHAEL D. A. LINDSAYd, John S. Mackenziec e f, Komal Jaina, Allison A. Imrieb, David W. Smithb c✉, Walter Ian Lipkina✉
- aCenter for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University, New York, NY 10034, USA
- bSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- cPathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
- dEnvironmental Health Directorate, Public and Aboriginal Health Division, Department of Health, Western Australia, Perth, WA 6010, Australia
- eFaculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6012, Australia
- fSchool of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QL 4072, Australia
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
Metagenomics revealed an impressive breadth of previously unrecognized viruses. Here, we report the virome of the Culex annulirostris Skuse mosquito, an important vector of pathogenic arboviruses in Australia. Mosquitoes were collected from three sites in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Unbiased high-throughput sequencing (HTS) revealed the presence of 16 novel viral sequences that share less than 90% identity with known viruses. None were closely related to pathogenic arboviruses. Viruses were distributed unevenly across sites, indicating a heterogeneous Cx. annulirostris virome. Polymerase chain reaction assays confirmed HTS data and identified marked variation between the virus prevalence identified at each site.
TL;DRThe virome of the Culex annulirostris Skuse mosquito, an important vector of pathogenic arboviruses in Australia, is reported, revealing the presence of 16 novel viral sequences that share less than 90% identity with known viruses. (Semantic Scholar)