An RNA Virome Analysis of the Pink-Winged Grasshopper Atractomorpha sinensis

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The present work focused on the RNA virome analysis of an agricultural pest. In this study, the four novel RNA viruses in A. sinensis were reported. According to the phylogenetic analysis, they were classified as nege-like virus, iflavirus, chu-like virus, and ollusvirus. The complete genome sequence of four RNA viruses were obtained with RACE. Moreover, the analysis of virus-derived small interfering RNAs showed that most of the RNA viruses were targeted by the host antiviral RNA interference pathway. ABSTRACT: A large number of RNA viruses have been discovered in most insect orders using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and advanced bioinformatics methods. In this study, an RNA virome of the grasshopper was systematically identified in Atractomorpha sinensis (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae), an important agricultural pest known as the pink-winged grasshopper. These insect viruses were classified as the nege-like virus, iflavirus, ollusvirus, and chu-like virus using HTS and phylogenetic analyses. Meanwhile, the full sequences of four novel RNA viruses were obtained with RACE and named Atractomorpha sinensis nege-like virus 1 (ASNV1), Atractomorpha sinensis iflavirus 1 (ASIV1), Atractomorpha sinensis ollusvirus 1 (ASOV1), and Atractomorpha sinensis chu-like virus 1 (ASCV1), respectively. Moreover, the analysis of virus-derived small interfering RNAs showed that most of the RNA viruses were targeted by the host antiviral RNA interference pathway. Moreover, our results provide a comprehensive analysis on the RNA virome of A. sinensis.