Virome of Three Termite Species from Southern Vietnam

Modern metagenomic approaches enable the effective discovery of novel viruses in previously unexplored organisms. Termites are significant ecosystem converters and influencers. As with the majority of tropical forest insects, termites are studied insufficiently, and termite virome remains especially understudied. Here, we studied the virome of lichenophagous and mycophagous termites (Hospitalitermes bicolor, Macrotermes carbonarius and Odontotermes wallonensis) collected in the Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam). We assembled four full genomes of novel viruses related to Solemoviridae, Lispiviridae, Polycipiviridae and Kolmioviridae. We also found several contigs with relation to Chuviridae and Deltaflexiviridae that did not correspond to complete virus genomes. All the novel viruses clustered phylogenetically with previously identified viruses of the termites. Deltaflexi-like contigs were identified in the fungi-cultivating M. carbonarius and showed homology with viruses recently discovered in the edible basidiomycete mushrooms.

Automated summary

Modern metagenomic approaches have enabled the discovery of novel viruses in previously unexplored organisms. In this study, new viruses related to Solemoviridae, Lispiviridae, Polycipiviridae, and Kolmioviridae were identified in lichenophagous and mycophagous termites in Vietnam. It also revealed the presence of previously unidentified viruses in the termites and their fungal cultivators.