Many evolutionary roads led to virus domestication in ichneumonoid parasitoid wasps

The investigation of endogenous viral elements (EVEs) has historically focused on only a few lineages of parasitoid wasps, with negative results consistently underreported. Recent studies show that multiple viral lineages were integrated in at least seven instances in Ichneumonoidea and may be much more widespread than previously thought. Increasingly affordable genomic and bioinformatic approaches have made it feasible to search for viral sequences within wasp genomes, opening an extremely promising research avenue. Advances in wasp phylogenetics have shed light on the evolutionary history of EVE integration, although many questions remain. Phylogenetic proximity can be used as a guide to facilitate targeted screening, to estimate the number and age of integration events and to identify taxa involved in major host switches.

Automated summary

Past studies on endogenous viral elements (EVEs) in parasitoid wasps have focused on a few species and often underreported negative results. Recent research suggests that multiple viral lineages may have integrated into more species of Ichneumonoidea than previously thought. The decreasing cost of genomic and bioinformatic approaches now allows for the search of viral sequences within wasp genomes, presenting a promising avenue for research. Advances in wasp phylogenetics have provided insights into the evolutionary history of EVE integration, but many questions remain unanswered.