New lineages of RNA viruses from clinical isolates of Rhizopus microsporus revealed by fragmented and primer-ligated dsRNA sequencing (FLDS) analysis

Abstract

The diversity of mycoviruses in fungal hosts in the division Mucoromycota has been underestimated, mainly within the species Rhizopus microsporus . Only five positive-sense RNA genomes had previously been discovered in this species. Because current sequencing methods poorly complete the termini of genomes, we used fragmented and primer-ligated double-stranded RNA sequencing to acquire the full-length genomes. Eleven novel mycoviruses were detected in this study, including the first negative-sense RNA genome reported in R. microsporus . Our findings extend the understanding of the viral diversity in clinical strains of Mucoromycota, may provide insights into the pathogenesis and ecology of this fungus, and may offer therapeutic options.