# Leucoma salicis nucleopolyhedrovirus (LesaNPV) genome sequence shed new light on the origin of the Alphabaculovirus orpseudotsugatae species

## TL;DR

This study analyzes the LesaNPV virus genome and suggests it may belong to a newly defined baculovirus species, offering insights into baculovirus classification and evolution.

## Contribution

The study provides a new perspective on the origin and classification of Alphabaculovirus orpseudotsugatae through genome analysis of LesaNPV.

## Key findings

- LesaNPV genome has deletions in dUTPase and ribonucleoside reductases regions compared to DapuNPV and OpMNPV.
- Phylogenetic analysis shows LesaNPV is less divergent from a common ancestor than DapuNPV and OpMNPV.
- LesaNPV may represent an isolate of the newly defined species Alphabaculovirus orpseudotsugatae.

## Abstract

LesaNPV (Leucoma salicis nucleopolyhedrovirus) is an alphabaculovirus group Ib. Potentially, it can be an eco-friendly agent to control the white satin moth Leucoma salicis population. In this study, we have established the relationship between LesaNPV and other closely related alphabaculoviruses. Environmental samples of late instar of white satin moth collected in Poland infected with baculovirus have been homogenized, polyhedra were purified and subjected to scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Viral DNA was sequenced using the Illumina platform and the whole-genome sequence was established by de novo assembly of paired reads. Genome annotation and phylogenetic analyses were performed with the use of bioinformatics tools. The genome of LesaNPV is 132 549 bp long with 154 ORFs and 54.9% GC content. Whole-genome sequencing revealed deletion of dUTPase as well as ribonucleoside reductases small and large subunits region in LesaNPV genome compared to Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus (DapuNPV) and Orgyia pseudotsugata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (OpMNPV) where this region is complete. Phylogenetic analysis of Baculoviridae family members showed that LesaNPV is less divergent from a common ancestor than closely related species DapuNPV and OpMNPV. This is interesting because their hosts do not occur in the same area. The baculoviruses described in this manuscript are probably isolates of one species and could be assigned to recently denominated species Alphabaculovirus orpseudotsugatae, historically originating from OpMNPV. This finding could have significant implications for the classification and understanding of the phylogeographical spread of baculoviruses.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11262-024-02062-x.