# Viral metagenome characterization reveals species-specific virome profiles in Triatominae populations from the southern United States

## TL;DR

This study explores the viral communities in kissing bugs from the southern U.S. and finds each species has a unique set of viruses.

## Contribution

The study reveals a largely novel and species-specific virome in Triatominae, highlighting diverse virus-host interactions.

## Key findings

- 41 viral OTUs were identified, 40 of which are novel and span 13 viral families.
- Metavirome diversity varies significantly among Triatominae species.
- The virome includes viruses linked to insects, plants, and vertebrates.

## Abstract

Kissing bugs (Triatominae) are hematophagous insects and the principal vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. While their bacterial microbiomes have received considerable attention, the diversity of viruses associated with these insects remains poorly understood. To address this gap, we investigated the metavirome of five Triatominae species from the southern United States (Triatoma rubida, T. sanguisuga, T. gerstaeckeri, T. indictiva, and Hospesneotomae protracta), sampled in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. We sequenced 23 samples, including abdomen, gut and reproductive tissues from 13 field-collected individuals and assembled 41 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs), 40 of which are novel and together constitute 13 viral families, including Chuviridae, Arenaviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Partitiviridae, Solemoviridae, Circoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Microviridae, Xinmoviridae, Astroviridae, Narnaviridae, Tombusviridae, and the order Elliovirales. The vOTUs composition and abundance analysis examined variables including species, sex, tissue type, blood meal, and T. cruzi infection status, showing that metavirome diversity varied significantly among Triatominae species. Our findings demonstrate a species-specific metavirome and the presence of virus taxa linked to insects, plants, and vertebrates, highlighting the complex ecological interactions between viruses and triatomines. This study uncovers a diverse and largely novel set of metaviromes within North American Triatominae, providing a foundation for future research on virus-vector interactions.

Kissing bugs are blood-feeding insects best known for transmitting Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. Like most of other organisms, kissing bugs carry not only bacteria but also viruses as part of their natural microbial communities. These viruses, often harmless and sometimes potentially beneficial, can influence how insects develop, respond to infections, and interact with the pathogens they transmit. Yet, compared to bacterial microbiomes, the viral communities of kissing bugs have remained almost completely unexplored. In this study, we analyzed metaviromes present in digestive and reproductive tissues of five species of kissing bugs collected across the southern United States. Using high-throughput sequencing, we discovered 41 distinct viral OTUs nearly all of them previously unknown. These represent a wide range of viral families, including those typically associated with insects, plants, and vertebrates. We also found that each kissing bug species carries its own unique metavirome. By uncovering this hidden virome diversity, our work provides a foundation for understanding how viruses might shape the biology, immunity, and transmission capacity of these important vectors.