# First Record of Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Aguas Brancas virus, a New Insect-Specific Virus Found in Brazil

## TL;DR

Scientists discovered and characterized a new insect-specific virus, Aguas Brancas virus, in mosquitoes from Brazil for the first time.

## Contribution

This is the first isolation and molecular characterization of the Aguas Brancas virus in Brazil.

## Key findings

- Aguas Brancas virus was isolated from mosquitoes in the Brazilian Amazon and Brasília.
- Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the virus belongs to the genus Orthoflavivirus.
- The virus is insect-specific and does not infect vertebrates.

## Abstract

Advances in diagnostic techniques, along with environmental changes driven by human activity, have intensified the surveillance and monitoring of virus and arbovirus circulation on the Amazon. These efforts have increased the detection of insect-specific viruses in field-collected hematophagous arthropods. This study reports the first isolation of the Aguas Brancas virus from mosquitoes collected in the Brazilian Amazon and in a rural area of Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. Arthropods of the family Culicidae, genus Limatus durhamii, were collected at ground level in forest fragments. Sample BEAR812610 originated from Ananindeua, Pará, within the Evandro Chagas Institute’s grounds, and sample BEAR839941 from a forest fragment in Brasília (Ceilândia—Núcleo Rural Boa Esperança, Site B4). Specimens were identified to the species/genus level, macerated, and the supernatant inoculated into C6/36 and Vero cell cultures for viral isolation. The presence of arboviruses was determined by indirect immunofluorescence using antibodies against major arbovirus groups. Positive samples were sequenced for nucleotide and amino acid identification, and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the virus as belonging to the genus Orthoflavivirus. This represents the first report of the isolation and characterization of the insect-specific Aguas Brancas virus.