The virome of the mosquito vector Culex pipiens

There is a dramatic lack of data on the virome of arthropods transmitting pathogenic viruses for humans and livestock. For example, we do not yet know whether there is a group of virus species that are predominant and conserved in the virome of many important vectors no matter the environment. These putative core virome could influence vector competence and other aspects of vector biology, as observed in the bacteriome of mosquito vectors. The study of the virome can thus unveil unknown aspects of the vector lifecycle, a knowledge that could empower vector control strategies. We have analysed the virome of Culex pipiens, a mosquito vector of important arboviruses like Rift Valley fever virus or West Nile fever virus, coupling a metagenomics approach and a large sampling campaign around the Mediterranean Sea. Our results show for the first time conserved patterns in diversity and structure within the virome of an important mosquito vector as well as specificities probably linked to different environmental conditions. (Texte intégral