The mass rearing of animals in close quarters can be highly conducive to microbe transmission, including pathogens. This has been shown multiple times in the case of important industrial insects such as crickets, silkworms, and honeybees. One industrial insect of increasing importance is the black soldier fly (Diptera: Hermetia illucens), as it can convert organic waste into high-quality protein and fatty acids. Along with this, they take up far less space than traditional protein sources, as millions of black soldier flies can be reared in a relatively small facility. Because of this, there is a growing interest in the pathogens that could impact black soldier fly-rearing efforts. So far, only three black soldier fly-associated viruses have been identified. We used metatranscriptomic sequencing to survey black soldier fly guts, frass, and diet for viruses. We detected sequences from two novel viruses. One, which we name Hermetia illucens sigma-like virus 1, is phylogenetically related to viruses of the genus Sigmavirus, which have been highly studied in Drosophila. The other novel virus, which we name Hermetia illucens inse-like virus 1, is the second double-stranded RNA virus of the order Ghabrivirales described in the black soldier fly, and groups within a new family of insect viruses called the Inseviridae. We also detected two black soldier fly-associated viruses previously identified by our group: BSF nairo-like virus 1 and BSF uncharacterized bunyavirus-like 1. Consistent with our previous study, these two viruses are found primarily in frass samples and occur together more often than expected at random. When analyzing host transcription, we found significant differences in gene expression for eight candidate antiviral genes in the black soldier fly when comparing samples with and without viral sequences. Our results suggest that black soldier fly–virus interactions are ongoing, and they could be of interest to black soldier fly producers.

The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens, BSF) has emerged as an industrial insect of high promise because of its ability to convert organic waste into nutritious feedstock, making it an environmentally sustainable alternative protein source. As global interest rises, rearing efforts have also been upscaled, which is highly conducive to pathogen transmission. Viral epidemics have stifled mass-rearing efforts of other insects of economic importance, such as crickets, silkworms, and honeybees, but little is known about the viruses that associate with BSF. Although BSFs are thought to be unusually resistant to pathogens because of their expansive antimicrobial gene repertoire, surveillance techniques could be useful in identifying emerging pathogens and common BSF microbes. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing data to survey BSF larvae and frass samples, and we identified two novel bunyavirus-like sequences. Our phylogenetic analysis grouped one in the family Nairoviridae and the other with two unclassified bunyaviruses. We describe these putative novel viruses as BSF Nairovirus-like 1 and BSF uncharacterized bunyavirus-like 1. We identified candidate segments for the full BSF Nairovirus-like 1 genome using a technique based on transcript co-occurrence and only a partial genome for BSF uncharacterized bunyavirus-like 1. These results emphasize the value of routine BSF colony surveillance and add to the number of viruses associated with BSF.

The composition of viral genomes, influenced by host-specific biases, offers insights into their evolutionary history. Vertebrate cells counter viral infection with interferons (IFNs) that activate IFN-stimulated genes, including the zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP), which binds CpG-rich single-stranded viral RNA (ssRNA). We trace the origin of ZAP along the vertebrate phylogeny and highlight its earlier emergence than previously described. Our analysis of ZAP orthologs shows that ZAP originated from a PARP12-like ancestor in the last common ancestor of tetrapods and lungfishes, more than 400 million years ago. Amphibian ZAP shares structural domains with its mammalian counterpart, though it typically lacks the C-terminal CAAX-box motif. The conserved RNA-binding domain in lungfish and tetrapod suggests an early functional reassignment. Subsequently, we found that CpG suppression in ssRNA viral genomes increases with the phylogenetic proximity of hosts to mammals, with amniote-infecting viruses showing the strongest bias, likely reflecting adaptation to ZAP-mediated immunity. These findings suggest that ZAP’s evolutionary steps include gene duplication in jawed vertebrates, structural adaptations in sarcopterygians, and membrane targeting capabilities in an early tetrapod, reflecting the complex coevolution of host antiviral defenses and viral evasion strategies.

• Bed bugs are blood-sucking insects that are not associated with disease transmission. • Little is known about the viruses that bed bugs naturally harbor. • We sequenced 22 bed bugs from a global sample including two bed bug species. • We found sequences from two known bed bug viruses, and three novel virus sequences. • Bed bug viruses follow unexpected patterns of diversity and distribution.

Mass rearing of animals in close quarters can be highly conducive to microbe transmission, including pathogens. This has been shown multiple times in the case of important industrial insects such as crickets, silkworms, and honeybees. One industrial insect of increasing importance is the black soldier fly (Diptera: Hermetia illucens ), as it can convert organic waste into high quality protein and fatty acids. Along with this, they take up far less space than traditional protein sources, as millions of black soldier flies can be reared in a relatively small facility. Because of this, there is a growing interest in the pathogens that could impact black soldier fly rearing efforts. So far, only three black soldier fly-associated viruses have been identified. We used metatranscriptomic sequencing to survey black soldier fly guts, frass, and diet for viruses. We detected sequences from two novel viruses. One, which we name Hermetia illucens sigma-like virus 1, is phylogenetically related to viruses of the genus Sigmavirus, which have been highly studied in Drosophila . The other novel virus, which we name Hermetia illucens toti-like virus 2, is the second toti-like virus to be described in the black soldier fly. We also detected two black soldier fly-associated viruses previously identified by our group: BSF nairo-like virus, and BSF uncharacterized bunya-like virus. Consistent with our previous study, these two viruses are found primarily in frass samples and occur together more often than expected at random. When analyzing host transcription, we found significant differences in gene expression for eight candidate antiviral genes in black soldier fly when comparing samples with and without viral sequences. Our results suggest that black soldier fly-virus interactions are ongoing, and they could be of interest to black soldier fly producers.

Andean leaf-eared mice ( Phyllotis vaccarum ) live at the highest elevations of any mammal, and they also have the broadest elevational range, from sea level to mountain summits of >6700 meters. Highland populations have evolved an enhanced thermogenic capacity in hypoxia relative to lowland conspecifics, and this improved physiological performance is associated with an increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity in skeletal muscle. Population genomic analyses identified mechanisms of hypoxia adaptation and revealed an unanticipated dimension of environmental adaptation in P. vaccarum because selection on biotransformation pathways suggests an evolved capacity to metabolize plant-derived dietary toxins. The world’s highest-dwelling mammal has adapted to habitats at both the low- and high-elevation limits of its range, and much of the elevation-related selection relates to previously unappreciated aspects of feeding ecology.