Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible RNA virus that causes COVID-19. Being aware of the presence of the virus on different types of surfaces and in different environments, and having a protocol for its detection, is important to understand the dynamics of the virus and its shedding patterns. In Ecuador, the detection of viral RNA in urban environmental samples has not been a priority. The present study analyzed samples from two densely populated neighborhoods and one public transportation system in Quito, Ecuador. Viral RNA presence was assessed using RT-LAMP. Twenty-eight out of 300 surfaces tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (9.33%). Frequently touched surfaces, especially in indoor spaces and on public transportation, were most likely to be positive for viral RNA. Positivity rate association for the two neighborhoods and for the surface type was not found. This study found viral RNA presence on urban surfaces; this information provides an insight into viral dissemination dynamics. Monitoring environmental SARS-CoV-2 could support the public health prevention strategies in Quito, Ecuador.

Ilex guayusa Loes. is a shrub native to the Neotropics, traditionally consumed as an infusion. Despite its cultural value and extensive use, genetic research remains scarce. This study examined the genetic and clonal diversity of guayusa in three different Ecuadorian Amazon regions using 17 species-specific SSR markers. The results obtained suggest a moderately low degree of genetic diversity (He = 0.396). Among the 88 samples studied, 71 unique multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified, demonstrating a high genotypic diversity. A Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC) revealed the existence of two genetic clusters. We propose that a model of isolation-by-environment (IBE) could explain the genetic differentiation between these clusters, with the main variables shaping the population’s genetic structure being temperature seasonality (SD × 100) (Bio 4) and isothermality ×100 (Bio 3). Nonetheless, we cannot dismiss the possibility that human activities could also impact the genetic diversity and distribution of this species. This study gives a first glance at the genetic diversity of I. guayusa in the Ecuadorian Amazon. It could assist in developing successful conservation and breeding programs, which could promote the economic growth of local communities and reinforce the value of ancestral knowledge.

Genomes of giant viruses (phylum Nucleocytoviricota ) have increasingly been found integrated into the genomes of diverse eukaryotes. Here, we report eight giant endogenous viral elements (GEVEs) in the genome of the microalgae Euglena gracilis . The GEVEs in E. gracilis bear signatures of genomic erosion, including invasion of transposable elements and duplications, suggesting that they are incapable of reactivation and virion production. Most of the GEVEs exhibit high average amino acid identity and cluster near each other in phylogenies of viral marker genes, suggesting that they are derived from the same ancestral viral lineage. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleocytovirus marker proteins reveals that the viruses belong to the order Asfuvirales in the same broader lineage that includes African swine fever virus, abalone asfarvirus, and giant viral sequences recently found in the fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the marine gastropod Elysia marginata , suggesting that widespread host range transitions have occurred in this lineage. This work expands the diversity of known endogenous giant viruses and expands the host range of the Asfuvirales to include the superkingdom Discoba. IMPORTANCE: This study expands on the rapidly growing body of literature on the impact of latent giant viruses on eukaryotic genome evolution. In this study, we describe signatures of an understudied group of giant viruses integrated in the genome of Euglena gracilis , an ecologically and industrially relevant freshwater protist. The giant viruses in the genome of Euglena are relatives of important animal pathogens, such as African swine fever virus, which infects pigs, and abalone virus, which infects abalone. The broad range of hosts infected by this lineage of viruses exemplifies the impact of giant viruses on diverse eukaryotic lineages.

Latency is a common strategy in a wide range of viral lineages, but its prevalence in giant viruses remains unknown. Here we describe the activity and viral production from a 617 kbp integrated giant viral element in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . We resolve the integrated viral region using long-read sequencing and show that viral particles are produced and released in otherwise healthy cultures. A diverse array of viral-encoded selfish genetic elements are expressed during GEVE reactivation and produce proteins that are packaged in virions. In addition, we show that field isolates of Chlamydomonas sp. harbor latent giant viruses related to the C. reinhardtii GEVE that exhibit similar infection dynamics, demonstrating that giant virus latency is prevalent in natural host communities. Our work reports the largest temperate virus documented to date and the first active GEVE identified in a unicellular eukaryote, substantially expanding the known limits of viral latency.

Giant viruses in the phylum Nucleocytoviricota have increasingly been found integrated into the genomes of diverse eukaryotes. Here we report 8 Giant Endogenous Viral Elements (GEVEs) in the genome of the microalgae Euglena gracilis . The GEVEs bear signatures of genomic erosion, including invasion of transposable elements and duplications, suggesting that they are incapable of reactivation and virion production. Most of the GEVEs exhibit high average amino acid identity and cluster near each other in phylogenies of viral marker genes, suggesting that they are derived from the same initial viral lineage. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleocytovirus marker proteins reveals the viruses belong to the order Asfuvirales in the same broader lineage that includes African swine fever virus (ASFV), abalone asfarvirus (AbalV), and GEVEs recently found in the fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the marine gastropod Elysia marginata , suggesting that widespread host range transitions have occurred in this lineage. This work expands the diversity of known endogenous giant viruses and expands the host range of the Asfuvirales to include the superkingdom Discoba .