Heritable viral symbionts in the family <i>Iflaviridae</i> are widespread among aphids.

ABSTRACT: Heritable microbes shape host phenotypes and serve as important drivers of evolution. While interactions between insects and bacterial symbionts have been extensively studied, the prevalence and evolution of insect-viral symbioses remain poorly understood. We discovered multiple new species of iflaviruses in aphids, an important model for research on symbiosis, and found these microbes to be widespread across aphid species. We show that iflaviruses are persistently maintained in asexual host lines without apparent fitness costs while being transmitted vertically from mothers to offspring. Using field data and phylogenetic evidence, we found that aphid iflaviruses move horizontally among host species, but laboratory experiments showed that horizontal transmission does not result in persiste

SUBMITTER: Rozo-Lopez P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12628778 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature