The first RNA viruses detected in a trypanosome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trypanosomatids are parasitic flagellates best known for human pathogens causing sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. RNA viruses infecting these protists have recently gained attention for their role in disease severity. While numerous such viruses have been described in Leishmania and several other trypanosomatid genera, none has previously been documented in the iconic genus Trypanosoma.

Results

We report the first discovery and molecular characterization of RNA viruses in trypanosomes, identifying a leishmaniavirus and two narnaviruses in a single strain of Trypanosoma platydactyli, a parasite of the common wall gecko. The leishmaniavirus genome revealed a conserved organization, including a putative ribosomal frameshift site and a hairpin-lik

SUBMITTER: Kostygov AY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12860189 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature