Discovery of novel non-retroviral endogenous viral elements reveals their long-term integration history in spiders
Abstract Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) are widespread in the genomes of various organisms and have played a crucial role in evolution. Historically, research on EVEs primarily focused on those derived from retroviruses; however, the significance of non-retroviral EVEs (nrEVEs) has gradually gaine...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61035-2 |
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| author | Hengrui Hu Just M. Vlak Zhihong Hu Manli Wang |
| author_facet | Hengrui Hu Just M. Vlak Zhihong Hu Manli Wang |
| author_sort | Hengrui Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) are widespread in the genomes of various organisms and have played a crucial role in evolution. Historically, research on EVEs primarily focused on those derived from retroviruses; however, the significance of non-retroviral EVEs (nrEVEs) has gradually gained recognition. In this study, we employ an approach that combines protein structure prediction with sequence analysis to identify a large group of previously unrecognized nrEVEs across spider genomes. Additionally, we identify nrEVE-related messenger RNAs, small interfering RNAs, and PIWI-interacting RNAs in spiders, suggesting that these nrEVEs may be functionally active. We also experimentally confirm the presence of spider nrEVEs and their transcripts in individual spiders. Evolutionary analysis suggests that these spider nrEVEs derived from unidentified nuclear arthropod large DNA viruses belonging to the order Lefavirales, class Naldaviricetes. Multiple integration events must have occurred both anciently and recently during the evolutionary history of spiders to explain these nrEVEs. Our findings reveal a novel group of nrEVEs and provide valuable insights into their evolutionary relationship with arthropods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-934f23f7f5db49ca8ffc3692e1f8021d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-934f23f7f5db49ca8ffc3692e1f8021d2025-08-20T04:01:34ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-61035-2Discovery of novel non-retroviral endogenous viral elements reveals their long-term integration history in spidersHengrui Hu0Just M. Vlak1Zhihong Hu2Manli Wang3State Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of ScienceLaboratory of Virology, Wageningen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of ScienceState Key Laboratory of Virology and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of ScienceAbstract Endogenous viral elements (EVEs) are widespread in the genomes of various organisms and have played a crucial role in evolution. Historically, research on EVEs primarily focused on those derived from retroviruses; however, the significance of non-retroviral EVEs (nrEVEs) has gradually gained recognition. In this study, we employ an approach that combines protein structure prediction with sequence analysis to identify a large group of previously unrecognized nrEVEs across spider genomes. Additionally, we identify nrEVE-related messenger RNAs, small interfering RNAs, and PIWI-interacting RNAs in spiders, suggesting that these nrEVEs may be functionally active. We also experimentally confirm the presence of spider nrEVEs and their transcripts in individual spiders. Evolutionary analysis suggests that these spider nrEVEs derived from unidentified nuclear arthropod large DNA viruses belonging to the order Lefavirales, class Naldaviricetes. Multiple integration events must have occurred both anciently and recently during the evolutionary history of spiders to explain these nrEVEs. Our findings reveal a novel group of nrEVEs and provide valuable insights into their evolutionary relationship with arthropods.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61035-2 |
| spellingShingle | Hengrui Hu Just M. Vlak Zhihong Hu Manli Wang Discovery of novel non-retroviral endogenous viral elements reveals their long-term integration history in spiders Nature Communications |
| title | Discovery of novel non-retroviral endogenous viral elements reveals their long-term integration history in spiders |
| title_full | Discovery of novel non-retroviral endogenous viral elements reveals their long-term integration history in spiders |
| title_fullStr | Discovery of novel non-retroviral endogenous viral elements reveals their long-term integration history in spiders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Discovery of novel non-retroviral endogenous viral elements reveals their long-term integration history in spiders |
| title_short | Discovery of novel non-retroviral endogenous viral elements reveals their long-term integration history in spiders |
| title_sort | discovery of novel non retroviral endogenous viral elements reveals their long term integration history in spiders |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61035-2 |
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