Virome profiling of fig wasps (Ceratosolen spp.) reveals virus diversity spanning four realms

We investigated the virome of aganoid fig wasps (Ceratosolen spp.) inside synconia (fruits) of various Ficus trees fed upon by frugivores such as pteropodid bats in Sub-Saharan Africa. This virome includes representatives of viral families spanning four realms (Duplodnaviria, Monodnaviria, Riboviria, and Varidnaviria) and includes near-complete genome sequences of three novel viruses and fragments of five additional potentially novel virus genomes evolutionarily associated with insects, fungi, plants, and vertebrates. Our study provides evidence that frugivorous bats are exposed to a plethora of viruses by coincidental consumption of fig wasps, which are obligate pollinators of figs worldwide.