Metatranscriptomics for arbovirus surveillance in southeast Australia

We used metatranscriptomics sequencing to obtain full-genomes and partial genomes of arboviruses and insect-specific viruses from field-collected mosquitoes. We also investigated how metatranscriptomics can be utilised in routine surveillance activities. A total of 20 mosquito pools of up to 200 specimens by species and location were sequenced, consisting of over 2,800 mosquitoes from 13 traps, collected from five urban parks in Brisbane, Australia from March 2021 to May 2022.