Genetic characterization, molecular epidemiology, and phylogenetic relationships of insect-specific viruses in the taxon Negevirus

•Negeviruses are a diverse group of insect-specific viruses isolated from mosquitoes and phlebotomine sandflies.•Negeviruses are single-stranded positive sense RNA genome, approximately 9-10 kb in length.•Negeviruses are comprised of 5 novel insect-specific viruses falling into two arthropod-restrictive virus taxa.•Describe 91 new negevirus isolates obtained in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Panama, USA and Nepal.•Negeviruses are closely related to plant viruses.

The recently described taxon Negevirus is comprised of a diverse group of insect-specific viruses isolated from mosquitoes and phlebotomine sandflies. In this study, a comprehensive genetic characterization, molecular, epidemiological and evolutionary analyses were conducted on nearly full-length sequences of 91 new negevirus isolates obtained in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Panama, USA and Nepal. We demonstrated that these arthropod restricted viruses are clustered in two major phylogenetic groups with origins related to three plant virus genera (Cilevirus, Higrevirus and Blunevirus). Molecular analyses demonstrated that specific host correlations are not present with most negeviruses; instead, high genetic variability, wide host-range, and cross-species transmission were noted. The data presented here also revealed the existence of five novel insect-specific viruses falling into two arthropod-restrictive virus taxa, previously proposed as distinct genera, designated Nelorpivirus and Sandewavirus. Our results provide a better understanding of the molecular epidemiology, evolution, taxonomy and stability of this group of insect-restricted viruses.