Unique Viruses Found in New Zealand's Lizards

Jenn Hoskins
14th June, 2024

Unique Viruses Found in New Zealand's Lizards

This study investigated the viromes of New Zealand's evolutionarily distinct skink and gecko families (b) by sampling multiple species across four North Island locations (a), which revealed limited overlap in the species present at each site (c).

Image adapted from: Waller et al. / CC BY (Source)

Key Findings

  • The study, conducted in New Zealand, found a diverse array of viruses in native skinks and geckos
  • Researchers identified 15 novel viruses across 11 viral families in these lizards
  • The introduced rainbow skink had the highest viral richness, with viruses from five different families
New Zealand is home to over 120 native endemic species of skinks and geckos that have diversified over the last 20–40 million years. This diversification was likely driven by the exploitation of diverse habitats formed during the Miocene epoch. A recent study conducted by the University of Otago aimed to uncover the diversity of viruses in these lizard hosts and determine how their evolutionary radiation has impacted virus diversity and evolution[1]. The study used metatranscriptomic analysis, a method that involves sequencing RNA transcripts in a sample to identify and quantify the presence of various viruses. Researchers analyzed eight native skink and gecko species, as well as the only introduced lizard species in New Zealand, the rainbow skink (Lampropholis delicata). The goal was to reveal the diversity of viruses present in these hosts and to understand whether the radiation of skinks and geckos in New Zealand has influenced virus diversity and evolution. The findings of this study are significant in several ways. First, the research provides a comprehensive inventory of the viral diversity present in New Zealand's native lizards. This is particularly important because, historically, studies of viruses in reptiles have been limited, often focusing on their zoonotic potential rather than their role as primary pathogens[2]. The new study expands our understanding by showing that the recent radiation of skinks and geckos has facilitated cross-species virus transmission. This is likely due to their close genetic relationships, which create relatively low barriers for viruses to emerge in new hosts. Moreover, the study highlights that as animal hosts adapt to new ecological niches, their associated viruses may also evolve. This finding is consistent with earlier research showing that the diverse skincid lizard fauna of Zealandia, which includes New Zealand, forms a monophyletic lineage with distinct genetic clades that diversified in response to geological and climatological factors[3]. Similarly, the new study suggests that the viruses infecting these lizards have also diversified, potentially becoming genetically distinct as their hosts adapted to different niches. The methods used in this study involved collecting samples from various lizard species and using high-throughput sequencing to identify viral RNA. This approach allowed researchers to detect a wide range of viruses, including those that might not be easily propagated in cell culture. This is a significant advancement over previous studies that faced challenges in propagating viruses for transmission studies due to difficulties with the availability of animals and permits for experiments[2]. The study also builds on earlier findings regarding the phylogenetic relationships of New Zealand diplodactylid geckos. Previous research demonstrated that these geckos form a monophyletic clade closely related to Australian Diplodactylidae, with major lineages diverging during the mid- to late Miocene[4]. The new study complements this by showing that the viral diversity in these geckos likely mirrors their host's evolutionary history, further supporting the idea that both hosts and their associated viruses have co-evolved over millions of years. In conclusion, the University of Otago's study provides valuable insights into the diversity and evolution of viruses in New Zealand's native skinks and geckos. By revealing how these lizards' evolutionary radiation has impacted virus diversity, the research enhances our understanding of host-virus co-evolution and the factors driving viral emergence in new hosts. This study not only fills a critical gap in our knowledge of reptilian viruses but also sets the stage for future research on the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of host-virus interactions.

WildlifeGeneticsEvolution

References

Main Study

1) The radiation of New Zealand’s skinks and geckos is associated with distinct viromes

Published 13th June, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02269-4

Related Studies

3) Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2009.03.021

4) New Zealand geckos (Diplodactylidae): Cryptic diversity in a post-Gondwanan lineage with trans-Tasman affinities.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2010.12.007


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