Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes are critical vectors in tropical regions where arboviruses like dengue and Zika are prevalent. This study focuses on characterising the RNA virome of mosquitoes in the Colombian Caribbean, emphasising the core regional virome and its role in the dynamics of arboviruses. OBJECTIVES: The objective was to identify and analyse the core RNA virome of mosquitoes across different genera and seasons in the Colombian Caribbean to understand its composition and potential influence on arbovirus transmission dynamics. METHODS: In 2023, 4,074 mosquitoes from the genera Mansonia, Coquillettidia, and Anopheles were collected across Córdoba, Sucre, Bolívar, and Magdalena during rainy and dry seasons. Specimens were pooled in groups of 50, subjected to RNA extraction, and sequenced on the MGI-G50™ platform. Bioinformatic analyses utilised the DIAMOND-MEGANizer pipeline and R packages (phyloseq, vegan, ggplot2) to identify viral communities. FINDINGS: The analysis identified 22 viral families and 24 unclassified RNA viruses. The core regional virome, consistently present across species and seasons, was dominated by insect-specific viruses (ISVs) such as Aedes aegypti to virus 1 and 2, Astopletus, and Cumbaru, alongside Picornaviridae (30% of reads), Rhabdoviridae (20%), Orthomyxoviridae, and Bunyavirales. Mansonia titillans (38 species) and Coquillettidia nigricans (21 species) exhibited the highest viral richness. No significant arboviruses were detected, highlighting ISV dominance. Virome composition varied seasonally, with greater diversity in the rainy season due to increased breeding site availability and temperature. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: The stability of the core virome suggests it modulates vector competence, potentially reducing arbovirus transmission. These findings advocate the use of metagenomics for enhanced vector surveillance and biological control strategies in neotropical ecosystems.