Chicharrita del Maiz Orthomyxo-like Virus

The maize leafhopper (Dalbulus maidis), also known as corn leafhopper, is a significant threat to maize crops in tropical and subtropical regions, causing extensive economic losses. In addition to the direct damage caused by its feeding, this insect also serves as the vector for the parasite Spiroplasma kunkelii, the causal agent of Corn Stunt disease, and the maize bushy stunt (MBS) phytoplasma[1]. The maize leafhoppe is also the vector of two known viruses: maize rayado fino virus (MRFV) and maize striate mosaic virus (MSV).

But scientists suspected that the maize leafhopper could harbour even more virusses. They comprehensively characterized the RNA virome of the maize leafhopper, revealing novel and diverse RNA viruses. They characterized six new viral members belonging to distinct families, but the scientists also discovered a previously unknown orthomyxo-like virus (Orthomyxoviridae)[2].

This highly divergent orthomyxo-like virus showed a relationship with other known insect associated orthomyxo-like viruses[3]. The researchers provisionally named that virus the Chicharrita del maiz orthomixo-like virus (ChMOMLV).

This new member of the ever-extending family of Orthomyxovirusses reveals a potential new vector for Influenza-like diseases in humans.

[1] Martins de Oliveira, Frizzas: Eight Decades of Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae) in Brazil: What We Know and What We Need to Know in Neotropical Entomology - 2022
[2] Debat et al: Insights into the RNA Virome of the Corn Leafhopper Dalbulus maidis, a Major Emergent Threat of Maize in Latin America in Virusses – 2024. See here.
[3] Käfer et al: Re-assessing the diversity of negative strand RNA viruses in insects in PLoS Pathogens - 2019