Exploring the significant genetic diversity of Iranian isolates of Leishmania RNA virus 2 using whole genome sequence analysis.

Background: Our work presents the whole genome sequence and phylogenetic analysis of five Leishmania RNA virus 2 (LRV2) isolates obtained from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Iran.

Methods: The whole genome sequencing of LRV2 was performed using a primer walking approach. The resulting sequences were analyzed for genetic and haplotype diversity, highlighting their independent evolution and significant genetic divergence.

Results: The whole genome sequence of the current LRV2 showed high genetic and haplotype diversity. The study also revealed the existence of three distinct clades of LRV2, with the LRV2 sequences infecting L. major, L. aethiopica, and sauroleishmania belonging to separate lineages. These lineages have seemingly evolved independently, as the geographic distribution of their flagellate hosts does not overlap with the Leishmania species. The divergence between these three clades is attributed to considerable antiquity, leading to genetic modifications within the viruses residing in them and resulting in structural differences in their genome.

Conclusions: These findings contribute to our understanding of the genetic diversity and evolution of LRVs, providing valuable insights into their role in Leishmania infections. Further investigations are needed to understand the significance of these polymorphic sites and their potential impact on viral characteristics and disease outcomes.