In the last few decades, the development of sequencing technology such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) has facilitated the discovery of many novel DNA and RNA viruses, especially nonpathogenic viruses, but also novel isolates of previously known viruses1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12. In the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, more than 20 new partial virus genomes have been detected using metagenomic techniques13. Many viral sequences, including novel viruses, have also been identified in other insects, such as honey bees, mosquitoes, Asian citrus psyllids, dragonflies, and multiple lepidopteran species14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21.
In the future, it can be expected that more novel viruses will be discovered in insects using these advanced technologies; hence, our understanding of the virus-host interaction may change accordingly6,9. For example, virus-host interactions are considered to be more complicated than previously thought, because many novel viruses are being defined as mutualistic partners rather than strict pathogens22. For example, the mutualistic densovirus DplDNV in Dysaphis plantaginea induces the winged morph and increases mobility, facilitating the dispersal of the host as well as the virus23. Moreover, mutualistic viruses have been described with regards to mammalian health, the drought and cold tolerance of plants, and the impact of bacterial infections24. Seneca valley virus-001 is shown to mediate selective cytotoxicity towards tumor cells with neuroendocrine cancer features25. Hepatitis A virus infections suppress hepatitis C virus replication and may lead to recovery from hepatitis C26. Herpesvirus latency confers symbiotic protection from bacterial infection27. The envelope glycoprotein of human endogenous retrovirus HERV-W induces cellular resistance to spleen necrosis virus28. Curvularia thermal tolerance virus (CThTV) from a fungal endophyte is involved in the mutualistic interaction between this fungus and a tropical panic grass29. Hence, knowledge of the interactions between the newly found viruses and their hosts should generate fresh perspectives on their biology and management. However, the novel viruses, especially the covert viruses displaying no obvious signs typical of acute infection, have seldom been investigated, and we need a pipeline and protocols to investigate the impacts of the newly found viruses on their hosts.
Previously, we have reported the prevalence a new monosense densovirus Helicoverpa armigera densovirus (HaDV2) in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, and presented evidence of a mutualistic relationship between HaDV2 and the cotton bollworm30,31. In this paper, we will describe the laboratory protocol to study in detail the interaction between HaDV2 and its cotton bollworm host. The protocol presented here may also be highly relevant to researchers examining the role of other orally-transmitted viruses, especially in lepidopteran pests.