Integrating vMAGs and Amplicon Sequencing: Bridging Gaps in Illumina-Based Assembly of Novel Large Viruses from Honey Bee Viromes

Abstract

The study of viromes has been revolutionized by advanced bioinformatics methodologies that enable the precise identification of novel viruses. However, assembling complete genomes of large viruses is still challenging. To address these issues, we employed a viral binning approach that integrates fragmented sequences to reconstruct viral genomes. Our methodology focused on identifying and elongating contigs and reducing their number where feasible. Additionally, we complemented our efforts with wet laboratory techniques, specifically generatingandsequencing PCR products, to ensure genome completeness. Our methodological approach revealed complete genomes of previously unidentified large DNA viruses in the honey bee population.