A metatranscriptomic analysis of geothermal hot springs reveals diverse RNA viruses including the phylum Lenarviricota

Little is known about the diversity of RNA viruses in geothermal systems. We generated total RNA sequencing data from two hot springs in Kuirau Park, Rotorua, New Zealand. In one data set, from a 71.8 °C pool, we observed a microbial community that was 98.5% archaea. The second data set, representing a cooler 36.8 °C geothermal hot spring, had a more diverse microbial profile: 58% bacteria, 34.5% eukaryotes and 7.5% archaea. Within this latter pool, we detected sequences likely representing 23 RNA viruses from the families Astroviridae, Tombusviridae, Polycipiviridae, Discistroviridae, Partitiviridae, and Mitoviridae, as well as from unclassified clades of the orders Tolivirales, Picornavirales, and Ghabrivirales. Most viruses had uncertain host associations. Of particular note, we identified four novel RNA viruses from the phylum Lenarviricota, commonly associated with bacteria and fungi, that occupied a divergent phylogenetic position within unclassified clades and may represent an ancient order-level taxon of unknown host association. •Metatranscriptomic study of RNA viruses in geothermal hot springs.•The geothermal hot springs contain members of the domain Archaea.•Discovery of 23 novel RNA viruses representing four viral phyla.•Discovery of divergent members of the phylum Lenarviricota.•Identification of DNA viruses from the family Mimiviridae.