s on the nucleotide level. Fragments having the potential to encode for the catalytic triad motif GDD found in viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (Rd. Rp) were used to identify novel viruses. Results Several obscure variants of known viruses were identified in collected specimens (Fig. 1). Upon identification of a read containing the catalytic triad GDD and having partial alignment to the Rd. Rp of Hubei virga-like virus, reads were assembled into a contig and used to identify the complete length of the novel viral genome (Fig. 2 A). Virus sequence could be confirmed in 3 of 13 crickets sampled (Fig. 3), and successful transfection of viral RNA was only achieved in arthropod cells (Fig. 4). Putative open reading frames were then aligned to known viruses demonstrating ~30 -50% homology to Loreto and Hubei virga-like virus – two members of the negevirus taxon (Fig. 2 B-D). Figure 3. RT-PCR of putative ORF 4 from individual crickets. Discussion Based on the data presented here, we report the identification of a novel member of the negevirus family. Jiminy virus is putatively composed of four ORFs: ORF 1 is the viral Rd. Rp, ORF 2 is an unstructured protein with no homology to any members of the negevirus taxon, ORF 3 is the viral receptor glycoprotein, and ORF 4 is the virus capsid. Cloning and screening of ORFs is needed to confirm the viral genomic sequence and the functions of each ORF, as well as the existence of ORF 2. General future work is needed to fully characterize this novel virus and determine if it is of any therapeutic use. References Shi, M. , Lin, X. D. , Chen, X. , Tian, J. H. , Chen, L. J. , Li, K. , Wang, W. , Eden, J. S. , Shen, J. J. , Liu, L. , et al. (2018). The evolutionary history of vertebrate RNA viruses. Nature 556, 197 -202. Zhang, Y. Z. et al. (2018). Using Metagenomics to Characterize an Expanding Virosphere. Cell 172, 1168 -1172. Acknowledgements Figure 1. Bowtie 2 identified several variants of known viruses, including Mosaic virus, Babanki virus, and Sclerotinia virus; however, none of these viruses were divergent enough to constitute anything new. Figure 5. Evolutionary relationship between the Rd. Rp of Jiminy virus and other known members of the negevirus family. Figure 4. RT-PCR of putative ORF 4 following RNA transfection of infected cricket RNA into moth Hi 5 cells and hamster BHK 1 cells. We wish to thank the Urban Barcode Research Program and the Pinkerton Foundation for their support. We would also like to thank Benjamin ten. Oever for his amazing mentorship and guidance throughout this project.