Enhanced DsRNA Gene-Knockdown

About

Employing dsRNAi or gene-knockdown for pest control or medical therapeutics wherein a specific putative critical gene is targeted by administering the appropriate dsRNA and the pest subsequently succumbs. To enhance the efficacy of this treatment, more than one gene can be targeted, but this would increase the cost of treatment. Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have developed a novel way of formulating dsRNA for multiple gene targets that is not only many-fold cheaper than numerous individual dsRNAs, but is much more efficient at killing the pest species. Consequently, our approach requires a much lower dose of dsRNA. Our innovative technology combines the multiple dsRNAs each targeting a specific gene into single dsRNA entity still capable of targeting the numerous genes. The cost-savings of producing a single dsRNA entity rather than several dsRNAs are self-evident whether the production route is synthetic or in vitro. How does it work? Our single entity approach does not produce any greater knockdown of the target genes within the pest organism, yet still kills the pest at a lower dose. Instead, with our approach several genes are knocked-down in a single cell leading to certain cell death rather than a single gene being knocked-down in several cells from which the cells might recover. Additionally, the uptake mechanism of the dsRNA into the cell can become saturated and rate-limiting, thus, lower doses with a more lethal dsRNA is preferred to a high dose of less lethal RNAs. Our single entity approach has been: - demonstrated in several pest species including mites, stored food pests, and disease vectors including the Zika virus-transmitting mosquito, Aedes aegypti - successfully administered by topical administration, feeding and, in the instance of mosquito larvae, applying to the pond water - demonstrated to be effective with several combinations of different genes Key Benefits More effective than single or multiple dsRNAs Cheaper than multiple dsRNAs Technology applicable to in planta, bacterial or synthetic production Lower effective dose required means less environmental concern Lower effective dose required means less non-specific effects in medical applications Applications Plant pest control from mites, insects or nematodes Control of disease vectors such as mosquitoes Control of stored crop and food pests such as flour beetles and mites Medical therapeutics, such as enhancing chemotherapy treatment in normal and non-responsive tumours IP Status Patent pending: PCT patent application publication number WO2016/110691.