RNA Interference ( RNAi) for FMD Treatment: A Biotechnological strategy
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a serious, extremely infectious virus that threatens livestock and food security and has an effect on agricultural economy and animal health worldwide. The shortcomings of current management measures, such as immunization, emphasize the need for other approaches. Because it targets viral gene expression directly, RNA interference (RNAi) has become a possible biotechnological therapy for FMD. Double-stranded RNA is naturally broken down into tiny RNAs (such as siRNA/shRNA) that direct the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to complementary viral messenger RNA (mRNA), causing translational repression or mRNA destruction. Viral protein synthesis and replication are inhibited by this post-transcriptional silencing. Important FMDV genes, such VP1 (which is necessary for cell entrance) and 3D Polymerase (which is involved in replication), are good targets for RNA interference. Research has shown that VP1 significantly reduces viral replication both in vitro and in vivo (by 80–90%). To address issues including RNA degradation and inadequate cellular absorption, effective delivery methods are being investigated, such as lipid-based nanoparticles and adenovirus vectors. Notwithstanding encouraging outcomes, there are still issues, such as the delayed start of silence, the genetic diversity of the virus that can result in escape mutants, ineffective delivery, and possible off-target consequences. Finding conserved targets to treat variability is being aided by computational techniques. In the future, RNAi design will be improved (e.g., multiplex targeting), delivery methods will be improved, RNAi will be integrated with vaccination tactics, and manufacturing and regulatory obstacles will be addressed. RNAi holds substantial potential to revolutionize FMD management, but continued research and optimization are essential.
Keywords: RNA Interference (RNAi), Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), Gene Silencing, Viral Replication, siRNA / shRNA, Delivery Systems, VP1
