SBIR Phase I: Novel Microencapsulation for Oral Delivery of Antiviral dsRNA to Shrimp

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将集中在口服抗白色斑点综合征病毒（WSSV）的抗病毒治疗用于虾养殖。这种抗病毒药物是基于RNA抑制或RNAi的概念，并专注于引发虾？它是一种天然的抗病毒机制，可以使感染病毒的关键基因沉默，从而防止病毒感染的传播。如果在第一阶段的概念验证中取得成功，第二阶段的研究将集中在测试和优化RNAi抗病毒药物的口服给药以应对病毒挑战。该研究结合了评估对虾治疗方法的专业知识和对基于RNAi的控制病毒感染方法的理解，以及微胶囊化的专有技术，以提高治疗药物的稳定性和可用性。该研究的更广泛影响是解决成功的对虾养殖对抗病毒治疗的迫切需求。特别是，白色斑点综合征病毒（WSSV）将是商业产品的第一个目标。WSSV在大多数虾生产国流行，每年造成超过15亿美元的损失。这种病毒可能会摧毁整个国家的虾产量，就像世纪初厄瓜多尔的情况一样。将RNAi治疗剂口服给虾可以适用于靶向其他经济上有害的病毒。这种将基于RNAi的抗病毒药物口服给虾的技术可能是水产养殖中的第一个重磅炸弹。对于解决虾病毒感染的创新，存在迫切的行业需求和重大的商业机会。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will focus on oral delivery of an antiviral treatment for White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV)for use in shrimp aquaculture. This antiviral is based on the concept of RNA inhibition, or RNAi, and is focused on priming the shrimp?s natural antiviral machinery to silence critical genes of the infecting virus, thus preventing spread of viral infection. If successful in proof of concept in Phase I, Phase II research will focus on testing and optimizing oral delivery of RNAi antivirals in response to viral challenges. This research is combines expertise in evaluating therapeutics for shrimp and understanding of RNAi-based approaches for controlling viral infections, with the proprietary technologies for micro-encapsulation to enhance stability and availability of therapeutics.The broader impacts of this research are to address the dire need for antiviral treatments for successful shrimp aquaculture. In particular, White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) will be the first target for a commercial product. WSSV is endemic in the majority of shrimp producing countries, and causes losses of over $1.5 billion annually. The virus can potentially destroy the shrimp output of an entire country as it did in Ecuador in the early part of the century. The oral delivery of RNAi therapeutics to shrimp could be adapted to target other economically damaging viruses. Such technologies for oral delivery of RNAi-based antivirals to shrimp could be the first blockbuster therapeutic in aquaculture. There is a desperate industry need, and a significant commercial opportunity, for innovation in addressing shrimp viral infections.