RNA Interference-Based Therapeutics Against Aquatic Viral Diseases: Recent Advances in Fish and Crustaceans (2010-2025)

Research has highlighted the importance of sustainable and effective disease management strategies in global aquaculture, as viral diseases inflict severe economic losses. Current conventional chemical treatments are limited by environmental concerns, antibiotic resistance, and scarcity of specific antivirals. RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a promising antiviral strategy, utilizing synthetic RNA molecules designed to target and degrade viral mRNA sequences. However, practical implementation of RNAi-based therapies in aquaculture remains constrained by off-target effects and challenges in achieving safe, efficient in vivo delivery of RNAi molecules.

Key Takeaways:

• RNA interference (RNAi) has shown significant potential in combating viral diseases in fish and crustaceans, including nervous necrosis virus (NNV) in grouper and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in penaeid shrimp.
• RNAi has emerged as a pivotal functional genomics tool and a promising antiviral strategy, utilizing synthetic RNA molecules to target and degrade viral mRNA sequences.
• Off-target effects and challenges in achieving safe, efficient in vivo delivery of RNAi molecules remain major constraints in practical implementation of RNAi-based therapies in aquaculture.
• The research summarized recent advances in RNAi applications against aquatic viral diseases in fish and crustaceans from 2010 to 2025.
• Innovative delivery strategies and pathways for future development are necessary to bridge the gap between laboratory research and practical application in controlling aquatic viral pathogens.
• The research was conducted by Nengxin Jin, Chen Zhong, Mei Liu, Haibin Ye, Jing Diao, and Ying Wang at the Ocean University of China.

Statistics:

• 2010-2025: This time period is considered in the research for RNAi applications against aquatic viral diseases in fish and crustaceans.

Sources:

• Jin, N., Chen, Z., Liu, M., Ye, H., Diao, J., & Wang, Y. (2025). RNA interference-based therapeutics against aquatic viral diseases: Recent advances in fish and crustaceans (2010-2025). Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 2025:110913.
• NewsRx. Researchers at Ocean University of China Release New Data on Science [RNA interference-based therapeutics against aquatic viral diseases: Recent advances in fish and crustaceans (2010-2025)]. Science Letter. October 24, 2025; p 1975.