Infectious Disease Therapy Development
The evolution of RNA drug delivery technologies and gene editing has propelled the development of piRNA therapy. Protheragen is in the process of changing the therapeutics to infectious diseases through providing piRNA-based therapeutic development services. From determining a target and designing a piRNA to developing a delivery system and performing extensive validation, we strive to offer personalized, precise, and effective solutions for combating infectious diseases.
The Role of piRNAs in Infectious Disease Therapy
Infectious diseases continue to pose an important global health concern. The growing threat of resistant microbes, combined with the shortcomings of mono-therapeutic approaches, stresses the importance of creating new therapies and expanding existing ones. piRNA has an active role in the control of gene expression and the silencing of transposons. Studies demonstrate that piRNAs can effectively silence viral genomes and target vital parasitic genes, displaying potent antiviral and antiparasitic activity. This makes them appealing candidates for use against infectious diseases.
Fig 1 piRNA and PIWI regulate the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of HIV infection. (Chennakesavan, Karthick, et al., 2025)
piRNA-Based Infectious Disease Therapy Development
The advent of piRNA-based therapeutics opens a new frontier in the therapeutics of infectious diseases by potentially providing precision, robustness, and broad-spectrum activity. Although piRNA-based therapies for infectious diseases are still at the preliminary stages of research, a number of promising projects are currently underway that may fill critical gaps in the therapeutics of drug-resistant infections, emerging viruses, and neglected tropical diseases.
Table 1 piRNA-based therapeutic pipeline for infectious diseases.
| Therapy | Target Pathogen | Stage of Development | Key Progress |
| Antiviral Therapy | HIV-1 Virus | Preclinical | Host piRNAs target conserved regions of the HIV-1 genome, suppressing viral replication. Engineered piRNAs are being explored as a functional cure. |
| Zika Virus | Preclinical | Synthetic piRNAs developed by Harvard University show >90% inhibition of viral replication in vitro. | |
| Influenza Virus | Preclinical | piRNAs targeting conserved regions of the influenza genome are being tested for broad-spectrum antiviral potential. | |
| Antiparasitic Therapy | Plasmodium | Preclinical | piRNAs targeting essential Plasmodium genes reduce parasite load in preclinical models. |
| Schistosoma | Early-Stage Research | piRNAs are being designed to silence critical genes in Schistosoma parasites. | |
| Antibacterial Therapy | Drug-Resistant Bacteria (e.g., MRSA, E. coli) | Early-Stage Research | piRNAs are being investigated to target antibiotic resistance genes, potentially restoring sensitivity to existing antibiotics. |
Our Services
At Protheragen, we are working to innovate an approach to treating infectious disease by developing a new line of piRNA therapeutics at the forefront of medicine. Our goal is to transform piRNAs into highly accurate and broadly effective next-generation therapeutics to tackle the rising difficulties of infectious disease therapeutics, such as antimicrobial resistance, emerging pathogens, and unmet research requirements.
piRNA Design
Our experts focus on the accurate identification of therapeutic targets for infectious diseases and the custom designing of piRNAs to modulate those targets. Efficient and specific targeting is guaranteed through the custom designing of piRNAs with optimal sequences and structures.
Delivery System Development
Novel piRNA delivery strategies incorporate cutting-edge technologies such as nanotechnology and lipid-based carriers to achieve specific delivery to the site of infection. We improve the bioavailability, cellular uptake and stability of piRNAs by optimizing the delivery systems.
In Vitro and In Vivo Validation
Protheragen performs a thorough assessment of the effectiveness, safety, and pharmacokinetics of the therapeutics. We investigate the targeting effects of piRNAs on the replication of the pathogens and modulation of the host’s immune system response using in vitro and in vivo models.
Advantages of piRNA-Based Therapies
- Precision Targeting: piRNAs may be engineered to specifically target pathogen genomes that comprise viral RNA/DNA or genes essential for parasite life activities for degradation or silencing.
- Broad-Spectrum Potential: piRNA therapies can target multiple strains or species of pathogens by focusing on conserved regions, thus lowering the possibility of resistance development.
- Dual-Action Mechanism: Besides direct inhibition of pathogen replication, piRNAs also possess the ability to modulate host immune responses and enhance the natural defenses of the organism.
- Stability and Longevity: piRNAs do not require heavy chemical modifications like other RNA therapies, which allows them to remain incredibly stable in vivo and provide long-lasting effects.
Therapeutic Development for Multiple Infectious Diseases
| Category | Diseases | |
| Bacterial Infections |
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| Fungal Infections |
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| Viral Infections |
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| Parasitic Infections |
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Protheragen focuses on providing high-throughput sequencing services to enhance target identification and therapeutic development for infectious diseases using the unique properties of piRNAs. We are confident that piRNA-based therapies will revolutionize therapies for infectious diseases. Contact us today to discuss your project and learn how we can support your research goals.
References
- Chennakesavan, Karthick, James Haorah, and Thangavel Samikkannu. "piRNA/PIWI Pathways and Epigenetic Crosstalk in Human Diseases: Molecular Insights into HIV-1 Infection and Drugs of Abuse." Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids (2025).
- Li, Yanyan, et al. "The potential emerging role of piRNA/PIWI complex in virus infection." Virus Genes (2024): 1-14.