ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE August 2025 61 What sets RNA-based approaches apart is their precision and sustainability. Unlike broad-spectrum antibiotics, RNA tools target specific viral sequences without affecting the host organism or beneficial microbial communities. This pathogen-specific targeting minimizes collateral impact and enhances treatment effectiveness. Furthermore, because dsRNA molecules degrade rapidly in the environment and do not involve genetic modification, these technologies align with evolving global regulations and consumer expectations around responsible aquaculture practices. TRANSFORMING AQUAFEED INTO A HEALTH PLATFORM One of the most promising aspects of RNA-based solutions is their compatibility with existing aquafeed systems. ViAqua’s technology enables the incorporation of dsRNA into feed, effectively turning shrimp diets into a delivery vehicle facilitating mass application for health protection. ViAqua’s oral delivery platform was found to be as effective as injection against viral diseases. In a controlled IMNV challenge trial, results demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing shrimp mortality. As shown in Figure 2, shrimp that received RNA-based treatment either via injection or functional feed showed survival rates of 90%, compared to 100% mortality in untreated controls. Oral delivery with ViAqua’s treatment reduced mortality to just 10%, highlighting the platform’s potential for practical, scalable disease prevention in real-world farming conditions. ViAqua product administered via feed RNA protected by patented carrier Viral RNA is marked broken down by the cell Infected shrimp cell Carrier moves through cell wall and releases RNA markers Figure 1. How RNA-based feed activates shrimp immunity: ViAqua’s platform leverages the shrimp’s natural RNA interference (RNAi) pathway for targeted viral silencing. As illustrated in the graphic above, the dsRNA is delivered through functional feed, survives digestion, and is absorbed into shrimp cells, where it activates internal immune defenses against specific pathogens like WSSV and IMNV. Shrimp Mortality Post IMNV Challenge 100 80 60 40 20 0 % Mortality Negative control Injection treatment 1 Injection treatment 2 Feeding treatment Figure 2. Percent mortality in shrimp following IMNV challenge. While a negative control feed showed 100% mortality, all treatment groups, including two injection treatments and one ViAqua’s oral solution, significantly reduced mortality.
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