US researchers have developed a new RNA-based therapy to help the immune system target a mosquito-borne disease caused by the West Nile virus.

Led by Yale University, the team tested the therapy in mice and found that the treatment can help provide long-term protection against the virus, which there are currently no approved vaccines or effective therapies for.

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When administered through nose, the small ‘interfering’ RNA molecule decreased the virus in brain, enabling the body’s immune system to destroy it.

The RNA molecule, which is known to target a variety of mosquito-borne flaviviruses, was incorporated in a peptide obtained from the rabies virus to facilitate entry into nerve cells.

“A 90% survival rate was found in the treated mice, whose immune systems eliminated the virus throughout their bodies.”

A 90% survival rate was found in the treated mice, whose immune systems eliminated the virus throughout their bodies. Based on these findings, the RNA molecule has the potential to offer late-stage therapy and lifelong immunity.

Yale School of Medicine infectious disease associate professor Priti Kumar hopes that the new approach will be a ‘breakthrough strategy’ for West Nile virus treatment once the virus has infected brain and central nervous system.

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Kumar said that the therapy blocks pathology in the brain and gives the mice a chance to develop a robust immune response.

The researchers intend to further study the feasibility of this intra-nasal route in humans and hope to extend the application of this therapy to additional mosquito-borne diseases, including St Louis and Japanese encephalitis, and possibly Zika.