The technology, BenPol, addresses the limitations of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) treatment to mitigate flystrike, which is the painful and sometimes fatal infestation of maggots on live sheep.
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation Research Fellow Dr Karishma Mody says flystrike was a major problem in Australia, controlled by chemical pesticides at a cost of nearly $320 million a year.
“A chemical-free alternative to treating flystrike is as critical to the future of Australia’s wool industry,” Karishma says.
“Previous research showed double‑stranded RNA (dsRNA) delivered to maggots slowed their development and even led to larval death.
“The challenge is the dsRNA breaks down very quickly in biological fluids, preventing it from reaching the target gene.
“Our laboratory tests have confirmed BenPol acts as a tiny protective capsule for dsRNA, keeping it intact long enough for the larvae to ingest it so it can reach the gut and switch off the target gene.”
QAAFI PhD candidate Yakun Yan says BenPol provides an effective platform to protect and enhance the uptake of RNA technology.
“The findings represent a major step forward for RNA-based livestock protection,” Yakun says.
“Australia grows about a quarter of the world’s greasy wool, so it makes sense to develop smarter, environmentally friendly solutions to protect our sheep and our industry,” she adds.
Karishma says QAAFI researchers successfully tested the BenPol platform through a crucial collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
She says the work was done in collaboration with Professor Tim Mahony and supported by The University of Queensland, with the DPI supplying blowfly eggs and larvae and providing testing facilities.
With laboratory testing complete, the team is preparing for the next critical stage.
“We now want to take BenPol into field testing through sheep trials and refine the formulation for real‑world conditions,” Karishma says.
“Partnering with industry will be essential to ensure BenPol can protect the dsRNA under farm conditions to help secure the future of our wool industry.
“There’s also potential for this method to be used on other pest problems in livestock, including cattle ticks and buffalo fly in cattle.”
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