Description
1. Cat allergy: a global and emotional dilemma
Cat allergy affects an estimated 800 million to 1.6 billion people worldwide—about one in five individuals—making it one of the most common indoor allergies[1]. For sensitive people, spending time with cats often results in sneezing, watery eyes, nasal congestion, coughing, or even asthma. Beyond the discomfort, cat allergy creates a real emotional dilemma: millions of people love cats, but their allergic symptoms prevent them from living closely with them.
2. Current solutions and their limitations
There are solutions to prevent allergic symptoms, but all of them have limitations. Antihistamines and other medications can only relieve symptoms temporarily and may cause side effects[2]. Immunotherapy is expensive, requires years of treatment, and is not guaranteed to succeed[3]. Household measures such as frequent cleaning or air purifiers provide only limited relief[4]. For many families, giving up their pets remains the only option—a choice that is painful emotionally.
3. Our project: FeliSilence
Our project, FeliSilence, offers a new approach to limit allergic symptoms. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we aim to reduce cat allergens at the source. By designing shRNAs that silence the expression of major allergen genes (such as Fel d1, Fel d2, Fel d4, and Fel d7), we can lower the production of proteins that trigger allergic reactions[5].
Crucially, we made an active design choice to minimize off-target effects. Each candidate RNA sequence was screened through multiple bioinformatic pipelines to ensure that it does not overlap with the human transcriptome, with non-target feline genes, or with conserved genes in other species[6]. This step was not optional—it reflects our ethical commitment to both people and animals. By doing so, we avoid the risk of unintended gene silencing, ensuring that our strategy is specific, reversible, and safe.
Unlike gene editing, RNAi does not add or permanently change genes; instead, it temporarily switches specific ones “off.” This makes it a reversible, non-invasive, and cat-friendly strategy. Our research is conducted at the cellular level only, with no animal experiments.
4. Potential impact
The potential impact is significant:
● For patients: this approach could greatly improve the quality of life and make cat ownership possible for millions more families.
● For the pet industry: it could expand the population of potential cat owners and promote healthier human–animal bonds.
● For science: our work demonstrates how RNAi can be applied to companion animal health, opening new directions for biotechnology beyond human medicine.
FeliSilence is not just about silencing allergens—it’s about enabling lasting connections between people and their pets.
References
1. Pawankar R. et al. Allergic diseases and asthma: a global public health concern and a call to action. World Allergy Organization Journal. 2014;7(1):12.
2. Wallace DV. et al. The diagnosis and management of rhinitis: an updated practice parameter. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;122(2 Suppl):S1–S84.
3. Durham SR. et al. Long-term clinical efficacy of grass-pollen immunotherapy. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(7):468–475.
4. Arbes SJ Jr, et al. Cat allergen (Fel d 1) levels in US homes: results from the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113(2):419–427.
5. Chan SK, Leung DYM. Dog and cat allergies: current state of diagnostic approaches and challenges. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2018;10(2):97–105.
6. Ui-Tei K, et al. Guidelines for the selection of highly effective siRNA sequences for mammalian and chick RNA interference. Nucleic Acids Res. 2004;32(3):936–948.
