Abstract

Epigenome editing is fast becoming a promising technology for use in not only basic research but also various medical fields. Its applications are being studied for treatment of various diseases, including cancer, genetic diseases, and infectious diseases. Viral infections are known to cause epigenetic modifications in the host. Therefore, epigenome editing is a promising therapeutic approach which also has the capability to downregulate receptors for pathogen to enter the host. However, addressing the challenges of drug delivery systems is an essential and critical component for the success of these approaches. In this review, we briefly introduce the distinctive differences between genome editing and epigenome editing, highlight the challenges in application of the epigenome-editing approach to infectious diseases, and briefly outline the recent advances and challenges in drug delivery systems that are essential for therapeutic applications of epigenome editing. While further advances in delivery systems are needed, epigenome editing could be a potentially new generation of treatments and open new avenues for treating infectious diseases, in addition to genetic and other diseases.

Keywords: Epigenome editing; Genetic disease; Infection; Drug Delivery System (DDS)