A recent discovery showed that microcompetition between a foreign polynucleotide and a cellular polynucleotide is a risk factor for some of the major chronic diseases. The invention uses this novel discovery to present assays for screening compounds based on their effectiveness in modulating such microcompetition. The effective compounds can be used in treatment of these chronic diseases. The invention also presents assays for screening compounds that can be used in treatment of chronic diseases resulting from other foreign polynucleotide-type disruptions.