HomemRNA COVID Vaccines: “Just A Glimpse Of Their Full Potential”

mRNA COVID Vaccines: “Just A Glimpse Of Their Full Potential”

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The experts of a Perspective published by the Medical Journal of Australia today claim that the “spectacular” effectiveness of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine technology against SARS-CoV-2 shows “just a glimpse of their full potential.”

Ms. Isabella Overmars, a research coordinator at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and her colleagues reported that the method works by delivering an mRNA encoding a specific antigen into a host cell, where it is translated into the antigen-coding protein.

As explained by the authors in the paper, “this typically leads to the host cell displaying the protein on its surface to promote cell-mediated immunity, and the host cell releases proteins outside of the cell which are taken up and presented by other antigen-presenting cells to promote antibody-mediated immunity.”

They are non-infectious, which means “there is no possibility for an infection to occur from the vaccine itself,” and they have low toxicity, which eliminates the risk of integration into the host genome.

The authors of the study by Overmars and colleagues noted that “mRNA vaccines do not rely on non or mildly pathogenic viral vectors as a delivery method, which in some cases can cause issues of immune-based clotting disorders, such as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), and antivector immunity.”

The manufacturing process has a number of additional advantages, including in vitro development and the use of synthetic materials, which increase manufacturing uniformity. Additionally, once the necessary sequence is known, mRNA vaccines may be quickly synthesized and modified, which is helpful in reacting to newly discovered immune-evasive variations.

The drawbacks of mRNA technology include the fact that it is easily destroyed by cellular processes, is thermodynamically unstable and needs to be stored and transported at low temperatures, and that mild-to-moderate myocarditis and pericarditis have occasionally occurred after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, mostly in young male adults.

The success of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has accelerated the development of mRNA vaccines, and further technological advancements may help to overcome some of the current obstacles and enable a wider distribution, according to Overmars and colleagues.

“For example, strategies to make the mRNA vaccines self-amplify, meaning the mRNA delivered in the vaccine encodes not only the antigen of interest but also the replication machinery that amplifies the mRNA, will reduce the amount of mRNA needed in each vaccine, wrote the authors, adding “Moderna is already in phase 1 with a seasonal influenza quadrivalent product, and is developing other combination vaccines, including one for human metapneumovirus and parainfluenza virus.”

Existing problems need to be fixed in order to ensure equal access and growth, they said.

“To do this, manufacturing facilities with advanced mRNA technology may be required in multiple locations globally,” they added.

“Testing of different additives, adjuvants and delivery mechanisms will be important to increase the stability of mRNA vaccines at higher temperatures and to therefore facilitate equitable access.

“mRNA technology has progressed rapidly over the past 2 years in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, revealing new and exciting avenues for prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine development.”

Image Credit: Getty

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