Molecular monday #2 - mRNA vaccines

After being worried, quarantined and suffering from SARS-COV-2 for over 8 months, scientists have finally found a way to develop vaccines for COVID-19. A type of RNA vaccine - mRNA vaccine has hit the market like saviors of mankind. For a better understanding of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, lets first know what RNA vaccines are and the studies conducted on them in the past.

What are RNA vaccines ?

RNA vaccines are a type of vaccines that uses a man-made copy of a natural biochemical molecule called messenger RNA, to produce an immune response. The vaccine transfects molecules of synthetic RNA into human cells. RNA (mRNA) vaccines have been studied before for Zika virus, rabies, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). As soon as the past studies could be related to developing a vaccine for COVID-19, scientists began designing the mRNA instructions for cells to build the unique spike protein into an mRNA vaccine.

mRNA stands for synthetic messenger RNA, an ingenious variation on the natural substance that directs protein production in cells throughout the body. After so many months of despair, this vaccine has fueled hopes that it could be a breakthrough that allows everything to go back to normal.

mRNA vaccine's mechanism on COVID-19 :

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are intramuscular vaccines. i.e - they're given in the upper arm, into the muscle. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines provide instructions for our cells to make a harmless piece of “spike protein.” Scientists have used the very spike protein that is responsible for the virulence of the virus. This spike protein is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19, but in virulent form. On the other hand, mRNA vaccines have a non virulent form of the spike protein.

Once the instructions (mRNA) are inside the muscle cells, the cells use them to make the protein piece. After the protein piece is made, the cell breaks down the instructions and gets rid of them, displaying the protein piece on its surface.

Our immune system recognizes that the protein doesn’t belong there, is a foreign body and begins building an immune response, thereby producing antibodies, similar to how the antibodies are formed in a natural response after being exposed to the virus in reality.

At the end of this immunization process, our bodies are familiar with antibody production and learn how to protect against future infection.

Benefits of the vaccine :

The benefit of mRNA vaccines, like all vaccines, is those vaccinated gain this protection without ever having to risk the serious consequences of getting sick with COVID-19. Vaccination prevents you from the virus as your body has already been immune to it.

Myth busters :

NO, THE VACCINE DOESN'T HAVE A LIVE VIRUS THAT CAN KILL YOU.

NO, THE VACCINE DOESN'T DISRUPT YOUR DNA OR AFFECT YOUR OFFSPRINGS.

NO, VACCINATION WON'T AFFECT YOUR FERTILITY.

NO, THE VACCINE DOESN'T AFFECT QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT INSTEAD HELPS IN LIVING WITH POSITIVE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO SARS-COV-2 VIRUS.

LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, NO, THE VACCINE ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY TO CONTROL POPULATION BY KILLING PEOPLE ! ( I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I AM ADDRESSING THIS IN MY ARTICLE. PROBABLY JUST BECAUSE ONE OF MY READERS ASKED THIS QUESTION !! )

The future of mRNA vaccines :

Live vaccines and DNA vaccines have been used in history for several diseases, but mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccines that protect against infectious diseases by triggering an immune response. In the coming future, mRNA vaccine technology might allow for one vaccine to provide protection for multiple diseases, thus decreasing the number of shots needed for protection against common vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. Apart from infectious diseases, mRNA vaccines have also been used to study as a therapy for cancer, wherein the body can repair itself from cancer cells.

Endnote with a little bit of philosophy : Every problem has a solution. And in this case, scientists have found a solution using the problematic spike protein itself. So in life, whenever you face a problem, don't forget to look back closely to study the problem, it's that detailed study which will help you find a solution to the problem.

Stay safe. Get vaccinated.

- Rachna Jadhav

@theresilientresearcher