In early October, the Nobel Committee in Physiology or Medicine paid tribute to two scientists whose research on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology paved the way for the acclaimed COVID-19 vaccine. Katalin Carrico and Drew Weisman Discover How to modify mRNA to avoid this will trigger Inflammation. His discovery, first published in 2005, was key to the development of mRNA vaccines. Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTechpart of a vaccination strategy that will save millions of lives.
The Nobel Prize shouldn’t surprise them. The couple has also won other prestigious awards, with many predicting a Nobel Prize is imminent. But they still couldn’t believe the news. MIT Technology Review It has been pointed out that mRNA vaccines are one of the ten most revolutionary technologies in 2021.
“At four in the morning, Katie sent me a cryptic message: ‘Did Thomas call?'” Weisman recalled at an Oct. 2 press conference. “I said, ‘No, who is Thomas?’ and she told me: ‘Nobel Prize.'” They suspected it was a joke, and They didn’t win until That advertise used to be people.
Most vaccines train the immune system by providing it with the pathogen to be protected against (either the whole pathogen or certain key components). mRNA vaccines work differently, providing Genetic code that body cells can convert into proteins. In the case of COVID-19, the vaccine contains mRNA encoding the “spike” protein, which protrudes from the virus’s outer surface. The body makes a copy of the protein, and the immune system learns to recognize it.
The idea of using mRNA in vaccines has been around for decades, but scientists encountered significant obstacles early on. Antonio Regalado has already told part of the story about mRNA in his 2021 article MIT Technology Review. When researchers injected mRNA into mice, the animals became sick. “Their hair stood up. They lost weight and weren’t running around anymore,” Weisman explained to Regalado. Higher doses proved fatal. “We immediately realized that messenger RNA was not available,” they admit.
When foreign mRNA is injected into the body, the immune system detects the threat and produces inflammation. Carrico and Weisman found that by slightly modifying the genetic code, they could almost completely eliminate the problem. When the 2020 pandemic began, scientists were already using their methods to develop mRNA vaccines against other infectious diseases, so the switch to Covid was relatively easy.
What makes mRNA a game changer? Vaccines are easy to produce. When manufacturers want to update their COVID-19 vaccines this fall, they can simply swap out the new code.By swapping different codes you should be able to Target different pathogens.
Moderna has applied for regulatory approval for its mRNA vaccine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a cold-like illness that can be serious in infants and older adults. The company also has an mRNA flu vaccine in late-stage clinical trials. An interim analysis conducted in September showed the vaccine performed better than traditional flu shots across all age groups, Moderna reported. Pfizer is also testing an mRNA flu vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur and GlaxoSmithKlinecooperate with treatment vacuum. Several of the companies are also working on combined vaccines to protect against COVID-19 and influenza.
There are several reasons why several companies are focusing their mRNA efforts on influenza.First, the flu vaccine relies on growing viruses eggs or cells, a painstaking process that took several months.Using mRNA for influenza vaccination would eliminate the need to culture the virus, and will speed up the process.This will allow best correspondence There are differences between vaccines and circulating flu strains because strains can be selected closer to flu season and allow for a faster response in the event of a pandemic.
Another reason is that researchers can add mRNA from many different strains of influenza to create a vaccine that offers broader protection. In 2022, a team at the University of Pennsylvania tested an mRNA vaccine containing 20 subtypes of antigens acquaintance influenza Contagious to humans. In mice and ferrets, the vaccine protected against strains that matched the vaccine as well as strains that didn’t. In 2023, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched a clinical trial to test an alternative mRNA flu vaccine that does not contain multiple antigens but is designed to elicit a response to a certain part of the virus. This is unlikely to change from one year to the next.
The flu is just the beginning. The list of diseases for which mRNA vaccines are being developed is endless: Malaria, HIV, Zika virusEpstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes, norovirus, Lyme disease, Nipah virus, Clostridium difficilehepatitis C, leptospirosis, tuberculosis, shingles, acne, chlamydia, etc.
wait! there are more. mRNA could be an effective way to treat disease, not just prevent it. In fact, it was originally considered a treatment. mRNA-based cancer therapies have been tested for a decade. The goal is to deliver protein-coding mRNA to the tumor surface. The immune system will then learn to recognize these antigens to more effectively detect and attack cancerous tissue.
Both companies are also working on mRNA therapeutics for rare diseases, such as cystic fibrosis.People with this disease have genetic mutations CFTR, a modulator of transmembrane conductance in cystic fibrosis.These mutations cause the CFTR protein, which helps water move in and out of cells, to not work properly, leading to mucus Block the lungs and cause respiratory infections Happened again.
vertexIn collaboration with Moderna, an mRNA has been developed designed to inhaled. Once inside the lungs, cells translate the code into functional CFTR. In late 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vertex to begin an mRNA trial for cystic fibrosis. Moderna has also launched a clinical trial to test Methylmalonic acidemiaa disease that affects liver function; and propionic acidemiaa rare metabolic disorder.
Not all of these efforts will be successful. In fact, many people won’t have it.but The mRNA bonanza will bear some fruit. When Carrico and Weisman made the discovery in 2005, Weisman recalled in a 2021 interview with Boston University (Massachusetts, USA) Alumni Magazine, “I told Katie that our phone wouldn’t Stop ringing”. “But nothing happened. we didn’t get any calls”. Now, your phone definitely won’t stop ringing.
More information from our archives
We know that mRNA is important. 2021, MIT Technology Review Emphasis on mRNA vaccines as one of the top ten breakthrough technologies this year. Antonio Regalado analyzes its huge potential to transform medicine.
In 2023, Jessica Hamzelou studied How mRNA enhances flu vaccines and cancer treatments.
In addition, Jennifer Strong interviewed Dave Johnson, Moderna’s director of data and artificial intelligence, who told the story of the birth of Moderna’s new crown vaccine.