Written by Elaine Leon | Edited by Aishah Mahmoud
Photo by CDC
The topic of mRNA has recently seen an increase in discussion, due to the production of the first mRNA vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most vaccines require a lengthy production process, as it is difficult to collect the infectious material needed to create the vaccines. This was not the case with mRNA vaccines, which were efficient to test during the pandemic, when rapid vaccine production was critical [3]. It is easier to collect mRNA compared to other vaccine types; unlike traditional vaccines that need an entire cell culture, mRNA can be created with an extraction of DNA, increasing efficiency and affordability [3]. When the mRNA is taken from a virus, the vaccine can teach the body’s cells how to create proteins to appear similar to the those of the virus, such as spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in the COVID-19 vaccine [6]. The disguised cells then trigger an immune response, allowing the body to recognize and fight an infection without being exposed to the actual virus. This also makes mRNA vaccines safer than traditional vaccines because they do not introduce viral cells into the body and risk infection, but they still maintain close to 90% effectiveness [6].
The first mRNA vaccine research was conducted in 1989 in San Diego, California by a company called Vical Incorporated, which found that mRNA could be delivered to cells to provide instructions. However, this concept has since been expanded upon by a variety of pharmaceutical companies, such as BioNTech, Pfizer, and Moderna [5]. Katlin Karikó and Drew Weissman, developers of the modern-day mRNA vaccine, won the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 2023 for their work with the COVID-19 vaccine [4]. While research for this version of a vaccine has been undergoing nearly thirty-five years of sophistication, the quick introduction of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine instilled fear in some. However, this quick development was possible because it is easier to extract mRNA compared to whole cells of infectious agents, which can take years. The COVID-19 vaccines each went through the same clinical trials as traditional vaccines, and–according to a myriad of studies–“no serious adverse event was found in the subjects of phase I and II clinical trials” [2].
There are still problems with mRNA vaccines. One drawback of using this technology is that these vaccines maintain efficacy for less time than traditional vaccines, so regular booster shots are required to maintain immunity. This is similar to the flu vaccine, which is usually administered once a year to maintain immunity. Another drawback of mRNA vaccines is that they are hard to store due to specific storage parameters, such as temperature and climate. This makes it difficult for international usage, as some regions, such as parts of India, do not have the resources to stock and store these vaccines to maintain their shelf-life [1]. Even so, this is a problem with health equity on a general scale and no fault of the mRNA vaccine itself. All in all, through a new type of disease prevention, mRNA vaccines have played–and no doubt will continue to play–a significant role in creating more effective and faster vaccines, which will help expand treatment options for a variety of difficult infections.
References:
[1]Ali, T., Mujawar, S., Sowmya, A.V., Saldanha, D., Chaudhury, S. (2021). Dangers of mRNA Vaccines. Industrial Psychiatry Journal, 30:291-293.
[2]Jonny, J., Putranto, T.A., Yana, M.L., Sitepu, E.C., Irfon, R., Ramadhani, B.P., Sofro, M.A.U., Nency, Y.M., Lestari, E.S., Triwardhani, R., Mujahidah, Sari, R.K., Soetojo, N.A. (2023). Safety and Efficacy of Dendritic Cell Vaccine for COVID-19 Prevention after 1-Year Follow-Up: Phase I and II Clinical Trial Final Result. Frontiers in Immunology, 14.
[3]“mRNA Vaccines for Covid-19”. Health University of Utah, https://healthcare.utah.edu/coronavirus/vaccine/mrna-vaccine#:~:text=Traditional%20vaccines%20typically%20require%20growing,do%20not%20contain%20live%20viruses. Accessed 25 April 2024.
[4]“Press release”. NobelPrize, 2 October 2023, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2023/press-release/. Accessed 25 Apr 2024.
[5]Verbeke, R., Lentacker, I., De Smedt, S., Dewitte, H. (2019). Three Decades of Messenger RNA vaccine development. Nanotoday, 28.
[6]West, Mary. “mRNA Vaccine v. Traditional Vaccines”. Medical News Today, 28 March 2023, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mrna-vaccine-vs-traditional-vaccine. Accessed 25 April 2024.