m-RNA based vaccine
- July 13, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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m-RNA based vaccine
Subject: Science
Context: India will soon have a mRNA based vaccine from US-based biotech firm, Moderna Inc, joining the fight against Covid-19.
Concept:
The non-replicating vector vaccines such as Covishield and Sputnik V and the inactivated pathogen based Covaxin. India’s vaccination programme so far has relied mainly on Covishield and Covaxin which are not mRNA vaccines.
mRNA vaccines
- The human immune system is usually slow to identify and target a fast-replicating virus like Covid-19. Vaccines introduce the target to the immune system beforehand and get it geared up, well before an actual virus enters the body.
- Traditional vaccines use dead or weakened viruses to train the immune cells. Messenger Ribonucleic Acid or mRNA based vaccines are encoded with target virus’s genetic information. They carry these instructions to the body that then develops the spike protein, while leaving out harmful parts of the virus.
- Active immune cells identify this spike protein and begin the process of making antibodies for the spike. They also store vital information for the future. When the actual coronavirus with the spike enters the body, the immune system is alert and ready to attack it.
- The spike protein essential to this process is unique to SARS-CoV-2, elimInating the risk of autoimmune reaction on healthy cells.
Importance
- mRNA based treatment started in mid-90’s and was nearly abandoned due to lower stability, quick trigger of an immune reaction and inefficient delivery.
- mRNA vaccines can be made and developed rapidly
- mRNA vaccines allow for a high degree of modulation including addressing cancer treatments.
- They are non-infectious causing lower side effects.