> RNA is fragile. So, like in the COVID mRNA vaccines, these instructions can be delivered in a protective fatty bubble called a “lipid nanoparticle.” Think of it like a balloon made of fatty acids, with the instructions nestled inside. Once injected, these lipid nanoparticles take the mRNA instructions into cells, where the fatty bubble degrades, mRNA instructions are released, and the cell’s machinery start to produce whatever protein the mRNA tells it to.<p>I still don't understand how writers about mRNA vaccines gloss over the numerous details that should be important. The picture that she paints lacks a targeting mechanism. Which cells will these lipid nanoparticles enter? She does not say. How much protein from the mRNA will those cells produce? It can't be predictable, right? Will there be significant differences in the dose of the final product between individuals? Is this important? She does not say. Will the cells that engulf those lipid nanoparticles be destined to die, in case the protein they produce is a foreign one, like the spike protein of Covid? They must be, right? After all, that's how immunity works. Is this important, given that there is no targeting mechanism? She does not say. And so on...<p>What makes an mRNA vaccine more appealing than a protein-based one?
> Why are mRNA vaccines the future?<p>This may well be true, but I’ll be far more likely to believe it when there’s an mRNA vaccine that’s anywhere near as effective as the best old boring vaccines.<p>(I admit that my personal favorite, not-mRNA, HSV vaccine candidate is from a company, X-vax, that appears to have forgotten to renew its domain.)<p>I’m also not entirely clear about the path by which mRNA technology might eliminate persistent infections. Maybe by preventing them in the first place? Maybe via CRISPR?
Very excited to look forward to a future where the entire Herpesviridae family is wiped out (whether it's Epstein-Barr, HSV-1/2, whatever). HPV too. Really exciting time. I tend to visit /r/HerpesCureResearch every now and then to see the progress. I imagine something like this would be a gamechanger on so many levels.<p>One day I hope that HIV is also finally vaccinated for.
This is about as succinct a summary as it gets re mRNA's potential:<p>"To create an mRNA cancer vaccine, a patient’s tumor is biopsied to identify unique target mutations —> mRNA correlating to mutations is synthesized and injected into the patient —> the patient’s cells create the targeted protein —> the creation of foreign proteins stimulates the immune system and teaches it how to recognize the target protein —> The immune system (especially T cells) search for this target protein and destroy the cancer cells to which it’s attached."
It's a shame mRNA vaccines don't work like traditional vaccines. The problem with mRNA vaccines is that they cause the immune system to attack healthy cells throughout the body, when the injected mRNA causes those cells to emit foreign proteins. For most parts of the body, that's fine, because it's okay to gain some muscle scar tissue in the arm. But muscle scar tissue in the heart will measurably shorten one's life expectancy.<p>mRNA injections are meant to be intramuscular, but some will become accidentally intravenous if the needle accidently enters (or nicks) a blood vessel. And then the substance will enter the heart and lungs where healthy heart and lung cells will begin expressing the Covid spike protein, causing those heart and lung cells to be killed by cytotoxic T cells and NK (natural killer) cells.<p>We used to protect against accidental intravenous injection by a technique called "aspiration", where the plunger of the syringe is withdrawn slightly prior to injection, to check for blood. However, aspiration was stopped around 2010 as it was feared the slight increase in injection pain might put people off getting routine vaccinations.