HOSA EMagazine WINTER 2021

What does mRNA do in a vaccine? Just like the mRNA in your body, the mRNA used in the new vaccine technology codes for specific proteins found on disease causing agents. Proteins are found in all living organisms, including viruses and bacteria and have a variety of functions that go beyond the scope of this article (but we encourage you to learn more!). For our purposes, we will focus on the proteins found on the outside of viruses that are used to bind to surfaces, serve as receptors, and many other functions. With mRNA vaccines, the mRNA is created to code for the proteins that signal the presence of a foreign body. For example, let’s look at the new mRNA vaccine that is helping fight SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This vaccine codes for the S proteins that are found on the surface of the virus. As this mRNA is producing these proteins, the body’s adaptive immune system recognizes that this protein does not belong and begins creating antibodies that can be used to fight any further proteins that it recognizes (Alberts, 2002). In short, the body creates a “memory” of these proteins and stockpiles the tools necessary to fight against them in the future (“Understanding and Explaining mRNA,” 2020).

Saving Lives through Innovation

J ust as innovation plays a crucial role in HOSA, innovation plays an even bigger role in the healthcare industry at large. From creating prosthetics in the field of bioengineering to creating new pharmaceutical drugs for illnesses, the healthcare industry relies on innovation in order to make a positive impact on patients. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, one special field of the healthcare industry has become the forefront of innovation: vaccines. Before diving into the exciting new technology and innovation surrounding vaccines in 2020 and 2021, it is first important to take a detour to understand the history of vaccines and how they function. Our immune system works in amazing ways to protect us from diseases or pathogens in our environments. In a general sense, when a new disease enters our body, it produces a new antigen. For each new antigen introduced to our body, our immune system must create a specific antibody to attach to the antigen and destroy the disease. A vaccine works by introducing the disease to your immune system so that it can build the necessary antibodies to fight the disease. We will discuss this in more detail shortly. In the past, vaccines were a weakened version of a disease that wouldn’t be enough to cause actual illness, but enough for the immune system to build up its defenses against the disease. In modern times, most vaccines introduce a blueprint of a disease’s antigen instead of the actual virus. The more the immune system is exposed to the disease, the quicker it gets at eradicating the disease.

The practice of immunization dates back hundreds of years from a variety of cultures. However, a man named Edward Jenner was considered the founder of vaccines with his use of material from cowpox pustules to provide protection against smallpox in 1796. His first patient was a 13-year-old boy who Jenner injected with the cowpox virus (vaccinia virus). To his surprise, the boy presented with immunity to the smallpox virus. From this breakthrough discovery, Edward Jenner solidified the basic concept of vaccines. Additionally, his discovery was the catalyst for creation of various other vaccines for many illnesses. Some examples include the discovery of the Rabies vaccine by Louis Pasteur, the Polio vaccine by Jonas Salk, or the Cholera vaccine by Jaime Ferrán. For modern day diseases, there is a more streamlined procedure for the discovery of new vaccines. In most cases, once a vaccine is discovered, it must go through an intense, multi-step process before it can be released to the public. This process consists of three phases of clinical studies. The first stage tests for safety, the second stage tests for effectiveness, and the third stage tests for both safety and effectiveness. If the clinical trials successfully demonstrate the vaccine is safe and effective, it will proceed to seek approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lastly, the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) will review and approve of the vaccine. From there, a plan for public distribution is set in place. Now that we understand the history of vaccines, let’s take a deeper look into the more modern ways vaccines are produced and used.

How are mRNA vaccines different from other vaccines? We know that “traditional” types of vaccines have been around for a while, but how are they different from the new mRNA vaccines we are seeing today? Here are what are considered to the “traditional” vaccines (“Vaccine FAQ,” 2021): • Live-attenuated: consist of weakened copies of disease-causing organisms (Ex. MMR \vaccine) • Inactivated: consist of a dead copy of disease-causing organism (Influenza vaccines) • Subunit: Contain pieces of the disease-causing organism (pneumococcal vaccines) • Toxoid: consist of toxin that is created by the disease-causing organism (tetanus vaccine) Each of these vaccine variations are effective in fighting against disease, but they can take a very long time to produce. For example, the Flu vaccine takes six months to produce before it can be distributed to the public. However, mRNA vaccines are created in the lab and use genomic information of infectious organisms to make production faster (“Selecting Viruses,” 2020; “Vaccine FAQ,” 2021). What mRNA means for the future of vaccines As mentioned before, the use of mRNA vaccines means that future vaccines using this technology will be developed much faster. The introduction of mRNA technology also means that other diseases and viruses may soon have vaccines that target and prevent infection. All in all, the future of vaccines and disease prevention is looking up, as this new technology has the possibility of helping to slow the spread of diseases more rapidly and prevent future disease outbreaks (Komaroff, 2020).

A lthough vaccines have been used for hundreds of years, in 2020 the world saw the implementation of a new type of vaccine. This new technology uses mRNA to help our bodies create a stronger defense against foreign bodies that seek to cause disease. What is mRNA? The key to understanding how mRNA vaccines work is to first understand what mRNA is. To do that, let’s take a look at the central dogma of biology. The central dogma states DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated to proteins. The piece of this dogma this technology focuses on is the translation from RNA to proteins. When a cell begins to make proteins, enzymes are brought in to separate the DNA strands and begin making complementary RNA strands of each DNA strand. Once the complementary strands are complete, they are called “messenger RNA,” or mRNA. This new strand serves as an instruction manual for the creation of specific proteins and leads to the final step in the central dogma. In short, mRNA is the molecule that takes the code from DNA, breaks it, and creates proteins (“Messenger RNA”).

Citations Alberts, B. (2002, January 1). The Adaptive Immune System . Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21070/. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September 9). Overview, History, and How the Safety Process Works . Ensuring Safety. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/history/ index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, October 26). Selecting Viruses for the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine . Influenza (Flu). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccine-selection.htm. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, November 24). Understanding and Explaining mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines . Vaccines and Immunizations . https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/ hcp/mrna-vaccine-basics.html. IDSA. (2021, December 24). Vaccines FAQ . COVID-19 Real-Time Learning Network. https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/vaccines/vaccines-information--faq/. Komaroff, A. (2020, December 19). Why are mRNA vaccines so exciting? Harvard Health Blog. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-are-mrna-vaccines-so-exciting-2020121021599. National Human Genome Research Institute. Messenger RNA (mRNA) . Genome.gov. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/messenger-rna.

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